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How to Enable Palm Rejection in OneNote

Steve K Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if OneNote supports palm rejection and how to prevent accidental touch inputs when writing with a digital pen.

Product: OneNote
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Taking handwritten notes using a digital pen on a touch-enabled screen.
Observed behavior: The user seeks to ignore touch input to prevent accidental marks caused by resting their palm on the screen while writing.

Before you start

Ensure your digital pen is successfully paired with your Windows device via Bluetooth and that the battery is sufficiently charged.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Palm Rejection via Windows Settings

Use the native Windows Pen & Ink settings to automatically ignore touch inputs whenever you are using your digital pen.

OneNote for Windows relies on the operating system's global pen settings to manage palm rejection. By adjusting these settings, you can ensure that your palm resting on the screen will not leave unwanted marks or disrupt your note-taking.

Open Windows Settings

Click the Start button and select the gear icon to open Settings, or press the 'Windows key + I' on your keyboard.

Navigate to Pen & Windows Ink

In the left-hand menu, click on 'Bluetooth & devices', then scroll down and select 'Pen & Windows Ink'.

Enable Touch Input Ignorance

Expand the 'Additional pen settings' section and check the box that says 'Ignore touch input when I'm using my pen'.

Enable Palm Rejection via Windows Settings

Platform Availability: This specific setting applies to Windows devices. If you are using OneNote on Android or iOS, palm rejection is generally handled automatically by the device hardware, though specific stylus options may differ in the app's settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my palm still leaving marks on OneNote even after enabling palm rejection?

If palm rejection isn't working perfectly, ensure your digital pen is actively paired and recognized by Windows. Hovering the pen tip slightly above the screen before resting your palm helps the system prioritize the pen and reject your hand's touch input.

Does OneNote for iPad support palm rejection?

Yes, when using an Apple Pencil on an iPad, palm rejection is natively handled by iPadOS. Within the OneNote app, you can further optimize this by going to Settings > Draw and adjusting the Stylus Orientation to match how you hold the pen.

Can I draw with my finger if palm rejection is turned on in Windows?

When 'Ignore touch input when I'm using my pen' is enabled, the system disables finger drawing while the pen is near the screen. To draw with your finger, you must move the digital pen out of the screen's detection range.

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