HP Spectre x360 16 Core Ultra 7 155H Stylus Pen Not Pairing Fix

Stylus Fix

HP Spectre x360 16 Stylus Pen Not Pairing Fix

HP Spectre x360 16 · Core Ultra 7 155H · Windows 11 · MPP 2.0 pen

The HP Spectre x360 16 supports MPP 2.0 (Microsoft Pen Protocol) stylus pens. Pairing issues are most often caused by the pen battery being dead, Bluetooth pairing being incomplete, or the pen driver requiring an update. Follow the steps below to restore stylus functionality.

Fix 1 — Replace the pen battery

Most MPP stylus pens use an AAAA or AAA battery. Remove the end cap and replace the battery with a fresh one. A low battery is the most common reason a stylus pen appears to work for basic touching but fails to pair for pressure sensitivity or button functionality on the HP Spectre x360 16.

Fix 2 — Re-pair the stylus via Bluetooth

Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Add device. Press and hold the pen button for 5–7 seconds until the LED flashes to enter pairing mode. Select the pen from the device list. If the pen was previously paired, remove it from the Bluetooth list first, then re-pair. MPP 2.0 Bluetooth pairing enables pressure sensitivity and tilt detection that are not available without pairing.

Fix 3 — Update the pen driver and touch firmware

Go to HP Support, find the Spectre x360 16, and download the Pen Driver and Touch Panel Firmware. Install both and restart. The touch panel firmware governs MPP protocol communication between the pen and digitizer. Outdated firmware can cause pen non-detection or prevent pairing from completing on the Core Ultra 7 155H platform.

Fix 4 — Test basic pen input without Bluetooth

Touch the pen tip to the screen without Bluetooth pairing. The HP Spectre x360 16 should detect the pen for basic drawing and inking even when Bluetooth is off, as MPP pens communicate with the digitizer via electromagnetic induction for the primary tip input. If the tip is not detected at all, the pen hardware or the digitizer has an issue.

Fix 5 — Enable stylus via Windows Ink settings

Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Pen & Windows Ink. Ensure Show recommended app suggestions when using your pen is enabled and that the pen is listed as a connected device. Also open HP Pen Control from Start if installed — this HP utility configures the pen button assignments for the Spectre x360 16 and must be running for the pen shortcut buttons to function.

Suraya, Kuching: “My HP Spectre x360 16 stylus pen was not pairing at all. Replaced the AAAA battery and held the button for 7 seconds to re-enter pairing mode. Paired on the first try after that.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Which stylus pens are compatible with the HP Spectre x360 16?

The HP Spectre x360 16 supports MPP 2.0 (Microsoft Pen Protocol 2.0) pens. The HP Tilt Pen (MPP 2.0), Microsoft Surface Pen, and Microsoft Slim Pen 2 are all compatible. Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) pens are not compatible unless they also support MPP 2.0. Check the pen specification before purchasing.

Does the HP Spectre x360 16 stylus support tilt sensitivity?

Yes. MPP 2.0 pens paired with the Spectre x360 16 support tilt sensitivity in addition to pressure sensitivity. Tilt detection requires Bluetooth pairing to be active and is available in drawing apps that support tilt input such as Adobe Fresco, Clip Studio Paint, and Windows Ink Workspace.

How many levels of pressure sensitivity does the HP Spectre x360 16 pen support?

The HP Tilt Pen (MPP 2.0) supports 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity when paired with the Spectre x360 16. This matches the pressure resolution of most professional drawing tablets and is sufficient for detailed illustration and note-taking workflows.

Can I customize the stylus button functions on the HP Spectre x360 16?

Yes. Install HP Pen Control from HP Support or the Microsoft Store. This app lets you customize the single button and eraser button (on supported pens) for functions such as right-click, eraser, screenshot, and app launch. Without HP Pen Control, the button defaults to the Windows Ink eraser function.