Press and hold the power button for a few seconds

The power button on a Surface tablet is located on the right edge of the device, near the top. Press and hold it for about three to five seconds until you see the Surface logo appear on the screen. You will feel a slight vibration, and the screen will light up. Do not release the button before the logo shows — if you let go too early, nothing will happen.

The first time you turn on a new Surface tablet, the startup process takes longer than usual. You may see a spinning circle or loading animation for 30 seconds to a minute while Windows loads. This is normal. Let the device finish without pressing any buttons or moving it around.

Key Takeaways

  • The power button is on the right edge of the tablet near the top, and you must hold it for three to five seconds until the Surface logo appears.
  • The first startup can take a minute or more while Windows loads, so do not interrupt the process.
  • If the screen stays black after holding the button for ten seconds, try charging the tablet for 15 minutes before trying again.
  • Once the tablet is on, you can turn it off by pressing the power button briefly or by swiping down from the top-right corner and selecting the power icon.

What to do if the tablet does not turn on

If you press and hold the power button and nothing happens, the battery may be completely empty. Plug the tablet into its charger using the USB-C cable that came with it, and wait 15 to 20 minutes before trying again. The charging port is on the bottom edge of the device. You should see a small light near the charging port when power is flowing in.

If the tablet still does not respond after charging, try a force restart. Press and hold the power button and the volume-down button at the same time for about 10 seconds. Release both buttons and wait a few seconds. The Surface logo should appear. This works even if the screen is completely black.

Understanding the startup screens you will see

After the Surface logo disappears, you may see a Windows logo or a blank screen for another 20 to 30 seconds. This is the operating system loading. Do not turn off the tablet during this time. If you are setting up the tablet for the first time, you will then see a welcome screen asking you to choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete setup.

If you have used this tablet before, you will see the lock screen with the date and time. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen or press any key to reach the sign-in screen. Enter your password or use Windows Hello (facial recognition or fingerprint) if you have set that up. Once you sign in, you will reach the home screen and can start using the tablet.

Turning the tablet off when you are done

To turn off your Surface tablet, press the power button once briefly. A menu will appear with options to sleep, shut down, or restart. Tap "Shut down" to turn off the tablet completely. Alternatively, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open the quick settings panel, then tap the power icon and select "Shut down."

If you want to put the tablet to sleep instead of shutting it down completely, you can press the power button once and then tap "Sleep," or straightforward close the kickstand if your model has one. Sleep mode uses very little battery and lets you wake the tablet quickly by pressing the power button again.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not hold the power button for more than 10 seconds on the first try. Holding it longer than necessary will not speed up the startup — it just wastes time. If you hold it for 15 to 20 seconds, you may accidentally trigger a force shutdown instead.

Do not unplug the charger or move the tablet while it is starting up for the first time. Interrupting the startup process can cause problems with Windows. If the startup seems to be taking too long (more than two minutes), wait another minute before assuming something is wrong. New tablets and tablets that have not been used in a long time need extra time to boot.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a Surface tablet to turn on?

The first startup takes one to two minutes. After that, normal startups take 30 to 45 seconds. If your tablet has been off for a long time or has a full system update waiting, it may take longer. Let it finish without interrupting.

What if the power button is stuck or not responding?

Try pressing it from different angles — sometimes debris or a case can block the button slightly. If it still does not work, try plugging in the charger and waiting 20 minutes, then attempt a force restart by holding the power button and volume-down button together for 10 seconds.

Can I turn on the tablet by plugging it in without pressing the power button?

No. Plugging in the charger will power the charging circuit, but you must press the power button to start Windows. The only exception is if the tablet is in sleep mode — plugging it in may wake it, but you will still need to press the power button or swipe the screen to fully set up it.

Is it bad to hold the power button down for a long time?

Holding it for more than 10 seconds can trigger a force shutdown, which is like pulling the power cord out. This should only be done if the tablet is frozen and not responding. For normal startup, three to five seconds is all you need.