How to connect a Lenovo external monitor to my Surface 4 laptop

Use the dock’s Mini DisplayPort:

You need:

Mini DisplayPort → HDMI adapter OR

Mini DisplayPort → DisplayPort cable

Then:

Surface → Surface Dock → Mini DP → Adapter → Monitor (HDMI/DP)

Alternatively:

Use USB-C directly from laptop:

You need:

USB-C → HDMI adapter or cable

Then:

Surface Laptop 4 → USB-C → HDMI → Monitor

Surface Laptop 4 can connect to a Lenovo external monitor; the key is matching the monitor’s video input to the ports on the Surface or dock and using the right cable/adapter.

1. Identify the monitor’s video input
   • Check the Lenovo monitor’s ports: common ones are HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA.
2. Identify the available video output
   • Surface Laptop 4 itself has a USB-C port that supports video out.
   • The Surface Dock (original) uses Mini DisplayPort for video.
3. Use the correct cable/adapter
   • If connecting through the Surface Dock:
     • Use a cable from Mini DisplayPort on the dock to the monitor’s input (for example, Mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI).
     • If the monitor cable doesn’t match Mini DisplayPort, use an appropriate adapter as described in the dock guidance.
   • If connecting directly to the Surface Laptop 4 (without the dock):
     • Use a USB-C video cable or adapter from the Surface USB-C port to the monitor’s input (USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA).
4. General recommendations from Surface display guidance
   • When possible, use the same connector type on both ends (for example, USB-C to USB-C, or DisplayPort to DisplayPort).
   • If an adapter is needed, preferred order is: USB-C, DisplayPort (Mini DisplayPort), HDMI, DVI, then VGA.
   • Use high-quality, short cables (HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2, no more than about 6 feet/1.8 m) to avoid signal issues.
   • If a cable or adapter seems unreliable, try another one or remove any extension cables/adapters to test.

The “USB square ending” on the monitor is likely a USB-B port for the monitor’s USB hub, not for video. Video must come from one of the monitor’s video ports (HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA) using the appropriate cable/adapter from the Surface or Surface Dock.

References:

• Connect Surface to an external display
• Use Surface Dock