Can't calibrate screen to optimize pen pressure

[Hadlai]

I am a digital artist by trade and recently bought this laptop with the MPP 2.0 Rechargeable HP Pen, after literal days of research and reviews. It was irritating when I went to draw (in CS Pro, Paint Tool SAI, and MS Paint) and I could not produce a continuous line without applying way more pressure than is natural. I previously had a Samsung Galaxy Book Flex, which was fine in this respect.

No biggie, I thought, I'll just recalibrate the screen/pen so that it works according to my needs. You can imagine my dismay when the HP app that might have helped me (HP Pen Control) and the Windows recourse I'd have tried first (Tablet PC Settings) had both been entirely removed.
I've checked my drivers for updates, toggled the pen settings in my art programs, I can't find any HP Support for my issue, and the fixes suggested on forums in the last decade no longer apply. If I can't get this dang pen to work, I've wasted a crapload of money on this laptop.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Hadlai,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

I'm here to help resolve the pen pressure issue on your HP Envy x360 16-ac0000 (8Z1Z8AV) with the MPP 2.0 Rechargeable HP Pen. This issue, where the pen requires excessive pressure to draw a continuous line, is unfortunately not uncommon in certain configurations but can often be resolved with targeted adjustments. Let’s walk through a series of troubleshooting steps that can help solve the issue.

 Step 1: Ensure All Relevant Drivers and Firmware Are Up to Date

You must update both the pen and touch-related components — out-of-date firmware or drivers often cause input issues.

✅ Update Pen, Touch, and Graphics Drivers

1. Visit the HP Drivers page for your device:
   ➡️ HP Envy x360 Laptop 16-ac0013dx (9S1R5UA) Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support Drivers Page
2. Under “Driver-Graphics”, download and install the Intel or AMD graphics drivers (depending on your variant).
3. Under “Driver – Keyboard, Mouse, and Input Devices”, install any available Touch or Pen-related drivers (e.g., Synaptics, Elan, or HP Pen firmware).
4. Under “Firmware”, check for any System Firmware Updates — these sometimes include pen performance improvements.

🔄 Reboot after installation for changes to take effect.

Step 2: Check the Windows Pen Settings

Some pressure sensitivity quirks can be tweaked using built-in Windows Ink settings:

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Pen & Windows Ink
2. Enable:
   • ✅ Ignore touch input when I’m using my pen
   • ✅ Let me use my pen as a mouse in some desktop apps
3. Scroll to Additional pen settings:
   • Set Handedness correctly
   • Try adjusting pen pressure sensitivity if the slider is present (note: this may not appear on all HP configurations)

Step 3: Test Pen Pressure in Windows Ink Workspace

Before diving into art software, test pressure in the Ink Workspace:

• Open Windows Ink Workspace (Search: “Ink Workspace”)
• Use Sketchpad or Whiteboard
• Test pen pressure – if it fails here, it’s a system-level issue; if it works, it may be isolated to your apps (see next step)

I hope this helps.

Take care, and have an amazing day!
 

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Regards,

VikramTheGreat

[Hadlai]

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, following all of these steps did not resolve the issue (the pen pressure sensitivity slider does not appear on my device). Pen pressure in Ink Workspace did not work.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Hadlai,

Thank you for letting me know, 

Please help us with your HP unit serial number or the product number in a private message for further assistance.
 

Here is the link to find the product Serial number: - Click here

To access your private messages, simply click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile and send a private message to me with the serial number because we value your privacy.

VikramTheGreat

HP Support