Why is my drawing tablet not working in Photoshop?
Driver and Windows Ink Issues
First, make sure your tablet driver is installed and up to date. On Windows, a frequent culprit is Windows Ink: some tablets need it enabled, others need it disabled. In your driver settings, look for a 'Windows Ink' option and toggle it. Then restart Photoshop.
If pressure still doesn't work, go to Photoshop's Edit > Preferences > Performance and ensure 'Use Graphics Processor' is checked. Also check Edit > Preferences > Tools and make sure 'Use Pressure for Opacity' and 'Use Pressure for Size' are on.
Photoshop-Specific Fixes
Sometimes Photoshop's preferences get corrupted. Reset them by holding Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows) or Cmd+Option+Shift (Mac) while launching Photoshop. You can also try unplugging the tablet, closing Photoshop, then plugging it back in and reopening.
If you're using a screen tablet, check that the USB cable is fully seated and try a different port. For wireless tablets, ensure the battery is charged and the receiver is connected. Finally, test the tablet in another app (like Krita) to isolate whether the issue is Photoshop or the tablet itself.
- Update tablet driver.
- Toggle Windows Ink in driver settings.
- Enable pressure in Photoshop preferences.
- Reset Photoshop preferences.
- Test in another app to isolate the problem.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the tablet is broken when it's a driver conflict.
- Not restarting Photoshop after changing driver settings.
- Ignoring Photoshop's own pressure settings—they can override the driver.
