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How to Fix Extra Strokes When Drawing in OneNote with a Wacom Tablet
Question details
The user experiences an issue where OneNote incorrectly connects separate pen strokes when using a Wacom tablet, resulting in distorted symbols and writing.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Drawing or writing notes in Microsoft OneNote using a Wacom pen tablet.
- Observed behavior
- Separate pen strokes are automatically connected by extra lines, causing characters like plus signs to display incorrectly, despite the tablet working normally in other applications.
Ensure your Wacom tablet drivers are fully updated and test drawing with a standard computer mouse to confirm if the issue is isolated strictly to the pen input.
Test and Reinstall the OneNote Desktop Application
A clean installation of the OneNote application often resolves isolated pen tracking bugs that cause connected strokes.
Before uninstalling, it is highly recommended to test your tablet in the web version of OneNote. This will help confirm whether the glitch is tied to your installed desktop software or your system's hardware configuration.
Navigate to onenote.com in your web browser and test your Wacom tablet. If the issue does not occur here, the problem is isolated to your desktop application.
Open the Windows Settings app, go to 'Apps', then 'Apps & features'. Locate 'Microsoft 365' or 'OneNote' in the list and select 'Uninstall'.
Visit the official Microsoft Office website to download the latest installer and reinstall OneNote for Windows.
Test with a New Windows User Profile
Create a fresh user profile to determine if the extra strokes are caused by corrupted account settings or conflicting background applications.
Experience Bug-Free Document Editing with WPS Office
If you continue encountering drawing glitches and unresolvable bugs in Microsoft Office applications, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible suite for creating documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and seamlessly annotating PDFs with your drawing tablet.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for Windows.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the software.
- 3. Start Creating: Open WPS Office and enjoy seamless document editing, viewing, and tablet-supported annotations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Wacom pen connect strokes in OneNote but work fine elsewhere?
This issue is typically caused by a glitch within a specific build of the OneNote desktop application or conflicting Windows Ink settings interpreting separate pen taps as a continuous drag, rather than a hardware defect with your tablet.
Can I uninstall OneNote without uninstalling the rest of Microsoft Office?
If you have the standalone OneNote app, yes. However, if you are using the newer Microsoft 365 app suite, OneNote is tightly bundled, and you generally cannot uninstall or reinstall it individually without affecting the whole suite.
How can I disable Windows Ink for OneNote to fix drawing bugs?
Open your 'Wacom Tablet Properties' app, select your pen, add OneNote to the Application row using the '+' icon, navigate to the 'Mapping' tab, and uncheck the 'Use Windows Ink' option to see if stroke recognition improves.
