Pen works fine when only the pen is making contact with the screen. However, when my palm is resting on the screen, the pressure detection of the pen becomes extremely inaccurate. As soon as skin (palm, fingers, etc) makes contact with the screen, the pressure curve of the pen becomes a staircase, as if the pen could only detect 5-20 levels of pressure, instead of 4096 like it's supposed to. Here's a screenshot from the Surface app: ![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/cdc3b0c5-bfcc-4409-b0a1-318885287f48?platform=QnA And here is how it looks like when drawing: Is this normal? How can I fix it? Device : Surface Pro 7 Model 1866 i5 (8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) OS : Windows 10 Home Version 1903 build 18362.449 (edit: I've since updated to 1909 build 18363.628, issue persists) Pen : Microsoft Surface Pen Model 1776 (Burgundy) I have: paired my pen unpaired and repaired the pen via Bluetooth options rebooted the Surface Pro soft reset the Surface Pro (volume+ and power buttons down for 15 seconds) removed and reinserted the battery into the pen (only way I could think of turning it off and on again) checked Windows Updates checked for app updates via Windows Store run the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit, no problems detected tried with and without Settings → Devices → Pen & Windows Ink → Ignore touch input when I'm using my pen set the correct hand I'm using from pen settings tried in multiple different apps, including Surface app, Adobe Photoshop, Krita, Sketchable, Autodesk SketchBook and others — same problem everywhere tried calibrating the pen (search "calibrate" from start menu and choose pen calibration), a dialog opens after choosing "Calibrate..." → "Pen input", asks for permission, and just makes a sound and closes after I grant permission, so I'm not sure if it's not working correctly, but nothing changed either way — tried to do this multiple times, rebooting in between, but doesn't seem to do anything

We're 7 months in and still no acknowledgment from MS about this issue. See also https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/surfprox-surfdrivers/pen-pressure-staircasing-issue-when-touching-the/8c28cff4-0fb9-4ac3-8781-c22fa2ace98e https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/all/surface-pen-staircasing-pressure-sensitivity-issue/d8b84085-d8b8-4ae1-a2dd-10100955369f

The diagnostic tool and reinstalling the HID drivers haven't worked for me so far. I may look into artist glove, thanks. I have an old one and the Pro X was actually able to register touch inputs through it, so it has not worked for me. I guess the fabric is too thin... I may have to find another one and hope it works. Did the same and ordered a drawing glove, but had the same problem: the touches were still being registered by my Surface Pro 7. So I spent about an hour sowing extra padding into it 🙄... Now the glove is 'usable' (but for how long?) and I can now use a brush on my +1500€ device without it looking horrible 😑. Ridiculous. I also bought another stylus but it has an offset (and the same pressure staircasing when palm touching), so I thought I should calibrate. Now it seems like this is impossible too; my calibration tool isn't working anymore. Don't know if this is a 'thing' on the surface pro 7 or just mine. I don't know what Microsoft is up to, but they really need to fix this pressure thing. (and the calibration thing) asap, now, please...

did you try the suggestion of running the surface diagnostic tool? I did that, but I think it was AFTER I checked to see if the problem was still present. worth a shot if you havent. I actually prefer drawing with the anti-fouling glove anyway. maybe my skin is just sticky, but I find it much easier to draw long lines with the glove, so my palm isnt stick skipping along the screen. Unfortunately the Surface Diagnostic Tool didn't change anything for me.. 'all good', it said..

for me resetting the pressure curve to default fixed the problem in 90% of the time. I rarely see the problem ever since I set it back.

The diagnostic tool and reinstalling the HID drivers haven't worked for me so far. I may look into artist glove, thanks. I have an old one and the Pro X was actually able to register touch inputs through it, so it has not worked for me. I guess the fabric is too thin... I may have to find another one and hope it works.

Surface Pro 7 pen pressure issues with palm rejection

Anonymous

Pen works fine when only the pen is making contact with the screen. However, when my palm is resting on the screen, the pressure detection of the pen becomes extremely inaccurate. As soon as skin (palm, fingers, etc) makes contact with the screen, the pressure curve of the pen becomes a staircase, as if the pen could only detect 5-20 levels of pressure, instead of 4096 like it's supposed to. Here's a screenshot from the Surface app:![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/cdc3b0c5-bfcc-4409-b0a1-318885287f48?platform=QnAAnd here is how it looks like when drawing:

Is this normal? How can I fix it?

Device: Surface Pro 7 Model 1866 i5 (8GB RAM, 128GB SSD)

OS: Windows 10 Home Version 1903 build 18362.449 (edit: I've since updated to 1909 build 18363.628, issue persists)

Pen: Microsoft Surface Pen Model 1776 (Burgundy)

I have:

paired my pen
unpaired and repaired the pen via Bluetooth options
rebooted the Surface Pro
soft reset the Surface Pro (volume+ and power buttons down for 15 seconds)
removed and reinserted the battery into the pen (only way I could think of turning it off and on again)
checked Windows Updates
checked for app updates via Windows Store
run the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit, no problems detected
tried with and without Settings → Devices → Pen & Windows Ink → Ignore touch input when I'm using my pen
set the correct hand I'm using from pen settings
tried in multiple different apps, including Surface app, Adobe Photoshop, Krita, Sketchable, Autodesk SketchBook and others — same problem everywhere
tried calibrating the pen (search "calibrate" from start menu and choose pen calibration), a dialog opens after choosing "Calibrate..." → "Pen input", asks for permission, and just makes a sound and closes after I grant permission, so I'm not sure if it's not working correctly, but nothing changed either way — tried to do this multiple times, rebooting in between, but doesn't seem to do anything

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

87 answers

Anonymous

2020-06-19T23:54:50+00:00

We're 7 months in and still no acknowledgment from MS about this issue.

See also

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/surfprox-surfdrivers/pen-pressure-staircasing-issue-when-touching-the/8c28cff4-0fb9-4ac3-8781-c22fa2ace98e

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/all/surface-pen-staircasing-pressure-sensitivity-issue/d8b84085-d8b8-4ae1-a2dd-10100955369f
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2020-05-26T21:57:24+00:00

The diagnostic tool and reinstalling the HID drivers haven't worked for me so far.

I may look into artist glove, thanks. I have an old one and the Pro X was actually able to register touch inputs through it, so it has not worked for me. I guess the fabric is too thin... I may have to find another one and hope it works.

Did the same and ordered a drawing glove, but had the same problem: the touches were still being registered by my Surface Pro 7.

So I spent about an hour sowing extra padding into it 🙄... Now the glove is 'usable' (but for how long?) and I can now use a brush on my +1500€ device without it looking horrible 😑. Ridiculous.

I also bought another stylus but it has an offset (and the same pressure staircasing when palm touching), so I thought I should calibrate. Now it seems like this is impossible too; my calibration tool isn't working anymore. Don't know if this is a 'thing' on the surface pro 7 or just mine.

I don't know what Microsoft is up to, but they really need to fix this pressure thing.

(and the calibration thing)

asap,

now,

please...
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2020-05-11T08:41:01+00:00

did you try the suggestion of running the surface diagnostic tool? I did that, but I think it was AFTER I checked to see if the problem was still present. worth a shot if you havent. I actually prefer drawing with the anti-fouling glove anyway. maybe my skin is just sticky, but I find it much easier to draw long lines with the glove, so my palm isnt stick skipping along the screen.

Unfortunately the Surface Diagnostic Tool didn't change anything for me..

'all good', it said..
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2020-05-11T06:52:51+00:00

for me resetting the pressure curve to default fixed the problem in 90% of the time. I rarely see the problem ever since I set it back.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2020-05-11T01:18:29+00:00

The diagnostic tool and reinstalling the HID drivers haven't worked for me so far.

I may look into artist glove, thanks. I have an old one and the Pro X was actually able to register touch inputs through it, so it has not worked for me. I guess the fabric is too thin... I may have to find another one and hope it works.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments