Procreate has a palm rejection feature to help artist draw on their iPads. This feature prevents unwanted lines and strokes from appearing if your hand or finger accidentally touches the screen.
I found myself having to undo unwanted strokes on the canvas repeatedly. Only after doing some tests did I realize that the palm rejection feature wasn’t working on my iPad Pro.
After researching this matter, I finally found the solution. In this article, you’ll learn various methods to address the palm rejection issues on your iPad.
Table of Contents
Why Palm Rejection is Not Working in Procreate
Here are potential reasons why Palm Rejection is glitching in Procreate:
- Zoom interferes with Palm Rejection: The palm rejection feature of Apple Pencil might conflict with the iPad’s zoom functionality when you’re drawing in Procreate.
- Incompatible Stylus: Not all styluses support palm rejection with every device. This is why we only recommend Apple Pencil to our readers.
- Outdated Software: An outdated version of Procreate or iPadOS can cause glitches.
- Incorrect Procreate Settings: Incorrect Gesture Settings in Procreate can affect touch input.
- Interference from Other Apps: Apps like Scribble might conflict with Procreate’s palm rejection.
- Technical Glitches: Depending on your iPad’s RAM, things like having too many layers in an artwork can cause issues.
- Hardware Issues: Faulty touch sensors might not differentiate between stylus and palm.
- Physical Damage: Scratches or minor damage to your screen can interfere with accurate touch recognition.
Things to Check:
- You’re running the latest iPadOS version.
- Your Apple Pencil is fully charged.
- Confirm that you’re on the latest version of Procreate.
- Examine the tip of your pencil for any wear or damage.
- Your iPad is free from smudge and dust.
If all these seem in order, then follow these solutions to fix the issue
How to Fix Palm Rejection Not Working in Procreate
Solution 1: Restart Your iPad
Restarting your iPad can clear glitches that might be causing issues with palm rejection.
A restart can help your iPad process recent updates, clear temporary data, and enhance your device’s performance.
To restart, Open Settings> General > Shutdown.
Solution 2: Update Procreate
Developers frequently release updates to address known bugs or glitches. Keeping Procreate updated might solve your problem.
To update Procreate to the latest version:
Step 1: Open the App Store
Step 2: In the search bar, type “Procreate“
Step 3: Open the Procreate page and tap the update button
Step 4: Wait until Procreate finishes updating, then restart your iPad
Besides updating Procreate, there are many ways to fix lag and improve Procreate’s performance by changing the settings.
Solution 3: Disable Painting with Finger
The “Painting with Finger” feature on the iPad allows finger touches to use the selection tool. This feature is enabled by default and can lead to unintentional lines and strokes.
If you disable Painting with finger, you can’t draw on your iPad in Procreate without your Apple Pencil.
To turn off Painting with finger, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Procreate
Step 2: Tap the Wrench icon
Step 3: Open Prefs > Gesture Controls
Step 4: Tap the General menu
Step 5: Toggle Off the Enable Painting with finger option
Step 6: Tap Done to save the change
Solution 4: Re-pairing Apple Pencil
Step 1: Remove your Apple Pencil from your iPad.
Step 2: Open Settings > Bluetooth.
Step 3: Click the information icon next to the Apple Pencil section under My Devices.
Step 4: Tap Forget this Device.
Step 5: Reconnect your Apple Pencil and tap the Pair option when it appears.
For more information, check out: How to Fix Apple Pencil not working in Procreate
Solution 5: Disconnect from your Bluetooth Keyboard
Some users report issues with palm rejection when drawing on an iPad connected to a Bluetooth keyboard.
This could be due to an uneven surface or a rare software glitch. Disconnect your Bluetooth keyboard and see if the issue disappears.
Solution 6: Turn off Zoom and Follow Focus in Accessibility Setting
Turning off certain accessibility features may help:
Step 1: Open iPad settings.
Step 2: Navigate to General> Accessibility>Zoom
Step 3: Disable the Zoom, follow focus, and show controller options.
Step 4: Restart your iPad
Solution 7: Disable AssistiveTouch
AssistiveTouch is a feature on the iPad that increases sensitivity for users who have difficulty touching the screen.
While this feature can be helpful when you wear gloves with your iPad, AssistiveTouch can inadvertently register lines and strokes from unintentional touches, especially when drawing
To disable AssistiveTouch:
Step 1: Open Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Accessibility > Touch.
Step 3: Disable the AssistiveTouch option.
Solution 8: Use Artist Glove
If you’re still experiencing issues, consider using an artist’s glove or drawing glove while working on your iPad.
It greatly assists with palm rejection and prevents smudging.
Drawing with an artist’s glove also helps keep your iPad screen clean, especially if you’re drawing on an iPad without a screen protector.
Solution 9: Position Your hand correctly
Some artists find better results with palm rejection by placing their entire palm on the screen rather than just the edge.
This is because the technology more readily recognizes and disables total palm input.
Let your palm fully engage with the screen while drawing in Procreate.
Solution 10: Don’t Use your iPad while Charging
Do not use your iPad while it’s charging. Drawing during this time can interfere with touch sensitivity and impact palm rejection.
If you plan to draw in Procreate, fully charge your iPad first
Solution 11: Update to the Latest iPadOS Version
Check for updates to your iPadOS version.
Software updates frequently address and fix various bugs and glitches. The latest version of iPadOS might resolve the palm rejection issue.
To check for updates:
Step 1: Open the iPad Settings
Step 2: Navigate to General > Software update
Step 3: If an update is available, tap Download and Install
Enabling the Automatic Updates option will make sure your device always stays updated.
Solution 12: Reinstall Procreate
If the problem persists, consider reinstalling Procreate. Doing so can resolve issues that occurred during the app’s initial installation. To reinstall:
Step 1: Long press/tap on the Procreate app icon until a menu appears.
Step 2: Select the Remove App option to delete Procreate from your iPad.
Step 3: Restart your iPad.
Step 4: Download and install Procreate again from the App Store.
Step 5: Open Procreate and test if the issue still persists or not
