Windows surface pen not detecting Chinese handwriting input

C 0 Reputation points
2025-08-06T14:32:34.0733333+00:00

I have both English and Simplified Chinese installed on my Surface Pro (11th Edition) and was able to use the Windows Pen handwriting feature to write in Chinese in various textboxes, the Notepad app, etc and it would automatically detect that I was writing in Chinese and convert my writing into characters without me even having to switch the language keyboard. Just yesterday that suddenly stopped working, now when I write Chinese with the pen it doesn't detect my writing as the Chinese characters and instead converts the writing into random numbers and punctuation. I've tried restarting my laptop, turning Bluetooth off and on, disconnecting and reconnecting the Pen, and uninstalling and reinstalling the Chinese language pack. Anyone have ideas on how to fix this? Thanks!

Surface | Accessories | Surface Pen
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  1. Jeric 650 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-06T15:16:36.3133333+00:00

    Hi C,

    Did you already tried to enable shell handwriting in windows Ink settings?

    Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Pen & Windows Ink then expand the Use your Handwriting to enter text and toggle the shell handwriting to ON after that restart your device. Hope this works. Let me know.

    Best,
    Jeric.


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