Dell Active Pen PN556W and PN557W Support Center (2024)

Table of Contents:

1. Compatible Systems
2. Setup
3. Drivers
4. Troubleshooting
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. Informational Video

Compatible Systems

The following systems are compatible with the PN556W or PN557W Dell Active Pen.

• Latitude 5285 2-in-1
• Latitude 5289 2-in-1
• Latitude 5290 2-in-1
• Latitude 5300 2-in-1
• Latitude 5300 2-in-1 Chrome*
• Latitude 5310 2-in-1
• Latitude 5320 2-in-1
• Latitude 5330 2-in-1
• Latitude 5340 2-in-1
• Latitude 7200 2-in-1
• Latitude 7210 2-in-1
• Latitude 7285 2-in-1
• Latitude 7320 2-in-1
• Latitude 7330 2-in-1
• Latitude 7389 2-in-1
• Latitude 7400 2-in-1
• Latitude 7430 2-in-1
• Latitude 9410 2-in-1
• Latitude 9420 2-in-1
• Latitude 9440 2-in-1
• Latitude 9510 2-in-1
  
• XPS 9365 2-in-1
• XPS 9575 2-in-1

* ChromeOS does not support Bluetooth pairing with Dell Active Pens.

Note: Systems compatible with the PN557W are also compatible with the PN556W.

Note: "In the case of a discrepancy with the information listed in this Compatibility section, the "Designed For" Version should be used."

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Setup

Download the PN556W User Guide and follow the instructions to set up your Dell Active Pen.

Download the PN557W User Guide and follow the instructions to set up your Dell Active Pen.

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Drivers

The Active Pen Control Panel for the Dell Active Pen PN556W can be downloaded on the Dell Support Site.

The Active Pen Control Panel for the Dell Active Pen PN557W can be downloaded on the Dell Support Site.

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Troubleshooting

Problem	Possible Causes	Possible Solutions
The system is not compatible.	Device is not supported.	See the list of Compatible Systems.
	Operating System is not supported.	Supported Operating Systems are: Win 8.1, Win 10.
	The AAAA battery is not installed correctly.	Ensure that the AAAA battery is inserted with the positive side facing in.
Cannot pair the pen with a device using Bluetooth.	The system is not compatible.	See the list of Compatible Systems.
	Bluetooth is not enabled on the device.	Turn on Bluetooth on the device.
	Coin cell batteries are not installed correctly.	Ensure that the coin-cell batteries are installed with the correct polarity. See the User Guide for details.
	The coin cell battery holder is loose.	Ensure that the coin-cell battery holder is tightened into the top cover.
	The bluetooth driver on the device is outdated.	Install the latest Bluetooth driver on the device.
The pen writes intermittently, stops writing, or the barrel buttons stop working.	The AAAA battery is out of charge.	Replace the AAAA battery.
	The coin-cell battery holder is loose.	Ensure that the coin-cell battery holder is tightened firmly into the top cap.
The top button stops working.	The pen is not paired correctly with the device.	Remove the pen from the Bluetooth list in the device and pair it again.
	The coin-cell batteries are out of charge.	Replace the coin-cell batteries.
Default functions for the barrel buttons do not work.	Functions have no support by the application.	Test the barrel buttons in OneNote or another application that supports these features.
Pressing the top button twice in succession does not capture a screenshot.	Windows update KB2968599 is not installed on the device.	Install the Windows update KB2968599 from the Microsoft website.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• I installed the Active Control Panel but got an error message: "A supported tablet was not found." What is the issue?
  Your system is not compatible with the pen. See the list of Compatible Systems.
• What is the recommended battery type?
  Alkaline batteries are recommended for these pens. The pens use two 319 coin-cell batteries.
• How do I preserve battery life?
  To preserve battery life, ensure that the tip is not pressed when the pen is not in use. For example: When storing the pen, make sure the pen is secure so that the tip is not accidentally pressed. Pressing the tip is equivalent to writing and this drains the battery.
• Does the pen have a power off option?
  The pen does not have a power off option. If the tip or side buttons have not been pressed for 10 minutes, the pen goes to sleep mode where the power consumption is lower. To switch the pen to active mode again, press the tip or any side button.
• What information is required when contacting Dell Tech Support?
  Before contacting Dell Tech Support, get the following information ready:
  1. Order Number
  2. System Service Tag.
  3. PPID found on the box (PPID starts with CN), or the Date Code found on the pen body.

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Informational Video

Video (English Only) - Dell Active Pen - PN557W (Official Dell Tech Support)

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