Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix the Draw and Hold Feature Not Working in OneNote 2021

Natalie Taylor Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users are experiencing a failure of the Draw and Hold feature in OneNote 2021, typically occurring after a recent Office update.

How to Fix the Draw and Hold Feature Not Working in OneNote 2021

Product: Microsoft OneNote 2021
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to use the stylus to draw and hold in order to create straight lines or shapes during note-taking.
Observed behavior: The Draw and Hold gesture fails to activate and format shapes, even though other ink features like Scribble out Ink continue to function normally.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting the software, ensure that your stylus battery is sufficiently charged and that your drawing tablet or Bluetooth pen drivers are fully up to date.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Office and Perform an Online Repair

Running an online repair resolves potential file corruption or configuration errors introduced during a recent Office update.

Software updates can sometimes conflict with existing application files. Forcing an update and running a comprehensive online repair can rebuild the necessary ink feature components without deleting your notebooks.

Force an Office update

Open OneNote 2021, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Account', click on 'Update Options', and choose 'Update Now'. Allow the process to complete and restart OneNote.

Open Programs and Features

If the issue persists, press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel', and hit Enter. Navigate to 'Programs' and click on 'Programs and Features'.

Run Online Repair

Locate your Microsoft Office 2021 installation in the list, right-click it, and select 'Change'. Select the 'Online Repair' option and click 'Repair', then follow the on-screen instructions.

Update Office and Perform an Online Repair

Restart Required: Always restart your computer after completing an Online Repair to ensure all registry changes and file repairs are fully applied.

Solution 2

Check Hardware Compatibility and Feature Status

Verify if the issue is tied to a deprecated Microsoft feature or a specific hardware incompatibility with your stylus.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Stable and Reliable Inking Tools

If unexpected feature removals in Microsoft Office updates are disrupting your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It offers a lightweight, familiar interface with highly stable drawing and inking features for your documents and PDFs.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free suite on your device.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open a new Writer document, Presentation, or PDF file.
3. Use Stable Drawing Tools: Navigate to the Draw tab on the top ribbon to access a variety of dependable pens, highlighters, and shape tools.

Free and lightweight Office suite with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interfaceRobust built-in PDF editor featuring reliable draw and ink tools for annotationSeamless format compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint filesStable performance without the frustration of sudden feature removals

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Draw and Hold stop working after an Office update?

Microsoft regularly pushes updates that can introduce bugs, alter how ink drivers communicate with the software, or intentionally phase out experimental inking features. This can cause specific gestures to fail while others continue to work.

Can I still use Scribble out Ink if Draw and Hold is broken?

Yes. Most users report that standard inking features and specific gestures like Scribble out Ink remain fully functional, indicating that the issue is isolated to the Draw and Hold mechanism rather than a complete stylus failure.

Will reverting to an older version of OneNote 2021 bring the feature back?

Reverting to a previous build of Office 2021 using the Office Deployment Tool may temporarily restore the feature if it was removed in the latest patch. However, this is generally not recommended as it leaves your software vulnerable to security risks.

How can I draw straight lines in OneNote without Draw and Hold?

You can manually draw straight lines and shapes by navigating to the Draw tab on the ribbon and selecting the specific shape or line from the Shapes gallery before drawing on the canvas.

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