Can a HP rechareable active Pen work with my HP Envy?

[QTJudi]

I lost the Pen for my HP Envy so I purchased what I thought would work, HP Rechargeable Active Pen. I am able to connect it to Bluetooth but the pen doesn't work on the screen itself.  It will open the microsoft whiteboard when I click the top button on it so I know its charged and connected. the directions that came with the pen says turn the pen on by tapping the tip to any surface.  Can anyone help here, It's just not working when I touch the pen to the screen at all.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @QTJudi 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I'm really sorry the pen isn’t responding on your HP Envy’s screen—it’s especially frustrating when it connects via Bluetooth and launches apps, but won’t interact with touch. This usually points to a compatibility mismatch between the pen’s protocol and your laptop’s screen technology.

Here’s what’s likely happening and how to check compatibility:

1. HP Rechargeable Active Pen uses MPP (Microsoft Pen Protocol)

This pen is designed for devices with MPP-compatible touchscreens. While many HP Envy x360 models support MPP, some Envy variants—especially non-x360 or older models—use Synaptics or other digitizer technologies that aren’t compatible with this pen.

• If your Envy model is not x360 or doesn’t explicitly support MPP, the pen won’t register screen input even if Bluetooth features work.

 

2. Bluetooth only controls shortcut functions

The top button launching Microsoft Whiteboard confirms that Bluetooth pairing is active, but screen interaction relies on digitizer compatibility, not Bluetooth.

• The pen tip must communicate directly with the screen’s digitizer layer. If the screen doesn’t support MPP, it won’t respond to touch input from the pen.

 

3. Check your HP Envy model’s pen compatibility

To confirm whether your specific Envy supports the HP Rechargeable Active Pen:

• Visit the HP Pen Compatibility Guide
• Scroll to your exact model (e.g., HP Envy x360 15-ee1xxx, 13-ay0xxx, etc.)
• Look for “MPP” or “HP Rechargeable Active Pen” under supported accessories

If your model isn’t listed or shows a different pen type (e.g., HP Tilt Pen or HP Active Stylus), the pen you purchased may not be compatible.

What you can try next:

• Check Windows Ink Workspace: Open it and try writing with the pen—if nothing registers, it confirms screen incompatibility.
• Try another MPP-compatible device: If available, test the pen on a Surface or another HP x360 model to confirm the pen is functioning correctly.
• Identify your exact Envy model: Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and check the System Model. Share that with me and I’ll help verify the correct pen type.

Let me know your full Envy model number and I’ll guide you to the right stylus. Once matched correctly, you’ll be able to sketch, annotate, and navigate with fluid precision.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye