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

Not restricted to MS Surface, I'm having similar problems with an Asus Flip S, all was fine until the last update (1909). All good until I touch the screen with hand, then inking happens without even touching pen to screen, inking skips and lags but somewhat randomly. Sometimes the pen is not recognised for several seconds. I have "write in panel with finger" switched off. (Note the Asus pen is not paired by bluetooth to function.) I will uninstall 1909 at the end of today to see if that makes any difference. *Update* Uninstalling 1909 certainly improved things. I lost my patience with the irrational behaviour and uninstalled it, I then managed to continue my working day normally. For the record, I am a med editor and use only the pen with handwriting to edit (have done so since 2010!), so yes, I am well aware of how well it works when it does work properly.

I have to say I had no problems at all on my Asus with 1903. When mine updated to 1909 the pen problem arose. However, it also installed KB4524570. I have uninstalled 1909 and pen behaviour is pretty well back to normal but not quite what it was. I may uninstall the KB update too.

I can confirm that this is a widespread issue (possibly happing to every device out there) with both the surface pro 7 and pro x. Our best bet other than returning the devices is to wait for Microsoft to issue a software update if possible, but it is unclear if the problem can be resolved by software or is a unfixable hardware problem.

Hmm update on mine. My Asus pen battery seems to have died. Just swapped it for a new one AND reinstalled 1909. Pleasantly surprised to find all working perfectly again. So my issue at least seems to have been battery-related after all.

I'm also having this issue on a regularly basis. Sometimes the pen seems to be jumping around by more than 5 mm, making it extremely hard to write. Unfortunately when calling support they didn't know that issue. Because of other issues they already sent me a second Surface Pro 7 which has the exactly same issues. Trying to draw a straight line:

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.

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87 answers

Anonymous

2019-11-22T11:58:08+00:00

Not restricted to MS Surface, I'm having similar problems with an Asus Flip S, all was fine until the last update (1909). All good until I touch the screen with hand, then inking happens without even touching pen to screen, inking skips and lags but somewhat randomly. Sometimes the pen is not recognised for several seconds. I have "write in panel with finger" switched off. (Note the Asus pen is not paired by bluetooth to function.)

I will uninstall 1909 at the end of today to see if that makes any difference.

*Update*

Uninstalling 1909 certainly improved things. I lost my patience with the irrational behaviour and uninstalled it, I then managed to continue my working day normally. For the record, I am a med editor and use only the pen with handwriting to edit (have done so since 2010!), so yes, I am well aware of how well it works when it does work properly.
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Anonymous

2019-11-23T10:13:33+00:00

I have to say I had no problems at all on my Asus with 1903. When mine updated to 1909 the pen problem arose. However, it also installed KB4524570. I have uninstalled 1909 and pen behaviour is pretty well back to normal but not quite what it was. I may uninstall the KB update too.
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Anonymous

2019-11-29T16:54:10+00:00

I can confirm that this is a widespread issue (possibly happing to every device out there) with both the surface pro 7 and pro x. Our best bet other than returning the devices is to wait for Microsoft to issue a software update if possible, but it is unclear if the problem can be resolved by software or is a unfixable hardware problem.
Was this answer helpful?

2 people found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2019-12-02T11:23:01+00:00

Hmm update on mine.

My Asus pen battery seems to have died. Just swapped it for a new one AND reinstalled 1909. Pleasantly surprised to find all working perfectly again. So my issue at least seems to have been battery-related after all.
Was this answer helpful?

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Anonymous

2019-12-03T01:03:42+00:00

I'm also having this issue on a regularly basis. Sometimes the pen seems to be jumping around by more than 5 mm, making it extremely hard to write. Unfortunately when calling support they didn't know that issue. Because of other issues they already sent me a second Surface Pro 7 which has the exactly same issues.

Trying to draw a straight line:
Was this answer helpful?

2 people found this answer helpful.

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