Connect S Pen error displays on Galaxy phone or tablet

• In order for Air actions or Remote features to work, the S Pen needs to be within 30 feet of your phone or tablet with nothing in between.
  
  
• If you are far from the phone or tablet and you try to use Air actions (such as opening the Camera with the S Pen), there will be a lag between the button click and the command.
  
  
• If the S Pen is farther than 30 feet away, the connection will be lost. You will need to reconnect the S Pen by inserting it back into the phone or attaching it to the tablet.
  
  
• If the S Pen and device are too far away from each other and disconnect, they will automatically reconnect if they become close again within five minutes.

Remove and reinsert the S Pen into the phone or reattach it to the back of the tablet to see if it connects to the device.

This step only applies if your device has an integrated S Pen.

Charging your S Pen will be different depending on what kind of device and S Pen you're using:
 

• Phones with an integrated S Pen: Insert the S Pen into your phone to begin charging it.
  
  
• Tablets with an S Pen: Attach the S Pen to the designated charging spot on the back of the tablet. On the Tab S6, the S Pen's tip should face away from the camera. On the Tab S7 and S8, the S Pen's tip should face towards the camera. On the Tab S9, either direction will charge it.
  
  
• Devices with an S Pen Pro: Use a USB-C cable to charge the S Pen whenever its battery is low.

Make sure Airplane mode is not enabled. You can use Power saving mode with the S Pen as long as the Limit apps and Home screen setting is not turned on. These features automatically disconnect the S Pen's wireless functionality.

In order to communicate with your S Pen, the Air command app must have the permissions for Nearby devices and Physical activity enabled.
 

1. Open Settings, then tap Apps, and then tap the filter icon (the three horizontal lines) next to Your apps.
2. Tap the switch next to Show system apps to turn it on, and then tap OK.
3. Tap Air command, then tap Permissions, and then tap the necessary permissions listed, such as Nearby devices and Physical activity.
4. Make sure the permissions are set to Allow.

If the back of your Galaxy phone or tablet comes into contact with a magnet, the S Pen may not be recognized.

Cases made by Samsung may contain magnets, but they have been specifically designed to fit your phone or tablet without interfering with any function, including the S Pen. Verify that your case, or other accessories, are not magnetic.

If any of them are magnetic, remove that accessory and then try reinserting the S Pen.

If the error still appears, you can try resetting it. Please be aware that if you customized any of the remote features or other settings, resetting the S Pen will return them to their defaults.

If you're using a phone, insert the S Pen into your phone until it clicks into place. If you're using a tablet, attach the S Pen to its designated spot.

From Settings, tap Advanced features, and then tap S Pen. Tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Reset S Pen. Your S Pen will now be reset and you can begin using it again.

If you have another device that uses an S Pen, try using the S Pen from that device, and vice versa. Most S Pens' touch, hover, and button functionality are compatible with other devices. Or, you can try one of the additional S Pens we offer on our website.

Or, try using your original S Pen with another compatible device.