I took a quick look at https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=windows%2011%20smart%20card%20driver and selected just one of the items and Found this "Gemalto" item and one from Alcorlink (I didn't check the others). Amazon has some Gemalto products.. Depending on what you will use a Smart Card for, you would need to check application software.
Smart Card readers that work with Windows Surface ARM laptop
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AntonioTrindade-5082
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I am looking for a smart card reader that will work on a Windows Surface ARM laptop?
Surface | Other
3 answers
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Barb Bowman 78,580 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator2025-07-21T16:05:57.4833333+00:00 -
AntonioTrindade-5082 0 Reputation points
2025-07-21T19:23:33.46+00:00 tried the Gelmato and i didnt load
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ppavle 3,860 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2025-07-21T16:11:13.1333333+00:00 I have some cheap Trust smart card USB reader. Just connected it on my Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon) and Windows recognized it as Microsoft Usbccid Smartcard Reader (WUDF). On my x64 PC, the same smart card reader is recognized as Alcorlink USB Smart Card Reader.
But, that's step one. You should check if middleware for your smart card is ARM compatible.
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AntonioTrindade-5082 0 Reputation points
2025-07-21T17:10:20.31+00:00 Yes, the card reader shows up and so does the Smart Card, but since i inserted a smart card into the reader, it should display the info from the card, not "unknown Smart Card" That is the problem.
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ppavle 3,860 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-07-21T18:52:08.87+00:00 The same here. That means that Windows, by default, doesn't recognize that smart card. For example, I have two smart cards and for both of them, device manager shows Unkown Smart Card. However, if you have proper middleware and software for specific smart card, it's fine.
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AntonioTrindade-5082 0 Reputation points
2025-07-21T19:12:52.08+00:00 the problem is it doesnt read the info on the smart card. I inserted my card and it should show my info, not "Unknown Smart Card"
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ppavle 3,860 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-07-21T19:58:06.5+00:00 When you use the same card reader on x86 machine, and you insert the same smart card, is it different?
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AntonioTrindade-5082 0 Reputation points
2025-07-21T21:39:21.52+00:00 smart are is no longer unknown
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ppavle 3,860 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-07-21T21:43:28.77+00:00 Great. Driver for Smart Card Reader is one thing, for Smart Card is additional piece of software. I'm happy that everything works now!
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AntonioTrindade-5082 0 Reputation points
2025-07-21T21:48:14.0433333+00:00 i dont want to use my x64, I want to use the Windows ARM Laptop. Still a problem
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Barb Bowman 78,580 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2025-07-21T21:51:20.9766667+00:00 https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=windows%2011%20smart%20card%20driver Does not have an ARM driver for IDEMIA. That’s the issue.
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AntonioTrindade-5082 0 Reputation points
2025-07-21T21:53:35.8333333+00:00 i tried to use the Thales but cant get it to work
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Barb Bowman 78,580 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2025-07-21T21:58:00.7766667+00:00 If you are saying you tried the Thales driver, it would only work with Thales compatible hardware. If you are saying you tried a different Thales based card reader, that is a different issue.
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AntonioTrindade-5082 0 Reputation points
2025-07-21T23:04:01.09+00:00 Can you send url for the card reader that you use
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