Wacom Intuos S Not Working on Windows 11? 5 Driver and Configuration Fixes That Restore Pen Functionality

When a Wacom Intuos S suddenly stops responding on Windows 11, it can interrupt your entire creative workflow. Whether the pen fails to register pressure, the cursor refuses to move, or the tablet is not recognized at all, these issues are usually tied to driver conflicts or system configuration problems. Windows 11 introduced several security and update changes that can affect how external devices communicate with the system, and pen tablets are no exception. Fortunately, most problems can be resolved with targeted troubleshooting.

TL;DR: If your Wacom Intuos S is not working on Windows 11, the issue is most likely driver-related or caused by Windows services or permissions blocking the tablet. Reinstalling the driver, restarting Wacom services, disabling Windows Ink conflicts, checking USB power settings, and verifying privacy permissions typically restore functionality. Follow the steps below carefully and in order for best results. In most cases, full pen control can be recovered within 30 minutes.

1. Fully Remove and Reinstall the Wacom Driver

The most common cause of tablet malfunction on Windows 11 is a corrupted or outdated driver. Standard updates sometimes overwrite Wacom components or create file conflicts. A clean reinstall is often the fastest fix.

Do not simply install a new driver over the old one. A complete removal is necessary to eliminate residual registry entries and hidden files.

Step-by-step clean removal:

• Disconnect the Wacom tablet from your computer.
• Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
• Uninstall all Wacom-related software.
• Restart your computer.
• Open Device Manager and remove any remaining Wacom devices under Human Interface Devices.
• Restart again.

Next, download the latest Windows 11-compatible driver directly from the official Wacom support page. Make sure you select the correct Intuos S model version. Install the driver as administrator and restart your computer once installation is complete.

After reconnecting the tablet, check whether pen movement, pressure sensitivity, and shortcut buttons are working as expected. In most cases, this resolves functionality immediately.

2. Restart and Verify Wacom Professional Services

Wacom tablets rely on background services to interpret pen input. If these services fail to start during boot, the tablet will appear unresponsive even if the driver is installed correctly.

Windows 11 updates occasionally disable or delay startup services, preventing them from launching automatically.

To check Wacom services:

• Press Win + R.
• Type services.msc and press Enter.
• Locate Wacom Professional Service or similar Wacom entries.
• Right-click and select Restart.
• Ensure Startup Type is set to Automatic.

If the service fails to start, this can indicate deeper driver corruption, in which case returning to Fix #1 is recommended.

After restarting the service, test the pen again. If functionality returns temporarily but fails after reboot, verify that Startup Type remains set to Automatic and that no security software is preventing startup.

3. Disable Conflicts Between Windows Ink and Application Settings

Windows Ink improves stylus interaction within Windows, but it sometimes conflicts with graphic design software or Wacom settings. Symptoms include:

• Pressure sensitivity not working.
• Pen input lag.
• Cursor offset from pen tip.
• Double clicking instead of drawing.

To troubleshoot, open Wacom Tablet Properties and locate your application-specific settings. Some programs such as Photoshop may require Windows Ink enabled, while others function better with it disabled.

You can test both configurations:

• Open Wacom Tablet Properties.
• Select your pen.
• Go to the Mapping or Application tab.
• Toggle Use Windows Ink.
• Restart the design application.

Additionally, check Windows settings:

• Go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Pen & Windows Ink.
• Disable any experimental or additional handwriting options if conflicts arise.

Advanced users may edit a program-specific configuration file to disable Windows Ink dependencies, but this should only be done if basic toggling fails.

4. Adjust USB Power Management Settings

Windows 11 aggressively manages USB power usage to conserve energy, particularly on laptops. This can cause intermittent tablet disconnections, random pen loss, or complete device failure after periods of inactivity.

If your tablet works briefly and then stops responding, USB power management is a likely suspect.

To disable USB power saving:

• Open Device Manager.
• Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
• Right-click each USB Root Hub.
• Select Properties.
• Open the Power Management tab.
• Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Repeat for all USB Root Hub entries.

Next, adjust Power Plan settings:

• Open Control Panel > Power Options.
• Select your active power plan.
• Click Change advanced power settings.
• Expand USB settings.
• Disable USB selective suspend setting.

After applying these changes, restart your computer and reconnect the tablet directly to a rear motherboard USB port if possible. Avoid USB hubs during troubleshooting.

5. Check Windows 11 Privacy and Input Permissions

Windows 11 introduces expanded privacy controls that can silently block input devices. If permissions are misconfigured, creative software may not receive pen signals at all.

Verify the following settings:

• Open Settings > Privacy & Security.
• Select Input and ensure access is enabled.
• Check App permissions for your drawing software.
• Confirm that your applications are allowed to access input devices.

If the tablet works in one program but not another, permissions are often the underlying cause. In corporate or restricted environments, group policies may also block device input — in such cases, administrative access is required.

Additional Troubleshooting Measures

If the five primary fixes do not restore full functionality, consider these secondary checks:

• Test the tablet on another computer to rule out hardware failure.
• Replace the USB cable with a high-quality data cable.
• Reset Wacom preferences through the Wacom Desktop Center.
• Create a new Windows user profile to eliminate profile corruption.
• Check Windows Update history for recent system patches that may have introduced incompatibilities.

Hardware failure is rare with the Intuos S, but cables and USB ports are common physical failure points.

When to Contact Wacom Support

If your tablet is not detected in Device Manager at all, or if driver installation repeatedly fails with error messages, it may indicate deeper system conflicts. Capture:

• Exact driver version installed.
• Windows 11 build number.
• Any error codes displayed during installation.

Providing this information will speed up support resolution. In many cases, Wacom provides region-specific driver builds optimized for certain Windows versions.

Preventing Future Driver Issues

Once your tablet is functioning again, take steps to prevent recurrence:

• Pause automatic driver updates in Windows Update advanced settings.
• Avoid third-party driver updater software.
• Create a restore point after confirming stable performance.
• Download and archive the working driver version locally.

Creative professionals depend on reliability. A stable configuration is often more important than installing every new update immediately.

Conclusion

When a Wacom Intuos S stops working on Windows 11, the cause is typically rooted in driver corruption, disabled services, USB power management, Windows Ink conflicts, or privacy restrictions. By methodically applying the five fixes outlined above, most users can fully restore pen movement, pressure sensitivity, and shortcut functionality without replacing hardware. The key is careful, clean driver handling and awareness of Windows 11’s background security and power features.

With the correct configuration restored, the Intuos S remains a dependable and precise input device capable of professional-level performance. Taking time to secure driver stability and system compatibility ensures uninterrupted creative work moving forward.