OneNote on iPad OS 16 no longer allowing scribble (write-to-text)

Anonymous
2022-10-28T14:49:19+00:00

Hi. I had been using OneNote on iPad Pro with scribble so I could write notes by hand using the Apple Pen and they automatically convert to text. I've just updated to iPad OS 16 and the feature doesn't work anymore. When I select the pen with the letter "A" on it (what I did previously), and start writing, it immediately reverts to Text Mode when I touch the Apple Pen to the surface of the iPad. I can choose a "pen" and take notes like normal, but the scribble feature no longer works. It doesn't convert to text. Is this a known issue as a result of iPad OS 16?

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Anonymous
2022-10-28T18:40:20+00:00

Hi there,

I'm a Product Manager on the OneNote team.

First, let me apologize for the disruption you're experiencing with Scribble on OneNote.

We have currently turned off Scribble on OneNote for all users on iPadOS 16. We encountered some unusual behavior with this new OS and are working on a fix ASAP. We hope to have the feature restored very soon.

Thank you for your patience. I will follow up on this thread once I have more news to share.

Best,

Greg

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-10-28T15:58:15+00:00

    Dear PDENNISM,

    Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

    As per your description, please let us cooperate and please don’t worry, we can work together to narrow down and resolve the situation.

    It seems that that the problem only occurs after updated to iPad OS 16. And you use an Apple Pencil, to take advantage of iPad Scribble functionality to write text.

    Please make sure if Scribble is enabled on your iPad **Settings (**make sure that the switch next to Scribbleis enabled).

    If all setting it correct in your iPad OS, then try to perform reset OneNote troubleshooting steps for iPad and check it make any difference.

    Reset OneNote on your iPad:(Before Reset OneNote for iPad please note make sure that all notebooks are synced or have backup in case of any data loss)

    a. Ensure that the OneNote app is closed.
    b. Go to Settings.
    c. Find the OneNote app you want to reset.
    d. Select the app.

    e. Scroll down to reset OneNote app (Delete Sign-In Credentials and turn the toggle on).

    Make sure OneNote is not running. (Double tap the home screen to see all running apps and swipe up on OneNote to close it.)

    Re-open OneNote and you will have to sign in again. Once done, please check if you can use apple Scribble function in your OneNote.

    Since, your Apple Pencil setting all are correct in your iPad device and reset and uninstall/reinstall OneNote app doesn't work and still issue persist, in this scenario to report this problem/bug, we requested you please send/provide the feedback via Microsoft OneNote feedback portal to related development OneNote team so that they can get notice about it, and it will fix in next updates version. of OneNote for iPad. It’s the best way to report to related Office development team and we are sure it will speed up this process. Your advice is very important to us.

    I again really apologize for this because its effort on your daily work.

    Your understanding and patience will be highly appreciated. I hope that you are keeping safe and well!

    Sincerely, 

    Waqas Muhammad

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-11-02T13:45:34+00:00

    Thanks, Waqas. It seems like the issue is due to iPad OS 16 and that the functionality has been disabled for now, per Greg's comment below. I did try reinstalling OneNote several times and toggling on/off the scribble function centrally in settings, but to no avail. Now we know why.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-11-02T13:46:05+00:00

    Thanks, Greg. I appreciate the response. Looking forward to the fix.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-11-02T16:39:42+00:00

    I do have also another issue, where writing by hand looks terrible. I believe this issue is due to the new Pencil function ,,Hover,,. iPad takes input to write even when the Pencil is not touching the screen.

    The hand writing works perfectly fine in native Notes app.

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