How to Disable Windows Ink in Windows 11

Windows Ink is the set of pen features in Windows 11: the pen menu on the taskbar, handwriting input, and pen shortcuts. If you don’t use a stylus, or you use a drawing tablet where Windows Ink gets in the way (a common complaint from artists and osu! players), you can turn it off. There’s no single “off” switch, so this guide covers each piece: hiding the pen menu, turning off handwriting and shortcuts, disabling the Ink Workspace with Group Policy or the registry, and turning off Windows Ink in tablet drivers.

Quick answer

To hide the pen icon, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and turn off Pen menu. To disable Windows Ink Workspace completely on Pro editions, set Allow Windows Ink Workspace to Disabled in Group Policy.

Method 1: Hide the pen menu

1. Right-click the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings.
2. Under System tray icons, turn off Pen menu.

The pen icon disappears from the taskbar. This is enough for most people who just don’t want to see it.

Method 2: Turn off pen features in Settings

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Pen & Windows Ink. (This page only appears on PCs with pen support.)
2. Under Shortcut buttons, set the pen button actions to Nothing.
3. Turn off Use your handwriting to enter text if you don’t want the handwriting panel.
4. Turn off Show pen menu when pen is removed if your device has a pen garage.

Method 3: Disable Windows Ink Workspace with Group Policy

On Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education:

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Ink Workspace.
3. Double-click Allow Windows Ink Workspace.
4. Select Enabled, set the option to Disabled, and click OK. (Selecting Disabled for the whole policy also works.)
5. Restart the PC.

Method 4: Use the registry (Home edition)

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft.
3. Right-click Microsoft, choose New > Key, and name it WindowsInkWorkspace.
4. Inside it, create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named AllowWindowsInkWorkspace and set it to 0.
5. Restart the PC.

Back up the registry first. To undo it, delete the value or set it to 1.

Method 5: Turn off Windows Ink in your drawing tablet

Drawing tablets often use Windows Ink for pressure sensitivity, which can cause lag, circles when you press and hold, or right-clicks in games. Each brand has its own setting:

• Wacom: Open Wacom Tablet Properties, go to Mapping, and uncheck Use Windows Ink.
• XP-Pen and Huion: Open the tablet’s driver app and turn off Windows Ink in the pen or work area settings.

Some art apps need Windows Ink for pressure. If pressure stops working in your drawing app afterward, switch that app to the tablet’s own pressure mode (often called WinTab) or turn Windows Ink back on.

Frequently asked questions

Will disabling Windows Ink break my touchscreen?

No. Finger touch keeps working. Only pen-specific features are affected. If you want to turn off touch entirely, that’s a separate setting in Device Manager. To switch the PC out of touch-friendly layouts, see disabling tablet mode in Windows 11.

Why does my pen still open apps when I click its button?

The pen’s shortcut buttons are configured separately. Set them to Nothing under Pen & Windows Ink, or in the pen maker’s app.

How do I turn Windows Ink back on?

Reverse whichever method you used: turn the Pen menu back on, set the Group Policy to Not Configured, or delete the registry value. Then restart.

Where’s the Group Policy Editor on Home?

Windows 11 Home doesn’t include it, which is why the registry method exists. For Pro users, see opening the Local Group Policy Editor.

Summary

1. Hide the pen menu in Taskbar settings.
2. Turn off handwriting and shortcuts under Pen & Windows Ink.
3. Disable Windows Ink Workspace with Group Policy or the registry.
4. Turn off Windows Ink in your tablet driver if it causes problems.