How to Enable or Disable Use Pen as Mouse in Windows 11
Use pen as mouse in Windows 11 makes your digital stylus behave like a standard pointer. You can then click small buttons, drag files and browse the web with a pen instead of a mouse or trackpad. With the option off, the pen is limited to pen-style actions such as scrolling.
You can turn the option on or off in the Settings app in a few clicks. The registry method is covered further down. The setting is off by default, so you only need to change it if you want the pen to act as a mouse.
You enable or disable “Use pen as mouse” in Windows 11 Settings under Bluetooth & devices Pen & Windows Ink Expand Additional pen settings and check or uncheck the box next to “Let me use my pen as a mouse”.
Enable or Disable Use Pen as Mouse in Settings
The path is Settings Bluetooth & devices Pen & Windows Ink Follow these steps to get there.
- Open Settings by pressing
Win+Ion your keyboard. The Settings window opens. - Click Bluetooth & devices in the left pane.
- Click Pen & Windows Ink on the right side. The pen options for your device now appear. Open Pen & Windows Ink settings
If you don’t see Pen & Windows Ink, Windows probably hasn’t detected a pen or a pen-capable screen on this PC. Check that the pen is paired (for Bluetooth pens) or that the device actually supports pen input. Then open the page again.
- Click Additional pen settings to expand the section. The extra pen options now appear below it.
- Check the box next to Let me use my pen as a mouse when it’s available to turn the feature on. Uncheck it to turn the feature off. Unchecked is the default setting.
The change applies right away. You don’t need to restart Windows.
- Close Settings.
With the box checked, your pen works like a mouse pointer. You can click, drag items and move around the screen with it. Test it by tapping a small button or dragging a file to a new spot.
To undo the change, go back to Bluetooth & devices Pen & Windows Ink and clear the box. Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 both have this setting, and it works the same way on both.
Option Two
Enable or Disable Use Pen as Mouse Using Registry
You can also set use pen as mouse by changing a registry value from the command line. This writes the value directly, so you skip the Settings pages. It is useful when you manage several PCs or work from scripts. Type the commands carefully, because a mistake in a registry command can change settings you didn't intend to touch.
- Open Windows Terminal as an administrator. Right-click the Start button and choose the Terminal (Admin) entry, then click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
- Run the command below for what you want to do. Copy and paste it rather than retyping it.
To Turn On Use Pen as Mouse:
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Pen" /v PenInteractionModel /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
To Turn Off Use Pen as Mouse:
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Pen" /v PenInteractionModel /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
Run only the command that matches what you want. Use the first one to turn the feature on. Use the second one to turn it off, which is also the default state. If the Settings page was already open when you ran the command, close it and open it again to see the new state. If the pen still behaves the old way, sign out and back in, or restart the PC.
Summary
You can switch the pen-as-mouse feature on or off in Windows 11 from the Settings app or with the registry commands. Both methods give the same result: the pen acts as a mouse pointer instead of being limited to scrolling. For most people the Settings app is the safer choice, and the checkbox is easy to flip back at any time.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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