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Fix Apple Pencil Flickering in OneNote for iOS (120Hz Issue)
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where Apple Pencil writing flickers, jumps, or refreshes slowly in the OneNote app, specifically at a 120 Hz refresh rate.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- iPadOS
- Scenario
- Writing, drawing, or taking notes using an Apple Pencil in the OneNote application on an iPad with a ProMotion (120Hz) display.
- Observed behavior
- Pen strokes appear to flicker, jump, or lag while writing in OneNote version 16.90, despite the Apple Pencil functioning normally in Apple Notes and other apps.
Verify that your Apple Pencil tip is securely tightened and not worn out, and ensure your iPad has sufficient battery power, as hardware power states can occasionally exacerbate software lag.
Update OneNote and Submit Feedback to Microsoft
Since this is a known rendering and compatibility issue introduced in version 16.90, updating to the newest release or directly reporting your device logs to Microsoft is the most effective approach.
Microsoft frequently rolls out patches to fix rendering bugs on specific iPad hardware. If an update is not yet available, submitting detailed feedback helps developers prioritize the fix.
Open the App Store on your iPad, tap your profile picture in the top-right corner, and refresh the page to see if a new version of OneNote or an iPadOS system update is available.
Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPad to open the Control Center, and tap the 'Screen Recording' icon to capture a short video demonstrating the Apple Pencil strokes flickering.
Note down your specific iPad model, the current iPadOS version (found in Settings > General > About), and your installed OneNote version.
Open OneNote, navigate to Settings (the gear icon), and tap 'Send Feedback'. Describe the 120Hz refresh rate bug, attach your screen recording, and include your exact hardware details before sending.
Temporarily Disable 120Hz ProMotion on iPad
If the flickering severely impacts your ability to take notes, temporarily limiting your iPad's display refresh rate to 60Hz may stabilize the pen strokes until a patch is released.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Note-taking and Document Annotation
If rendering bugs in Microsoft OneNote are disrupting your note-taking workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible and stable environment for viewing, editing, and annotating documents with an Apple Pencil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Apple Pencil only flicker in OneNote and not Apple Notes?
This happens due to differences in app-specific rendering engines. Apple Notes is natively optimized by Apple for iPadOS hardware, whereas OneNote relies on Microsoft's custom rendering engine, which currently has a known optimization bug handling 120Hz ProMotion displays in version 16.90.
Will buying a new Apple Pencil fix the stroke jumping issue?
No. If your Apple Pencil works perfectly in other drawing or note-taking applications, the issue is purely software-related. Replacing the hardware will not resolve a rendering bug within the OneNote app.
How long does it typically take to fix iPadOS app rendering bugs?
Update timelines vary depending on the developer. However, critical input issues like Apple Pencil flickering are generally prioritized and addressed in minor patch updates within a few weeks. Submitting direct feedback to Microsoft helps accelerate this process.
