Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix OneNote Scrollbar Flickering When Using a Stylus

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users experience a rapidly appearing and disappearing vertical scrollbar in Microsoft OneNote when interacting with the screen using a Lenovo stylus on a Windows laptop.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Writing, drawing, or navigating within OneNote using a Lenovo stylus on a touchscreen laptop.
Observed behavior: The vertical scrollbar repeatedly flickers, quickly showing and hiding itself whenever the stylus touches the screen.

Before you start

Before proceeding with system tweaks, wipe your laptop's touch screen with a microfiber cloth to remove smudges that might cause ghost touches, and ensure your Lenovo stylus is fully charged.

Solution 1Recommended

Hover the Mouse Cursor Over the Scrollbar

A highly effective and simple workaround to prevent the scrollbar from automatically hiding and triggering the flicker during stylus input.

This issue often occurs due to a conflict between Windows' auto-hide scrollbar feature and how OneNote registers stylus inputs. By parking the mouse cursor over the scrollbar area, you force the system to keep the scrollbar visible.

Locate the scrollbar

Move your physical mouse or trackpad cursor to the far right side of the OneNote application window where the vertical scrollbar usually appears.

Hover over the scrollbar area

Leave the mouse cursor resting directly over the scrollbar. Do not click; simply leave it hovering there.

Use your stylus

Begin writing or drawing with your Lenovo stylus. The scrollbar should now remain solid and stop flickering.

Why this works: Hovering the mouse cursor forces the UI to lock the scrollbar into an active, visible state, preventing the rapid show/hide cycle triggered by touch or stylus inputs.

Solution 2

Always Show Scrollbars in Windows Settings

Disabling the auto-hide scrollbar feature at the system level can stop UI rendering conflicts in OneNote.

Solution 3

Update Display and Stylus Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause screen rendering glitches when switching between touch and stylus inputs.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Glitch-Free Annotations with WPS Office

If you are frustrated by constant UI glitches in Microsoft Office apps, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a free, lightweight alternative with high format compatibility, a familiar UI, and seamless migration. Enjoy smooth drawing and document editing without screen flickering.

1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your Windows laptop.
2. Install and launch: Follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to install the suite and open WPS Writer or WPS PDF.
3. Start annotating seamlessly: Open your existing documents and use the integrated Draw tab for a smooth, flicker-free stylus experience.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.Familiar and intuitive user interface allows for seamless and instant migration.Free and incredibly lightweight, ensuring fast launch times without bogging down your system.Excellent stylus support for annotating PDFs and text documents smoothly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the OneNote scrollbar only flicker when using a stylus?

Windows attempts to optimize screen space for touch and stylus inputs by automatically hiding scrollbars. When a stylus interacts with the screen, this auto-hide behavior can conflict with OneNote's rendering engine, causing a rapid loop of hiding and showing the scrollbar.

Will updating OneNote fix the scrollbar flicker issue?

It might. Microsoft occasionally releases patches for UI bugs. You can check for updates by opening OneNote, going to File > Account > Update Options, and selecting 'Update Now'.

Does changing my Lenovo stylus battery help with screen flickering?

If the flickering is caused by inconsistent touch registration due to a low battery, replacing it might stabilize the input. However, if the issue is purely a software auto-hide glitch, the mouse hovering workaround or system settings change will be required.

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