Wacom Pressure Sensitivity Is Not Working [Fix]
Pressure sensitivity depends on several layers working together correctly. Your Wacom tablet hardware, the Wacom driver software, your operating system, and your creative application, such as Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or Krita, must all communicate properly.
When pressure stops working, but the pen still moves the cursor, it usually means the tablet is detected, but pressure data is not being transmitted or interpreted correctly. This is typically due to:
- Corrupted or outdated Wacom drivers
- Disabled pressure sensitivity in the drawing software
- Incorrect Windows Ink settings
- Conflicting tablet drivers from other brands
- Misconfigured pen settings in the Wacom control panel
Understanding this helps you troubleshoot logically rather than randomly changing settings.
Whether you are using a Wacom Intuos, Wacom One, or a Wacom Cintiq, pressure sensitivity issues are usually caused by software settings, drivers, or application misconfiguration. In most cases, the hardware itself is perfectly fine.
In this post, I will walk you through clear, practical steps to restore Wacom pressure sensitivity quickly and safely.
Wacom Pressure Sensitivity Is Not Working [Fix]
If Wacom pressure sensitivity is not working, the most common causes are outdated or corrupted drivers, incorrect pen settings in the Wacom Tablet Properties panel, or disabled pressure settings inside your drawing application. Reinstalling the latest Wacom driver, checking pen pressure configuration, and enabling Windows Ink or application-specific pressure settings usually resolves the issue.
Step 1. Restart Your Computer and Tablet Services
Before making bigger changes, begin with a full system restart. Temporary glitches in driver services can prevent pressure data from working correctly.
Shut down your computer completely. Do not use restart if you suspect a deeper issue. Turn the system off, wait about 30 seconds, then power it back on.
If pressure still does not work after rebooting, restart the Wacom service manually.
On Windows, press Windows Key and R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Locate Wacom Professional Service or Wacom Tablet Service. Right-click and choose Restart.
On macOS, open Activity Monitor, search for Wacom processes, and quit them. They will relaunch automatically.
Why this works is simple. The Wacom service handles pressure data processing. If it becomes stuck or crashes silently, restarting it restores communication between hardware and software.
If pressure starts working after this step, the issue was a temporary service failure.
Step 2. Check Pressure Settings in Wacom Tablet Properties
If restarting did not help, the next step is verifying your pen pressure settings.
Open Wacom Tablet Properties from your Start menu or Applications folder. Select your device and then select your pen.
Look for the Tip Feel slider. If it is set too firm, light strokes may not register pressure variation. Adjust it slightly toward Soft and test again.
Use the built-in pressure test area inside the Wacom properties window. Draw a few lines with varying pressure. If the thickness changes there, your tablet hardware is functioning correctly.
If pressure does not change in this test panel, the driver may be corrupted, which we will address in a later step.
Also, ensure that your pen is correctly recognized. Sometimes the system shows a generic pen instead of your specific model. If your pen is not detected properly, disconnect and reconnect the tablet.
This step confirms whether the issue lies within the Wacom driver or your creative software.
Step 3. Enable Pressure Sensitivity in Your Drawing Software
Even if your tablet is working perfectly, pressure sensitivity can be disabled inside your creative application.
For example, in Adobe Photoshop, select the Brush Tool and open Brush Settings. Ensure that Shape Dynamics is enabled and that Control is set to Pen Pressure. If it is set to Off, pressure will not affect brush size.
In Clip Studio Paint, open the Tool Property panel and check that pressure is assigned to brush size or opacity.
In Krita, go to Brush Settings and verify that pressure curves are active.
Many users assume the problem is with Wacom when it is actually a brush configuration issue.
If pressure works in Wacom Tablet Properties but not inside your software, then the problem is application-specific.
Try creating a new blank document and testing with a default brush. Custom brushes sometimes override pressure behavior.
Step 4. Update or Reinstall the Wacom Driver
Driver corruption is one of the most common causes of pressure failure.
First, uninstall your current Wacom driver completely.
On Windows, open Control Panel, go to Programs and Features, find Wacom Tablet, and uninstall it. Restart your computer afterward.
On macOS, use the Wacom Tablet Utility to remove the driver properly.
After restarting, visit the official Wacom website and download the latest driver for your exact tablet model and operating system version.
Install the driver and reboot again before testing pressure sensitivity.
A clean installation removes corrupted files and resets configuration settings. This step resolves most persistent pressure problems.
If you previously used another tablet brand, make sure its drivers are fully removed. Driver conflicts can prevent pressure data from functioning.
Step 5. Check Windows Ink Settings
On Windows systems, pressure sensitivity often relies on Windows Ink integration.
Open Wacom Tablet Properties and look for the Windows Ink checkbox in the mapping or pen settings section.
If you are using Adobe Photoshop 2018 or newer, Windows Ink is typically required for pressure sensitivity to work.
If you are using older versions of Photoshop, Windows Ink may need to be disabled and replaced with a configuration file called PSUserConfig.txt to enable legacy pressure handling.
Try toggling Windows Ink on or off and test pressure in your application.
Why this matters is that some software expects pressure data through Windows Ink, while others use older APIs. If the settings do not match, pressure fails.
Step 6. Reset Wacom Preferences
Sometimes corrupted preference files cause unexpected behavior.
Open the Wacom Tablet Utility. Choose the option to remove or reset user preferences.
After resetting, restart your computer and test the pressure again.
This restores all settings to default values, eliminating hidden configuration errors.
Be aware that custom button mappings and pen settings will be lost, so you may need to reconfigure them afterward.
Step 7. Test with Another USB Port or Cable
If none of the software fixes work, test the hardware connection.
Disconnect the tablet and plug it into a different USB port directly on your computer, not through a hub.
If your tablet uses a detachable cable, inspect it for damage and try another compatible cable if available.
Sometimes unstable USB power delivery can affect advanced input features such as pressure detection.
Although rare, faulty cables can cause incomplete data transmission while basic cursor movement still works.
Step 8. Check for System Updates
Outdated operating systems can cause compatibility problems with newer drivers.
On Windows, go to Settings, then Windows Update, and install any pending updates.
On macOS, open System Settings and check for updates.
After updating, restart your computer and test the tablet again.
Operating system patches often include input device improvements that restore functionality.
Faqs
Why is my Wacom pen moving but not responding to pressure?
This usually means the tablet is recognized, but pressure data is not being processed. The most common causes are driver corruption, disabled pressure settings in your drawing software, or incorrect Windows Ink configuration.
How do I know if my Wacom pen is broken?
Open Wacom Tablet Properties and use the built-in pressure test. If pressure variation does not appear there even after reinstalling drivers, the pen hardware may be faulty.
Does reinstalling drivers delete my settings?
Yes, a clean installation resets preferences. You may need to reconfigure express keys and pen buttons afterward.
Can Windows updates break Wacom pressure sensitivity
Occasionally yes. Major updates sometimes interfere with tablet drivers. Reinstalling the latest Wacom driver usually resolves this.
Why does pressure work in one program but not another
Each application handles pressure differently. The problem is typically software configuration rather than hardware failure.
Summary
When Wacom pressure sensitivity stops working, it is rarely a hardware defect. In most cases, the issue stems from driver corruption, misconfigured pen settings, disabled pressure options in creative software, or Windows Ink mismatches.
Start with simple fixes such as restarting services and checking pen settings. Then move to more advanced solutions like reinstalling drivers and resetting preferences. Always test pressure inside both Wacom Tablet Properties and your drawing application to identify where the breakdown occurs.
By following these steps in order, you can isolate the cause and restore full pressure functionality without unnecessary replacements or repairs.