Surface 3

User Guide
With Windows 8.1

Published: May 2015

Version 1.0
© 2015 Microsoft. All rights reserved.

BlueTrack Technology, ClearType, Excel, Hotmail, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneDrive,
Windows, Xbox, and Xbox Live are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Surface and Skype are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

This document is provided “as-is.” Information in this document, including URL and other Internet website references,
may change without notice.

© 2015 Microsoft Page ii

Contents
Meet Surface 3 ................................................................................................................................................................. 1
SURFACE 3 FEATURES ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Set up your Surface 3 ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
The basics .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
POWER AND CHARGING ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Get online: networking ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Accounts and sign in ....................................................................................................................................................... 7
SIGN IN AND SIGN OUT......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS....................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Get to know Windows ...................................................................................................................................................10
START SCREEN ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
OPEN AN APP ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
CHARMS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
THE FAMILIAR DESKTOP ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
LEARN MORE ABOUT WINDOWS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Keep your Surface up to date ......................................................................................................................................12
INSTALL UPDATES MANUALLY ............................................................................................................................................................................ 12
VIEW YOUR UPDATE HISTORY ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE LATEST SURFACE UPDATES ............................................................................................................................ 13
Surface Pen and OneNote ............................................................................................................................................13
SET UP SURFACE PEN.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
SURFACE PEN FEATURES ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
EXPLORE ONENOTE ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
USE SURFACE PEN IN OTHER APPS .................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Type Cover keyboard and touchpad ...........................................................................................................................16
TOUCHPAD........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Storage ............................................................................................................................................................................19
HOW MUCH SPACE DO I HAVE?......................................................................................................................................................................... 19
OneDrive: Your personal cloud ....................................................................................................................................19
SAVE AND OPEN FILES ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
GET TO YOUR FILES FROM ANYWHERE .............................................................................................................................................................. 20

© 2015 Microsoft Page iii

Connect accessories and devices .................................................................................................................................21
CONNECT A TV, MONITOR, OR PROJECTOR ..................................................................................................................................................... 21
CONNECT A USB ACCESSORY (PRINTER, MOUSE, AND MORE) ...................................................................................................................... 23
ADD A BLUETOOTH ACCESSORY ........................................................................................................................................................................ 23
ADD AN AUDIO ACCESSORY ............................................................................................................................................................................... 23
PRINT OR SCAN ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Surface audio features ..................................................................................................................................................24
ADJUST THE VOLUME .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
RECORD AUDIO.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
SET THE DEFAULT AUDIO DEVICE........................................................................................................................................................................ 25
CHANGE WHICH SOUNDS PLAY ......................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Cameras and the Camera app ......................................................................................................................................26
TAKE A PHOTO ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
TAKE A PANORAMA ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 26
RECORD A VIDEO ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 26
TAKE A PHOTO OR VIDEO FROM THE LOCK SCREEN ......................................................................................................................................... 27
ADJUST THE FOCUS ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 27
Apps on your Surface ....................................................................................................................................................28
FIND AND OPEN AN APP ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
SWITCH BETWEEN APPS ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
CLOSE AN APP ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29
CHANGE SETTINGS FOR AN APP ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29
BUILT-IN APPS ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
MICROSOFT OFFICE ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 34
MORE INSTALLED APPS ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 35
INSTALL MORE APPS ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 36
Customization and settings ..........................................................................................................................................38
PERSONALIZE YOUR LOCK SCREEN .................................................................................................................................................................... 38
PERSONALIZE YOUR START SCREEN .................................................................................................................................................................. 38
ADJUST YOUR TOUCHSCREEN SETTINGS ........................................................................................................................................................... 39
SYNC YOUR SETTINGS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 39
ADD A LANGUAGE ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
DESKTOP SETTINGS ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 40

© 2015 Microsoft Page iv

Accessibility ....................................................................................................................................................................41
EASE OF ACCESS ON THE SIGN-IN SCREEN ....................................................................................................................................................... 41
Care and cleaning ..........................................................................................................................................................42
PROTECT YOUR SURFACE FROM VIRUSES.......................................................................................................................................................... 42
TOUCHSCREEN CARE ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 42
COVER CARE......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 42
BATTERY CARE...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 42
Registration, repair, and warranty ..............................................................................................................................43
REGISTER YOUR SURFACE 3 AND SURFACE 3 TYPE COVER ........................................................................................................................... 43
REPAIR .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 43
WARRANTY .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 43
More help ........................................................................................................................................................................43

© 2015 Microsoft Page v

Meet Surface 3
Meet Surface 3, the tablet that can replace your laptop. Use this guide to get started with your
Surface 3. For more Surface 3 details and how-to info, go online to Surface.com.

Surface 3 features

Power button Press the power button to turn Surface 3 on. When Surface 3 is on, press
and hold the power button to shut down. You’ll also use the power button
to put Surface to sleep, and to wake it when you’re ready to start working
again.
Windows button The Windows button takes you to the Start screen where you can open
your apps quickly, search for files on your Surface, or info on the web. If
you’re already at the Start screen, the Windows button takes you back to
the last app you were using.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 1

Touchscreen Use the 10.8” ClearType full HD display, with its 3:2 aspect ratio and 1920 x
1280 resolution display, to watch HD movies, browse the web, and use
your favorite apps.
10-point multi-touch lets you use your fingers to select, zoom, and move
things around.
Kickstand Flip out the 3-position kickstand to work or play comfortably at your desk,
on the couch, or while giving a hands-free presentation.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Surface supports standard Wi-Fi protocols (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) and
Bluetooth® 4.0. Connect to a wireless network and use Bluetooth devices
such as keyboards, mice, printers, and headsets.
Cameras Surface 3 features an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus, and
a 3.5 megapixel, fixed-focus, front-facing camera. Both cameras record
video in 1080p, with a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen). Front and back
privacy lights help make sure there are no surprises.
Microphone Use the front-facing microphone for calls and recordings.

Stereo speakers Stereo speakers with Dolby® enhanced sound let you listen to music,
podcasts, and audio books.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 2

Ports and connectors Surface 3 has the ports you expect in a full-feature laptop:
 Full-size USB 3.0 port
Connect a USB accessory—like a mouse, printer, Ethernet adapter,
USB drive, or smartphone.
 Micro USB charging port
Charge Surface 3 using the Micro USB charging port and included
Micro USB power supply.
 MicroSD card slot
Use the microSD card slot and a microSD card (sold separately) for
extra storage and transferring files.
 Mini DisplayPort version 1.1
Share what’s on your Surface screen by connecting it to an HDTV,
monitor, or projector. (Video adapters sold separately.)
 3.5 mm headset jack
Plug in your favorite headset for a little more privacy when listening
to music or conference calls. For more info, see Surface sound,
volume, and audio accessories on Surface.com.
 Cover connectors
Click in a thin, light, backlit keyboard—Surface 3 Type Cover (sold
separately) also helps protect the touchscreen.

Software  Windows 8.1 operating system

Windows 8.1 provides an endless array of options for entertainment
and productivity at school, at home, or while you’re on the go.
 Apps
Use the built-in apps featured on your Start screen, and install tons
more apps from the Windows Store. Since Surface 3 runs Windows
8.1, you can install and use your all your favorite desktop apps.

Processor The Intel® Quad Core Atom™ processor provides the speed and power
you need for smooth, fast performance.

Memory and storage Choose from 2 GB RAM with 64 GB storage or 4 GB RAM with 128 GB
storage. See Surface storage on Surface.com for info on formatted
storage capacity.

Sensors Four sensors—compass, ambient light sensor, accelerometer, and

gyroscope—enable apps to do things like track motion and determine
location.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 3

Set up your Surface 3

If you have a Surface 3 Plug the Micro USB connector Plug the full-size USB
Type Cover, click it into place into the Micro USB charging connector on the other end of
and open the kickstand. port with the power cord the cord into the power supply,
extending downward and the and plug the power supply into
light on the connector facing an electrical outlet.
toward you.
Press the power button to turn
Surface 3 on. Windows starts,
and guides you through the
setup process.

Use the Surface 3 touchscreen or Surface 3 Type Cover (sold separately) to enter info during setup.
To set up Surface 3, you’ll also need:
 An Internet connection (recommended). Setup will automatically try to connect to a network. If
your network requires a password, you’ll need to have it handy. If you don’t have an Internet
connection, you can still set up your Surface, but you won’t get the latest Windows and Surface
updates until you’re online.
 An account name. If you have a Microsoft account, use it to set up your Surface 3. A Microsoft
account is an email address and password you use to sign in to other Microsoft services like
Xbox, Hotmail, Outlook.com, OneDrive, Skype, or Windows Phone. If you don’t already have a
Microsoft account, you can create one during setup. If you prefer, create a local account. For
more info, see Microsoft account or local account?
For more info on getting set up, see Set up your Surface on Surface.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 4

The basics
Power and charging

To charge Surface 3:
1. Plug the Micro USB connector into
the Micro USB charging port with
the power cord extending downward
and the light on the connector
facing toward you.
2. Plug the full-size USB connector on
the other end of the cord into the
power supply.
3. Plug the power supply into an
electrical outlet. .

Allow 2-4 hours to charge Surface 3 fully from an empty state. It can take longer if you’re actively
using Surface 3 for power-intensive activities like gaming or video streaming.
If the Surface 3 battery is drained, you’ll need to charge Surface 3 for a few minutes before it’ll
turn on. Depending on how low the battery is, you may see a battery icon on the screen for 10-15
minutes before Windows starts.

To check the battery level, open the desktop

and select the battery status icon on the
right side of the taskbar.
Important Your Surface 3 is designed to
work best with the included power supply.
Using a third-party power supply may result
in slow charging.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 5

Make your battery last

For info on how to conserve power and make your Surface battery last longer, see Surface Pro and
Surface 3 battery and power on Surface.com. To learn about settings that control how your Surface
uses power, see Power plans: Frequently asked questions on Windows.com.

Touch, keyboard, pen, and mouse

With Surface, you can easily switch between using touch, a keyboard, a mouse, or a pen.
 Touch. You can use your fingers on the touchscreen, the same as you would on a smartphone.
For example, drag your finger across the screen to scroll. For demos of the gestures you can
use, see Touch: Tap, swipe, and beyond on Surface.com.
 Keyboard. Click in a Surface 3 Type Cover (sold separately) or use a full-size USB or Bluetooth
keyboard. There’s also a built-in on-screen keyboard you can use. For more info, see How to
use the Surface on-screen keyboard on Surface.com.
 Touchpad or mouse. Use the Type Cover touchpad, or connect a USB or Bluetooth mouse. For
more info, see Touchpad use and settings, Connect a USB mouse, printer, and more, and Add a
Bluetooth device on Surface.com.
 Surface Pen. Take notes, draw, and mark up documents using Surface Pen (sold separately).
You can jot a quick note in OneNote, even when you have Surface 3 locked. Just click the pen
and start writing. Your note will be in the Quick Notes section of OneNote the next time you
sign in. For more info, see Using Surface Pen on Surface.com.

Get online: networking

Connect to a Wi-Fi network

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Settings > wireless network .
2. Select a network name, and select Connect. (If you want to connect to this network every
time it's in range, select Connect automatically).
3. If prompted, enter your network security key (network password), and select Next. If you
need help finding your wireless network password, see How to find your wireless network
password on Surface.com.
4. Choose whether to connect to other PCs and devices on the network. Choose No if you’re
connecting to a network in a public place like a café.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 6

Connect to a wired network

1. Plug a USB to Ethernet adapter (sold separately) into the USB port on your Surface.
2. Plug an Ethernet cable into the adapter, and plug the other end of the cable into your
router or an Ethernet network port.

3. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, select Settings > wired network .
4. If prompted, enter your user name and password.
5. To see if you’re online, go to Start , and open Internet Explorer.

Disconnect from a network

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, select Settings > wireless network (or
wired network ).
2. Select the network with a Connected status, and choose Disconnect.

Accounts and sign in

Sign in and sign out
To sign in:
1. Turn on or wake Surface by pressing the power button.
2. Swipe up on the screen or tap a key on the keyboard.
3. If you see your account name and account picture, enter your password and select the right
arrow or press Enter on your keyboard.
4. If you see a different account name, select the left arrow. Then select your own account,
enter your password, and select the right arrow or press Enter on your keyboard.
To sign out:
 Go to Start , select your account name in the upper-right corner, and then select Sign
out.

Additional accounts
Each person who uses your Surface should have his or her own account to sign in. When you set
up your Surface, your account is created based on the info you supply.
From this account, you can create, modify, or remove other accounts. If you want, you can give
other accounts these abilities, too. For details, see Manage accounts with an Administrator account.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 7

First, though, think about whether any new account you create will be a local account that works
only on this one Surface, or a Microsoft account (an email address and password that you use to
sign in to Windows). A Microsoft account provides the best experience.
Later, you can decide what level of control the account should have: Standard, Administrator, or
Child.

Microsoft account or local account?

Here are some key differences between a Microsoft account and a local account:

Microsoft account Local account

An email address and password you use to A user name and password that works only on
sign in on computers running Windows 8.1 or this one computer.
later, and to sign in to other Microsoft services
like Xbox, Hotmail, Outlook.com, OneDrive,
Skype, or Windows Phone.

You can keep your personal settings in sync You need to personalize each computer
with any other PC you have running Windows individually.
8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 that you sign into with
your Microsoft account.

When you sign in to your Surface with your You’ll need to sign on to services like
Microsoft account, you’re also connected to OneDrive, Skype, or Windows Store each time
your OneDrive, Skype, and Windows Store you want to access them.
accounts.

Documents, photos, and other files you create Your files aren’t automatically saved to the
are saved to your OneDrive by default. cloud.
OneDrive is like a local folder that follows you
wherever you sign in with your Microsoft
account.

If you forget the password for a Microsoft If you forget the password for your local
account, you can go to account, Microsoft can’t help you reset your
https://account.live.com/password/reset to password or access your files.
reset your password online.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 8

If you’re not sure whether you have a Microsoft account, or you can't remember the email address
you used with those services, you can easily sign up for a new, free email address. See Create a user
account on Windows.com to learn how.

Account types: Standard, Administrator, or Child

The account type determines what you can do using that account. Choose one of these account
types:
 Administrator. When you sign in with an administrator account, you can create, change, or
remove (delete) other accounts, and you can set the account type on other accounts you
create. You can also install apps.

The first account on your Surface is always an administrator account. To create another
administrator account, you need to first create the new account, and then edit it to make it an
administrator account.
 Standard. People using a Standard account can create and edit files and personalize their
settings, but they can’t create, change, or remove any other accounts. They may not be able to
install some apps. When you create a new account, it’s a standard account unless you edit the
account to make it an administrator account, or you set it up as a Child account.
 Child. Child accounts are controlled by the Family Safety settings you apply to the account. See
Keep your kids safer on the PC on Windows.com to learn how to turn on Family Safety features.

Manage accounts with an Administrator account

When you sign in with an Administrator account, you can create, change, or remove other
accounts.
To create an account:
1. Sign in with an Administrator account.
2. Go to Start , and select PC settings > Accounts > Other accounts > Add an
account.
3. Enter the email address that the new account will use to sign in to Windows, and select
Next.
If you know the email address the new account user uses to sign in to Microsoft services,
enter it. Or, you can sign up for a new email address, add a child’s account, or sign in
without a Microsoft account (not recommended).

© 2015 Microsoft Page 9

To set an account type:
1. Sign in with an Administrator account.
2. Go to Start , and select PC settings > Accounts > Other accounts, and select the
account you want to change.
3. Select Edit, and under Account type, choose the account type, and select OK.
To delete an account:
1. Sign in with an Administrator account.
2. Go to Start , and select PC settings > Accounts > Other accounts, and select the
account you want to remove.
3. Select Remove > Delete account and data.
For more on accounts, see All about accounts on Surface.com.

Get to know Windows

Start screen

Start is the heart of your Surface—it’s

where you open apps, check your
calendar, mail, and more in live tiles,
and get to your favorite websites.
From Start you can search for files,
apps, and settings, and search the
web.

There are several ways to get to Start:

 Tap the Windows button on your Surface.
 Press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
 Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Start .
 Move your mouse to the lower-left corner of the screen, and select Start .
Customize Start by adding, removing, rearranging, and resizing tiles. For more info, see Personalize
your PC on Windows.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 10

Open an app
Select a tile on Start to open the app. If you don’t see the app you want, select Search , enter the
name of the app, and select it from the list.
To see a full list of the apps on your Surface, swipe up on the Start screen to get to Apps view. (If
you’re using a mouse, click the arrow near the lower-left corner of the screen.) For more info
about apps, see Apps on your Surface.

Charms
Charms help you do the things you do most often:
Search is how you find things on Surface, in OneDrive, in apps, and on the web.

Share files, photos, or webpages from within a Windows Store app.

Start takes you to the Start screen. If you're already on Start, it takes you to the last
app you were using.
Devices is a quick way to send files and info to other devices that are connected to
your Surface, like your printer, Xbox, smartphone, speakers, TV, or a projector.
Settings is the place to make changes to common settings, find settings for your
Surface (like personalization, user accounts, and devices), and change settings for the
app you’re using.
Another quick way to get to settings:
 Go to Start , and select PC settings (it’s the tile with the gear on your
Start screen.)

To open the charms, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select the charm you want.

The familiar desktop

The Windows desktop—with its taskbar, folders, and icons—is still here, with a new taskbar and
streamlined file management. This is where you’ll use desktop apps like Microsoft Office and
Windows features like File Explorer. You can also pin Windows Store apps to the taskbar, so you
can launch them without leaving the desktop.
To open the desktop, just open any desktop app, or go to Start , and select Desktop.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 11

Learn more about Windows
To get up to speed with Windows 8.1, see Get to know Windows on Surface.com, and check out
the Windows tutorial on Windows.com.
To learn how to customize and personalize your Surface, sync and change your settings, and more,
see Customization and settings.

Keep your Surface up to date

Microsoft releases important updates to improve Windows software security and reliability, and
system and hardware updates (also known as firmware updates) to help improve the stability and
performance of your Surface hardware.
By default, your Surface is set to install updates automatically.

Install updates manually

To check for and install updates manually:
1. Go to Start , and select PC settings > Update and recovery > Check now.
2. If updates are available, select View details, select the updates you want to install, and
select Install.
For more info on keeping your Surface up to date, see Install Surface and Windows updates on
Surface.com.

View your update history

To see which updates you already have, and the date each was installed:
 Go to Start , and select PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update >
View your update history.
Updates to your Surface hardware appear in your update history as either “System Firmware
Update - XX/XX/XX” or “System Hardware Update - XX/XX/XX”. (“XX/XX/XX” stands for the date
that Microsoft made the Surface update available.)
Surface updates are cumulative—if you have the latest Surface update installed, you’re up to date.
For descriptions of the Surface updates released so far, see Surface 3 update history.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 12

Make sure you have the latest Surface updates
To make sure you that you have all the latest Surface hardware updates successfully installed:
1. Go to Surface 3 update history on Surface.com and look in the table at the top of the page
to see the latest available System Update.
2. Compare that to the last System Firmware or System Hardware update you see when you
view your update history on your Surface 3.
If you have trouble with updates, see Trouble installing Surface and Windows updates? on
Surface.com.

Surface Pen and OneNote

Use Surface Pen (sold separately) to quickly open OneNote, take screenshots, mark
up presentations, sign documents, and use and enjoy art apps.
Surface Pen has the heft and sensitivity of a pen, and thanks to Palm Block
technology, you can write naturally on your Surface 3 in any app that supports
inking.

Set up Surface Pen

If you have Surface Pen (sold separately), you’ll need to install its AAAA battery and pair it with
Surface 3. Here’s how:
To install the AAAA battery:

1. Unscrew the top of the pen from the bottom.

2. Insert the battery, wrapped in the label from the top of the pen, with the positive (+) end of
the battery pointing toward the writing tip.
3. Screw the top back on.
To pair Surface Pen to Surface 3:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Settings > Change PC settings > PC
and devices > Bluetooth.
2. Make sure Bluetooth is On.
3. Hold down the top button of the pen for about 7 seconds, until the light in the middle of
the pen clip starts to flash.
4. When Surface Pen appears in the list of Bluetooth devices, select it, and select Pair.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 13

Surface Pen features

Top button.
Click the top button to open OneNote. Double-click to capture a
screenshot. Bluetooth technology links the top button of your Surface Pen
to your Surface 3.

Right-click button.
This button acts like the right-click button on a mouse. Click it once in
apps like OneNote to open a menu to choose pen color, thickness, and
other options. You can also click and hold the button to select text.

Eraser button.
Hold down the eraser button and move the tip over the area you want to
erase.

Tip.
The fine tip, along with Palm Block technology and multi-point sensitivity
in your Surface, lets you write and draw naturally.

Here are a few of the things you can do with the Surface Pen:

Click the top of the Surface Pen and start

writing a Quick Note—like a yellow sticky that
you’ll never lose. You don’t even need to
unlock your Surface.
Click again to write another note, or press the
power button on your Surface to put Surface
to sleep.

Sign in to Surface, and click the top of the pen

to open your latest notes. Add a Quick Note,
write in any of your OneNote notebooks, or
review and organize the notes you wrote
while Surface was locked.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 14

 Double-click the top button on Surface Pen to
take a screenshot. Then, select what you want
to capture in the screenshot by dragging the
tip of the pen from one corner of your
selection to the opposite corner. When you
lift the pen tip, your selection appears in a
new page in OneNote.

You can use the Surface app to adjust your pen’s pressure sensitivity, or change which version of
OneNote opens when you click the pen’s top button. By default, the Windows Store version of
OneNote opens when you click the top button.
For more info about using Surface Pen and OneNote, see Using Surface Pen and Using OneNote
on Surface on Surface.com.

Explore OneNote
Your Surface comes with both OneNote and OneNote 2013 pre-installed, and you can install
OneNote from OneNote.com on your other devices—it’s free. Create as many notebooks as you
need. Use sections, pages, and tags to make things easier to find. Share some notebooks, and keep
others private.
To learn more about OneNote features and menus, see Using OneNote on Surface on Surface.com.

Note syncing

OneNote saves your notes, and syncs them to OneDrive (online cloud storage). With OneNote, you
can keep your notes, clippings, sketches, photos, and files organized and accessible from anywhere.
For more info, see Using OneDrive on Surface on Surface.com.
If you’re not connected to the Internet, OneNote saves your new and edited notes on your Surface.
They’ll sync automatically with your OneNote notebook the next time you’re online using Surface.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 15

Use Surface Pen in other apps
You can use your Surface Pen to draw and write or highlight text in Office apps. To learn more
about using Surface Pen in Office apps (called inking), see Use a pen to draw, write, or highlight
text on a Windows tablet on Office.com.
You can use the Surface Pen in drawing apps, and many others—any app that supports inking.
Even if your app doesn’t support inking, you can use your Surface Pen to enter text using the
handwriting panel in the on-screen keyboard. Here’s how:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Settings.
2. Select Keyboard > Touch keyboard and handwriting panel > Keyboard >
Handwriting .
3. Write something on the handwriting panel. Surface automatically converts your words to
text.
4. Select Insert to insert your text.
The handwriting panel adapts to your writing over time, becoming more accurate the more you
use it. For more info, see How to use the on-screen keyboard on Surface.com.

Type Cover keyboard and touchpad

Surface 3 Type Cover (sold separately)
clicks into place, giving you a standard
keyboard layout, backlit keys, gesture-
enabled touchpad, and protective cover
all in one slim package.
When you close the Cover, Surface 3
goes to sleep. Fold the Cover back to use
your Surface as a tablet. While the Cover
is back, Surface won’t detect key presses.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 16

Keys on the top row of the Surface 3 Type Cover make it easy to do common tasks.

Key icon What it does

Turns audio muting on or off

Plays or pauses audio or video

Decreases keyboard backlighting

Increases keyboard backlighting

Dims the screen

Brightens the screen

To lock and unlock the Fn keys:

 Press the Fn key (in the bottom row on the keyboard) to lock the Fn keys. Press Fn again to
unlock them. A light on the Fn key lets you know you’ve locked the keys into function key
mode.
For detailed info about adjusting keyboard backlighting, using the shortcut keys, function keys, and
more, see Type Cover on Surface.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 17

Touchpad

The touchpad on Surface 3 Type Cover has

right-click and left-click buttons that work
like a mouse. The left-click button area is
larger, while the right-click button is smaller.
The touchpad supports gestures like tap,
double-tap, drag, scroll, and zoom. To learn
how to use all the touchpad gestures and to
see them demonstrated, see Get started with
your Surface 3 on Surface.com.

Touchpad settings

If your cursor jumps while you type, or the touchpad seems to respond too quickly to accidental
touches, you can change the touchpad settings to make it work the way you like. If you prefer, you
can turn the touchpad off altogether.
To change these and other settings:
 Attach the Cover, go to Start , and select PC settings > PC and devices > Mouse
and touchpad.
For more info, see Change touchpad settings in PC settings on Surface.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 18

Storage
You have many storage options with Surface 3. In addition to the storage on the hard drive on
Surface 3, you have external storage options like OneDrive (cloud storage), USB drives, and
microSD cards.

How much space do I have?

The amount of storage space available on your hard drive depends on which size hard drive your
Surface 3 has, what apps you’ve installed, and how much data you’re storing already.
Here’s how to see how much available space you have on Surface:
 Go to Start , and select PC settings > PC and devices > Disk space.
At the top of the screen, you can see how much space you have available. You can also see how
much disk space your apps, media, and files use.
You may be able to free up space by selecting Empty my Recycle Bin. This permanently deletes
files you put into the recycle bin earlier. For more tips on how to free up space, see Tips to free up
disk space on Windows.com.

OneDrive: Your personal cloud

OneDrive is online storage that comes with your Microsoft account. When you save
your documents, photos, and other files to OneDrive, they're available from any web-
connected device (for example, your smartphone, or any PC). OneDrive is also a great
way to share files with other people.
If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to your Surface, your OneDrive folders are as
easy to use as the folders on the hard drive. You can browse, open, and edit your files in OneDrive
even when you're offline. See the Getting started with OneDrive tutorial on Windows.com to learn
how.

Save and open files

When you sign in to Surface with a Microsoft account, files you create from Office apps are saved
to OneDrive by default, so that you can access them from any of the devices you use.
Saving Office files on OneDrive also makes it easy to share and work with other people. For more
info, see Keep your Office documents in OneDrive on Windows.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 19

 Save files from any desktop app to a
OneDrive folder by navigating to it when
you save.

When you open or save files from a

Windows Store app, you can choose
OneDrive or This PC as the location.
Select the down arrow to choose your
location.

In the same way, you can open files from within an app.

Get to your files from anywhere

There are several ways to get to your OneDrive folders and files:
 Sign in to any PC with the Microsoft account you use on your Surface. Then go to Start and
open OneDrive, or navigate to the OneDrive folder in File Explorer
 Go to OneDrive.com.
 Use one of the OneDrive mobile apps. See Download OneDrive for Windows on OneDrive.com
for more info.
If you have files on another computer that you want to use on Surface, you can upload them to
OneDrive. Here’s how:
 From the computer with the files that you want to copy to Surface, go to OneDrive.com and
upload your files. (To find out how, see Upload photos and files on Windows.com.)
The files will sync to OneDrive on your Surface the next time you go online and sign in.
You can also copy files to Surface from a thumb drive or external hard drive, or by copying them
from the Internet or your local network.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 20

Use OneDrive to share files

You can use OneDrive to share photos, Office docs, and other files with your friends or coworkers.
They won’t need to install any special programs or sign up for a new account, and they can use any
web browser to get to the files you share with them.
1. Go to Start , open OneDrive, and select the files or folders you want to share. (Swipe
down on a file or folder to select it. Or if you’re using a mouse, right-click it.)
2. At the bottom of the screen, select Share , and then decide how you want to share.
 Choose Invite People to share the drive with others. You’ll need to provide their email
addresses. Only those people will be able to access the files, and you’ll be able to
change permissions later if you want.
 Choose Get a link let people read the files or read and edit the files, or to make the
folder public. You’ll be able to paste the link into any email, document, or post. Or, you
can share it directly to a social media site like Facebook or Twitter. Anyone with the link
will be able to access the files.
To learn more about sharing files, see Share files and photos on Windows.com.

Connect accessories and devices

Connect a TV, monitor, or projector
You can connect Surface 3 to a TV to watch movies on a big screen, to a projector to share a
presentation, or to a second monitor to make multi-tasking in several apps even easier.

Connect to a wireless display

If you have a wireless display, here’s how to connect it:

1. Go to Start , and select PC settings > PC and devices > Display.
2. At the bottom of the screen, select Connect to a wireless display.
3. Select Add a wireless display.
4. Choose the wireless display in the list of devices found, and follow the on-screen
instructions.

Connect with a cable and adapter

To connect Surface 3 to another screen without wireless, you’ll need a compatible cable and
possibly an adapter. Look at the video ports on your TV, monitor, or projector to figure out which
adapter or cable you need:

© 2015 Microsoft Page 21

 HDTV. If your TV has an HDMI port, you’ll need an HDMI cable and a Mini DisplayPort to HD
AV adapter or an HDMI to Mini DisplayPort cable. (Both are sold separately.)
 Projector or monitor. If your monitor has a DisplayPort, you can connect it to Surface using a
Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable (sold separately).
If your monitor doesn’t have a DisplayPort or HDMI port, use a VGA cable and the Mini
DisplayPort to VGA Adapter. A VGA adapter or cable is for video only. Audio will play from your
Surface speakers unless you’ve connected external speakers.
For more info about this, see Connect Surface Pro or Surface 3 to a TV, monitor, or projector on
Surface.com.
Here’s how to set it up:
1. Connect an HDMI or VGA cable to the HDMI, DisplayPort, or VGA port on your TV, monitor,
or projector.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to a Surface video adapter or the Mini DisplayPort on
your Surface.
3. If you’re using an adapter, plug the adapter into the Mini DisplayPort on your Surface 3.

Set up your screens

Once you connect another screen or screens, you can choose what to display on each screen.
Here’s how:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Devices.
2. Select Project, and then choose one of the following options:
 PC screen only. You’ll see everything on your Surface screen. (If you're connecting to a
wireless projector, this option changes to Disconnect.)
 Duplicate. You’ll see the same things on all screens.
 Extend. You'll see everything spread over all screens, and you can drag and move items
between them.
 Second screen only. You’ll see everything on the connected screen or screens, and
your Surface screen will be blank.
For more info, see Connect Surface Pro or Surface 3 to a TV, monitor, or projector on Surface.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 22

Connect a USB accessory (printer, mouse, and more)

Surface 3 has a full-size USB 3.0 port that you can use
to connect a USB accessory such as a printer, camera,
music player, smartphone, mouse, or external hard
drive.
The first time you plug in a USB accessory, Windows
tries to install any software the accessory requires.
For more info, see Connect a USB mouse, printer, and
more on Surface.com.

Full-size USB 3.0 port on Surface 3

Add a Bluetooth accessory

To pair a Bluetooth accessory with your Surface:
1. Turn on the Bluetooth device and make it discoverable. To learn how, check the info that
came with your accessory or the manufacturer’s website.
2. On Surface, go to Start , and select PC settings > PC and devices > Bluetooth.
3. Make sure Bluetooth is On, and wait while Windows searches for Bluetooth devices.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish pairing your device. If your accessory requires a
pairing code, it’ll prompt you for it. If you don’t know the code, check the info that came
with your device or the manufacturer’s website.
For more info, see Add a Bluetooth device on Surface.com.

Add an audio accessory

The stereo speakers and microphone on Surface 3 let you listen to music and videos, make phone
calls, and record audio. You can also connect your favorite USB and Bluetooth accessories like
speakers, a mic, or a headset.
To learn how to use the audio features on Surface 3, see Surface audio features.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 23

Print or scan
To learn how to connect a USB printer or scanner, see Connect a USB accessory (printer, mouse,
and more). For info on connecting a Bluetooth printer or scanner, see Add a Bluetooth accessory.
To see if your printer is installed:
1. Go to Start , and select PC settings > PC and devices > Devices.
2. Look for your printer in the list of devices.
 If your printer is in the list, you’re ready to print something.
 If your printer isn’t listed, select Add a device, and select your printer to install it.
To print from a Windows Store app:
1. Open what you want to print. For example, open a web page in Internet Explorer, or an
email message in Mail.
2. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Devices.
3. Select your printer from the list.
4. Choose your printing options, and select Print.
To print from a desktop app (such as Notepad or an Office app):
 Find the Print command in the app, or press Ctrl+P.
For more info on setting up and using printers and scanners, see Print and scan from Surface on
Surface.com.

Surface audio features

Adjust the volume
You can adjust the volume on your Surface in a few places:
 Volume button. Use the volume button on your Surface to adjust the volume up or down.
 Settings. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, select Settings > Volume , and adjust
the volume up or down.
 Desktop taskbar. On the desktop taskbar (lower-right corner), select Speakers , and adjust
the volume up or down.
 Audio accessories. Adjust the volume on an audio accessory—like a headset, speakers, or
phone—using the volume control on the accessory, or in the software included with the
accessory. For more info, check the info that came with your accessory or visit the
manufacturer's website.
 Apps. Some apps have a volume control within the app.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 24

Record audio

Two apps for recording sound are pre- Sound Recorder app for Windows
installed on Surface 3:
Sound Recorder desktop app

To open either app:

1. Go to Start , select Search , and enter sound recorder.
2. In the search results, select the sound recording app you want to use.
For info about the Sound Recorder app for Windows, see Sound Recorder app for Windows: FAQ.
To learn more about the Sound Recorder desktop app, see Recording audio in Sound Recorder:
FAQ. Both are on Windows.com.

Set the default audio device

1. Go to Start , select Search , enter sound, and then select Sound from the list.
2. Next, do either or both of the following:
 Select the Playback tab, select the device you want to use for playback (for example,
the built-in speakers on Surface, external speakers, or a headset), and then select Set
Default.
 Select the Recording tab, select the device you want to use for recording (for example,
the built-in microphone, or an external microphone), and then select Set Default.
After you've selected your default devices, select OK.

Change which sounds play

You can choose which sounds play for notifications and system events (for example, the sound that
plays when you get a new message). Here's how:
1. Go to Start , select Search , enter sound, and then choose Sound.
2. Select the Sounds tab, and under Program Events, choose an event (for example,
Calendar Reminder).
3. Under Sounds, select the sound you want to play for that event. To hear the sound, select
Test.
4. Select Apply to change the sound for the event.
For more info about Surface audio features, see Surface sound, volume, and audio accessories on
Surface.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 25

Cameras and the Camera app
Surface has two integrated cameras that you can use to take pictures, record videos, and make
video calls. The built-in Camera app can help you get even more out of your cameras.

Take a photo
1. Go to Start , and open the Camera app. You can tap the screen to focus on a spot.
2. Tap the on-screen Camera button to take a photo.
3. To exit, press the Windows button on your Surface.

Take a panorama
1. Go to Start , open the Camera app, and select Panorama.
2. Point the camera at your starting point for the panorama, and tap the screen to start.
3. Slowly tilt or rotate the camera in any direction. When you align the new image with the
existing images, the camera automatically takes the next image.
4. If you want to retake the last image taken, select Undo.
Otherwise, select the check mark when you’re done.

Record a video
1. Go to Start , and open the Camera app.
2. Tap the on-screen Video button.
3. You can tap the screen to focus on a spot while you’re recording the video.
4. To exit, press the Windows button on your Surface.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 26

Take a photo or video from the lock screen
The perfect shot might not wait for you to unlock your Surface, but you can set up Surface to let
you take photos and videos from the lock screen. Here’s how to set up and use this feature.
To turn the lock-screen camera feature on:
1. Go to Start , and select PC settings > PC and devices > Lock screen.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen, and under Camera, select On.
To take a photo or video from the lock screen:
1. If the screen is off, press the power button to turn Surface on.
2. Swipe down from the top edge of the lock screen.
3. Tap the Camera or Video button.

Adjust the focus

The rear-facing camera on Surface 3 has an autofocus lens that will detect a face in the scene and
focus on it automatically. If it doesn’t detect a face, it will focus on the main subject in the center of
the screen.
You can change and lock the focus on a different location before taking a picture or while
recording a video. Here’s how:
 Photos. Before taking a photo, tap the screen to focus on a spot.
 Videos. While shooting a video, tap the screen to adjust the focus.
You can change the default setting on Surface 3 so that tapping the screen focuses on an area and
then takes a photo, or just takes a photo without focusing. For more info, see Using autofocus on
Surface 3 on Surface.com.
Note The front-facing camera on Surface 3 has a fixed-focus lens. Autofocus is available only on
the rear-facing camera.
For more info about your Surface cameras and the Camera app, to learn about viewing and editing
photos and videos, and to find out about changing camera options, see Take photos and videos
with Surface on Surface.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 27

Apps on your Surface
Apps to help you stay connected, entertained, informed, and productive come pre-installed and
ready to use on your Surface 3. Find more apps quickly and easily in the Windows Store, or install
your favorite desktop apps.

Find and open an app

 Tap a tile on the Start screen to open the app. If you don’t see the app that you want, select
Search , enter the name of the app, and select it from the list.
Or, swipe up on the Start screen to Apps view to see a full list of your installed apps.

Switch between apps

To switch to the last app you were using:
 With touch, swipe in from the left edge of the screen.
 With a mouse, move your pointer into the upper-left corner, and then click the corner.
 With a keyboard, press Alt+Tab.
To switch to an app you were using recently:

With touch, swipe in from the left edge of the screen

without lifting your finger, and then push back toward the
left edge. You'll see the apps you've used recently. Tap
the app you want.

With a mouse, move the pointer into the upper-left

corner and move it down the left edge. You’ll see the
apps you’ve used recently. Select the one you want.

With the keyboard, hold down the Windows logo key and press Tab. For more info, see
Mouse and keyboard: What’s new on Windows.com

To learn how to open apps side by side, see Use more than one app at the same time on
Surface.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 28

Close an app

Close a Windows Store app

Apps that you install from the Windows Store don’t slow down your Surface when you’re using
them. If you want to close one of these apps, here’s how:
 Use touch. Swipe in from the left edge of the screen, and push back toward the left edge.
Press and hold the app you want to close, and then slide your finger all the way down the
screen and hold it there until the app flips over.
 Use a mouse or touchpad. Move your mouse pointer to the top of the app and then select
the Close button in the title bar.

Close a desktop app

It’s still a good idea to close desktop apps when you're done using them, particularly before
shutting down your Surface.
 Select the Close button in the upper right corner of the app.

Change settings for an app

 To change settings for a Windows Store app, open the app, swipe in from the right edge of
the screen, and select Settings.
 To change settings for a desktop app, follow the instructions for that app.

Default apps

A default app is the app that Windows uses automatically when you open a particular file type,
such as a song, movie, photo, or webpage. To set your default apps:
1. Go to Start , and select PC settings > Search and apps > Defaults. You can choose a
default app for the web, email, music, video, photos, calendar, or maps.
2. Select the one you want to set and choose an app.
To learn more about the apps Windows uses by default, see Choose the apps Windows uses by
default on Windows.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 29

Built-in apps

Internet Explorer 11

Surface comes with two versions of Internet Explorer—a touch-friendly version with
oversized tabs and tiles for easy tapping, and a version for the desktop.

Browse with touch-friendly Internet Explorer

1. Go to Start , and open Internet Explorer.
2. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the address bar.
3. Tiles for your favorite sites and open tabs appear above the address bar (scroll to see all the
tiles).
4. Do any of the following:
 Enter a web address or search term in the Address bar
 Select a tab, pinned, or favorite web site.
 Select the New tab button to open a new browser tab. Then, enter a URL or search
term, or select one of your frequent or favorite sites.
 Select the three dots ( … ) to open an InPrivate tab or reopen a tab you’ve recently
closed.

Browse with Internet Explorer for the desktop

The desktop version of Internet Explorer is also pre-installed. To start the Internet Explorer desktop
app:
1. Go to Start , and select Desktop (or press Windows logo key +D).
2. From the taskbar, open Internet Explorer.
For more info, including how to set your browser defaults, work with tabs and in multiple windows,
save and pin your favorite websites, and more, see Browse the web with Internet Explorer on
Surface.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 30

Mail

The Mail app organizes your inbox and offers quick views of your favorite people,
flagged messages, folders, newsletters, and social updates.
Here are some tips to get you started. For more info, see Set up and use Mail on
Surface.com and the Mail app tutorial on Windows.com.
If you’ve signed in to Surface with a Microsoft account, your mail account is already set up. You can
then add other accounts, from Outlook, Gmail, AOL, Yahoo!, and even your work email (Exchange
ActiveSync).
After you add an email account, contacts from your email account appear in the People app and
appointments appear in the Calendar app.
Here’s how to add accounts:
1. Go to Start , and open the Mail app.
2. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen (or, with a mouse, point to the upper-right
corner of the screen), and select Settings.
3. Select Accounts > Add an account, choose the type of account you want to add, and
follow the on-screen instructions.
The Mail app has three panes:
 The left pane shows you your email folders and accounts (in the lower-left corner). Select a
folder or account to switch to it.
 The middle pane shows you messages for the selected email account.
 The right pane is the reading pane. It shows you the content of the selected email message.

People

The People app is more than just an address book. The People app keeps you up to
date with your social networks and helps you stay in touch.
When you connect your accounts like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, you’ll get all the latest
updates, tweets, and pictures, in one place. Comment on an update or retweet a tweet without
switching apps. Here's how to add people from your existing contact lists and address books:
1. Sign in with your Microsoft account.
2. Go to Start , and open the People app.
3. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen (or, with a mouse, point to the upper-right
corner of the screen), and select Settings.
4. Select Accounts > Add an account, select the email or social networking account you want
to add, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 31

To learn how to add individual contacts, pin contacts to Start, use the People app to post updates,
and more, see People app on Surface.com and People app help on Windows.com.

Calendar

The Calendar app brings all your calendars together in one place. Reminders and
notifications help you remember what’s happening, so you never miss a thing.

To add a calendar:
1. Go to Start , and open the Calendar app.
2. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen (or, with a mouse, point to the upper-right
corner of the screen), and select Settings.
3. Select Accounts > Add an account, select the type of account you want to add, and follow
the on-screen instructions.
To view your calendars:
1. Go to Start , and open the Calendar app.
2. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen or down from the top of the screen.
3. Choose from the options at the top and bottom of the screen.
For more info, see Calendar app help and How to manage notifications for Mail, Calendar, and
People on Windows.com.

Skype

Skype helps you stay connected to your friends and family. Instant message, call, or
video call your Skype contacts and snap Skype to one side and chat while you’re using
a second app.
You can use Skype to contact landline and mobile phones with Skype credits or a subscription.
Here’s how to get started with Skype.

Sign in to Skype
1. Go to Start , and open the Skype app.
2. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen (or, with a mouse, point to the upper-right
corner of the screen), and select Settings.
3. Select Accounts > Add an account, select the email or social networking account you want
to add, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 32

Add contacts
1. In Skype, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, select Add contact, and search for
people by name, Skype name, or email address. If you can't find the person, select Search
directory.
2. Select the person you want to add, select Add to contacts, and follow the on-screen
instructions.

Start a call or chat

 Open Skype and select a contact name. Then do one of the following:
 Select Call to make a voice call.
 Select Video to make a video call.
 Enter a message in the chat window. To add more people or share files and photos
during the chat, select Add and choose an option.
For more info, see Skype on Surface on Surface.com.

Photos

Use the Photos app to view, edit, and organize the photos you have saved in your
Pictures library or on OneDrive.
Crop, enhance, and add effects to your images, choose a photo to be your lock screen background,
or display one or more images on your Photos tile. Photos app on Windows.com tells you how to
do all this and more.

Video

Xbox video brings you the latest movies and TV shows as well as featured hits. Get
recommendations based on what you’ve watched, and find something new to watch.
Check out Watch TV shows, movies, and videos on Surface.com for info on playing videos from
your video library, finding new videos to buy or rent, and more.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 33

 Music

Xbox Music lets you access your music collection, stream music, or buy music from the
Xbox store. Here are some tips to get you started.
Xbox Music can play any music in your music library. The library can include files in
any folder on your Surface, or even an external hard drive or removable media such as a USB drive
or microSD card, but it’s best to copy the music to your Surface.
Here’s how to add music to the library:
1. Go to Start , select Search , enter the phrase file explorer, and then choose File
Explorer.
2. Browse to the folder of music files that you want to add, and then press and hold (or right-
click) it.
3. Select Include in library, and then select Music.
Xbox Music options include opening a collection or radio station, browsing for new music, opening
playlists in your music library, and creating new playlists.
See Play music on Surface on Surface.com for more details.

Surface

Get the most out of your Surface. The Surface app provides you with customization
options and the opportunity to learn more about your Surface. Give feedback on your experience
so we can keep making it better. For more info, see Install and use the Surface app.

Microsoft Office
Office 365* is a subscription service that lets you install full-
featured Office apps on multiple computers and devices. It gives
you the most up-to-date versions of Office products, including
updates, for as long as you subscribe.
Depending on your country or region, your Surface 3 may include Office 365.
For more info, including info about how to activate an Office 365 subscription, see Install and use
Microsoft Office on Surface Pro or Surface 3 on Surface.com.
*Office 365 isn’t available in all countries or regions. Office comes pre-installed on Surface 3 in some countries and
regions.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 34

More installed apps
Lots more apps are available on your Surface 3. Here are a few:

News Finance

Keep up to date with what’s Stay on top of financial news and

happening in the world using this photo-rich market data from global sources. For more info,
app. For more info, see News app on see Finance app on Windows.com.
Windows.com.

Alarms Reading List

Manage and keep track of time by Keep track of content that you want
using alarms, timers, or a stopwatch. For more to read later. For more info, see Reading List
info, see Alarms app on Windows.com. app on Windows.com.

Maps Weather

See your current location, zoom in for See the latest conditions and
more detail, zoom out for a bigger picture, and forecasts. Get weather reports from multiple
get directions. See Maps app on Windows.com providers. For more info, see Weather app on
for more info. Windows.com.

Sports Flipboard

Keep up with all the sports and teams you care Flipboard is your personal magazine.
about with Live Tile updates on your favorite It collects in a single place the news, stories,
teams articles, videos, and photos you care about.

Food & Drink Health & Fitness

Enjoy hands-free cooking mode, This app has over 1,000 exercise
recipes, and tips from celebrity chefs. For more videos, and exercise and diet trackers. For more
info, see Food & Drink app on Windows.com. info, see Health & Fitness app on Windows.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 35

Install more apps
You can also install apps on Surface 3 from the Windows Store, websites, CDs, or DVDs.

Get apps from the Windows Store

To find apps to install from the Windows Store, connect to the Internet and sign in using a
Microsoft account. Your Microsoft account keeps track of the apps you install, your preferences,
and your payment methods. Here’s how to find and install apps from the Windows Store:
1. Go to Start , and open the Windows Store.
2. Look for apps. You can:
 Browse featured apps and lists. Drag your finger across the screen to browse apps.
 Use the top menu to explore apps. For example, you can select Categories and then
select the category you want. Or, select Top charts to find popular apps.
 Search for apps. If you know the name of an app you want, or you’re looking for apps
by a specific publisher, enter that info in the search box.
3. Select an app to learn about it and read reviews. If you like it, select the option shown:
 Install is what you’ll see if the app is free or you’ve already bought it.
 Try means a free trial version of the app is available.
 Buy means that the app isn’t free and the price is shown.

Add or edit your payment method

Apps that you buy are charged to the payment method, such as a credit card, associated with your
Microsoft account. Here’s how to add or edit your payment method:
1. Go to Start , and open the Windows Store.
2. Select Account > My account.
3. Choose Add payment method or Edit payment method, edit any necessary info, and
select Submit.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 36

Install apps that you installed on other PCs

1. Go to Start , and open the Windows Store.

2. Select Account > My account > My apps.
3. Under Apps not installed on this PC, swipe down on (or right-click) the apps you want to
install on Surface.
4. Select Install to install the selected apps.

Buy apps for kids

If your children use their own account to sign in to Surface, they probably don’t have a payment
method attached to their account to buy apps. You can buy apps for your children, or install apps
that you already own for them. For more info, see How to buy apps for kids on Windows.com.

Install desktop apps

You can install programs from the Internet, a CD, or a network.

To install apps from the Internet:
1. Make sure the publisher or website that’s offering the app is one you trust.
2. In your web browser, select the link to the app.
 To install the app now, select Open or Run and follow the on-screen instructions.
 To install it later, select Save or Save as to download it. When you're ready to install it,
select the file and follow the on-screen instructions.
To install an app from a CD or DVD:
1. Connect an external optical disc drive to the USB port on your Surface Pro.
2. Insert the disc in the drive. Usually the app starts to install automatically.
If the app doesn't start installing from a CD or DVD automatically:
1. Go to Start , select Search , and enter computer.
2. Select Computer from the list.
3. Open the CD or DVD folder, then open the program setup file, usually called Setup.exe or
Install.exe.
For more info, see Install and uninstall apps on Surface Pro or Surface 3 on Surface.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 37

Customization and settings
Depending on the settings you want to make, you’ll use one of these options:
 PC settings. Go to Start , select PC settings , and choose a setting type.
 Control Panel. Go to Start , select PC settings > Control Panel, and choose a setting
type.
 Settings. Swipe in from the right side of the screen, and select Settings > Change PC
settings, and choose a setting type.
 Search. Go to Start , select Search , and enter the name of the setting. Then choose it
from the list.
 Surface app. Open this app to adjust settings for the Surface Pen (sold separately), to disable
the Windows button on your Surface, and more.
For more info, see Customize Surface and app settings on Surface.com.

Personalize your lock screen

Your lock screen can include a picture or slide show of pictures, and app notifications such as your
next calendar appointment. To change your lock screen:
 Go to Start , select PC settings > Lock screen (in the right pane under Personalize.)
For more info, see Personalize your PC on Windows.com.

Personalize your Start screen

You can change the color and background on your Start screen to suit your mood, and you can
add, remove, resize, and rearrange tiles to suit the way you work.

Change color and background

 From the Start screen, swipe in from

the right edge of the screen, select
Settings > Personalization.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 38

Rearrange tiles

 Press and hold (or right-click) any tile to open app commands (a menu of options at the
bottom of the Start screen). With the commands in the menu, you can:
 Select one or more tiles and apply an action like Resize or Unpin from start to all of
them.
 Drag tiles to new positions.
 Swipe up to see all your apps in Apps view. Press and hold (or-right click) a tile to open
app commands, and choose an action like Pin to Start.

Adjust your touchscreen settings

To calibrate your taps and flicks, to choose left- or right-handedness, and adjust other touchscreen
settings:
 Go to Start , select Search , and enter the phrase tablet pc settings. Choose Tablet
PC Settings from the list.
To adjust screen brightness:
 Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and select Settings > Screen, and move the
slider. Or, you can use the screen brightness keys on your Surface 3 Type Cover.
To learn more about using the touchscreen and adjusting its settings, see The Surface touchscreen
on Surface.com.

Sync your settings

When you use your Microsoft account to sign in to Surface and other PCs you use, many of the
settings, preferences, and apps associated with your account appear everywhere you go. This
includes things like your themes, language preferences, browser favorites and history, content for
Microsoft apps and services, friends’ contact info, and more.

Choose which settings sync across PCs

1. Go to Start , and select PC settings > OneDrive > Sync settings.

2. Turn on Sync your settings on this PC.
3. Turn on any personalization, app, or other settings that you want to sync.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 39

Add a language
You can set up Surface to use more than one language, and switch between languages.
Here’s how:
1. Go to Start , and select PC settings > Time and language > Region and language
> Add a language.
2. Select a language from the list to add it to your Languages list.
3. To make the new language your primary language, under Languages select the language
you want to make your primary language, and select Set as primary. You can do this now
or later.
After you’ve set up additional languages, you can switch between them in desktop mode by
selecting the keyboard icon in the taskbar.

Desktop settings

Choose where you go when you sign in

By default, you see your Start screen when you sign in to Surface. However, you can start at the
desktop or the Apps view instead. To find out how, see Using the desktop on Surface.com.

Change the desktop background, colors, and sound

1. From the desktop, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Settings >
Personalization.
2. Choose a desktop theme. You can also change the desktop background, colors, and sounds
separately.
For more info, see Get started with themes on Windows.com.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 40

Accessibility
Ease of Access features let you use your Surface the way you want.
To set ease of access features:
1. Go to Start , and select PC settings > Ease of Access.
2. Choose among the settings you can make from the panel on the left:
 Narrator reads the text on your screen aloud. For more info, see Hear text read aloud
with Narrator on Windows.com.
 Magnifier enlarges your screen or parts of it to make words and images easier to see.
For more info, see Use Magnifier to see items on the screen on Windows.com.
 High contrast lets you use a high contrast theme that makes items easier to read.
To use a high contrast theme, choose a high contrast theme from the drop-down box,
adjust the colors if you want to, and select Apply.
 Keyboard. You can choose whether to control your Surface by using an on-screen
keyboard. This is also where you set sticky keys, filter out repeated keystrokes, and set
Surface to play a tone when you toggle Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock.
For more info, see Use the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) to type on Windows.com.
 Mouse. You can change the size and color of the mouse pointer and use the numeric
keypad to control the mouse. For more info, see Mouse and keyboard: What's new in
Windows on Windows.com.
 Other options. These options make Surface easier to use:
 Play animations in Windows.
 Show Windows background, or a black screen
 Choose how long notifications are visible.
 Adjust cursor thickness.
 Show a gray animation wherever you touch the screen.
 See a larger, darker animation wherever you touch the screen.

Ease of Access on the sign-in screen

On the sign-in screen, select the Ease of Access icon in the lower-left corner to choose ease of
access settings you want available every time Surface starts.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 41

Care and cleaning
Protect your Surface from viruses
Windows Defender and Windows SmartScreen are built into Windows 8.1 to help guard against
viruses, spyware, and other malicious software in real time. For more info, see Security checklist for
Windows and How can I help protect my PC from viruses? on Windows.com.
To scan Surface manually, use Windows Defender. See How do I find and remove a virus? on
Windows.com for how-to info.

Touchscreen care
Scratches, finger grease, dust, chemicals, and ultraviolet light can affect the performance of the
touchscreen. Here are a few things you can do to help protect the screen:
 Clean it frequently. Wipe the touchscreen with a soft, lint-free cloth to clean it. You can
dampen the cloth with water or an eyeglass cleaner, but don’t apply liquids directly to the
touchscreen. Don’t use window cleaner or other chemical cleaners on the touchscreen.
 Keep it covered. Close the Cover or use a sleeve when you’re in transit or not using Surface.
 Keep it out of the sun. Don’t leave Surface in direct sunlight for an extended amount of time.
Ultraviolet light and excessive heat can damage the touchscreen.

Cover care
The Type Cover requires minimal care to function well. Clean the keyboard frequently by wiping it
with a lint-free cloth dampened in mild soap and water, but don’t apply liquids directly to the
Cover.
If the spine or magnetic connections of your cover get dirty or stained, apply a small amount of
isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to a soft, lint-free cloth to clean.

Battery care
 Operating temperature. Surface is designed to work between 32°F and 95°F (or 0°C to 35°C).
Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to high temperatures, so keep your Surface out of the sun
and don’t leave it in a hot car.
 Recharge any time. The battery doesn’t need to be empty or low before you recharge it. You
can recharge the battery whenever you’d like. However, it’s best to let the battery run to below
10 percent at least once per month before you recharge it.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 42

Registration, repair, and warranty
Register your Surface 3 and Surface 3 Type Cover
If you haven’t already registered your Surface products, do so at
microsoft.com/surface/support/register. You’ll need your Microsoft account (the email address and
password that you use to sign in to your Surface and to download apps from the Windows Store),
and the serial number of your Surface 3 or Surface 3 Type Cover.
For more info, see Find the serial number on Surface or Find the serial number on your Surface
Cover on Surface.com.

Repair
Before you send your Surface product in for service, you can check out the Surface troubleshooting
articles on Surface.com. If you can’t solve the problem with troubleshooting, contact us through
Surface.com.
If you continue to have a problem with your Surface, you can open a service request and send your
product in for service.
Before you send your Surface in for service, see How to prepare your Surface for service, and then
go to Send my Surface in for service on Surface.com, sign in with your Microsoft account, and
follow the on-screen instructions.

Warranty
For warranty info, see Surface warranty and Surface warranty documents on Surface.com.

More help
There’s lots more how-to info and help available online on www.surface.com/support.

© 2015 Microsoft Page 43