How to Enable Palm Rejection in OneNote on HP Spectre
Question details
The user wants to prevent accidental hand and finger touches from triggering the on-screen keyboard while writing with a stylus in OneNote.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- HP Spectre x360 (Windows)
- Scenario
- Writing and taking notes with an active pen in tablet mode.
- Observed behavior
- When resting the hand on the screen to write, the Windows on-screen keyboard unexpectedly pops up, disrupting the writing process.
Ensure your HP active pen is properly paired with your HP Spectre via Bluetooth, and check that your Windows operating system has the latest updates installed.
Enable Palm Rejection in Windows Pen Settings
Configure your Windows system settings to automatically ignore touch input when your pen is near the screen, preventing accidental keyboard pop-ups.
OneNote relies on the default system-level settings in Windows to manage pen and touch inputs. By adjusting your Windows Ink settings, the operating system will prioritize your stylus and disable finger touch recognition while the pen is hovering or in contact with the screen.
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard, or tap the Start menu and select the gear icon to open the Windows Settings app.
Click on 'Devices' (or 'Bluetooth & devices' if you are using Windows 11), and then select 'Pen & Windows Ink' from the left sidebar or main menu.
Look for the Pen options section and check the box next to 'Ignore touch input when I'm using my pen'. Once enabled, you can return to OneNote and test writing in tablet mode.
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- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free version for Windows.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the on-screen keyboard keep popping up when I use my pen?
This happens when Windows registers your palm resting on the screen as a standard touch input before the pen tip gets close enough to the screen to take priority. Enabling the 'Ignore touch input' setting fixes this conflict.
Does OneNote have its own internal palm rejection settings?
No, the desktop versions of OneNote do not have a standalone palm rejection toggle. The application relies entirely on your global Windows Pen & Windows Ink settings to manage touch rejection.
What should I do if the palm rejection setting is grayed out or missing?
If the setting is unavailable, it usually indicates a driver issue. Open the Device Manager, locate 'Human Interface Devices', and update the drivers for your touchscreen and HP active pen. Restart your computer afterward.
