Connect Microsoft Surface Keyboard To Mac

I know the Microsoft Surface Keyboard isn't compatible with the lastest Mac OS. But was wondering if anyone has found workarounds to some of these problems. 1) It's not recognized as a keyboard but a bluetooth device. And I have to re-pair the keyboard everytime after long idle period or computer restarts. Mouse and Keyboard Centre helps you personalise and customise how you work on your PC. Tailor your mouse and keyboard to meet your unique needs and work style. Modify your mouse and keyboard settings to make it easier to use the unique features of most PC apps. Effortlessly transition to Mouse and Keyboard Centre from existing device management. I recently bought the new surface Bluetooth keyboard as a replacement for my Mac Bluetooth keyboard due to it having a NUM pad and more options. It pairs up just fine, but I don't think the Sierra OS recognizes it as a keyboard. The issue I'm really having is with the modifier keys. I can't flop them no matter what options I use.

Summary :

Mouse and Keyboard Centre helps you personalise and customise how you work on your PC. Tailor your mouse and keyboard to meet your unique needs and work style. Modify your mouse and keyboard settings to make it easier to use the unique features of most PC apps. Effortlessly transition to Mouse and Keyboard Centre from existing device management. Identify New Keyboard Connect your Windows/generic keyboard to your Mac. A generic keyboard, whether it’s wired or wireless will connect with Mac without needing additional software. MacOS will automatically ask you to identify the new keyboard you’ve connected however, if it doesn’t you can force it to recognize the new keyboard. I know the Microsoft Surface Keyboard isn't compatible with the lastest Mac OS. But was wondering if anyone has found workarounds to some of these problems. 1) It's not recognized as a keyboard but a bluetooth device. And I have to re-pair the keyboard everytime after long idle period or computer restarts.

If you are a Surface user, it is very common to encounter issues such as Surface keyboard not working or Type Cover not responding. That is very annoying and brings much inconvenience to users. MiniTool will show you some solutions to fix it.

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When your Surface Pro keyboard stops working, you need to find the cause and then carry out operations to fix the issue. Here are some solutions that you can have a try. If you are not sure which one should be applied, try them one by one.

Would you like to know how to prevent on-screen keyboard from popping up on Windows 10? This post will provide you with some reliable solutions.

Method 1: Restart Surface

When the Surface keyboard not working issue happens, the first thing you should do is to restart your Surface. In general, this method can help you solve some common errors. Here’s how to do.

Step 1:Disconnect your keyboard from the machine.

Connect Microsoft Surface Keyboard To Macbook

Step 2:Reboot your Surface.

Step 3: Reconnect your keyboard and check if the keyboard can be used normally. If this method can work, that’s fine. If it doesn’t, you should consider trying other methods.

Method 2: Check Keyboard

After the Microsoft Surface keyboard not working error occurs, check if there’s something wrong with the Surface keyboard. If the keyboard itself has been broken or damaged, your keyboard cannot work as usual even though you perform the following actions to troubleshoot it.

Unplug the keyboard from the device, and then try connecting to another Surface that can work normally. If it works normally, it indicates there are some issues with your previous Surface settings. On the contrary, if it doesn’t work, the keyboard itself has been damaged. You need to replace it with a new keyboard.

In this case, you can try the next method to fix the keyboard stopped working on laptop issue.

The keyboard backlight not working issue may occur both on Windows and Mac. Don’t worry. Here, this post will show you some methods to fix it.

Method 3: Clean Connectors

When dust or other objects block the connection, the keyboard may be unable to connect to the Surface correctly. It usually takes place after you have been using the Surface for quite a long time without cleaning it.

Shut down the Surface entirely. After that, clean the connectors with a clean cloth and a little alcohol. Alternatively, you can also utilize a q-tip to clean it more properly. When the cleaning operation finishes, wait around two to three minutes. Then turn on your computer and connect the keyboard to check if the issue is solved.

Method 4: Reset Surface

Some faulty files or configurations on your system can result in Surface keyboard not working, while resetting your device can help you clear them. Here are specific steps.

Step 1: Open Windows Settings by pressing Windows and I keys.

Step 2: Navigate to Update & Security, and then select Recovery in the left panel.

Step 3: Click on Get Started in the right side of the page.

Step 4: In the pop-up page, you can either to choose keep my files or remove everything. It is recommended that you should choose keep my files, because if this operation cannot fix the issue, you can repeat the above steps and choose remove everything.

Step 5: Then follow the on-screen instructions to reset your Surface. After that, boot your device and check if the keyboard can work again.

These are all the solutions to fix Surface laptop keyboard not working issue. Please feel free to pick one from them.

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You can connect other devices to your Microsoft Surface Hub to display content. This topic describes the Guest Mode, Replacement PC Mode, and Video Out functionality available through wired connections, and also lists accessories that you can connect to Surface Hub using Bluetooth.

Note

Surface Hub will use the video input that you select until a new connection is made, the existing connection is disrupted, or the Connect App is closed.

Which method should I choose?

Connect Microsoft Surface Keyboard To Mac

When connecting external devices and displays to a Surface Hub, there are several available options. The method you use will depend upon your scenario and needs.

Connect microsoft surface keyboard to macbook air
When you want to:Use this method:
Mirror the Surface Hub's display on another device.Video Out
Present another device's display on the Surface Hub screen and interact with both the device's content and the built-in Surface Hub experience.Guest Mode
Power the Surface Hub from an external Windows 10 PC, turning off the embedded computer of the Surface Hub. Cameras, microphones, speakers, and other peripherals, are sent to the external PC, in addition to pen and touch.Replacement PC Mode

Guest Mode

Guest Mode uses a wired connection, so people can display content from their devices to the Surface Hub. If the source device is Windows-based, that device can also provide Touchback and Inkback. Surface Hub's internal PC takes video and audio from the connected device and presents them on the Surface Hub. If Surface Hub encounters a High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) signal, the source will be displayed as a black image. To display your content without violating HDCP requirements, use the keypad on the right side of the Surface Hub to directly choose the external source.

Note

When an HDCP source is connected, use the side keypad to change source inputs.

Ports

Use these ports on the Surface Hub for Guest Mode.

InterfaceTypeDescriptionCapabilities

Display Port 1.1a

Video input

Guest input #1

  • Support simultaneous guest input display with guest input #2 and guest input #3 (one full resolution, two thumbnail).

  • HDCP compliant in bypass mode

  • Touchback enabled

HDMI 1.4

Video input

Guest input #2

  • Support simultaneous guest input display with guest input #1 and guest input #3 (one full resolution, two thumbnail).

  • HDCP compliant in bypass mode

  • Touchback enabled

VGA

Video input

Guest input #3

  • Support simultaneous guest input display with guest input #1 and guest input #2 (one full resolution, two thumbnail).

  • HDCP compliant in bypass mode

  • Touchback enabled

3.5 mm jack

Audio input

Analog audio input

  • Ingest into Surface Hub PC, usually with the VGA video input.

USB 2.0, type B

USB out

Touchback

  • Provides access to the HID input devices mouse, touch, keyboard, and stylus back to the guest PC.

Port locations

These are the port connections used for Guest Mode on the 55' and 84' Surface Hubs.

Wired port connections on 55' Surface Hub

Wired port connections on 84' Surface Hub

Port enumeration

When a Surface hub is connected to a guest computer with the wired connect USB port, a number of USB devices are discovered and configured. These peripheral devices are created for Touchback and Inkback. The peripheral devices can be viewed in Device Manager. Device Manager will show duplicate names for some devices.

Human interface devices

  • HID-compliant consumer control device

  • HID-compliant pen

  • HID-compliant pen (duplicate item)

  • HID-compliant pen (duplicate item)

  • HID-compliant touch screen

  • USB Input Device

  • USB Input Device (duplicate item)

Keyboards

  • Standard PS/2 keyboard

Mice and other pointing devices

  • HID-compliant mouse

Universal serial bus controllers

  • Generic USB hub

  • USB composite device

Guest Mode connectivity

Your choice of video cable will be determined by what is available from your source input. The Surface Hub has three choices of video input: DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA. See the following chart for available resolutions.

Signal TypeResolutionFrame rateHDMI - RGBDisplayPortVGA

PC

640 x 480

59.94/60

X

X

X

PC

720 x 480

59.94/60

X

X

PC

1024 x 768

60

X

X

X

HDTV

720p

59.94/60

X

X

X

HDTV

1080p

59.94/60

X

X

X

Source audio is provided by DisplayPort and HDMI cables. If you must use VGA, Surface Hub has an audio input port that uses a 3.5 mm plug. Surface Hub also uses a USB cable that provides Touchback and Inkback from the Surface Hub to compatible Windows 10 devices. The USB cable can be used with any video input that is already connected with a cable.

Someone using Guest Mode to connect a PC would use one of these options:

DisplayPort -- DisplayPort cable and USB 2.0 cable

HDMI -- HDMI cable and USB 2.0 cable

VGA -- VGA cable, 3.5 mm audio cable, and USB 2.0 cable

If the computer you are using for Guest Mode is not compatible with Touchback and Inkback, then you won't need the USB cable.

Replacement PC Mode

In Replacement PC Mode, the embedded computer of the Surface Hub is turned off and an external PC is connected to the Surface Hub. Connections to replacement PC ports give access to key peripherals on the Surface Hub, including the screen, pen, and touch features. This does mean that your Surface Hub won’t have the benefit of the Windows Team experience, but you will have the flexibility offered by providing and managing your own Windows computer.

Software requirements

You can run Surface Hub in Replacement PC Mode with 64-bit versions of Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise. You can download the Surface Hub Replacement PC driver package from the Microsoft Download Center. We recommend that you install these drivers on any computer you plan to use as a replacement PC.

Hardware requirements

Surface Hub is compatible with a range of hardware. Choose the processor and memory confirmation for your replacement PC so that it supports the programs you'll be using. Your replacement PC hardware needs to support 64-bit versions of Windows 10.

Graphics adapter

In Replacement PC Mode, Surface Hub supports any graphics adapter that can produce a DisplayPort signal. You'll improve your experience with a graphics adapter that can match Surface Hub's resolution and refresh rate. For example, the best and recommended replacement PC experience on the Surface Hub is with a 120Hz video signal.

55' Surface Hubs - For best experience, use a graphics card capable of 1080p resolution at 120Hz.

84' Surface Hubs - For best experience, use a graphics card capable of outputting four DisplayPort 1.2 streams to produce 2160p at 120Hz (3840 x 2160 at 120Hz vertical refresh). We've verified that this works with the NVIDIA Quadro K2200, NVIDIA Quadro K4200, NVIDIA Quadro M6000, AMD FirePro W5100, AMD FirePro W7100, and AMD FirePro W9100. These are not the only graphics cards - others are available from other vendors.

Check directly with graphics card vendors for the latest drivers.

Graphics vendorDriver download page

NVIDIA

AMD

Intel

Ports

Replacement PC ports on 55' Surface Hub

DescriptionTypeInterfaceDetails

PC video

Video input

DP 1.2

  • Full screen display of 1080p at 120 Hz, plus audio

  • HDCP compliant

Internal peripherals

USB output

USB 2.0 type B

  • Touch

  • Pen

  • Speakers

  • Microphone

  • Cameras

  • NFC sensor

  • Ambient light sensor

  • Passive infrared sensor

USB hub

USB output

USB 2.0 type B

  • Underneath USB ports

Replacement PC ports on 84' Surface Hub

DescriptionTypeInterfaceDetails

PC video

Video input

DP 1.2 (2x)

  • Full screen display of 2160p at 120 Hz, plus audio

  • HDCP compliant

Internal peripherals

USB output

USB 2.0 type B

  • Touch

  • Pen

  • Speakers

  • Microphone

  • Cameras

  • NFC sensor

  • Ambient light sensor

  • Passive infrared sensor

USB hub

USB output

USB 2.0 type B

  • Underneath USB ports

Replacement PC setup instructions

To use Replacement PC Mode

  1. Download and install the Surface Hub Replacement PC driver package on the replacement PC.

    Note

    We recommend that you set sleep or hibernation on the replacement PC so the Surface Hub will turn off the display when it isn't being used.

  2. Turn off the Surface Hub using the power switch next to the power cable.

  3. Connect the cables from the Surface Hub's replacement PC ports to the replacement PC. These ports are usually covered by a removable plastic cover.

    55' Surface Hub -- connect one DisplayPort cable, and two USB cables.

    84' Surface Hub -- connect two DisplayPort cables, and two USB cables.

  4. Toggle the Mode switch to Replacement PC. The Mode switch is next to the Replacement PC ports.

  5. Turn on the Surface Hub using the power switch next to the power cable.

  6. Press the power button on the right side of the Surface Hub.

Air

You can switch the Surface Hub to use the internal PC.

To switch back to internal PC

  1. Turn off the Surface Hub using the power switch next to the power cable.

  2. Toggle the Mode switch to Internal PC. The Mode switch is next to the Replacement PC ports.

  3. Turn on the Surface Hub using the power switch next to the power cable.

Video Out

The Surface Hub includes a Video Out port for mirroring visual content from the Surface Hub to another display.

Ports

Video Out port on the 55' Surface Hub

Video Out port on the 84' Surface Hub

DescriptionTypeInterfaceCapabilities

Video Output Mirror

Video Output

Video Output

  • Supports connection to a standard DisplayPort monitor (only supports an x4 Link displaying 1080p60 resolution at 24bpp)

  • Supports use with HDMI monitors (supporting 1080p60) by using a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adaptor

Cables

Both the 55” and 84” Surface Hub devices have been tested to work with Certified DisplayPort and HDMI cables. While vendors do sell longer cables that may work with the Surface Hub, only those cables that have been certified by testing labs are certain to work with the Hub. For example, DisplayPort cables are certified only up to 3 meters, however many vendors sell cables that are 3 times that length. If a long cable is necessary, we strongly suggest using HDMI. HDMI has many cost-effective solutions for long-haul cables, including the use of repeaters. Nearly every DisplayPort source will automatically switch to HDMI signaling if a HDMI sink is detected.

Bluetooth accessories

You can connect the following accessories to Surface Hub using Bluetooth:

Connect External Keyboard To Surface

  • Mice
  • Keyboards
  • Headsets
  • Speakers

Microsoft Surface Bluetooth Keyboard

Note

Connect Keyboard To Surface

After you connect a Bluetooth headset or speaker, you might need to change the default microphone and speaker settings.