A user wasn’t able to draw (with a finger) using the pen tool in Notability. Highlighting and erasing were also not working (just seemed to move the note about in Notability).
We worked with the user on the usual troubleshooting steps (kill the app, do the home–power button reset, make sure iOS and Notability are both updated) to no avail.
The solution that ended up working—double-checking the notes were all backed up, and the uninstalling the app… and reinstalling the app.
23 responses to “When you can’t draw, erase, or highlight in Notability on iOS”
Click the pencil icon (where you choose the color and width) and click disconnect Apple Pencil. This solved my problem right before I was going to uninstall! Hopefully this helps someone else in my situation…
Thank you. So glad I saw your comment. Was so frustrated. Totally works with just a click!!!!
Thanks for the tip. Ir worked like a charm.
Thank you, last time I uninstalled, what a pain this time I disconnected the apple pen and it worked! Again, thank you.
Thanks so much many you’re a life saver
Yay! Thank you so much!
Great. It works. Thanks. I don’t have to reinstall
Yes you are right Mr. Nicholas!!
“Click the pencil icon (where you choose the color and width) and click disconnect Apple Pencil.”
It’s working without uninstall the notability app.
Amazingly, in my case, the problem was that the tip of the Apple pencil had become slightly unscrewed. All I had to do was tighten it.
You saved me! Yes. The tip of my pen had become slightly unscrewed. Sheez. Thanks for pointing this issue out. Whew!
The same solution still works
Click the 3 dots at the top right(otherwise known as more)
Click info
Click Disconnect Apple Pen
Thank you so much
This worked perfectly!
thank you so much! I needed it for school and was very frustrated because i could not get notability to work and your comment saved me!
Thank you so much, I had been trying for hours.
Do you loose everything in notability if you uninstall and reinstall?
A user wasn’t able to draw (with a finger) using the pen tool in Notability. Highlighting and erasing were also not working (just seemed to move the note about in Notability).
We are not using an Apple Pen. The problem returns after a day or so. We have uninstalled and reinstalled the Notability App several times. Our student’s iPads are up to date.
So yes I have tried doing the disconnect apple pen even though I do not have a pen and it worked like a charm
I tried disconnecting the pen and didn’t work
Only fresh reinstalling fixed the problem.
Thanks for mentioning it otherwise i wouldn’t have tried it out.
I’m not seeing the disconnect button
Top right corner, hit the 3 dots button.
Then, hit INFO.
At the bottom of the pop up, it says disconnect Apple Pen.
Once you hit, it’ll let you write/draw/highlight/erase with your finger again.
Top right of the selected document, 3 little dots press that, go to info and disconnect the Apple Pencil.
SOLVED: Top right of the selected document, 3 little dots press that, go to info and disconnect the Apple Pencil. You’re welcome.