How to Fix White Pen Turning Gray in OneNote for Windows 10
Question details
Users need to restore the true white color of the pen and highlighter tools in OneNote for Windows 10, which currently render as gray.
- Product
- OneNote for Windows 10
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Drawing or highlighting text using the white ink tools within OneNote notebooks.
- Observed behavior
- The white pen and highlighter strokes appear gray. Additionally, white ink in previously created notebooks changes to a gray shade after recent software updates.
Before attempting to reset or reinstall OneNote, check your Windows display settings to ensure color-altering features are turned off.
Disable Windows Night Light Settings
Windows Night Light changes the color temperature of your screen, which can make white colors appear gray or yellow.
If you have Night Light enabled, Windows automatically reduces blue light, heavily impacting how pure white strokes are displayed on the screen. Disabling it can instantly restore the correct color perception.
Click the Start button and select the gear icon to open Windows Settings, or press the Windows Key + I.
Click on 'System' and then select 'Display' from the left-hand menu.
Locate the 'Night light' toggle switch and turn it off. Check OneNote to see if the white pen appears correctly.
Submit Feedback and Use External Drawing Applications
Since recent OneNote updates inherently changed the white ink rendering, standard app resets will not fix the issue. An external workaround is necessary.
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- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for Windows.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my older OneNote notebooks suddenly change white ink to gray?
This is likely due to a recent OneNote rendering update that fundamentally altered the hex value or display method for the white color, retroactively affecting older notebooks when they sync and render in the new version.
Will reinstalling OneNote for Windows 10 fix the gray pen issue?
Generally, no. Because the issue stems from an intentional or bugged change in the app's updated codebase, repairing, resetting, or completely reinstalling the application will not resolve the color rendering change.
How can I draw with true white ink if OneNote forces it to gray?
As a reliable workaround, you can create your white drawings in an external application like Paint or Photoshop. Once finished, save the drawing as a PNG image with a transparent background and insert it directly into your OneNote page.
