How to Manage the Display of Additional Keys Pressed When Using a Pen in Windows 11

When working with a stylus on a Windows computer, users have the option to display additional keys pressed when using the pen or not, according to their own needs and preferences.

Enabling this feature can make things accessible for some users. Having a visual confirmation of what key they’re pressing can make their experience, while others may find this distracting and would prefer to have the feature disabled.

4 methods to manage pen additional keys display settings

The Settings menu provides users with a graphical interface to make managing this feature easier. More advanced users or IT administrators can enable or disable this setting through the Registry Editor.

People working in enterprise environments. They can deploy a Windows PowerShell script or run a .reg file using your preferred endpoint management tool.

📌 Prerequisites:

• This guide applies to all Windows 11 computers.
• Knowledge of how to use the Registry Editor or PowerShell is ideal, especially in enterprise scenarios

📌 Recommended deployment strategies:

Method 1: Configure via Settings

📌 Use Case: This method is ideal for individual users who prefer a user-friendly graphical interface.

📌 Prerequisite: Your pen input device needs to be connected to the computer for this method. If it’s not, you won’t have access to the necessary settings.

1. Open the Start Menu > Settings.
2. Navigate to Bluetooth & devices > Pen & Windows Ink.
3. Click Additional pen settings to open the dropdown options.
4. Tick or untick the box next to Display additional keys pressed when using my pen, according to your needs. Checking the box will show when you press the following keys:
   • Shift
   • Ctrl
   • Alt
   • Win

Unchecking the box will stop this behavior.

5. You can now close Settings. The changes will apply immediately.

Method 2: Modify via Registry Editor

📌 Use Case: This method is for advanced users or IT administrators working in managed environments.

📌 Prerequisite: You’re going to need administrator access for this method. To check if you have the necessary permissions, open the Start Menu > Settings > Accounts. The word “Administrator” should be printed under the username.

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Registry Editor to open the program.
2. Navigate to this address: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Pen
3. Locate the PenKeySuppress value and double-click it. If you can’t find it, follow these steps to create it:
   1. Right-click Pen > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   2. Name it PenKeySuppress.
4. Change the value to 1 to show additional keys when pressed. To disable the feature, change the value to 0.
5. Click OK.
6. You can now close the Registry Editor. Restart the computer to apply the changes.

Method 3: Modify via Windows PowerShell

📌 Use Case: This method is ideal for enterprise environments. You can deploy the script to all your managed devices using a remote PowerShell tool.

📌 Prerequisite: You’re going to need administrator access for this method. To check if you have the necessary permissions, open the Start Menu > Settings > Accounts. The word “Administrator” should be printed under the username.

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Windows PowerShell.
2. Right-click Windows PowerShell > Run as administrator.
3. Type and press Enter this to enable the feature:

Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Pen” -Name “PenKeySuppress” -Value 1 -Type DWord

To disable, type this and press Enter:

Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Pen” -Name “PenKeySuppress” -Value 0 -Type DWord

4. You can now close Windows PowerShell. Restart the computer to apply the changes.

Method 4: Create a .reg file

📌 Use Case: This method can be used in enterprise environments. You can run the .reg file using your preferred endpoint management tool.

📌 Prerequisite: You’re going to need administrator access for this method. To check if you have the necessary permissions, open the Start Menu > Settings > Accounts. The word “Administrator” should be printed under the username.

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Notepad to open the program.
2. Type this to enable the feature:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Pen]

"PenKeySuppress"=dword:00000001

To disable, type this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Pen]

"PenKeySuppress"=dword:00000000

3. Click File > Save as.
4. Name it AdditionalKeys_Display.reg.
5. Click the dropdown next to Save as type > All files.
6. Click Save. You can now close Notepad.
7. Navigate to where you saved the .reg file and double-click it. This will run the file and automatically edit the Windows Registry.
8. Restart the computer to apply the changes.

⚠️ Things to look out for

Additional considerations when managing the ‘Display additional keys pressed when using my pen’ feature

• Enabling this feature can give users visual confirmation of the modifier key they’re pressing as they work. This can be beneficial, especially for accessibility purposes.
• Disabling this feature can enhance the user experience by reducing visual distractions while they’re working.

What is Windows pen and ink?

Windows Ink allows you to use a tablet pen on your Windows computer if your hardware supports it. You can adjust the settings, sensitivity, and features according to your needs and preferences. This feature is especially useful for digital artists, architects, or users who require finer and more precise computer controls.

Improve accessibility by displaying additional keys pressed when using a pen in Windows 11

Individual users can display additional keys pressed while using their pen in Windows 11 through the Settings menu or the Registry Editor. In enterprise environments, they can take advantage of PowerShell deployment scripts or by running a .reg file.

Enabling this feature can improve accessibility and give them visual clarity while they’re working. On the other hand, some users may prefer to keep it disabled since they might find the visual indicators distracting. It all depends on user preferences. IT administrators can help manage this feature for their managed devices and ensure that the laptops they’re in charge of comply with their organization’s policies.

Related topics:

• How to Improve Inking and Typing Recognition in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Press and Hold for Right-clicking in Windows 11
• How to Adjust the Pen Press and Hold Speed and Duration in Windows 11
• How to Enable or Disable Right-clicking on the Surface Pen Button in Windows 11