Pair and charge the S Pen with your Galaxy tablet

One of the things that sets Samsung’s latest tablets apart from others is the S Pen! This handy accessory lets you draw, write, and perform air actions on your tablet. The S Pen does require charging and pairing before it can be used to its full potential, but don’t worry because the process is simple. The S Pen is compatible with the Galaxy Tab S6, Tab S7, Tab S8, Tab S9, and Tab S10.
Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra with S Pen charging on top of the tablet on a guy's lap
Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra with S Pen charging on top of the tablet on a guy's lap

Pair and charge the S Pen with your Galaxy tablet

Pair and connect the S Pen

Just like the S Pen that comes with Galaxy Note phones, your tablet's S Pen constantly emits a Bluetooth signal at a very low power. In other words, you don’t need to worry about turning Bluetooth on and off because the S Pen’s signal will always be present and ready to connect.

S Pen Holder

When you want to pair the S Pen to your tablet, just place it in the designated spot on the back of the tablet. The S Pen will pair instantly; that’s all you have to do.

If you're using the Tab S6, make sure the pen’s point is facing downward with the tip facing away from the cameras. On the Tab S7 and Tab S8, the pen's point must be facing upward with the tip facing toward the cameras. With a Tab S9 or S10, it'll work pointing either way.

With a Tab S8, Tab S9, or Tab S10, you’ll also be able to pair the S Pen Pro and use additional features as well!

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Charge the S Pen and check its battery level

The spot on the back of your tablet isn’t just for pairing the S Pen; it’s also for charging it! Whenever you put the pen on the spot, it automatically charges the S Pen.

S Pen battery status on Galaxy S8 Ultra with S Pen on the side

When it needs a charge, place the S Pen in the designated spot on the back of the tablet. It will begin charging right away. If you're using the Tab S6, make sure the pen’s point is facing downward with the tip facing away from the cameras. On the Tab S7 and Tab S8, the pen's point must be facing upward with the tip facing toward the cameras. With a Tab S9 or S10, it'll work pointing either way.

To check the current battery level for the S Pen, unlock the tablet’s lock screen and simply press the Pen button on the side of the S Pen while the pen is attached to the charging spot.

To check the battery level when the S Pen isn’t attached, open the Air command menu by tapping the floating icon, or pressing the Pen button on the S Pen. The battery percentage will appear at the top of the screen. You can also tap the Settings icon in the Air command menu. The battery level will also display here.

Note
The battery percentage may not appear if the S Pen is not connected to the tablet via Bluetooth.
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The S Pen is not pairing or charging

If your S Pen won’t connect to your tablet or if it doesn’t seem to be charging, resetting the S Pen is a quick fix. To reset it, open Settings, then tap Advanced features, and then tap S Pen. Tap More options (the three vertical dots), then tap Reset S Pen, and wait for the S Pen to reset itself.

Reset S Pen highlighted on a Galaxy tablet

Please be aware that resetting your S Pen will revert all of its features, including remote commands, to their default settings.

If your S Pen still will not connect or charge, please see our guide about the "Connect S Pen" error.

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