11 Tips and Tricks for the Surface Pro 7

Connect a Surface Pro 7 to a Monitor

One Surface trick that is a complete game-changer for new users is connecting the Surface Pro 7 to a monitor. This functionality allows you to use your Surface Pro 7 to run all of your programs and apps as usual but lets you view all of the content on a much larger screen. It's great if you think the Surface Pro 7 screen is too small or you find yourself needing to use a monitor placed higher due to neck or back pain.

Connecting a Surface Pro 7 to a monitor can be done using the USB-C port and a compatible cable. You can also connect to multiple monitors by implementing the Surface Dock accessory.

Wirelessly Stream a Surface Pro 7 to a TV

In addition to viewing your Surface Pro 7 content on a computer monitor with a cable, you can also wirelessly project your screen to your television using the built-in wireless support on both your Surface and TV.

Projecting your desktop or apps to your TV is one of the coolest Surface Pro 7 tips and tricks as it makes sharing photos and videos with friends and family so much easier.

Use These Surface Pro Screenshot Tips

Ever been using your Surface Pro 7 and wanted to share something with a contact? You can take a screenshot on a Surface Pro of whatever’s on your screen, crop and edit it, and send it to someone else via email, a DM, and a variety of other services. There are a few different ways to do this.

In addition to the classic PrtScn key method, you can also take screenshots on your Surface Pro 7 using the built-in Snip & Sketch app, a variety of keyboard shortcuts, or even the Xbox Game Bar.

Activate Metered Connection Settings When Traveling

Some of the many Surface Pro 7 tweaks worth making after setting up your new device are those relating to Windows 10’s metered connection feature. These settings allow you to adjust what kind of data your Surface Pro 7 uses when connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network with download and upload limits, so you don’t receive any extra fees for going over your data plan’s limits.

You can turn on and off the Surface Pro 7’s metered connection settings as often as you like, and you can also customize when apps and services are affected by this feature.

Connect a Surface Pro 7 to Another Computer

Need to send a file from your Surface Pro 7 to someone else? There are quite a few Surface tricks for connecting to other computers that are a far cry from the cumbersome and time-consuming computer networking strategies of yesteryear.

Surface Pro 7 owners can now connect to other computers via Windows 10’s built-in Nearby Sharing and Network Sharing features. There are even cloud storage and social media messaging app options for sending files from one device to another worth checking out.

View iPhone and Android Content on Your Surface Pro 7

Did you know you can view your smartphone's contents on your Microsoft Surface Pro and even manage how some apps and files work? These popular Surface Pro 7 tips and tricks for connecting your phone to your Surface cover all of the official methods for pulling this off, such as the Windows 10 Your Phone app, and also explore screencasting and third-party app options.

If you struggle to read small text on your iPhone or Android smartphone and often find yourself wondering how to project content to a larger screen for easier viewing, connecting your phone to your Surface Pro 7 could be just the solution.

Download Apps, Movies, and TV Shows From the Microsoft Store

If you’re used to downloading programs and files from websites, you may not know Windows 10 now has an integrated app store built right into the operating system on all Surface devices.

The Microsoft Store works much like similar digital storefronts on smartphones and tablets. It lets you download and update apps, buy video games and movies, and even purchase physical hardware and accessories which can be shipped to your home directly from Microsoft.

Install Google Drive on Your Surface Pro 7

Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud service likely came preinstalled on your Surface Pro 7. While OneDrive is a reliable cloud storage service, one of the best Surface Pro tips is downloading and using third-party, non-Microsoft, apps and services in conjunction with, or instead of, the default ones.

Adding Google Drive to Surface Pro 7 is an excellent way to backup files and collaborate on projects. If your OneDrive storage space is full, using Google Drive can be a solid way to give yourself more room.

Add Multiple Users to Your Surface Pro 7

One of the more helpful Surface tricks for dealing with multiple people sharing one device is to add unique Windows user profiles for each person. Once created, the admin can control what apps and tools each user can access. The admin can even make child profiles, limiting which websites they can visit and which apps they can open.

Switching user profiles on your Surface Pro 7 is also very easy and can be done with just a few clicks.

Play Xbox Video Games on Your Surface Pro 7

You may be surprised to learn your Surface Pro 7 (in addition to being a Windows 10 PC and tablet) is a portable Xbox video game console. It gives you full access to a growing library of Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox-branded Windows video games.

Here are some of the ways you can "Xbox" on your Surface Pro 7.

• You can stream gameplay from your Xbox consoles to your Surface Pro with the Xbox app.
• Starting sometime in 2021, you’ll be able to stream Xbox video games via the cloud with Xbox Cloud Gaming.
• Some Xbox console games have Xbox Play Anywhere versions you can play for free on Windows 10 PCs.
• Players can use the Windows 10 Xbox app to redeem Xbox Gift Cards, connect with friends, and view Xbox Achievements.
• Xbox-branded PC video games can be bought and downloaded via the Microsoft Store app store.
• You can use the Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription service on your Surface Pro 7 to play numerous titles for free every month.