Dell Premium Active Pen PN579X
User's Guide
Remarks, Warnings, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information to help you make better use of your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a risk of property damage, personal injury, or death.
Copyright © 2018 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.
2018-04 Rev. A01
Package Contents
The package includes the following items:
- Dell Premium Active Pen
- Cord
- Tip and tip removal tool
- AAAA Battery
- Manuals
NOTE: For warranty purposes, please note the PPID number on the box or keep the box.
Features
Diagram illustrating the pen with numbered parts:
- 1. Tip: Used to move the pointer on a touchscreen for writing, drawing, or selecting objects.
- 2. Lower Barrel Button: Press and hold to erase by moving the tip over the area to be erased. Functionality can be changed via the Active Pen Control Panel.
- 3. Protocol Indicator LED: Indicates the current ink mode.
- Mode Verification: Briefly press the lower and upper barrel buttons.
- Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP) - Blinks twice.
- Wacom Active Electrostatic (AES) - Blinks once.
- Mode Switching: Press and hold both the lower and upper barrel buttons for 2 seconds.
- The indicator shows the current mode: AES (blinks once), MPP (blinks twice).
- 4. Upper Barrel Button: Press to open the context menu or right-click. Functionality can be changed via the Active Pen Control Panel.
- 5. Bluetooth Pairing Indicator LED: Indicates Bluetooth pairing status. A blinking white light means pairing mode is active; a solid white light means pairing is complete.
- 6. Cord Hole: For attaching the cord.
- 7. Upper Button: Can be programmed to launch specific applications. Default actions include:
- Single Press: Ink Workspace
- Double Press: Screen Sketch
- Long Press: Sticky Note
NOTE: The default ink mode is AES.
NOTE: The Dell Premium Active Pen PN579X supports the Wacom Universal Pen Framework (UPF) protocol, allowing it to switch between Microsoft Surface devices (using MPP) and Wacom Active ES (electrostatic) devices (using AES).
NOTE: These gestures are valid only after installing the Active Pen Control Panel application.
NOTE: For system compatibility, consult the system user manual.
In presentation mode, a single press advances to the next slide, and a double press advances to the previous slide.
NOTE: This function is available only after installing the Active Pen Control Panel. See "Installing the Active Pen Control Panel" for instructions.
Configuration
The Dell Premium Active Pen uses one AAAA battery to power the tip, barrel buttons, Bluetooth functionality, and quick launch functions of the upper button.
Battery Installation
CAUTION: Incorrect battery installation can damage the pen.
- Remove the upper cover of the pen.
- Insert the battery into the battery holder, ensuring the positive end of the battery is oriented towards the upper cover.
- Align the flat side of the pen with the flat side of the upper cover and attach the upper cover to the pen.
Cord Attachment
- Insert the cord loop into the hole on the pen's upper cover.
- Thread the cord strap through the loop and pull firmly to secure it in place.
- Attach the other end of the cord to your portable device.
Pairing with a Bluetooth Device
NOTE: The Dell Active Pen PN579X is compatible with select Dell computers and tablets. Refer to www.dell.com for a list of supported devices.
NOTE: If the pen is already listed in your Bluetooth devices, remove it before proceeding with pairing.
- Press and hold the upper button for 3 seconds to activate pairing mode. The Bluetooth pairing indicator LED will begin to blink.
- In Windows Search, type "Bluetooth".
- From the list that appears, select "Bluetooth and other devices settings".
- Ensure Bluetooth is turned On.
- In the device list, select "Dell Active Pen PN579X" and then "Pair".
- Confirm the pairing process on both the pen and the device. The Bluetooth pairing indicator LED will turn solid white for a few seconds to confirm pairing, then turn off. Once paired, the pen and device will connect automatically when Bluetooth is enabled and within range.
NOTE: If the Dell Active Pen PN579X does not appear in the list, ensure pairing mode is active on the pen.
Mode Verification between AES and MPP
Briefly press the lower and upper barrel buttons to indicate the current ink mode:
- AES Mode: LED blinks once.
- MPP Mode: LED blinks twice.
Ink Mode Switching
Press and hold the lower and upper barrel buttons for 2 seconds to switch modes. The indicator will show the active mode:
- LED blinks once - AES mode is active.
- LED blinks twice - MPP mode is active.
Active Pen Control Panel
You can customize buttons, adjust pressure sensitivity, and more using the Active Pen Control Panel.
Installing the Active Pen Control Panel
To install the Active Pen Control Panel:
- Turn on your computer or tablet.
- Go to dell.com/PN579X.
- Click or tap on "Drivers & downloads".
- Select your operating system from the dropdown menu.
- Under "Active Pen Control Panel", click or tap "Download".
- Save the file.
- Once the download is complete, open the file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the Active Pen Control Panel.
NOTE: The Active Pen Control Panel software is available for Windows 10 Creators Update (RS2) and later versions.
Using the Active Pen Control Panel
Top Pen Button (Upper Pen Button):
- Enable "Presentation Mode" to use the button for navigating PowerPoint presentations.
- The Top Pen Button can be disabled or programmed to launch specific applications or functions, such as:
- Single Press/Double Press/Long Press: Ink Workspace (default for Single Press), OneNote, Sketchpad, Screen Sketch (default for Double Press), Sticky Notes (default for Long Press), Open/Run, Keystrokes, Page Up, Page Down, Play/Pause, Next Track, Previous Track, Volume Up, Volume Down, Mute, and Defined by System.
Top Barrel Button (Upper Body Button):
- Can be disabled or programmed for functions like: Barrel Button (default), Radial Menu, Erase, Open/Run, Keystrokes, Cortana, Ink Workspace, Sketchpad, Screen Sketch, Sticky Notes, OneNote, Page Up, Page Down, Go Back, Go Forward, Copy, Paste, Undo, Redo, Switch Application, Wacom Settings, Web Browser, E-mail, Play/Pause, Next Track, Previous Track, Volume Up, Volume Down, Mute.
NOTE: Personalization functions are valid with Windows 10 RS2 (Creators Update) and Windows 10 RS3 (Fall Creators Update).
NOTE: Enable "Hover Click" to activate the selected function of the Top Barrel Button by hovering the pen tip over the screen without touching it.
Bottom Barrel Button (Lower Body Button):
- Can be disabled or programmed for functions like: Barrel Button, Radial Menu, Erase (default), Open/Run, Keystrokes, Cortana, Ink Workspace, Sketchpad, Screen Sketch, Sticky Notes, OneNote, Page Up, Page Down, Go Back, Go Forward, Copy, Paste, Undo, Redo, Switch Application, Wacom Settings, Web Browser, E-mail, Play/Pause, Next Track, Previous Track, Volume Up, Volume Down, Mute.
NOTE: Enable "Hover Click" to activate the selected function of the Bottom Barrel Button by hovering the pen tip over the screen without touching it.
Pen Tip Sensitivity (Stylus Tip Sensitivity): Move the slider to adjust your stylus sensitivity.
Tilt Sensitivity: Move the slider to adjust tilt sensitivity. NOTE: Tilt functionality depends on the application.
NOTE: Click "Go to Windows Pen Control Panel" for more configuration options.
Holding the Dell Premium Active Pen
Hold the Dell Premium Active Pen like you would hold a pencil or pen. Adjust your grip for easy access to the barrel button. Ensure you do not accidentally press the barrel buttons while drawing or positioning the pen.
Tip Replacement
NOTE: Replace the pen tip when its length is reduced to about 1 mm (0.04 inch) or if an edge is sharp.
- Using the provided tip removal tool, remove the pen tip.
- Using the tip removal tool, slide the end of the new tip into the pen body.
- Push the new tip firmly into place.
Troubleshooting
NOTE: The Dell Active Pen PN579X is compatible with select Dell computers and tablets. Refer to www.dell.com for a list of supported devices.
Problem | Possible Causes | Possible Solutions |
---|---|---|
The pen is not functioning. | The battery is installed incorrectly. | Ensure the battery is installed correctly. For more information, see "Battery Installation". |
The pen is not functioning correctly with the computer. | The battery is discharged. | Replace the battery. For more information, see "Battery Installation". |
The pen may be using a mode that is not compatible with the computer. | Switch the ink mode if the computer does not detect the ink cursor when the pen is near the screen. See "Ink Mode Switching". | |
The pen does not write smoothly. | The tip is worn. | Remove the existing tip and replace it with a new tip provided with your active pen. See "Tip Replacement". |
The pen does not write and the barrel buttons do not function. | The battery is installed incorrectly or discharged. | Replace the battery. For more information, see "Battery Installation". |
The default functions of the barrel buttons do not work. | Functions are not supported by the application. | Test the barrel buttons in OneNote or another application that supports these functions. |
Pressing the upper button once, twice, or for 1.5 seconds does not open the desired application. | The desired application is not installed or not supported. | Ensure the desired application is installed and present in the list of available applications in the Active Pen Control Panel. See "Using the Active Pen Control Panel". |
The tilt function does not work. | The pen is not paired with your device. | Ensure the pen is paired with your device. For more information, see "Pairing with a Bluetooth Device". |
Function not supported by the application. | The tilt function depends on the application. Use another application that supports this function. | |
Unable to pair the pen with your device. | Device not supported. | The Dell Premium Active Pen only works with Dell devices. |
The Bluetooth driver on your device is not up to date. | Install the latest Bluetooth driver for your device. | |
The pen indicates "Not Connected" in the list of Bluetooth devices. | The pen is not paired correctly with your device. | Install the latest Bluetooth driver for your device. |
Remove the pen from your Bluetooth list and pair it again. For more information on pairing the pen with your device, see "Pairing with a Bluetooth Device". | ||
The Bluetooth pairing indicator LED does not light up. | The battery may be discharged. | Replace the battery. See "Battery Installation". |
Pressing and holding the upper button or double-pressing the upper button successively does not wake the computer or tablet from connected standby. | Your computer or tablet may not support the connected standby function. | Ensure you are using this function on computers and tablets that support the connected standby function. Search for PN579X on the Dell website for a list of supported devices. |
Specifications
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Model | PN579X |
Length (with tip) | 150 mm (5.91 in) |
Diameter | 9.5 mm (0.37 in) |
Weight | 18 g (0.04 lb) |
Wireless | Bluetooth Smart Low Energy 4.2 |
Detectable Height by Pen Tip | 5 mm to 10 mm (0.2 in to 0.39 in) |
Battery | Non-rechargeable AAAA Battery |
Supported Operating System | Windows 10 |
Supported Features |
|
Getting Help and Contacting Dell
Self-Help Resources
You can get information and help on Dell products and services using these online self-help resources:
- Product and Service Information for Dell: www.dell.com
- Windows 8.1 and Windows 10: Dell Support and Help Application
- Windows 10: Tips Application
- Windows 8.1: Help + Tips Application
Accessing Help in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10: In Windows Search, type "Help and Support" and press Enter.
Online Help for Operating System: www.dell.com/support/windows
Troubleshooting information, user manuals, setup instructions, product specifications, help blogs, drivers, software updates, and more: www.dell.com/support
Contacting Dell
To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service inquiries, see www.dell.com/contactdell.
NOTE: Availability varies by country and product. Some services may not be available in your country.
NOTE: If you do not have an active internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, delivery note, sales contract, or Dell product catalog.
Regulatory Information
Warranty
Limited Warranty and Return Policy: Dell branded products come with a one-year limited hardware warranty. If purchased with a Dell system, it will align with the system's warranty.
For Customers in the United States: Your purchase and use of this product are subject to Dell's end-user agreement, found at www.dell.com/terms. This document contains a binding arbitration clause.
For Customers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa: Dell branded products sold and used are subject to nationally applicable consumer legal rights, the terms of sale contracts you have entered into with resellers (which will apply between you and the reseller), and Dell's end-user agreement terms. Dell may also offer an additional hardware warranty: detailed information on the end-user agreement terms and Dell warranty can be accessed by visiting www.dell.com, selecting your country from the list at the bottom of the "home" page, and then clicking the "general terms" link for end-user terms or the "support" link for warranty terms.
For Customers Outside the United States: Dell branded products sold and used are subject to nationally applicable consumer legal rights, the terms of sale contracts you have entered into with resellers (which will apply between you and the reseller), and Dell's warranty terms. Dell may also offer an additional hardware warranty: detailed information on Dell warranty terms can be accessed by visiting www.dell.com, selecting your country from the list at the bottom of the "home" page, and then clicking the "general terms" link or the "support" link for warranty terms.
Declarations
Declaration of the Federal Communication Commission Concerning Interference
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
- Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.
This transmitter must not be co-located or operated in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
Industry Canada Declaration
This device complies with ISED's license-exempt CNR standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device complies with ISED's applicable license-exempt CNR(s). Operation is permitted under two conditions: (1) the device must not produce harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Declaration Concerning Radiation Exposure
The product complies with Canada's portable RF exposure limits defined for an uncontrolled environment and is safe for intended operation as described in this manual. Further reduction in RF exposure can be obtained if the product can be kept as far as possible from the user's body or if the device is set to a lower output power if such a function is available.
Radiation Exposure Declaration:
The product complies with RF exposure limits for portable RF devices for the United States and Canada established for an uncontrolled environment.
The product is safe for operation as described in this manual. RF exposure can be increased if the device can be kept as far as possible from the user's body or if the device is set to the lowest output power if such a function is available.