Microsoft Surface Pro X Surface Connect Port Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          45 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

SSD and SIM Card Door
3 steps
SSD
2 steps
Microsoft Surface Pro X Opening Procedure
10 steps
Screen
9 steps
Surface Connect Port
7 steps

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Introduction

Warning: Make sure to remove the SSD from the Surface before starting any repairs. This will disconnect the battery and prevent damage to the Surface.

For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your Surface. This reduces the risk of a dangerous thermal event if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

What you need

Step 1

              Open the kickstand

Make sure your Surface Pro X is turned off, and laying screen-side down on a soft surface.
After turning off your device, make sure to remove the SSD from the Surface before starting any repairs. This will disconnect the battery and prevent damage to the device.
Lift the kickstand to at least a 90° angle, so that it is perpendicular to the Surface’s screen. The further you open the hinge, the easier it is to access the SSD and SIM card door.

Make sure your Surface Pro X is turned off, and laying screen-side down on a soft surface.

After turning off your device, make sure to remove the SSD from the Surface before starting any repairs. This will disconnect the battery and prevent damage to the device.

Lift the kickstand to at least a 90° angle, so that it is perpendicular to the Surface’s screen. The further you open the hinge, the easier it is to access the SSD and SIM card door.

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Step 2

              Open the SSD and SIM card door

Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole in the bottom right corner of the SSD and SIM card door, located near the bottom right corner of the Surface.
Press firmly to open the door.

Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole in the bottom right corner of the SSD and SIM card door, located near the bottom right corner of the Surface.

Press firmly to open the door.

Step 3

              Remove the SSD and SIM card door

Lift the SSD and SIM card door and remove it from the Surface.
When reinstalling the door, first insert the end of the door with the small tab into the Surface just above the SSD, then lay the rest of the door down.

Lift the SSD and SIM card door and remove it from the Surface.

When reinstalling the door, first insert the end of the door with the small tab into the Surface just above the SSD, then lay the rest of the door down.

Step 4

              Remove the SSD screw

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the 2.4 mm screw securing the SSD.

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the 2.4 mm screw securing the SSD.

Step 5

              Remove the SSD

Use your finger or a spudger to lift the SSD just enough that it clears the edges of its recess.
Don’t lift the SSD more than you have to—doing so may damage the SSD or its socket.
Gently pull the SSD straight out of its socket.
When reinstalling the SSD, be sure it is properly seated before reinstalling its retaining screw.

Use your finger or a spudger to lift the SSD just enough that it clears the edges of its recess.

Don’t lift the SSD more than you have to—doing so may damage the SSD or its socket.

Gently pull the SSD straight out of its socket.

When reinstalling the SSD, be sure it is properly seated before reinstalling its retaining screw.

Step 6

              Tape the screen

Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and be careful not to damage the LCD screen.
If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the Surface’s display until the whole face is covered.
This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.
Do your best to follow the rest of the guide as described. However, once the glass is broken, it will likely continue to crack as you work, and you may need to use a metal prying tool to scoop the glass out.

Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and be careful not to damage the LCD screen.

If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.

Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the Surface’s display until the whole face is covered.

This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.

Do your best to follow the rest of the guide as described. However, once the glass is broken, it will likely continue to crack as you work, and you may need to use a metal prying tool to scoop the glass out.

Step 7

              Apply a suction cup to the screen

Wear safety glasses during the screen removal procedure in case the glass shatters while you’re working.
There is a significant chance that you may break the unreinforced and fragile display panel during this procedure. Be sure to work slowly and be extremely careful while slicing through the adhesive.
Place your tablet on your work surface so that the screen is facing up.
Apply a suction cup to the screen next to the right speaker grille.

Wear safety glasses during the screen removal procedure in case the glass shatters while you’re working.

There is a significant chance that you may break the unreinforced and fragile display panel during this procedure. Be sure to work slowly and be extremely careful while slicing through the adhesive.

Place your tablet on your work surface so that the screen is facing up.

Apply a suction cup to the screen next to the right speaker grille.

Step 8

              Secure the tablet

Place your hand on the screen next to the suction cup to secure the Surface while you lift up the screen.

Place your hand on the screen next to the suction cup to secure the Surface while you lift up the screen.

Step 9

              Create a gap between the screen and frame

Don’t insert the opening pick more than 3 mm while cutting through the adhesive on the right, bottom, and left edge.
Lift up on the suction cup to create a gap between the screen and the frame.
The gap only needs to be wide enough to slide in an opening pick.
Insert an opening pick about 2 mm into the gap. Leave the opening pick in the gap to prevent it from resealing.

Don’t insert the opening pick more than 3 mm while cutting through the adhesive on the right, bottom, and left edge.

Lift up on the suction cup to create a gap between the screen and the frame.

The gap only needs to be wide enough to slide in an opening pick.

Insert an opening pick about 2 mm into the gap. Leave the opening pick in the gap to prevent it from resealing.

Step 10

              Cut through the screen adhesive

Insert a second opening pick into the gap between the screen and the frame.
Slide the pick down the right edge of the Surface to slice through the adhesive under the screen.
Leave this opening pick in the right edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Insert a second opening pick into the gap between the screen and the frame.

Slide the pick down the right edge of the Surface to slice through the adhesive under the screen.

Leave this opening pick in the right edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 11

Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm while cutting through the screen adhesive on the bottom edge or you may damage delicate components on the screen.
Insert a third opening pick into the bottom right corner and slide it around the corner toward the bottom edge.

Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm while cutting through the screen adhesive on the bottom edge or you may damage delicate components on the screen.

Insert a third opening pick into the bottom right corner and slide it around the corner toward the bottom edge.

Step 12

Slide the pick along the bottom edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.
Leave this pick in the bottom edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Slide the pick along the bottom edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.

Leave this pick in the bottom edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 13

Insert a fourth opening pick into the bottom left corner and slide it around the corner toward the left edge.
Slide the pick along the left edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.
Leave this pick in the left edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Insert a fourth opening pick into the bottom left corner and slide it around the corner toward the left edge.

Slide the pick along the left edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.

Leave this pick in the left edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 14

Don’t insert the opening pick more than 10 mm while cutting through the adhesive on the top edge. Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm near the speaker grille.
Insert a fifth opening pick into the top left corner and slide it around the corner toward the top edge.
Slide the pick along the top edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.

Don’t insert the opening pick more than 10 mm while cutting through the adhesive on the top edge. Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm near the speaker grille.

Insert a fifth opening pick into the top left corner and slide it around the corner toward the top edge.

Slide the pick along the top edge of the Surface to cut through the screen adhesive.

Step 15

              Open the Surface

Do not remove the screen yet. It is still connected to the motherboard by the display cable. Keep the screen as close as possible to the Surface’s frame to avoid straining the display cable.
Avoid hitting the battery with the screen during this procedure. A punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a thermal event.
Lift up the top edge of the screen so that it is at a 30° angle with the frame.
If you encounter any resistance, stop and check that all the adhesive is separated. Use an opening pick to cut through any remaining adhesive.
Rotate the screen so that its bottom edge is in the middle of the frame. The screen should be perpendicular to the frame.
Rotate the screen 90° so that it is facing down. Place the screen on the frame.

Do not remove the screen yet. It is still connected to the motherboard by the display cable. Keep the screen as close as possible to the Surface’s frame to avoid straining the display cable.

Avoid hitting the battery with the screen during this procedure. A punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a thermal event.

Lift up the top edge of the screen so that it is at a 30° angle with the frame.

If you encounter any resistance, stop and check that all the adhesive is separated. Use an opening pick to cut through any remaining adhesive.

Rotate the screen so that its bottom edge is in the middle of the frame. The screen should be perpendicular to the frame.

Rotate the screen 90° so that it is facing down. Place the screen on the frame.

Step 16

              Remove the display cable shield

Insert a tine of a pair of pointed tweezers under the bottom right corner of the display cable shield (where the display cable is oriented down).
Lift up the corner to detach it from the screen.

Insert a tine of a pair of pointed tweezers under the bottom right corner of the display cable shield (where the display cable is oriented down).

Lift up the corner to detach it from the screen.

Step 17

Repeat the previous step for the bottom right corner.

Repeat the previous step for the bottom right corner.

Step 18

Remove the display cable shield from the screen.
If the display cable shield isn’t completely detached from the screen, pry up additional areas around the edges of the shield.

Remove the display cable shield from the screen.

If the display cable shield isn’t completely detached from the screen, pry up additional areas around the edges of the shield.

Step 19

              Disconnect the screen

Insert the pointed end of a spudger under the right side of the display cable press connector.
Lift up the right side of the press connector to detach it from the display cable socket on the screen.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger under the right side of the display cable press connector.

Lift up the right side of the press connector to detach it from the display cable socket on the screen.

Step 20

Repeat the previous step on the left side of the display cable connector to fully disconnect it from the screen.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Repeat the previous step on the left side of the display cable connector to fully disconnect it from the screen.

To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 21

              Remove the screen

Remove the screen from the frame.

Remove the screen from the frame.

Step 22

              Speaker grille information

The left and right speaker grilles may be attached to the Surface’s frame or the screen.
If you are going to replace a speaker grille that is attached to the frame, follow these steps to remove it:
Use an opening pick to cut through the adhesive under the grille.
Remove the speaker grille.
Repeat for the other speaker grille.

The left and right speaker grilles may be attached to the Surface’s frame or the screen.

If you are going to replace a speaker grille that is attached to the frame, follow these steps to remove it:

Use an opening pick to cut through the adhesive under the grille.

Remove the speaker grille.

Repeat for the other speaker grille.

Step 23

If you are going to replace or transfer a speaker grille that is attached to the screen, follow these steps to remove it:
Use an opening pick to cut through the adhesive under the grille.
Remove the speaker grille.
Repeat for the other speaker grille.

If you are going to replace or transfer a speaker grille that is attached to the screen, follow these steps to remove it:

Step 24

              Screen adhesive information

If you are going to replace the screen adhesive, follow these steps:
Apply a few drops of high-concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol to the adhesive.
Use a cotton swab or the flat end of a spudger to scrape away the adhesive.
Use a lint-free cloth or coffee filter to wipe away any remaining adhesive.
Allow the surface to dry completely before applying replacement adhesive.
Apply new adhesive strips or pre-cut adhesive to the frame where the old screen adhesive was located.

If you are going to replace the screen adhesive, follow these steps:

Apply a few drops of high-concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol to the adhesive.

Use a cotton swab or the flat end of a spudger to scrape away the adhesive.

Use a lint-free cloth or coffee filter to wipe away any remaining adhesive.

Allow the surface to dry completely before applying replacement adhesive.

Apply new adhesive strips or pre-cut adhesive to the frame where the old screen adhesive was located.

Step 25

              Remove the Surface Connect port screws

Use a T6 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 2.8 mm screws securing the Surface Connect port.

Use a T6 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 2.8 mm screws securing the Surface Connect port.

Step 26

              Dislodge the Surface Connect port

The Surface Connect port connector can be disconnected before moving the port, but the connector is difficult to reconnect while the port is fully seated. During reassembly, it is easier to reconnect the connector before seating the port into its recess.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the left screw tab and dislodge the Surface Connect port from the frame.
You only need to lift the port high enough to insert the pointed end of a spudger into the screw tab.

The Surface Connect port connector can be disconnected before moving the port, but the connector is difficult to reconnect while the port is fully seated. During reassembly, it is easier to reconnect the connector before seating the port into its recess.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the left screw tab and dislodge the Surface Connect port from the frame.

You only need to lift the port high enough to insert the pointed end of a spudger into the screw tab.

Step 27

              Detach the Surface Connect port

Insert the pointed end of a spudger into the left screw tab.
Push the Surface Connect port toward its connector to detach its magnets from the frame.
You only need to push the port enough to detach it from the frame and grab it with your fingers. Don’t bend the cable more than necessary.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger into the left screw tab.

Push the Surface Connect port toward its connector to detach its magnets from the frame.

You only need to push the port enough to detach it from the frame and grab it with your fingers. Don’t bend the cable more than necessary.

Step 28

              Move the Surface Connect port

Hold the edges of the Surface Connect port with your fingers.
Pull the port away from the edge of the frame and place it on top of the edge.

Hold the edges of the Surface Connect port with your fingers.

Pull the port away from the edge of the frame and place it on top of the edge.

Step 29

              Disconnect the Surface Connect port

Insert the flat end of a spudger under the foam on top of the Surface Connect port’s connector.
Lift up on the foam to open the connector’s locking tab.

Insert the flat end of a spudger under the foam on top of the Surface Connect port’s connector.

Lift up on the foam to open the connector’s locking tab.

Step 30

Place the flat end of a spudger under the left edge of the connector’s locking tab.
While holding the Surface Connect port with your fingers, push the connector out of its socket in the direction of the cable.
If this doesn’t fully disconnect the connector, repeat this step for the right edge of the locking tab. Alternate between the left and right edge as needed.

Place the flat end of a spudger under the left edge of the connector’s locking tab.

While holding the Surface Connect port with your fingers, push the connector out of its socket in the direction of the cable.

If this doesn’t fully disconnect the connector, repeat this step for the right edge of the locking tab. Alternate between the left and right edge as needed.

Step 31

              Remove the Surface Connect port

Remove the Surface Connect port from the frame.
During reassembly, make sure to fully insert the Surface Connect port connector into its socket. The internal metal edge of the connector should be directly adjacent to the metal edge of the socket.

Remove the Surface Connect port from the frame.

During reassembly, make sure to fully insert the Surface Connect port connector into its socket. The internal metal edge of the connector should be directly adjacent to the metal edge of the socket.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Microsoft Surface Pro X Answers community for help.

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Author

                    Kyle Smith

Member since: 02/01/2021

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Introduction#

What you need#

Introduction

What you need