The Stylus Pen is one of the best additional mobile phone extra accessories, allowing users to draw and write on their screens with an actual pen – like you’d do with an actual book and paper. However, styluses aren’t perfect as some users are complaining of the stylus not working on their Android devices.
If you've got an Android phone with Stylus support – say the Infinix Note 5 Stylus – and it has not been serving its purpose lately, you can fix it comfortably on your own. Here are some fixes to resolve the stylus not working with your device.
1. Restart your device
Temporary system glitches sometimes cause the stylus not to work on most devices. And naturally, restarting your phone can help fix many temporary glitches gained after the phone has been active for a long time.
So, before embarking on a more technical solution to fix the problem, reboot your phone to see what happens.
You can restart many Android devices by long-pressing the Power button for about 10 seconds. Otherwise, long-pressing the Power button for a few seconds should show the power menu, where you can either restart or shut down your phone.
Try using the stylus again after your phone reboots to see if it works now.
2. Remove your phone cover and screen protector.
If restarting your phone didn’t do the trick, the next solution is to remove any form of attachments/protection you have on the phone, including the cases, tempered glass, and others.
Especially if you’re using an unofficial case made with some metallic and magnetic properties, it may impede the sensitivity of the stylus with your phone screen. The same goes for rubbery, heavy, or poorly installed screen protectors.
So, if you can't write/draw with your stylus pen (or it leaves some blank spots while drawing), it might be because of the screen protector or case.
- Start by removing the protective case and try drawing with the stylus.
- If it's still not working, you should remove the tempered glass on the screen and test it again.
- In case you don't have any screen protector/overlay, clean the screen with a dry, soft cloth and try using the stylus again.
Most times, a poorly installed screen protector may be the reason for the stylus not working on your device. However, you may want to try the other solutions below before removing your screen protector.
3. Swap the Stylus Pen nib or tip
Equally important, you may need to change the stylus pen nib/tip to fix the problem. And if you've been using the stylus for a long time, it might be a time to change its nib.
If you notice the stylus works (fairly) only when you apply more pressure on the screen, consider replacing its nib/tip. Most stylus pens come with extra nibs, so replacing them shouldn't be a problem.
4. Try the Stylus pen with another device that supports it
If the pen still doesn't work after replacing its nib, it's time to try it with another compatible device. Thankfully, stylus pens work with multiple devices as long as they support it.
So, you can try the stylus on your friend’s phone or any tablet/computer that supports it. If the stylus still doesn’t work with the other device, that means you’ll have to buy a new one. Perhaps it has been damaged internally.
If the stylus pen works with the other device, that means the problem is coming from your phone. Keep trying the fixes below until you find the perfect solution.
5. Install the latest software update
When last did you update your phone? Running outdated software on your phone may pose many issues, including your stylus not working now. So, if you're not sure you're running the latest software version of your device, you should check, then download and install it straight away!
Software updates help with fixing software bugs, improving performance and security, and introducing new features. And now that stylus is not working - try updating your device.
You can update most Android phones with the steps below:
- Launch the Settings
- Scroll to the bottom and hit System
- Click on System Update (or Software update)
- From there, check for updates, then download and install it on availability.
- Your device will restart after you agree to Install the update. Test the stylus pen afterwards to see if it’s now working.
Meanwhile, if the stylus works across the device but not in a particular app, you may need to update the app from the Play Store instead.
6. Restart your phone in Safe mode
Before you give up on the stylus not working on your Android phone, you may try to reboot your device in safe mode to see if an app you installed caused the issue.
Just like Windows devices, you can restart your device in safe mode to troubleshoot any software and hardware problems. When you boot into safe mode, your device loads only the system apps, allowing you to diagnose if an app caused the problem.
Here’s how:
- Long-press the Power button on your phone to show the power menu.
- From there, press and hold the option to Shutdown until you see a pop-up window saying “Reboot to safe mode”.
- Tap OK on the screen and wait for your phone to reboot.
- Once your device loads in safe mode, try using the stylus pen normally across the device to see if it works as expected.
- If the stylus works in safe mode, reboot your phone to return to normal mode to see if it’s still working. If yes, that means an app caused the issue.
- What you need to do now is to start uninstalling your apps to find out the culprit.
- Start the uninstallation from the ones you installed recently
- Restart your phone after installing an app, then test the stylus again to see if it works.
7. Consider replacement or seek professional help.
Well, if none of the solutions above could fix your malfunctioning stylus pen, consider getting a replacement. You may also want to seek professional help from the official service center of your brand.
