Dell Active Pen PN556W Instruction Manual

Introduction

The Dell Active Pen PN556W is a digital stylus designed to provide a natural writing and drawing experience on compatible Dell 2-in-1 tablets. Featuring Wacom technology, it offers high precision, accuracy, and pressure sensitivity, enhancing interaction with Windows 10 programs for various tasks such as note-taking, creating artwork, and navigating applications.

Dell Active Pen PN556W, a sleek gray stylus with a black tip and two side buttons, resting on a white surface.

Image: Dell Active Pen PN556W

Compatibility

This Dell Active Pen PN556W is compatible with the following Dell systems:

XPS 12 (9250)
Venue 10 Pro (5056)
Venue 8 Pro (5855)
Latitude 7275
Latitude 11 (5175)
Latitude 11 (5179)
Inspiron (7568) (FHD Only) - Note: Wake up feature not available
XPS 9365
Latitude 3189

Ensure your device's operating system is Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 for optimal performance.

Setup

1. Battery Installation

The Dell Active Pen uses two types of batteries: one AAAA battery for the main pen functions and coin cell batteries for Bluetooth connectivity and the top button.

AAAA Battery: Unscrew the lower barrel of the pen. Insert one AAAA battery with the positive (+) side facing in. Securely reattach the barrel.
Coin Cell Batteries: Unscrew the top cap of the pen. Insert the coin cell batteries with the correct polarity. Ensure the coin cell battery holder is tightened firmly into the top cap. Refer to the user guide for specific details on coin cell battery placement.

2. Bluetooth Pairing

To enable full functionality, pair the Dell Active Pen with your compatible device via Bluetooth.

Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your Dell device.
On your device, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices.
Select Add Bluetooth or other device and choose Bluetooth.
The Dell Active Pen should appear in the list of discoverable devices. Select it to complete the pairing process.

Operating the Dell Active Pen

The Dell Active Pen is designed for intuitive interaction with your touch-enabled Dell device.

Basic Functions

Writing and Drawing: Use the pen tip directly on the screen for natural writing, sketching, and drawing. The pen supports 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity for varied line thickness and shading.
Palm Rejection: Rest your hand comfortably on the tablet screen while writing or drawing without interfering with the pen's input.
Side Buttons: The pen features two customizable side buttons. Default functions may include right-click and erase. These functions can often be customized within your device's settings or specific applications.
Top Button: The top button can be used for quick actions, such as launching OneNote or capturing screenshots, depending on your device's configuration and installed updates.

Advanced Features

Quick Launch: Configure the top button for quick access to applications like OneNote, even from a locked screen.
Customizable Features: Utilize Wacom Feel drivers for advanced customization of button functions, if desired.

Video: Demonstrates the Dell Active Pen PN556W in use for writing, drawing, and interacting with various applications on a Dell tablet.

Maintenance

Battery Replacement

Regularly check and replace batteries as needed to ensure continuous functionality.

AAAA Battery: Replace when the pen's main writing function becomes intermittent or stops working.
Coin Cell Batteries: Replace if Bluetooth pairing issues occur or if the top button stops responding.

Cleaning

Wipe the pen with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that could damage the pen's surface or tip.

Troubleshooting

This section provides solutions for common issues encountered with the Dell Active Pen PN556W.

Image: Troubleshooting guide for the Dell Active Pen.

Problem	Possible Causes	Possible Solutions
System is not compatible.	Device is not supported.	Refer to the list of Compatible Systems.
	Operating System is not supported.	Supported Operating Systems are: Windows 8.1, Windows 10.
	The AAAA battery is not installed correctly.	Ensure the AAAA battery is inserted with the positive side facing in.
	System is not compatible.	Refer to the list of Compatible Systems.
Cannot pair pen with device via Bluetooth.	Bluetooth is not enabled on the device.	Turn on Bluetooth on the device.
	Coin cell batteries are not installed correctly.	Ensure the coin cell batteries are installed with the correct polarity. Refer to the User Guide for details.
	Coin cell batteries holder is loose.	Ensure the coin cell batteries holder is tightened into the top cover.
	Bluetooth driver on the device is outdated.	Install the latest Bluetooth driver on the device.
Pen writes intermittently / stops writing or barrel buttons stop working.	The AAAA battery is out of charge.	Replace the AAAA battery.
	The coin cells battery holder is loose.	Ensure the coin cells battery holder is tightened firmly into the top cap.
Top button stops working.	Pen is not paired correctly with the device.	Remove the pen from the Bluetooth list in the device and pair it again.
Top button stops working.	The coin cell batteries are out of charge.	Replace the coin cell batteries.
Default functions for the barrel buttons do not work.	Functions not supported by 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.

Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	Dell
Model Number	PN556W (Series: 4901157)
Item Weight	0.353 ounces (10 Grams)
Product Dimensions (LxWxH)	7.28 x 0.51 x 2.24 inches
Color	Black
Material	Aluminum
Batteries Required	Yes (1 AAAA battery included, Coin cell batteries also required)
Compatible Devices	Tablet (Specific Dell models listed in Compatibility section)
Pressure Sensitivity	2048 levels
Technology	Wacom

Warranty and Support

For warranty information, technical support, or service inquiries regarding your Dell Active Pen PN556W, please refer to the official Dell support website or contact Dell customer service directly. Ensure you have your product model number (PN556W) and any relevant purchase details available when seeking support.

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Dell PN556W