Surface Slim Pen 2 not working

Question

I have bought a Surface Slim Pen 2 for my Surface Laptop Studio 2 and even though the pen is occasionally popping up when attaching it to the charger area at the Laptop and I can set up everything about it, it simply does not work. I can't draw anywhere. It isn't recognized as mouse as configured. When attaching it to the charger its LED is turning on/off in white once with some slow fading/dimming, so I assume the pen considers its battery to be full. However, the Surface Laptop is stating battery to be 0% showing a small exclamation mark in a triangle next to the battery icon. Firmware updates aren't provided, Windows updates have been all installed.

Previously, the Surface app was listing my Surface Arc Mouse with a battery level of 72% though the mouse has not been available for months as it is stowed away with batteries removed. During that time, the Pen was not showing up in Surface app at all. After removing the mouse as a BT device, the pen was popping up occasionally as mentioned before.

BTW: The list of topics offered next to this editor is lacking a matching option. It just adds to the impression what you get from MS after spending >4k in hardware ...

Answer 1

Hi Thomas,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with your Surface Slim Pen 2 not working with your Surface Laptop Studio 2, despite some signs of life (like the LED behavior and occasional recognition). Based on the symptoms you’ve described—LED fading on/off in white, battery showing 0% with a warning in Windows, and no functionality as a stylus. Here’s a step-by-step approach to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue.

First, let’s address the LED behavior. When you attach the pen to the charging area and the LED fades in and out in white, this typically indicates the pen is docked and charging. However, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 reporting 0% battery with an exclamation mark suggests a disconnect between the pen’s actual state and what the system is detecting. This could point to a pairing issue, a hardware glitch, or a problem with the charging mechanism.

Here’s what you can try:

Force a shutdown and restart your Surface: Press and hold down the power button until your Surface shuts down and restarts and you see the Windows logo screen (about 20 seconds), then release the power button.

Check Bluetooth Pairing:

1. To enable Bluetooth pairing mode on your Surface Pen, press and hold the top button for about 5-7 seconds. The LED light will begin to flash continuously, indicating that the pen is ready to pair.
2. Next, Open Bluetooth settings on your PC and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Then, select the option Add device.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
3. Choose Surface Pen in the list of devices. Follow any other instructions if they appear, then select Done.

Reinstall the touchscreen driver:

1. On your Surface, right-click on Start , then select Device Manager.
2. Select View at the upper-right of the Device Manager window > Show hidden devices.
3. Find Human Interface Deviceson the list of devices displayed and select the arrow to expand the section.
4. Uninstall HID-complaint touchscreen drivers that are listed.
   • Right-click Intel (R) Precise Touch Device and select Uninstall device. Then select Uninstallin the Uninstall Device dialog.
   • Right-click HID-compliant touch screenand select Uninstall device. Then select Uninstallin the Uninstall Device dialog.
   • Repeat this process if you see any additional HID-compliant touch screen drivers.
5. Select Action at the upper-right of the Device Manager window > Scan for hardware changes. It will automatically download and install the touchscreen driver when connected to the internet.
6. Restart your Surface, select Start   , select Power   , and then select Restart. After your Surface restarts, try using your pen.

Manually update Surface drivers and firmware: Download drivers and firmware for Surface - Microsoft Support

If you’re still having a problem with your inking capabilities, try resetting your Surface. For more info, see Restore or reset Surface for Windows and follow the recommended steps for Reset your Surface. After you reset and setup your Surface, try using your pen again.

If these steps don't resolve the problem, you can request a replacement Surface Pen. Go to Device service and repair, sign in with your Microsoft account, and select a Surface or register a new device. After you select a registered device, you'll see replacement offers based on your warranty status and eligibility for exchange.

I hope this helps. If there is anything not clear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Your Sincerely

Hahn. W - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist