How to Fix OneNote Lasso Selection Problems With a Surface Pen
Question details
The user experiences lasso selection failures, lagging, and freezing in OneNote when utilizing the Surface Pen button.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Using the Surface Pen button to perform a lasso selection in a OneNote notebook.
- Observed behavior
- The cursor changes to a plus sign, the application lags, and OneNote gets stuck in selection mode until the user clicks the pen eraser.
Before troubleshooting, ensure your Surface Pen has sufficient battery charge and manually sync your notebooks to prevent any potential data loss.
Update Windows, Office, and Surface Pen Firmware
Outdated software is a common cause of peripheral malfunctions. Updating your system and applications can resolve known lasso tool glitches.
Microsoft frequently releases patches for Office applications and Surface devices to fix recurring bugs like the lasso selection freeze.
Open Windows Settings, navigate to 'Update & Security', and click 'Check for updates' to install the latest system patches.
Open OneNote, go to 'File' > 'Account', click on 'Update Options', and select 'Update Now' to ensure Office is running the latest version.
Open the Surface app or rely on Windows Update to automatically detect and install any available firmware updates for your Surface Pen.
Re-pair or Reset the Surface Pen
Resetting the Bluetooth connection between the Surface Pen and your device can fix button recognition and lagging issues.
Repair Office and Submit Diagnostic Feedback
Since this is a recognized recurring defect in OneNote, running a repair or submitting diagnostic data helps Microsoft issue a patch.
Experience Smooth Note-taking and Document Editing with WPS Office
If Microsoft Office applications continue freezing or experiencing recurring bugs, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free suite for managing all your documents, presentations, and spreadsheets seamlessly without performance lags.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
- 3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Office documents directly with full format retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my cursor turn into a plus sign when using the Surface Pen in OneNote?
The plus sign indicates that OneNote is stuck in selection or drawing mode. This is a known software glitch affecting the interaction between OneNote and the Surface Pen's side button.
Does using the Surface Pen eraser fix the lasso selection freeze?
Tapping the screen or using the eraser end of the Surface Pen can temporarily force OneNote to exit the stuck selection mode, but it serves as a workaround rather than a permanent fix.
Will repairing Microsoft Office fix my Surface Pen issues?
Yes, running an Online Repair from the Windows Control Panel can resolve corrupted application files that may be causing the pen inputs to be registered incorrectly in OneNote.
