Wacom Bamboo Ink Stylus Not Working: How to Fix [2023]

Albeit its popularity amongst digital artists, the Wacom Bamboo Ink Stylus does have some unfortunate bugs due to the complicated addition of multiple technologies.

One such bug is that the stylus just stops working suddenly and this has been a reported reason of annoyance for many Wacom Bamboo Ink users worldwide.

With this article, I shall attempt to solve all your issues with your Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus pens by combing the whole internet carefully.

This guide is intended for both Wacom Bamboo Ink 1st and 2nd gen users, as well as Bamboo Ink Plus users.

If your Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus is not working, check whether your Windows laptop is compatible with the Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus pen. Additionally, check if the pen is in the appropriate compatibility mode. Examine the pen hardware for wear and tear. Perform a power cycle and update the Wacom pen drivers. If you are on the Wacom AES mode, restart and reinstall the Wacom Tablet services.

Bamboo Ink Stylus
Bamboo Ink Stylus

Check the Compatibility List

Before we put the blame on the Wacom hardware for the issue, first check whether your touch input device is included in the compatibility list.

Wacom Bamboo Ink is supported by Wacom's AES and Microsoft's MPP/Windows Ink.

You can check the compatibility list here.

Devices outside of the list might not work properly with the Wacom Bamboo Ink properly.

Laptops with Synaptics drivers, such as the popular HP Spectre x360 will not work on Wacom AES but can work partially with Windows Ink.

Check the Pen

bamboo ink stylus
bamboo ink stylus

Wacom Bamboo Ink has dedicated modes to switch between its proprietary AES standard and Windows Ink/MPP standard.

Since they are different standards, you will have to manually select the mode from the pen according to your use case. By default out of the box, it will be on Wacom AES mode.

In order to switch modes, simply follow the following steps:

  • Locate the side buttons on the body of the Wacom Bamboo Ink.
  • Press and hold the two side buttons for about 2 seconds. This switches the compatibility modes.
  • An LED will blink indicating the switched mode. A single LED blink stands for Wacom's AES mode and two LED blinks stand for MPP/Windows Ink mode.

Doing this will help you hot-swap between the different touch protocols.

Check Battery Hardware

Battery hardware is something that wears out over constant use over a long period of life.

Thankfully Wacom Bamboo Ink uses AAAA batteries, so replacement is going to be only once in a blue moon.

If you have been using the Bamboo Ink stylus pen for a long time, chances are the battery has already been discharged to the point it needs replacement.

Also, if the replacement batteries you used are old, chances are that the battery has already eroded enough due to external conditions that it failed to provide a charge

Make sure the batteries you use are new and have no visible damage outside.

Check the Pen Nibs/Tips

bamboo ink stylus with tips
bamboo ink stylus with tips

The Wacom Bamboo Ink comes with a set of replacement tips in the box for a reason. The tips can get easily worn out over constant use.

It is a difficult task to notice the wear and tear of the pen nibs as they are already pretty small and little scrapes can only be felt while drawing

Check your pen tips for any visible damage. Change the tips immediately with the proprietary tips provided in the box (or sold separately) if you notice any deformations.

Perform a Power Cycle

A power cycle resets the internal components of the Wacom Bamboo Ink by completely discharging all the internal components before powering it on again.

It is similar to a reboot performed on a phone or computer, only from a hardware perspective.

To perform a power cycle, simply follow the following steps:

  • Remove the battery from the Wacom Bamboo Ink pen.
  • Press and hold both the side buttons on the Wacom Bamboo Ink for 15-20 seconds
  • Put the batteries back inside and wait for one minute before turning them on.

This will restart the internal components of the Wacom Bamboo Ink and solve all hardware and power-related issues on the Wacom Bamboo Ink pen.

Update the Pen Drivers

At times, you might need to manually update your pen drivers on your Windows laptop to be configurable with the latest Windows Ink Protocol updates.

To update your Wacom Bamboo Ink drivers, simply follow the following steps:

  • Head over to Wacom's website which hosts the pen drivers
  • Click on the download link to commence the download
  • Click on the installed setup application and follow through with the installation wizard

This installs the latest windows drivers that are recognized as compatible with Wacom onto your Windows computer.

Restart Wacom Tablet Services

Wacom Tablet Services are background processes on your Windows or Mac that make the device compatible with the Wacom AES tech.

This also enables extra functionality, like pressure sensitivity detection for some apps and cursor offset calibration, which might be absent in Windows Ink protocol mode.

Restarting the Wacom Tablet Services resets these background processes of Wacom on your Windows laptop.

Although these services are meant to run for Wacom digitizer tablets, Wacom Bamboo also utilizes these services to run in the background and make the software compatible.

Do note that this is specifically for the Wacom AES standard.

To reset the Wacom Tablet Services background processes on a Windows computer, simply follow the following steps:

  • From your Windows home screen, open the Run command. You can also open it by pressing the Windows logo key and R at the same time.
  • In the pop-up window, type services.msc and select OK
  • Find your Wacom tablet services, and select Restart or Stop/Start

Wacom tablet services are under different names depending on the model and type of Wacom device. Simply search and restart the following services:

Wacom Consumer Service, Touch Keyboard, and Handwriting Panel Service, Wacom Professional Service or TabletServiceWacom

Although Wacom Tablet Services also extend to macOS, the Wacom Bamboo Ink is unfortunately not supported on Macs due to the lack of a touchscreen.

Configure the Program Files Directory

Wacom assumes its pen drivers are placed inside the Program files situated in the C: drive when it is entirely possible for one to set Program Files up in any other drive.

This is a very niche issue, as most computers have their program files set up in the C: drive.

To fix this issue, you will have to link the program files on the other drive to the C: folder by simply following the steps below:

  • In the Windows search bar, type in Device Manager and enter the app
  • Click on the Human Interface Devices option
  • Right-click on the Wacom Tablet option and select Uninstall device
  • Mark the Delete the driver software for this device box and click on Uninstall
  • Go back home and search for Add/Remove programs and enter the app.
  • Uninstall all Wacom-related applications from the computer
  • Open Command Line (Admin) or Windows Powershell (admin) by right-clicking on the windows button on the taskbar.
  • Type the command lines with respect to the location of your Program files.

If your Program files are on the D drive of your computer, copy and paste the following command line:

mklink /j "D:\Program Files\Tablet" "C:\Program Files\Tablet"

If your Program files are on the E drive of your computer, copy and paste the following command line:

mklink /j "E:\Program Files\Tablet" "C:\Program Files\Tablet"

  • Reinstall the latest drivers from Wacom's website
  • Restart Wacom Tablet services from the guide above and restart the computer

Reinstall Wacom Tablet Drivers

This is the last resort step to completely eradicate any bugs that entered as a result of the current software configurations

Do note that this is again specific to the Wacom AES protocol.

To reinstall the Wacom Tablet drivers on your Windows computer, simply follow the following steps:

  • In the Windows search bar, type Device Manager and enter the application.
  • Click on the Human Interface Devices option
  • Right-click on the Wacom Tablet option and select Uninstall device
  • Mark the Delete the driver software for this device box and click on Uninstall
  • Restart your computer. Make sure you are connected to the internet.
  • If the auto updates fail, go to the Device Manager app, right-click on your Computer's name at the top, and click on Scan for hardware changes.
  • If it still doesn't work, download the update package from Wacom's website and install the driver.

Final Thoughts

bamboo ink stylus with cable
bamboo ink stylus with cable

Wacom is a fantastic brand that makes some fantastic stylus tech products that are a favorite of many digital artists across the globe.

Aside from little nitpicks such as this completely fixable issue, the Wacom Bamboo Ink series is a fantastic purchase for anyone wanting a stylus for their compatible computer

I hope my troubleshooting guide has helped you solve your problems with the Wacom Bamboo Ink series not working at times.

Have a good day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use the Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus pen on a Wacom digitizer tablet or a Bamboo tablet?

Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus pens use Wacom AES technology, which is not compatible with the Wacom EMR technology that is supported on its digitizer tablet lineup.

How long does the Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus pen last on each compatibility mode?

With consistent use, the Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus pen lasts approximately 5 months on Wacom AES mode and approximately 2 months on MPP mode.

Does the Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus pen work on an Android/iOS phone?

The Wacom Bamboo Ink stylus pen is primarily made for Windows 10 laptops, but it is also supported by the LG VELVET and LG V60 THINQ.

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About Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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