Disappearing Ink problem in OneNote 2016 + Surface Pro 3

Hi 

We've started to rollout the fix for the Office 16 ink disappearing bug. The fix is currently available for the C2R Office versions. I will update this thread once the fix is available for the MSI versions.

How to identify if you are running C2R or MSI:

Go to File->Account. If you see a button 'Update Options' located above 'About OneNote', then you are on a C2R version of Office, otherwise you are on an MSI version of Office. If you are on MSI, please apply the temporary work-around to disable handwriting recognition. You can disable it by unchecking the option File->Options->Advanced->Enable automatic handwriting recognition. This will help avoid the ink from disappearing due to the known bug. I will update this thread once the fix is released for MSI.

For C2R: To get the update (currently it may not update automatically):

1. Go to File->Account->Update Options->Update Now. Wait for the installation to complete
2. Confirm you are on version 16.0.6001.1038. The version is listed in File->Account->About OneNote.

Once you are on version 16.0.6001.1038, you can re-enable handwriting recognition if needed. The recognition will work as usual and you can navigate to the ink pages that were inked during the time the setting was off, to kick off the recognition on those pages.

Let me know if you have any questions about the installation process or continue to see the ink disappear.

Thanks working with us to resolve this bug!

Thanks!

Mavis

I own Surface Book and I've installed Office 2016 fresh. There was no office app installed prior to this. I sync my one note in onedrive. I've noticed the ink started disappearing after few minutes of note taking. (handwriting recognition - ON). After switching the feature OFF, the problem went away. As you mentioned in other posts, I'm waiting for the update as it is important to convert my handwritten notes to text sometimes. 

Another workaround is to keep the automatic handwriting recognition settings ON and choose drawing mode or text mode inking appropriately.

I've also been having this issue on my surface book. It's not as extensive for me as it has been others and usually only occurs when I'm taking notes in math and physics class. Numbers, equations etc... I will try disabling the handwriting recognition, but any word on an update would be great. I can understand the frustration of people, especially when they spend their hard earned money on new tech, but  ALL new software and hardware are bound to have bugs in the beginning.

Hi Mavis

Just wanted to let the team know that my Surface Pro 2 encountered the disappearing ink problem despite all available updates as of November 5 2015. The problem has resolved after disabling handwriting recognition as advised in your earlier post.

I hope the bug is fixed soon. I have been disabling handwriting recognition pre-emptively on my other surface devices until a fix is rolled out to users.

Thanks.

Chiming in to say I'm having this problem, too, and it's very upsetting to lose my inked notes. Writing in OneNote is the main reason I bought a SP3, and I just upgraded to a new SP4. I did not ever have this problem on the SP3, and I was running Office 2016 on it, as well. It happened for the first time a few days ago on the new machine, and I thought it was just a fluke and I needed to restart. But it has happened every time I've written in OneNote since then, and tonight I basically lost an entire article draft because the second half of my writing was moved up to sit on top of the first half, and all the line spacing disappeared. There is no way I can find to undo this. My work's illegible and useless now, and I'm starting over. 

I have turned off the handwriting recognition and have my fingers crossed that it'll work. I wish I'd found this discussion sooner!

Thanks to all who are trying to resolve this issue. I hope it happens soon.