'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Apple Pencil Stops Drawing in OneNote After Using Eraser
Question details
The user is unable to continue drawing with the Apple Pencil in Microsoft OneNote after switching from the eraser or another tool back to the pen.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- iPad
- Scenario
- Taking handwritten notes or drawing diagrams using an Apple Pencil in the OneNote iPad application.
- Observed behavior
- The Apple Pencil completely stops drawing on the canvas after the user switches to the eraser tool. The drawing functionality only resumes if the OneNote application is forcibly restarted.
Before proceeding with app resets, manually verify that all your OneNote notebooks are completely synchronized to OneDrive to prevent any accidental loss of unsaved notes.
Verify Hardware and Reset OneNote Settings
Confirm that the Apple Pencil hardware is fully functional in other applications, then clear OneNote's local application data to resolve temporary software glitches.
This issue is often caused by a background software glitch within the OneNote app's memory management when switching active tools. Resetting the app clears problematic cached data without deleting synced notes.
Open a native application like Apple Notes on your iPad and try drawing with the Apple Pencil to confirm the hardware is functioning correctly.
Open Microsoft OneNote, navigate to the sync status icon, and ensure all your notebooks have successfully synced to the cloud.
Close the OneNote application and open the main Settings app on your iPad.
Scroll down the left panel in Settings, tap on 'OneNote', select 'Reset OneNote', and toggle on the options to clear app data and delete login credentials.
Open OneNote again, log back into your Microsoft account, open a notebook, and test switching between the pen and eraser tools.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Management on iPad
If you frequently encounter syncing glitches or drawing bugs in OneNote, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for viewing, editing, and annotating your documents on an iPad without the heavy resource usage.
- 1. Download the App: Open the App Store on your iPad, search for WPS Office, and tap Download.
- 2. Sign In: Launch the application and sign in to easily sync and access your cloud documents.
- 3. Start Annotating: Open any document or PDF and use the built-in annotation tools for a smooth writing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Apple Pencil only work in OneNote after a restart?
This is typically caused by a temporary software glitch or memory leak within the OneNote app when switching tools. Restarting the app clears the active memory and temporarily resolves the bug. Resetting the app settings provides a more permanent fix.
Will resetting OneNote on my iPad delete my notes?
Resetting the app will clear local offline data and login credentials. As long as you have fully synchronized your notebooks to OneDrive before resetting, your notes are safely backed up and will instantly reappear once you sign back in.
How can I tell if my Apple Pencil is broken or if it's an app issue?
To isolate the issue, open a native Apple application like Apple Notes and try writing or drawing. If the Pencil works flawlessly there, the hardware is fine, and the problem is isolated to the specific third-party app you were using.
