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To change what a pen’s shortcut button does in Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Pen & Windows Ink. Windows lets you assign an action to tapping, double-tapping, or holding a supported pen’s shortcut button. If you want a Surface Pen to right-click, you don’t need to change any setting: press and hold the side button, then tap the item.
The choices you see depend on your pen and PC, and not every pen button is controlled from the same place. The sections below separate the three controls people usually mean by “pen button” so you can find the one you need.
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Three pen buttons, three different controls
Before changing anything, identify which button you are working with. Each one is configured differently.
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| Control | Typical physical location | How it is configured or used |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Pen side button | Side of the pen | Used for right-click by pressing and holding it, then tapping the item. Microsoft’s Windows shortcut-button page does not state whether this button can be remapped. |
| Windows shortcut button | Often the top or tail of the pen; placement varies by model | Set in Settings for tap, double-tap, and hold actions on supported pens. |
| Lenovo barrel button | Pen barrel | Customized in Lenovo Pen Settings or Wacom Pen App for the Lenovo pens Lenovo covers. Not stated as configurable in Windows settings. |
Change the shortcut button action in Windows 11
Use this path for a supported pen’s shortcut button.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Stylus Pen for Microsoft Surface Pro12/11/10/9/8/X/7+/6/5/4/3, Surface Go 4/3/2/1, Surface Laptop1-5/Studio/Book 3/2/1 with Eraser Side Button,Palm Rejection,Tilt Function,1024 Pressure
- ❤【Fast Charge &Smart Standby】Enjoying Milikilo's leading Type-C fast charge and longer battery life, Stylus F97 only takes 40 minutes to fully charge for 80 hours of battery life.Automatically turn in "Sleep Mode" if idle for 10 minutes to save power.Perfect for students, business professionals, and creators who take notes and draw frequently.
- ❤【eraser and right-click functions&2 replaceable pen tip】Fine control with 1024 pressure points. Milikilo Surface Pen has a CNC and gold-plated nib that provides a smooth, crisp line . The Surface Pen comes with eraser and right-click functions, the lower key is the eraser, and the upper key is the right mouse button.which helps you to improve your work efficiency.Easy to Replace Tip:2 extra nibs for easy replacement at any time.
- ❤【Palm Rejection & Magnetic Design】F97 surface pen with palm rejection，allowing you to comfortably rest your hand on the screen while creating. The magnetic design enables the surface pen to be securely attached to the tablet, making it more convenient to store and locate while in use.
- ❤【Tilt Function&Premium Feel】 F97 surface pen has a tilt and thickness feature that enables the line to become thicker as the pen is tilted at a larger angle. This is especially useful for creating precise outlines and shading, making it ideal for drawing purposes. Note: Tilt sensitivity compatibility depends on the application and pen brush.Differ from the old-fashioned styluses，F97 surface pen aluminum-alloy seamless body with a flat surface on both sides makes it more comfortable to grip and more likely to stay put on the desk.
- ❤【Wide Compatibility】Milikilo Surface Pen is a Microsoft MPP-certified partner, available for Microsoft MPP protocol devices . [Surface Model List]Surface Pro 12, Surface Pro 11th Edition,Surface Pro 10,Surface Pro 9, Surface Pro 8, Surface Pro 7+/7, Surface Pro 6, Surface Pro 5, Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro 3, Surface Duo/ Duo 2, Surface Pro X, Surface Go/Go 2/Go 3, Surface Book/Book 2/Book 3, Surface Studio 1st Gen, Surface Studio 2, Surface Studio 2+, Surface Laptop 1/Laptop 2/Laptop 3/Laptop 4/Laptop 5, Surface Laptop Studio.⭕❌NOT COMPATIBLE WITH:Surface Laptop Go/Laptop Go 2/ Laptop Go3/Laptop SE/ Surface Hub 2s/Surface Laptop 6/Surface Laptop 7;
- Select Start, then select Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Pen & Windows Ink.
- Find the shortcut-button controls. Windows sets behavior separately for a tap, a double-tap, and a hold, so choose the gesture you want to change.
- Select the action you want from the list shown for your pen. The list is not the same for every pen, and Microsoft does not publish one universal set of actions. If the action you want is missing, it is not offered for that device.
- Try the gesture in the app where you want it to work. Some pen actions vary by app or Windows feature, so behavior in one app does not guarantee the same result in another.
Right-click with a Surface Pen
Microsoft Support gives the Surface Pen right-click instruction as: “Press and hold the side button, then tap on the item.” This is a gesture, not a Windows setting, so there is nothing to configure. Hold the side button, keep it held, and tap the object you want to right-click. Source: Microsoft Support, “How to use your Surface Pen.”
The side-button gesture is separate from the top button’s shortcut actions. If you want the top button to do something different from a right-click, change it in the Pen & Windows Ink settings described above.
Rank #2
Metapen Stylus Pen M2 for Surface (Premium, 4096 Finest Control, Eraser End) - Compatible with Surface Pro 7//8/9/X//10/11/Book 3/Laptop 4/Studio 2, ASUS VivoBook Flip 14, for Creators,Students,Doers
- 【Fast Charge & Longer Standby, No Panic】Enjoy Metapen’s leading USB-C fast charging and extended battery life. The M2 takes only 1 hour to fully charge, providing up to 100 hours of use. Charge 5 mins = work 24+ hours of standby time, outperforming most brands on Amazon. Perfect for creators, business professionals, and students who need to take notes or draw frequently
- 【4096 Finest Control & Tail Eraser】With 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the Metapen Stylus M2 is ideal for artists, photographers, and designers. Accurately draw, write, or annotate in any supported app. The eraser on the tail end quickly removes mistakes, allowing you to edit with ease — just like using a traditional graphite pencil. Windows Ink lets you create sticky notes, capture ideas instantly, and even take and edit screenshots with a single click
- 【Powerful Magnetic Attachment, Never Lose Again】The Metapen M2 firmly attaches to your Microsoft Surface tablets with two stronger built-in magnets, so it’s always ready when inspiration strikes. [Supported Magnetic Attachment Models] Surface Pro 3–Pro 11, Surface Book / Book 2 / Book 3, Surface 3, Surface Go / Go 2 / Go 3, Kobo Libra Colour, Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Elipsa 2E
- 【Advanced Cone-Shaped Tip & Premium Feel】Unlike old-fashioned styluses with tubular tips, the Metapen M2 features a cone-shaped tip for stronger signal detection and a streamlined design. The aluminum-alloy body with a rounded-square shape offers a comfortable grip and prevents it from rolling on your desk
- 【Tilt Function & Palm Rejection】The Metapen M2 accurately reproduces both the finest lines and the broadest brush strokes. Tilt the tip up to ±55° to add artistic shading to your drawings. With palm rejection technology, you can rest your hand naturally on the screen without fatigue or accidental touches — and enjoy smooth, uninterrupted writing or drawing
Barrel buttons that Windows does not configure
Some pens have a barrel button that does not appear in the Windows shortcut-button controls. Lenovo’s pen guide says its covered barrel-button functions are customized with Lenovo Pen Settings or Wacom Pen App, and it treats the top button as a separate shortcut setting.
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Keep two limits in mind. The guide covers particular Lenovo pens, not all pens on all PCs. It also includes references to Windows 10, so treat it as evidence of how that manufacturer configures its own hardware rather than as a general Windows 11 procedure.
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Rank #3
Stylus Pen for HP Omnibook/Envy/Spectre/Pavilion x360, 1024 Pressure
- 【Works with HP, ASUS, Dell & Microsoft】 AZX digital pen is precision-engineered for HP Omnibook pen compatibility (Omnibook/Envy/Spectre/Pavilion x360), plus ASUS, Dell, Microsoft Surface, and Kobo. No Bluetooth, no drivers – just insert AAAA battery and write instantly. Search your model number or see our compatibility list. We’ve done the matching for you.
- 【1024 Pressure Sensitivity – Write Like Real Pen】 From hair-thin lines to bold strokes, this hp omnibook x stylus pen (active stylus) captures every tiny change in your touch. Artists get precision. Students get smooth note‑taking. Everyone gets a natural, lag‑free writing experience. Just like pen on paper.
- 【Smart Palm Rejection – Write Naturally, No Accidental Marks】 Stop hovering your hand like a drone. Our palm rejection technology on the hp omnibook x flip stylus pen lets you rest comfortably on the display while writing or drawing. No smudges, no interruptions. Ideal for long study sessions, photo editing, or signing documents.
- 【2500H Battery Life – 2 Years. One Battery. Zero Worry.】One AAAA battery delivers 2500 hours of continuous use with the hp stylus pen for omnibook and 300 days on standby. No charging cables. No hunting for outlets. No “low battery” panic in the middle of a lecture. From exam marathons to cross-country flights, this stylus keeps you going without battery anxiety. Just write.
- 【Instant Shortcut Buttons – Erase & Right-Click in One Tap】 Two built-in buttons, two time-saving shortcuts on the hp omnibook stylus pen. Upper button = right-click. Lower button = eraser. Delete mistakes instantly. Open context menus without tapping around. Switch between editing, highlighting, or even gaming – all without lifting the pen. Work faster. Create smoother.
If the button does nothing
- The Windows setting is missing. Shortcut-button controls only appear for supported pens. Confirm your pen model, then check the manufacturer’s documentation for that model.
- The action you want is not listed. The available actions depend on the pen and PC. Choose the closest supported action, or use the manufacturer’s software if it offers more options.
- A Surface Pen top button does nothing. Microsoft states that top-button use requires the pen to be paired. Check pairing first. This requirement is stated for Surface pens, so do not assume it applies to every other pen, including pens that do not use Bluetooth.
- The barrel button is not in Windows. Open the manufacturer’s pen software, such as Lenovo Pen Settings or Wacom Pen App where the guide says it applies to your pen.
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