My surface pro laptop is showing inverted colors when powered on.

Hi Alexiss Taylor,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I understand how concerning it is to see inverted colors every time you power on a brand‑new Surface Pro 7th Edition. Since the display returns to normal after sleep and wake, this is almost always a device-issue rather than anything you did wrong.

1 - Try out the basic troubleshooting steps first

• Fix common problems using the Surface app and Surface Diagnostic Toolkit
  • Download the apps if they're not already installed.
  • Run the apps to check for any corruptions and fixes.
• Ensure that everything is up to date:
  • Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates
  • Also check Advanced options for Optional updates
• Hold the power button for about 20 seconds to force a full shutdown. Turn the Surface back on and check whether the color inverts again.

2 - Test the display in UEFI

• Power off the device > Hold Volume Up and press Power to enter UEFI
• If the screen looks normal in UEFI, the problem is driver-related.
• If the screen is also inverted in UEFI on first power‑on, this points to hardware.

3 - Perform a full shutdown reset

• Turn off your Surface laptop: Click Start > Power > choose Shut down
• Detach the Type Cover keyboard and wait for 10 seconds.
• Press and hold the power button about 20 seconds:
  • The Windows logo will appear, disappear, and then appear again.
  • Make sure the sequence is complete > let the Surface turn on.
• Reattach the keyboard and check if it is now working properly.

4 - Update/reinstall the graphics driver

• Press Win + X > Device Manager > Expand Display adapters
• Look for your graphic driver and right-click > Update driver
• Choose Search automatically for drivers > Restart your PC.
  • If no drivers were found > Uninstall driver
  • Restart your PC to let it auto-reinstall.
• If the issue persists, maybe you need to do it manually:
  • Go to Surface Pro 7 official Drivers and Firmware
  • Select your language > download the package
  • Run the installer and restart your PC.

If you continue seeing the inverted colors on every power‑on after trying all the fixes, I recommend considering a repair/replacement since the device is less than a week old. Check out: How to get service or repair for Surface - Microsoft Support, or you can contact the retailer directly!

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It sounds like you are experiencing an issue with your Surface Pro 7 where the colors appear inverted upon powering on. This could be related to a few factors, such as settings or a potential bug. Here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

1. Check Color Filters: Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Color filters. Ensure that the color filters are turned off.
2. Update Drivers: Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. You can check for updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
3. Check Display Settings: Go to Settings > System > Display and ensure that the display settings are configured correctly.
4. Reset Display Settings: If the issue persists, consider resetting your display settings to default.
5. Run Surface Diagnostic Toolkit: You can use the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit to check for any issues with your device. This can help identify and fix problems automatically.

If the problem continues after trying these steps, it may be worth reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance, as it could be a hardware-related issue.

References:

• Top support solutions for Surface devices