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HP ProBook x360 11 G1, G2, and G3 Education Edition Notebooks - Using the HP Active Pen

Items shipped in the box with the HP Active Pen

Installing the battery

Attaching the lanyard

Attaching the pen holder

Calibrating the touchscreen

Replacing the pen tip

Using the pen

FAQs

This document pertains to the HP Active Pen and the compatible HP ProBook x360 11 G1, G2, and G3 Education Edition notebooks.

In Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. you can write, draw, and paint on the screen without configuring the pen in these programs:

Windows Ink Workspace
Microsoft OneNote (requires a Microsoft account)
Microsoft Fresh Paint

About the HP Active Pen

The HP Active Pen is a light-weight digital stylus designed for touchscreen interaction as an alternative to finger-touch input. It has a fine, replaceable pen-like tip that can be used to write or draw on the screen, or to navigate the operating system and compatible applications. The pen is powered by an internal, replaceable battery.

Items shipped in the box with the HP Active Pen

The following items are shipped in the box with your new HP Active Pen with Spare Tips:

HP Active Pen

Circular tweezers (only available in the AMO kit)

Three extra pen tips (only available in the AMO kit)

A fabric-like pen holder

Lanyard

AAAA Battery

Documentation

The documentation includes the warranty card, Quick Setup instructions, and Product Notices.

Pen features

The pen hardware has the following buttons and features:

Tip (removable)

Eraser button

Right-click button

Pen clip

Pen cap (removable)

Installing the battery

To use the pen, first insert the battery:

Remove the cap of the pen by turning it counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise).
Position the battery with the positive end toward the empty pen body.
Slide the battery into the pen.
Replace the cap.

Attaching the lanyard

Use the following steps to attach the lanyard to the pen and to the notebook.

Slip one of the loops at the end of the lanyard through the opening under the pen clip.
Bring the loop at the other end of the lanyard over the pen clip, slip it through the first loop, and gently pull the lanyard until it fits snugly around the pen clip.
On the bottom cover of the notebook, loosen one of the screws reserved for the lanyard.
Slip the empty loop over the screw, and then secure the screw to the notebook.

Attaching the pen holder

The pen holder has a sticky surface that has a protective covering. Follow these steps to attach the pen holder to the notebook:

Find a place on the bottom cover where you can secure the holder so that it does not interfere with the balance of the notebook when the pen is inserted in the holder.
Carefully lift and pull the protective covering from the holder.
Firmly press the holder to the bottom cover of the notebook.

With the pen holder in the proper position, the pen should fits in the holder without affecting the balance of the notebook when placed on a flat surface.

Calibrating the touchscreen

The new pen works when the battery is inserted; however, calibrating the touchscreen is recommended. Calibration of the touchscreen is completed using the Digitizer Calibration Tool:

Type calibrate in the Windows search field and then click Calibrate the screen for pen or touch input.
Click Calibrate.
Select Pen Input.
Follow the instructions on the screen. For best results, quickly tap all the cross-hairs on the screen before the pen deactivates.
In the Digitizer Calibration Tool dialog box, click Yes to save the calibration.

Replacing the pen tip

If the pen-like tip of the pen becomes damaged or broken and does not work, replace it.

note:
Your pen will appear different from the pen in the following instructions, but the procedures are accurate and applicable to the HP Active Pen.

Find the tweezers and the replacement tips.
Position the circular tweezers so that the groove in the tweezers fits around the tip of the pen. Then use two fingers to firmly press the tweezers onto the tip.
While squeezing the tweezers, gently pull the tip from the pen.
Place a replacement tip in the tip cavity, and then gently push the tip until it securely clicks into position.

Using the pen

To begin using the pen, press the tip of the pen against the notebook’s touchscreen. The touchscreen will automatically detect the pen when it is within range to be sensed by the digitizer, and provides cues on where to place the pen.

When the pen is within range, the notebook automatically switches the finger-touch functionality to off.

note:
To save power, the pen will automatically deactivate if the tip has no pressure for 1.5 seconds. After writing has stopped and the pen is no longer detected by the screen, finger-touch functionality remains off for a few seconds and then touch will automatically become active again.

With the pen, you can perform the following mouse functions on the touchscreen:

Left-click: Tap the pen once on the screen to left-click an item.
Right-click: Press the right-click button on the pen and then press the tip on the screen to right-click an item.
Double-click: Tap the pen twice on the screen to double-click an item.
Select multiple items: Press the pen tip against the screen and drag it across the items or text you want to select.

or

Press and hold the pen against the first of several items you want to select. Then, while still holding the item, press the Shift key, and select the last item. The Shift key function selects all the items between the first and the last item.
Erase: Press and hold the pen tip against the screen on the item you want to erase, and then click the eraser button. You can erase a single item, or use a swipe action to erase multiple items.

The pen can be used either physically touching the screen or it can be used by hovering above the surface of the screen, with no screen contact necessary.

FAQs

Listed below is a collection of frequently asked questions about the HP Active Pen with Spare Tips.

What causes the tip of the pen to break?

The tip might break if you apply too much pressure on the touchscreen. Also dropping it on the floor might cause the tip to break.

caution:
Take care when using the pen. The pen tips are subject to breakage. The impact from dropping the pen on the floor can break or damage the pen tip. Do not apply excessive pressure with the pen on the touchscreen. Too much pressure can cause damage to the pen tip.

Can I still use the pen after the tip has broken?

You can use the pen, but first you must replace the tip.

Why are the pen markings inaccurate or not displaying on the screen?

The battery might be losing power. Try replacing the battery to improve performance.

Why doesn't my new pen work?

The touchscreen might not be configured for pen input. Check the touchscreen setting by going to Control Panel. Open Pen and Touch. Select Change touch input settings. Verify that the settings are correct for touch input.

The pen is not working. What kind of batteries does it take?

Ensure that the battery is installed correctly. Then, if the pen still doesn't work, the battery might be drained of its power. The pen uses one AAAA battery, the first one is included with the purchase of the pen.

Why does the battery in the pen have a short life?

Improper storage while the battery is not in use can drain the battery. Store the pen flat, with no pressure on the tip or the buttons to ensure longer battery life.

How can I change the line width produced by the pen?

The pen is pressure-sensitive so to increase the thickness you should press a bit harder on the tip while using the pen. Apply less pressure to produce a thinner line.

Why does the touchscreen stop responding to finger input while using the pen?

The touchscreen will not respond to simultaneous hand and pen input. You can, however, use your finger to use other apps or to open other tabs immediately after using the pen.

note:
You cannot zoom an image in or out by placing a finger and the pen on the touchscreen and then spreading (zoom out) or pinching them together (zoom in). The touchscreen seamlessly swaps between pen-input and touch-input, but does not support the simultaneous use of pen-input and touch-input. However, to save power, the digitizer automatically deactivates if the tip has no pressure level and is out of hovering range for 1.5 seconds.

After using the pen to write in Windows Ink Workspace and other apps, use finger touch to enlarge or move objects. Finger touch is not intended for writing in some apps.

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