A seller in Santo André, Brazil, has listed a used Microsoft Type Cover 2, the physical keyboard cover designed for the first-generation Surface RT, Surface 2, Surface Pro, and Surface Pro 2. The black accessory is described as tested and fully functional, with normal cosmetic wear and what the listing calls a possible small fabric tear that reportedly doesn’t affect typing. For anyone still nursing a 10.6-inch Surface from 2012 or 2013, it’s a rare chance to grab a replacement part that hasn’t been manufactured in years.
The listing: What’s being sold
According to the online marketplace santoandre.biz, the used Type Cover 2 is listed as compatible with the Surface RT, Surface 2, Surface Pro (1st gen), and Surface Pro 2. The seller notes it has been tested and is in working order, though pictures or additional condition notes beyond the mention of the tear aren’t provided in public reports. This is not a new, old-stock offering; it’s a pre-owned accessory from a device family that Microsoft stopped supporting with firmware updates years ago.
The Type Cover 2 itself was Microsoft’s second-generation keyboard cover, released alongside the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 in late 2013. Unlike the original Touch Cover, which used a flat, pressure-sensitive surface, the Type Cover 2 features physical, moving keys and a small multi-touch touchpad. It connects magnetically to the lower edge of the tablet via a proprietary blade connector and doubles as a protective screen cover when closed. At launch, it was praised for offering a vastly improved typing experience—more akin to a laptop keyboard—and it quickly became an essential add-on for on-the-go productivity.
For owners of the compatible devices, this particular listing is a drop in a very small pond. Original Type and Touch Covers are increasingly hard to find outside of sketchy eBay lots or anonymous marketplace postings. A working cover can literally turn a decade-old tablet back into a functional ultra-mobile writing tool, remote administration terminal, or legacy application client.
What this means for your aging Surface
If you have a Surface RT, Surface 2, first-gen Surface Pro, or Surface Pro 2 sitting in a drawer because the original keyboard gave out, this listing matters—but only if you act with your eyes wide open. The Type Cover 2 is not a universal Surface keyboard. It is strictly for models with the 10.6-inch chassis and the original magnetic connector. It will not physically fit a Surface Pro 3 or later, a Surface Go, a Surface Pro X, a Surface Laptop, or any modern Surface Pro (8, 9, 10, 11). Those devices use either different connectors (the Pro 3–7+ use a slightly wider blade connector and a different physical layout) or Bluetooth/USB-C keyboards entirely.
Microsoft’s own compatibility documentation draws bright lines here. The Surface Pro 2 specifications, archived on Microsoft Support, explicitly list the 10.6-inch display and dedicated cover port. Community forums are littered with users who mistakenly tried to attach an old Type Cover to a Surface Go or a newer Pro—it doesn’t connect, and in some orientations it can even damage the connector pins if forced. If your device isn’t one of those four named, stop reading now; this keyboard isn’t for you.
For the right audience, though, this is more than a nostalgic purchase.
Home users: If you’ve kept an old Surface RT or Pro as a secondary machine for web browsing, media playback, or note taking, a working keyboard brings it back to life. Given that those tablets often run an outdated version of Windows RT or an older Windows 8.1/10 install, they’re not secure for daily browsing, but they can serve as dedicated offline tools. A physical keyboard makes writing emails, editing documents, or using built-in apps far less frustrating than the on-screen keyboard.
IT pros and tinkerers: Some businesses and hobbyists still maintain original Surface Pro devices for controlling legacy industrial equipment, running older software, or as thin clients. A spare Type Cover 2 can be the difference between a functioning unit and a paperweight. And because these covers are no longer in production, stocking a known-good used one while it’s available is a practical risk mitigation move—provided you test immediately.
A brief history of Surface Type Covers: How we got to scarcity
When Microsoft unveiled the original Surface RT and Surface Pro in 2012, one of the headline innovations was the magnetic attach keyboard cover. The first Touch Covers were thin, flat, and pressure-sensitive; they were clever but polarizing because of their lack of tactile feedback. The Type Cover arrived later with real keys, immediately becoming the preferred option for anyone who typed more than a few sentences.
With the Surface Pro 2 generation in 2013, Microsoft refined the formula: the Type Cover 2 added backlit keys, a slightly firmer keypress, and a more responsive touchpad. It was bundled with many Surface Pro 2 sales and sold separately for $129.99 at the time.
When the Surface Pro 3 launched in 2014, it grew to a 12-inch display and introduced a redesigned cover connector—though it was physically compatible with the Type Cover 2, the keyboard size no longer matched the chassis, and Microsoft marketed the new Surface Pro 3 Type Cover instead. From that point on, every new Surface Pro generation brought subtle connector and size changes, stranding the original accessories. The Surface RT line was discontinued entirely by early 2015.
Fast forward to 2026, and the only way to get a Type Cover 2 is secondhand. Microsoft hasn’t manufactured them in over a decade. Listings pop up sporadically on eBay, Mercado Libre, and niche resale sites. Many are untested or not fully functional. A listing that explicitly says “tested” and acknowledges the wear is a relative anomaly, though it doesn’t guarantee long-term reliability.
Before you click “buy”: A used Type Cover checklist
If you’re considering this or any used Type Cover, a few steps can save you from a paperweight:
- Verify exact device model. Confirm your Surface model in Settings > System > About. It must be one of: Surface RT, Surface 2, Surface Pro, or Surface Pro 2. No exceptions.
- Check seller reliability. Look at the seller’s history, return policy, and whether they accept buyer-paid returns. A “tested” claim is helpful but doesn’t replace a hands-on check.
- Inspect on arrival before relying on it. When the cover arrives, examine the fabric along the hinge and edges. A small tear is acceptable if it doesn’t spread, but tears near the connector can worsen. Press every key, including function keys. Move the cursor with the touchpad loudly and softly; check left/right click. Test the magnetic alignment: the cover should snap into place quickly and the tablet should recognize it instantly. If not, restart the tablet. Microsoft’s Surface troubleshooting page still advises cleaning the connector pins with a soft, dry cloth and a restart.
- Common failure points to watch for:
- Fabric separating near the spine (causes erratic connectivity)
- Individual keys that don’t register or stick
- Intermittent touchpad tracking or tap-to-click malfunction
- Corrosion or bent pins on the connector blade
- The cover not staying closed due to a weak magnet - Consider it a temporary solution. Even a working Type Cover 2 is a decade-old, flexible-wear item. Plan for it to fail eventually, and if it’s critical, buy a spare when possible.
What’s next for legacy Surface accessories
This listing won’t be the last. As original Surfaces age, more covers will trickle out of closets and estate sales. But the pool is shrinking. Capacitive keyboards, flex cables, and magnetic connectors don’t age gracefully. Batteries in the tablets themselves are another looming issue—many Surface RT units can no longer hold a charge.
For anyone still relying on a first-gen Surface, now might be the moment to consider a migration path. A used Surface Pro 7 or a discounted Surface Go can run a modern, supported OS and connect to newer keyboards. But if you’re locked into a particular workflow that demands the original hardware, acting on a tested used accessory while it’s available is the best you can do. Just go in with a checklist and a realistic expectation of what a decade-old keyboard cover can deliver.