Detach the display for four different modes

Surface Book is a versatile laptop, a powerful tablet, and a portable studio that adapts to the ways you work and create.

How to detach the display

Press and hold the Detach key until the light on the key turns green and you see the Ready to Detach message on the screen. Then pull the display off of the keyboard.

Now you can put Surface Book in any mode, depending on what you want to do.

Use Surface Book as a tablet

Surface Book is a tablet that you can take anywhere. Just press and hold the Detach key on the keyboard, remove the display, and you’re ready to go.

Tip: If you’re traveling and don’t need the keyboard, just bring the display and your power cord. There’s a power charging port on the bottom center of the display. Just be sure to protect the screen with a padded case or some other sort of protection if you’re not bringing the keyboard along.

Edit Word documents

Use Surface Pen to edit and add comments to Word documents.

Here’s how:

• Select text
  Select Draw > Ink Editor, then use Surface Pen to circle a word, phrase, or paragraph, then cut, copy, or paste.

• Delete text
  Select Draw > Ink Editor, then use Surface Pen to draw a diagonal line through words, phrases, or paragraphs.

• Highlight text
  Select Draw > Highlighter, then use Surface Pen to select the text for perfect highlighting.

• Replay pen strokes
  Select Draw > Ink Replay to see a replay of all of the markups people have made in the document.

Remember with a Sticky Note

Click and hold the top button on Surface Pen to open Sticky Notes, then jot down reminders, to-do lists, phone numbers, or anything else you want to remember.

Take a screenshot, then draw on it

Click the top button twice to take a screenshot and it’ll open automatically in Screen sketch, where you can draw on the picture or add notes – perfect when you want to share something you find online or doodle on a friend’s profile picture.

Erase just like a pencil

Flip Surface Pen over and use the top button to erase.

Customize the Surface Pen top button

Select Start > Settings > Devices > Pen & Windows Ink. Under Pen shortcuts, choose the app you want to open when you click or double click the top button.

Connect all of your devices with USB-C

Surface Book 2 has USB-C for charging devices, transferring files, and displaying your video on external monitors.

Want more tips? 

You can open Tips, which is on your Surface. Select Start, then select Tips from the list of apps. More info about Tips