Meet Surface Dial
Surface Dial is a new tool for the creative process. Here's how to use it.
Note
To use Surface Dial, your PC needs to be running Windows 10 Anniversary Update or later, and
have Bluetooth 4.0 LE.
Set it up
1. On your PC, select the Start button, then select Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other
devices.
2. Turn on Bluetooth.
3. Pull the bottom off your Surface Dial, pull the bottom to open the battery compartment.
Make sure there are two AAA batteries inside.
4. Remove the battery tab from the underside of your Surface Dial.
5. Press and hold the button by the batteries for 5-7 seconds, then let the button go. The
Bluetooth light will flash – it’s opposite the button on the other side of the batteries.
6. Go back to the Bluetooth settings page on your PC, then select Bluetooth or other
device > Bluetooth.
7. Choose Surface Dial from the list of devices. Follow additional instructions if they
appear, then select Done.
8. Remove the protective film from your Surface Dial.
Now you’re ready to use it!
Note
Surface Dial only works on screen with Surface Studio and the newest Surface Pro. If you’re
using another type of PC, use Surface Dial on a desk or other flat surface.
Try it in the Windows Ink Workspace
Surface Dial helps you create in a way that’s natural and ergonomic, and, when you use it
alongside Surface Pen, Surface Dial keeps you in the creative flow. Try it in the Windows Ink
Workspace—select the pen icon, and then open Sketchpad. Or, just click the top of Surface Pen.
Open Sketchpad, and the Pens tool is automatically selected. Rotate your Surface Dial to switch
between pen, pencil, highlighter, and eraser.
Press and hold your Surface Dial to see other tools in the wheel menu. Turn the dial left or right
to highlight the tool you want to use. To select it, press down and release, and then start drawing.
Use Surface Dial with apps
Surface Dial works with apps that come with Windows 10, like Groove Music, Microsoft Edge,
and Maps. It also works with professional-grade software, like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe
Illustrator. Here are just a few things of the things you can do with Surface Dial:
Volume
Rotate left to turn it down or right to turn it up. Click to mute and unmute.
Scroll
Rotate left to scroll up, or right to scroll down.
Zoom
In Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, rotate left to zoom out, or right to zoom in. Click to
fit to screen.
Undo
Rotate left to step through the undo history, or right to step through the redo history. Click to
perform a single undo.
Brightness
Rotate left to make the display less bright, or right to make it brighter.
Tip
To customize your Surface Dial, go to your Surface Book and open Start , then select Settings >
Devices > Wheel.
Customize what Surface Dial does
To change the tools you see when you rotate Surface Dial, select the Start button, then select
Settings > Devices > Wheel.
Select the Add button + to add a new tool. There’s lots of options, from increasing and lowering
volume and brightness to zooming and scrolling to switching apps.
Create your own tools
Or, try adding your own custom tools to Surface Dial—any keyboard shortcut will work.
Select the Add button + and select Custom tool.Then choose which keyboard shortcut you want
to see when you rotate left, right, or click Surface Dial.
Troubleshoot problems with Surface Dial
Note
To use Surface Dial, your PC needs to be running Windows 10 Anniversary Update or later, and have
Bluetooth 4.0 LE.
Surface Dial won’t pair with my PC
First, make sure you’ve followed the pairing steps:
1. On your PC, open select the Start button, then select Settings > Devices > Bluetooth &
other devices.
2. Turn on Bluetooth.
3. Pull the bottom off your Surface Dial to open the battery compartment. Make sure there
are two AAA batteries inside. Remove the battery tab from the underside of your Surface
Dial.
4. Press and hold the button by the batteries until the Bluetooth light flashes – it’s opposite
the button on the other side of the batteries.
5. Go back to the Bluetooth settings page on your PC, then select Bluetooth or other
device > Bluetooth.
6. Choose Surface Dial from the list of devices. Follow additional instructions if they
appear, then select Done.
7. Remove the protective film from your Surface Dial.
Stuck? Here’s what to do:
If the pairing light doesn’t turn on
First, make sure the batteries are installed properly. Remove the batteries—you’ll see a diagram
under them—put the batteries back in according to the diagram. Press the pairing button again. If
the LED pairing light doesn’t turn on after 10 seconds, you’ll need new batteries.
If you replace the batteries and the pairing light still doesn’t come on, create a service order so
we can replace your Surface Dial.
If the pairing light blinks three times and then stops
This means that Surface Dial is paired to another device nearby. Go to that device and remove it
from the list of Bluetooth devices in Settings. Then go back to the device you want to pair it with
and try pairing it again.
Hopefully you’re ready to go. Still not paired? Try this:
If the pairing light is still blinking (more than three times)
Check that Bluetooth is turned on for the device that you want to pair with Surface Dial. If
Bluetooth is already on, try connecting using the steps in "Surface Dial won't pair with my PC"
above.
If this doesn't work, see if other Bluetooth devices can be connected. If not, the issue isn’t with
Surface Dial—it’s a Bluetooth issue with the device. If other Bluetooth devices are pairing, make
sure that your PC supports Bluetooth 4.0 LE and that the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
(Version 1607) is installed. If you’ve verified those things and it still won’t pair, create a service
order so we can replace your Surface Dial.
Surface Dial is paired, but not working correctly
Before trying any of the options below, pull the bottom of Surface Dial to open the battery
compartment. Hold down the pairing button and make sure the LED pairing light blinks three
times and then disappears. If it doesn’t blink at all, or keeps blinking after the three times, then
walk through the steps for pairing Surface Dial. Once the LED pairing light blinks three times,
you can try these things:
Remove the batteries in Surface Dial to reset it. You won’t need to re-pair it.
Remove Surface Dial from Bluetooth settings and then re-add it.
Restart (not shutdown) your PC.
Uninstall/reinstall the drivers for Surface Dial, then restart (not shut down) your PC.
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