The 7 Best Apps for Surface Pro 7

From the best drawing app to the best calendar and music solutions

By
Brad Stephenson
Brad Stephenson - Lifewire Writer
Brad Stephenson
Freelance Contributor
  • Western Sydney University
Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency.
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Updated on September 11, 2023
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
Ryan Perian headshot
Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

This article covers the must-have apps for Surface Pro 7 users looking to get the most out of their new Microsoft Surface device. Programs range from the best drawing app for Surface Pro 7 to some of the more popular Windows apps for consuming audiobooks, podcasts, and movies. We also included a couple of the best productivity apps.

01
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Best Audiobook App for Surface Pro 7: Audiobooks from Audible

Windows 10 Audible app on Surface Pro 7.
What We Like

  • Listening progress syncs seamlessly between Surface Pro 7 and other devices.

  • App icon displays audiobook cover artwork when pinned to your Start menu.

What We Don't Like

  • Cover artwork is a bit low res when viewed fullscreen on a Surface Pro.

  • The Stats screen and badges are incredibly clunky and unintuitive.

Audiobooks from Audible is one of the best apps for Surface Pro 7 for listening to audiobooks. This free Windows app fully syncs your Audible audiobook library from your Amazon account and remembers where you left off on different titles no matter what device you were previously using.

You will need to be connected to the internet for audiobook progress to sync between devices.

In many ways, this Windows Audible app is much easier to use than the mobile versions on iPhone and Android as the larger screen on the Surface Pro 7 allows for more titles to show on the screen at the same time. It makes finding the audiobook you’re looking for much easier, especially if you have difficulty reading the text or controls on your smartphone.

The only negative thing to say about Audiobooks from Audible is the Stats screen, and its badges are a bit awkward to navigate. Neither is used much by users, though, so this likely won’t inconvenience many.

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02
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Best Music App for Surface Pro 7: Spotify Music

Windows 10 Spotify app on Surface Pro 7.
What We Like

  • Absolutely massive library of music and podcasts to listen to.

  • Facebook integration adds a social aspect lacking on mobile.

  • Can play audio files off of your Surface Pro 7 as well.

What We Don't Like

  • Streamlined menu can be inconvenient at times.

  • Occasional ads if you don’t have Spotify Premium.

If you like to listen to many podcasts and music, the Windows Spotify app is a must-have. Spotify Music syncs all of your Spotify playlists, favorites, and preferences from the mobile app, making it great for existing users who frequently switch devices. You can also use this app to play locally stored audio tracks that have been downloaded or transferred to your Surface Pro 7 from somewhere else.

You can listen offline if you have an active Spotify Premium subscription.

One of the coolest aspects of the Windows Spotify app is that it can connect to Facebook and display a live feed of what your friends are listening to. If they’re online, their name, photo, and current track or podcast episode will appear at the top of the list. If they’re offline, they’ll appear under the online friends in order of most recent activity. All of the track information is clickable, so you can check out what they’re into with a single click. It's an excellent feature for those wanting to feel more connected to others or are looking for something new to listen to.

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03
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Best Image Editor App for Surface Pro 7: Adobe Photoshop Express

Windows 10 Photoshop Express app on Surface Pro 7.
What We Like

  • Lots of quality filters are easy to preview and apply to photos.

  • Crop, rotate, resize, and red eye tools are all here.

What We Don't Like

  • You need to sign in with an Adobe, Facebook, or Google account to use.

Adobe Photoshop Express is an entirely free Photoshop app designed for those who need to do some basic image editing before sharing a photo with friends and family or posting it on social media.

While Windows’s default Photos app does feature some basic image editing functionality, Adobe Photoshop Express is still one of the best apps for making changes to photos on Surface Pro due to its wide selection of tools and filters. In addition to the usual crop tool and filters, Photoshop Express also boasts red-eye removal for both humans and animals, a blemish removal tool, and default image sizes for specific use cases such as Facebook cover images, account headers, and Pinterest posts.

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04
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Best Drawing App for Surface Pro 7: Sketchable

Sketchable Windows 10 app on Surface Pro 7.
What We Like

  • Professional grade digital drawing and painting tools.

  • Lots of tutorials and tips to help new users.

  • Great support for Microsoft’s Surface Pen stylus.

What We Don't Like

  • $24.99 paid upgrade required to unlock all features.

  • This Surface Pro drawing app can be very intimidating at first.

Sketchable is considered by many to be one of the best drawing apps for Surface Pro. It features a massive set of digital painting tools which you can use to make a quick sketch or produce incredible artwork intended to be sold or displayed in a professional setting.

Sketchable is designed to work with Surface devices, such as the Surface Pro 7, and features full support for the Surface Pen stylus for both art creation and navigating the app’s menus and UI. Sketchable truly is a Windows app that allows you to disconnect your Type Cover and mouse and fully use your Surface Pro 7 as a digital canvas like in the commercials on TV.

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05
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Best Note-Taking App for Surface Pro 7: OneNote

Microsoft OneNote on Surface Pro 7.
What We Like

  • Strong support for both typed and handwritten notes.

  • All content is backed up to the cloud for free.

What We Don't Like

  • Switching between notebooks can become a bit confusing once more are created.

  • The number of options may intimidate casual users.

When it comes to writing notes on a Surface Pro 7, it’s hard to beat OneNote. You can use Microsoft’s free app both for quickly jotting down notes and scribbles or for creating more comprehensive plans, recipes, and checklists.

OneNote supports input via your Type Cover keyboard, touch, or a stylus such as the Surface Pen, and all changes automatically save to the cloud seconds after being made. All notes made in OneNote on your Surface Pro 7 sync for free to the mobile version of OneNote on your iPhone or Android smartphone and vice versa, which makes it a genuinely convenient tool for keeping track of information and ideas wherever you are.

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06
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Best Movie and TV App for Surface Pro 7: Netflix

Windows 10 Netflix app.
What We Like

  • Content can be streamed online or downloaded for offline viewing.

  • Good file storage management settings.

What We Don't Like

  • You’ll need to be a Netflix subscriber to access any of this content.

The official Windows Netflix app is one of the best apps for Surface Pro 7 owners looking to watch movies, TV series, and documentaries. Users can log in with the same Netflix account they use on other devices and either stream content when connected to the internet or download videos for viewing offline.

You can use your Netflix account and this app to watch content when traveling abroad. The available library will automatically change to match the country you’re in, which can be a great way to discover local shows and films when on holiday.

The latter functionality is beneficial when traveling or if your internet connection is too slow to stream media properly. You can delete all downloaded media either manually or automatically by using the rather clever Smart Downloads setting. This feature cleverly erases episodes or films after you finish watching them and downloads the next one in the series so you can keep watching.

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07
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Best Email and Planner Apps for Surface Pro 7: Mail and Calendar

Windows 10 Mail app on Surface Pro 7.
What We Like

  • Both apps are free and come pre-installed on new Surface devices.

  • Multiple email accounts and calendars can be added to each app.

  • All changes sync to the cloud via your Microsoft account.

What We Don't Like

  • Emails with embedded images need to be resized sometimes.

  • Navigating months in Calendar can be confusing at first.

Your Surface Pro 7 comes pre-installed with two excellent email and calendar apps, appropriately called Mail and Calendar, respectively. Each app is completely free to use and, while made by Microsoft, works with email accounts and schedules from other services such as Gmail and Yahoo Mail.

You can switch email accounts and calendars via the left navigation menu. All your scheduled appointments are also viewable right away, so you don’t miss anything important. One of the best aspects of these must-have apps for Surface Pro 7 is all of the changes made will sync to your Microsoft account, so, for example, if you create an event in Calendar on your Surface Pro 7, it will be mirrored on your Outlook phone app.

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FAQ
  • Is the Surface Pro 7 a good laptop replacement?

    The Surface Pro 7 comes closer to being a suitable laptop replacement than some of its competitors, including the iPad. It's powerful enough to handle emails, web browsing, streaming, and even light photo editing. All Windows apps should work on the Surface Pro 7, although it won't replace a gaming laptop.

  • How do you take a screenshot on a Surface Pro 7?

    There are multiple ways you can take a screenshot on a Surface tablet. One method is to long-press the Power and the Volume Up buttons simultaneously. Or, you can long-press the Prt Sc key on your keyboard or use the keyboard shortcut Fn+Windows key+Spacebar.

  • How do you connect Airpods to a Surface Pro 7?

    To connect your AirPods to a Surface tablet, place the Airpods into pairing mode by opening the case. Then, go into Settings and select Devices > Add Bluetooth & other devices > Bluetooth. Select your AirPods in the list of available devices, then long-press the Sync button on the AirPods case until the buds are connected.

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