Palm rejection not working after an Android update?

Your hand used to rest on the screen while you wrote or drew, but now it makes stray marks or moves the page. An Android update may have changed a setting, but the cause could also be the app, stylus, screen protector, or touchscreen itself.

Start by checking whether the screen registers ordinary finger touches consistently. Then test palm rejection in the drawing or note-taking app where you noticed the problem. A browser test can check touch input, but it cannot confirm that a particular app or stylus is rejecting your palm.

Test touch input after the update

1. Open the Touch Screen Test on the Android device you are checking.
2. Touch the screen with one finger, then place two or more fingers on it. Move them slowly and check whether the displayed touch points follow your fingers.
3. Tap and drag across the center, edges, and corners. Check whether any area regularly misses a touch or stops tracking a moving finger.
4. Open the drawing or note-taking app where the issue occurs. Use the stylus to draw while resting your hand on the screen as you normally would. Repeat a few strokes with your hand lifted for comparison.
5. If possible, try the same stylus and hand position in another app that supports pen input. Note whether the problem follows one app, one screen area, or every app.

Keep the test gentle. Do not press hard or deliberately drag your whole palm around the display. A stylus-enabled app is the right place to judge palm rejection because it can use information about the pen and the app's own input settings.

What the result means

Finger touches track normally, but your palm makes marks in one app

The touchscreen is registering ordinary touches. The likely cause is that app's palm rejection setting, pen mode, or support for your stylus. Check the app's input options and its help information. An app may only reject a resting hand when it recognizes a compatible active stylus.

The same palm problem happens in more than one app

The issue may be a device-level change, an incompatible stylus, or a setting shared across apps. Confirm that the stylus is intended for your device and that the app actually recognizes it as a pen, not as a finger-like capacitive touch.

Touch points disappear in one part of the screen

A repeated missed area in the Touch Screen Test can point to a touchscreen problem rather than palm rejection. Remove anything covering the screen and retest. If the same area still misses touches in several apps, record where it happens and consider a repair assessment.

The browser test works, but palm rejection still fails

This is possible and does not prove that the app is faulty. The browser test checks touch points and dead zones. It does not inspect the drawing app's pen settings or verify how Android classifies your hand while a stylus is in use.

How to fix palm rejection

1. Clean and uncover the screen. Wipe off moisture, grease, or debris with a soft, dry cloth. Temporarily remove a thick case or screen protector if it presses on the display edge or is damaged, then repeat the test.
2. Restart the device. A restart can clear a temporary touch or pen-input problem that appeared after the update. Test again before changing more settings.
3. Install pending updates. Check for another Android update under Settings › System › Software update. Menu names and locations vary by manufacturer, so use the Settings search box for Software update if you do not see that path. Also update the drawing or note-taking app you use.
4. Check the app's pen and palm settings. Open the app's settings and look for options related to pen input, stylus mode, hand rejection, or palm rejection. Their names and locations differ by app. If you see a setting to ignore finger input while the pen is active, test it and switch it back if other touch controls stop working.
5. Confirm that the app recognizes the stylus. Draw with the pen without resting your hand on the screen. If the app treats the pen like a regular finger, palm rejection may not activate. Check that the stylus is compatible with your device and that its tip is seated correctly or its battery is charged, if it uses one.
6. Check touch sensitivity only if needed. Some Android devices include a setting such as Settings › Display › Touch sensitivity. Its location and availability depend on the manufacturer. This setting may help a screen protector affect finger response, but it is not the same as palm rejection and may make unwanted touches easier to register.
7. Compare apps and screen areas again. Test a second app that supports your stylus, then repeat the Touch Screen Test around the screen. If only one app fails, focus on that app's settings or support. If touches fail in the same screen area everywhere, treat it as a possible hardware issue.

When it may be a hardware problem

If fingers or a compatible stylus miss touches in the same area across multiple apps, even after removing the case and screen protector, the digitizer may be damaged. The digitizer is the part of the screen that detects touch. A cracked display, pressure damage, or a failed connection can cause missed or erratic input.

Back up important data before arranging service. If the device is under warranty, contact the manufacturer or seller before opening it or paying for a repair. A browser test can help document a repeatable dead area, but it cannot identify the failed component or confirm a warranty claim.

Palm rejection is not the same as accidental-touch protection

Palm rejection is meant to let you rest your hand while writing with a supported stylus. It often depends on the device recognizing the pen and the app choosing to ignore nearby hand contact. A basic capacitive stylus may look to the screen like another finger, so the device may not know that you are writing with a pen.

Accidental-touch or pocket protection is a separate feature. It may reduce touches when the phone is in a pocket or when the display is covered, but it does not necessarily stop your palm from drawing while you use a stylus. If the issue began after an update, compare the same app, stylus, and grip before and after changing one setting at a time.