How to Fix “No Device Connected” Error in Wacom?

Seeing the “No Device Connected” message on your Wacom tablet can be frustrating, especially when you are ready to sketch, edit photos, or sign important documents. The tablet may appear powered on, yet the Wacom Desktop Center or driver panel refuses to detect it. In most cases, this issue is not a hardware failure. It usually points to a driver conflict, a USB communication problem, a disabled service, or outdated firmware.

Whether you are using your tablet with Windows 11, Windows 10, or macOS, in this guide, I will help you resolve this issue like a breeze.

How to Fix “No Device Connected” Error in Wacom?

To fix the “No Device Connected” error in a Wacom Intuos tablet, reconnect the USB cable or Bluetooth connection, restart the Wacom Professional Service, update or reinstall the Wacom driver, check Windows Device Manager for detection issues, and install the latest firmware from the official Wacom website. Most connection problems are caused by outdated drivers or disabled services rather than hardware damage.

Now, let us begin with the step-by-step fixes.

Step 1. Check the Physical Connection

Before adjusting software settings, confirm that the tablet is physically connected and powered correctly.

If you are using a wired Wacom Intuos, unplug the USB cable and reconnect it firmly. Try a different USB port on your computer. Sometimes front panel ports or USB hubs do not supply stable power. Connect the tablet directly to the motherboard USB port at the back of the PC.

If you have a USB-C-based Intuos model, inspect the cable for visible damage. A loose or damaged cable often triggers the “No Device Connected” message.

For Bluetooth models, turn Bluetooth off and on again from your system settings. Remove the tablet from the paired devices list and pair it again. Make sure the tablet battery is charged.

After reconnecting, wait a few seconds and open Wacom Desktop Center. If the tablet appears, the issue was simply a connection glitch.

Step 2. Restart the Wacom Service

The Wacom Professional Service handles communication between the operating system and the tablet driver. If this service stops running, the tablet becomes invisible to the system.

On Windows, press Windows key plus R and type services.msc. Press Enter. Scroll down and locate Wacom Professional Service.

Right-click the service and select Restart. If the service is not running, click Start. Then right-click again, open Properties, and set Startup type to Automatic.

Close the Services window and reopen the Wacom software panel. In many cases, restarting this background service immediately restores the connection.

If you are using macOS, open Activity Monitor, search for Wacom processes, and quit them. Then reopen the Wacom Desktop Center to allow services to reload.

Step 3. Restart Your Computer

It may sound simple, but a full system restart clears temporary driver conflicts and USB communication errors.

Shut down your computer completely. Do not just sign out or put it in sleep mode. Wait about thirty seconds before turning it back on. This allows the motherboard to reset USB controllers properly.

Once the system boots, reconnect the tablet and check whether it is detected.

If the tablet connects after a restart but later disconnects again, the issue may involve corrupted drivers, which we address next.

Step 4. Update the Wacom Driver

Outdated or incompatible drivers are one of the most common reasons for the “No Device Connected” error.

Open your browser and visit the official Wacom website. Navigate to the Support section and download the latest driver compatible with your operating system and Intuos model.

Before installing the new driver, uninstall the existing one.

On Windows, go to Control Panel, select Programs and Features, find Wacom Tablet, and uninstall it. Restart your system after uninstalling.

Then install the newly downloaded driver. Follow the installation prompts carefully and restart your computer once more.

After rebooting, connect the tablet and open Wacom Desktop Center. The updated driver often restores proper detection.

Step 5. Check Device Manager for Hardware Recognition

If your tablet is still not detected, verify whether Windows recognizes it at the hardware level.

Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager. Expand the section labeled Human Interface Devices. Look for entries that reference Wacom.

If you see a yellow warning symbol, right-click the device and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for drivers.

If the device does not appear at all, disconnect and reconnect the tablet while Device Manager is open. Watch whether a new device briefly appears or disappears.

If the tablet is completely absent, test it on another computer. This helps determine whether the issue is system-specific or hardware-related.

Step 6. Disable Conflicting Tablet Drivers

If you previously used another drawing tablet brand, its driver may conflict with Wacom software.

Open the Control Panel and uninstall drivers from other tablet manufacturers. Restart your system afterward.

Conflicting drivers often take control of tablet input services, preventing the Wacom Intuos from being recognized.

After removing old drivers, reinstall the official Wacom driver again to ensure a clean configuration.

Step 7. Reinstall the Wacom Driver Completely

If a normal reinstall does not fix the issue, perform a clean removal.

First, uninstall the Wacom driver from Programs and Features. Restart your computer.

Next, open File Explorer and manually delete leftover Wacom folders in Program Files and in the AppData directory under your user profile.

Then restart again.

Download the latest driver from the official website and install it fresh. Restart one final time after installation.

A clean reinstall removes corrupted registry entries and misconfigured driver files that might be blocking detection.

Step 8. Check Windows Updates

Sometimes system updates break compatibility with older drivers.

Open Windows Settings > navigate to Windows Update. Install all pending updates > Restart your system afterward.

If the problem started after a recent update, check whether Wacom has released a driver patch to restore compatibility with that Windows version.

Keeping both Windows and Wacom drivers updated ensures smoother hardware communication.

Step 9. Update Tablet Firmware

Some Wacom Intuos models support firmware updates through Wacom Desktop Center.

Open the Desktop Center and check for firmware updates. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions carefully. Do not disconnect the tablet during the update process.

Firmware updates can resolve connection stability issues and improve compatibility with newer operating systems.

Step 10. Test on Another Computer

If none of the above steps work, connect your tablet to a different computer.

If it works normally there, the issue lies with your original system configuration. If it fails on both systems, the tablet hardware may be defective.

In that case, contact official Wacom support for repair or replacement options.

FAQs

Why does my Wacom Intuos Pro show “No Device Connected” even though it is plugged in?

This usually happens due to outdated drivers, a disabled Wacom Professional Service, or a faulty USB cable. Reinstalling drivers and restarting services typically resolves the issue.

Does reinstalling Windows fix the problem?

Reinstalling Windows is rarely necessary. Most cases are resolved by reinstalling the Wacom driver or restarting background services.

Can a bad USB port cause this error?

Yes. Unstable or underpowered USB ports can prevent the tablet from being detected. Always test with a different port or cable.

How do I know if my tablet is physically damaged?

If the tablet is not detected on multiple computers with different cables, hardware failure is possible. Contact Wacom support for further inspection.

Is Bluetooth less stable than USB?

Bluetooth can occasionally disconnect due to signal interference or a low battery. If stability is important, a wired USB connection is generally more reliable.

Summary

The “No Device Connected” error on a Wacom Intuos tablet is usually linked to software or communication problems rather than serious hardware damage. By checking the physical connection first, restarting the Wacom Professional Service, updating drivers, verifying Device Manager detection, and reinstalling software cleanly, you can resolve most connection failures quickly.

Firmware updates and system updates also play an important role in maintaining compatibility. Only after testing the tablet on another computer should you consider hardware repair.