Stuck on the Windows 11 Installation Page

It seems that you are experiencing issues with the touchpad and touchscreen not working during the Windows 11 installation on your Surface Pro 4. This can be frustrating, especially when you cannot proceed with the installation due to the inability to click on the Next button.

One potential workaround is to use an external USB mouse if you have one available. This could allow you to navigate the installation process until the operating system is fully installed and the drivers are updated. Additionally, if your device has a PS/2 port, you could use a PS/2 mouse or keyboard.

If you have a touchscreen, you might also try using the touch keyboard feature, which can be accessed by tapping the keyboard icon on the screen if it appears.

If these options do not work, you may need to check if there are any firmware updates for your Surface Pro 4 that could resolve the issue with the touch input devices. Once Windows 11 is installed, ensure that all drivers are updated through Windows Update to restore full functionality.

References:

• Windows 10 upgrade to Windows 11 considerations
• Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 24H2
• Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 25H2

Thanks for reaching out Arnel,

This issue happens because Windows 11 installation media does not include all the drivers needed for older devices like the Surface Pro 4. During setup, the Type Cover drivers (which control the touchpad) and touchscreen drivers may not load, leaving you unable to click “Next.”

Here’s how to fix it:

Connect a USB mouse or keyboard This is the quickest workaround to proceed with installation.

Update drivers after installation Once Windows 11 is installed, go to Settings > Windows Update and install all updates. Then open Device Manager and update drivers for “Human Interface Devices” and “Mice and other pointing devices.” [learn.microsoft.com]

Download Surface drivers manually Visit Microsoft’s official Surface support page and download the latest driver pack for Surface Pro 4. Install it after setup to restore full touch and touchpad functionality.

Run Surface Diagnostic Toolkit If issues persist, use Microsoft’s Surface Diagnostic Toolkit to automatically detect and fix hardware and driver problems.

Optional advanced steps If the touchpad still doesn’t work, detach and reattach the Type Cover, clean its connectors, and check BIOS/UEFI for firmware updates.

Let me know how it goes.

Rez

Arnel,

Please confirm you have a Surface Laptop 4 (the Surface Pro 4 is a different device and is not eligible for Windows 11). The recommend procedure is to use the official downloadable recovery image for your Surface Laptop 4 and then run Windows Update to get any updated drivers and firmware. The Surface Laptop 4 recovery image latest version is 24H2. Windows update should offer you 25H2 after you reimage. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface-recovery-image