How this pen pressure test works
Draw on the test canvas with your stylus. The pressure meter and curve show how hard you press, from 0 to 1. The tilt and twist readouts update with the pen angle and rotation if your device and pen support them. The page also shows whether the barrel button or eraser end is active and estimates the sampling rate, the number of pen events per second.
Stroke width follows pressure, so a light touch draws a thin line and a firm press draws a thick one. A smooth taper means a healthy sensor. Use Download to save your drawing as an image. It all runs in your browser, and nothing is uploaded or recorded.
How to read the results
- Pressure curve. The curve should rise smoothly as you press harder. A flat line at 0.5 usually means the browser or driver is not passing pressure, which happens with a mouse or unsupported setup.
- Light touch. A good pen starts drawing at very light pressure. If you must press hard before anything appears, the nib may be worn or the activation force is high.
- Max pressure. Pressing as hard as you can should reach 1.0. If the value stops at 0.6 or 0.7, check driver settings or the pen's pressure curve.
- Tilt and twist. Tilt reads in degrees from the vertical. Twist and barrel rotation are supported only by some pens, so a missing value may be a hardware limit.
- Sampling rate. Around 120 to 240 events per second is typical. Low values or uneven spacing make lines look jagged.
- Buttons and eraser. Press the barrel button and flip the pen to check that each is detected separately.
Pen not working? Try these fixes
- Use a supported browser. Chrome and Edge give the best pressure support. Safari on iPad works well with Apple Pencil, and Firefox only partly supports pressure and tilt.
- Check the driver. For a Wacom or other graphics tablet, install the latest driver from the manufacturer, restart, and make sure no old driver is running.
- Windows Ink. Many tablets need Windows Ink on. Look in the tablet's control panel, in the Mapping or Pen tab, and toggle Use Windows Ink. If pressure fails in one app, switch it off to compare.
- Check app support. Some apps do not read pressure unless the tablet's tablet-mode or API setting is enabled. Test in a second app to isolate the problem.
- Charge or replace the battery. Active pens such as Apple Pencil and S Pen need power. Charge them, or replace the battery in AAAA pens.
- Replace the nib. A worn or flattened nib reduces sensitivity and can scratch the surface. Most pens ship with spare nibs.
- Reconnect. Re-pair a Bluetooth pen. On iPad, check Settings → Apple Pencil, and on Android tablets restart and test with the pen's own app.
Why test your pen
Pressure problems often look like software bugs in a drawing app. A test here tells you if the pen, the driver or the app is at fault, and lets you adjust your pressure curve and check a nib before you start a project.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my pen pressure not working?
The most common reasons are a missing or outdated driver, Windows Ink being switched off, or an unsupported browser. Install the manufacturer driver and test in Chrome or Edge.
Does this work with Apple Pencil, Wacom and S Pen?
Yes, any pen that reports pressure through the browser pointer events should work. Support for tilt and twist depends on the pen and device.
Why is pressure always 0.5?
A fixed value of 0.5 usually means the input is not a pressure-sensitive pen, or the driver does not pass pressure to the browser.
Does Safari support pen pressure?
Safari on iPad works with Apple Pencil. Chrome and Edge are the most reliable on desktop, while Firefox only partly supports pressure and tilt.
What sampling rate is good for a stylus?
Around 120 to 240 events per second is typical. Lower or uneven rates can make lines look jagged.
When should I replace the pen nib?
Replace it when it looks flattened or chipped, or when you need to press unusually hard to get a mark.
Pressure works in my drawing app but not in the browser, why?
Drawing apps can use the tablet driver directly, while the browser relies on pointer events. Update the driver, enable Windows Ink or the browser option if your driver offers one, and use a Chromium-based browser for the best support.
What is pen jitter?
Pen jitter is small unwanted wobble in a stroke, seen as wavy or shaky lines even when your hand is steady. It can come from low sampling, a worn nib or electrical interference, and drawing apps often use stabilization to hide it.