Office Settings & Configuration

How to Change Ink Color and Touch Settings in OneNote 365

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to change the color of existing handwritten notes and disable accidental finger drawing in OneNote 365.

How to Change Ink Color and Touch Settings in OneNote 365

Product: Microsoft OneNote 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing digital handwritten notes and optimizing the drawing interface for stylus and touch inputs.
Observed behavior: Selecting a stroke and tapping a new pen color does not change the ink color as it did in OneNote for Windows 10, and touch input inadvertently creates ink strokes instead of scrolling the page.

Before you start

Ensure your Microsoft 365 subscription is active and OneNote is updated to the latest version, as the location of stylus and touch interface options can vary between releases.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify Existing Ink Color

Use this method to change the color of handwriting that has already been drawn on the page.

In OneNote 365, the behavior of the drawing tools differs from older Windows 10 versions. Tapping a new pen on the ribbon no longer automatically recolors a selected stroke; instead, you must modify the ink properties directly.

Select the existing ink

Navigate to the 'Draw' tab on the ribbon and click the 'Lasso Select' tool. Draw a circle around the specific handwritten sentence or strokes you want to modify.

Adjust the Ink Color

With the ink selected, locate the 'Color and Thickness' (or 'Ink Color') option in the Draw tab menu to pick your exact desired color.

Alternative: Convert Ink to Text

If you prefer typed notes, select the handwriting and click 'Ink to Text'. Once converted, use the standard font formatting tools under the Home tab to change the text color.

Interface Variations: Depending on your specific OneNote build, the exact name of the color tool might appear simply as a color palette icon when the ink is selected.

Solution 2

Disable Touch Input for Drawing

Turn off touch inking to prevent accidental marks when using your fingers to pan or zoom on a touchscreen device.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did OneNote 365 change how pen colors are replaced?

Microsoft unified the drawing interface across all Microsoft 365 apps. Selecting a new pen from the ribbon now equips that pen for your next stroke, rather than recoloring the currently selected ink as it did in the older Windows 10 app.

What should I do if the 'Use touch input when inking' option is missing in Options?

In some newer builds of OneNote 365, Microsoft moved this setting. You can now often find a toggle named 'Draw with Touch' directly on the 'Draw' tab of the ribbon. Toggle it off to use your fingers purely for panning and zooming.

How can I customize a pen to always use my preferred color and thickness?

Go to the Draw tab, right-click any pen icon, and select 'Modify' (or click the drop-down arrow next to the pen). This opens a menu where you can set a permanent custom thickness and color for that specific pen shortcut.

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