If you have a Windows tablet or a device with a touchscreen, you can use the on-screen keyboard to type text easily.

One cool feature of the touch keyboard is the handwriting panel. This lets you write text by hand using a pen or your fingertip. This is perfect if you don’t have a physical keyboard attached.

Windows 11 lets you turn on or off the option to write with your fingertip in this handwriting panel. You can do this either inside the Settings app or by changing a setting in the Windows Registry Editor. When fingertip writing is off, you can still write with a pen.

How to Turn On or Off Writing with Your Fingertip in the Handwriting Panel

Follow these simple steps to enable or disable writing with your fingertip:

1. Open the Settings app:
   Click the Start menu button and choose Settings, or press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. In Settings, click Bluetooth & devices from the menu on the left side.
3. On the right side, find and click Pen & Windows Ink to open its settings.
4. Scroll down to the Handwriting section and click on Use your handwriting to enter text to expand it.
5. Check the box next to Write with your fingertip to turn it ON. Uncheck it to turn it OFF.
6. When done, just close the Settings app.
   

How to Enable or Disable Writing with Your Fingertip Using the Windows Registry Editor

If you prefer, you can also change this setting using the Windows Registry Editor. This is a more advanced way, so be careful and follow the steps exactly.

1. 
   Open the Windows Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Start menu search and clicking on it.
   
2. In the Registry Editor, go to this folder:
   

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TabletTip\EmbeddedInkControl

3. If you don’t see the EmbeddedInkControl folder, right-click on TabletTip, choose New > Key, and name it EmbeddedInkControl.
   
4. Click on the EmbeddedInkControl folder. On the right side, right-click and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   
5. Name the new value EnableInkingWithTouch.
   
6. Double-click EnableInkingWithTouch, set the Base to Decimal, and enter the value:
   • 1 to turn writing with fingertip ON.
   • 0 to turn it OFF.
7. Click OK, close Registry Editor, and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
   

Summary

• You can easily turn on or off writing with your fingertip in the handwriting panel on Windows 11 by using the Settings app or the Registry Editor.
• Using your fingertip is great for quick notes or when you don’t have a pen handy.
• If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below!