A digital artist friend of mine recently told me about this weird issue she has been having with his Wacom tablet where it frequently keeps disconnecting.
On closer inspection of the Wacom tablet and with a few visits to Wacom forums, I came to the conclusion that this is quite a widespread issue, despite having a simple solution.
This got me to write this ultimate troubleshooting article on how you can stop your Wacom tablets from disconnecting frequently.
If your Wacom tablet keeps disconnecting, reinstall the Wacom drivers and reset all Wacom settings. Also, do a thorough check on the hardware and cables for any wear and tear, and replace parts if necessary. If none of these work, contact Wacom and get the unit replaced.
Reinstall Wacom Drivers
One of the most overlooked aspects of a Wacom tablet, let alone any third-party peripheral is the driver of the tablet.
Drivers are the most fundamental aspect that essentially tells your computer what you intend to perform with your accessories, in this case, your Wacom tablet.
If there are overwritten or corrupt drivers installed on your computer, then this can cause a lot of issues with the most common being frequent disconnections.
The easiest way to rectify such a case is to simply uninstall the current drivers, and reinstall the drivers again for a fresh start.
Refreshing the drivers will also help you rectify issues with the touch interface on a Wacom tablet.
That being said, the steps to deleting and reinstalling Wacom drivers are different for Mac and Windows, due to the drastic differences in the nature of the operating systems.
In order to delete and properly install the Wacom drivers for your Wacom tablet on Windows, follow the steps below:
- Plug your Wacom tablet into the Windows computer.
- Type in Device Manager on the search bar of Windows and enter the application.
- Tap on Human Interface Devices.
- Navigate to the Wacom Tablet option and right-click on the option.
- Select Uninstall in the resultant menu.
- Confirm your selection by checking the Delete the driver software for this device option and clicking on Uninstall.
- Restart the computer.
- Connect the computer to your internet connection once the computer finishes rebooting.
- Go back to the Device Manager application.
- Right-click on your Computer's name in the top corner and select Scan for hardware changes.
This will install the Wacom Drivers from scratch on your Windows laptop.
Alternatively, you can also manually download and install the drivers by following the steps below:
- Go to Wacom's website and download the drivers according to your Wacom device model.
- Plug your Wacom tablet into the Windows computer.
- Type in Device Manager on the search bar of Windows and enter the application.
- Tap on Human Interface Devices.
- Navigate to the Wacom Tablet option and right-click on the option.
- Select Uninstall in the resultant menu.
- Confirm your selection by checking the Delete the driver software for this device option and clicking on Uninstall.
- Restart the computer.
- Go back to the Device Manager application.
- Tap on Human Interface Devices.
- Navigate to the Wacom Tablet option and right-click on the option.
- Select Update Driver in the resultant menu.
- Select Install Driver Manually and navigate to the drivers you installed from Wacom's website.
This will properly install the manually downloaded Wacom drivers on your Windows computer.
In order to delete and properly install the Wacom drivers for your Wacom tablet on Mac, follow the steps below:
- Unplug your Wacom Tablet.
- Open Finder and select the Wacom Tablet folder under the Applications menu.
- Tap on Wacom Tablet Utility.
- Tap on Tablet Software.
- Select Uninstall.
- Restart your Mac.
- Connect your Mac to the internet once it has successfully rebooted.
- Go to Wacom's website and download the drivers according to your Wacom device model.
- Open the driver file and proceed as per the instructions of the installation wizard.
- Restart your Mac after the installation is successful.
- Once booted back up, plug in your Wacom Tablet.
This will properly install the manually downloaded Wacom drivers on your Mac computer.
Reset Wacom Settings
Resetting your Wacom settings is the ultimate step you can take in order to fix the issue of your Wacom tablet frequently disconnecting.
This basically restores your Wacom settings back to their factory defaults, and all custom settings such as your pen pressure sensitivity will be reset.
The process of resetting Wacom settings is different for both Windows and Mac computers.
In order to reset your Wacom settings on Windows, follow the steps below:
- Type in Wacom Desktop Center on the search bar of Windows and enter the application.
- Select the Backup settings on the left sidebar.
- Tap on Reset Settings.
- Tap on Reset to confirm your selection.
This resets the Wacom settings on your Windows computer.
In order to reset your Wacom settings on Mac, follow the steps below:
- Open Finder and select the Wacom Tablet folder under the Applications menu.
- Tap on Wacom Tablet Utility.
- On the Preferences tab, make sure the Current User option is checked.
- Click on the Remove option.
- Restart your Mac.
This resets the Wacom settings on your Mac computer.
Check Cables and Hardware
The quality and condition of your cables can drastically impact the performance of your Wacom tablet, as it acts as the primary communication channel.
Make sure the cables are working properly. If there are any signs of wear and tear, get it replaced.
It is best to get cables from brands recommended by Wacom, or a reputed brand from a trusted reseller like Amazon.
Just as important as cables though is the hardware it connects to. If there are any deformations on the hardware, it can lead to a lot of problems.
So make sure that there are no ruptures or visible cracks anywhere on the hardware. If you notice any red flags, it is best to get them repaired as soon as possible.
While you're at it, better check and make sure the Stylus is also working properly. Issues with Wacom Styluses not working are also closely associated with problems on the tablet.
Final Thoughts
Wacom tablets are still the most popular drawing tablets in the market for Digital Artists, and their hardware reliability is one major factor in why.
Fortunately, their issues are not widespread and therefore can be easily fixed with simple troubleshooting.
If the disconnections still persist even after doing the above-mentioned steps, then your only option is to contact Wacom support.
I hope my troubleshooting article on how you can prevent your Wacom tablet from frequently disconnecting has been a helpful read and has aided you with the same.
Have a good day!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can Wacom Tablets work with Chromebooks?
Select Wacom tablet models, such as the Wacom One and Wacom Intuos are certified to work with Google Chromebook devices.
Can Wacom Tablets work with Windows 7?
Wacom tablets dropped support for 32-bit operating systems such as Windows 7, and none of their newer generation tablets will work properly on Windows 7.
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