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Everything about Galaxy Note 5 S Pen

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This guide shows you Galaxy Note 5 S Pen components and their functions, the difference between white and grey S Pen nibs, and how to replace S Pen nibs...

S Pen is the signature accessory for Galaxy Note devices. A lot of special features and functions on Galaxy Note 5 require S Pen.

This guide will try to cover all aspects of Galaxy Note 5 S Pen.  So, this guide will be helpful for you even you are a new user of S Pen.

For experienced S Pen users, the difference between Galaxy Note 5 S Pen and S Pen in previous generations is illustrated.

Because S Pens in all Galaxy Note devices share a similar design. This guide also applies to old generation Galaxy Note devices, e.g., Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note Pro.

Please note a new S Pen with Bluetooth features was introduced in Galaxy Note 9 as explained in this guide.

If something is exclusive to Galaxy Note 5, it will be highlighted.

Table of Contents hide
1) Galaxy Note 5 S Pen components and their functions
2) What are the differences between the white and grey S Pen nibs?
3) How to replace Galaxy Note 5 S Pen nib?
3.1) Step 1: Remove the old nib with tweezers
3.2) Step 2: Insert the new S Pen nib.
4) How to detach Galaxy Note 5 S Pen?
5) How to store Galaxy Note 5 S Pen?
6) What can I do if I accidentally insert Galaxy Note 5 S Pen into the slot in the wrong direction?

Galaxy Note 5 S Pen components and their functions

In your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 box, you should find the following components related to Galaxy Note 5 S Pen:

  1. an S Pen (with an S Pen button) attached to Galaxy Note 5 S Pen slot (see Galaxy Note 5 layout here);
  2. 5 spare S Pen nibs (in 2 colors), and
  3. tweezers.

The 5 spare S Pen nibs and the tweezers were put inside a small plastic bag in the box.

Galaxy_note_5_s_pen_1_s_pen_tweezers

The functions of the Galaxy Note 5 S Pen nib:

  1. Use the S Pen to write, draw, or perform touch actions on the screen.
  2. Hover the S Pen over items on the screen to access additional S Pen features, such as Action button and the Air view feature.

The functions of the Galaxy Note 5 S Pen button:

  1. Hover the S Pen over the screen and press the S Pen button to display the Air command features.
  2. While pressing and holding the S Pen button, drag the S Pen over items to select them.

The function of tweezers is to remove the S Pen nib when replacing the nib.

What are the differences between the white and grey S Pen nibs?

You may notice among the 5 spare S Pen nibs, 3 are white, and 2 are grey.

By default, the S Pen attached to Galaxy Note 5 is white in most regions.

The color is not random. The white nibs are different from the grey ones.

The white one is harder, and it is easy to move it on the screen with less friction. The grey one, on the other hand, is like rubber. It provides more friction.

So, these two types of S Pen nibs give you different S Pen experience depending on your habit.

But if you apply a screen protector to your Galaxy Note 5 screen, you may find it is hard to use the grey one.

How to replace Galaxy Note 5 S Pen nib?

You may need to replace the Galaxy Note 5 S pen nib when:

  • You want to get more friction (grey) or less friction (white).
  • The S Pen nib is dull or not responsive as usual.

Please note, S Pen nibs are NOT reusable.  So, don’t waste your S Pen nibs.

You may follow these steps to replace Galaxy Note 5 S Pen nib.

Step 1: Remove the old nib with tweezers

You need to hold the nib firmly with the tweezers, then pull it out as shown below. Do not use any other tools.

galaxy_note_5_s_pen_2_remove_nib

Step 2: Insert the new S Pen nib.

Insert the new S pen nib into the S pen with your hand as shown below.

Do not insert the rounded end of the nib into Galaxy Note 5 S Pen.

galaxy_note_5_s_pen_3_insert_nib

How to detach Galaxy Note 5 S Pen?

To detach Galaxy Note 5 S pen, you need press the end of the S Pen to disengage it. Then, pull the S Pen from the slot as shown below

This is different from detaching S Pen from previous Galaxy Note devices. The Galaxy Note 5 S Pen is loaded with a spring. And you must press the end to disengage it.  For S Pen in Galaxy Note 4 and older devices, you can pull out the S Pen directly.

In Galaxy Note 5, the S Pen is fully inserted into the slot, and you cannot pull it without pressing the end.

galaxy_note_5_s_pen_4_detach

How to store Galaxy Note 5 S Pen?

To store Galaxy Note 5 S Pen, push it back into the S Pen slot until you hear it click. You need to insert the S Pen’s nib first as shown below. Failure to do so may cause the S Pen to become stuck. Forcefully detaching the S Pen from the slot may cause damage to the S Pen and Galaxy Note 5.

The Galaxy Note 5 S Pen design has a flaw: you may accidentally insert the S Pen in the wrong direction without applying much force until it is stuck. If you pull out the S Pen after it is stuck, your Galaxy Note 5 will not be able to detect S Pen anymore. You have to visit local Samsung service center to repair it.

If the Galaxy Note 5 S Pen is stored properly, the whole S Pen should be in the S Pen slot.

galaxy_note_5_s_pen_6_insert

What can I do if I accidentally insert Galaxy Note 5 S Pen into the slot in the wrong direction?

As mentioned, Galaxy Note 5 S pen has a design flaw. You may insert the S Pen in the wrong direction without getting any warnings until it is stuck.

It is too late!

If this happened to you, you might damage the S Pen slot. Galaxy Note 5 will unlikely to detect whether the S Pen is in the slot or not from now on.

This means you cannot use screen off memo. You have to use air command by pressing the S Pen button.

As it is hardware damage, you have to visit local Samsung service center to repair the S Pen slot.  Factory data reset will NOT solve the problem.

Do you have any questions on Galaxy Note 5 S Pen?

If you have any questions about using Galaxy Note 5 S Pen, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will try to help you.

For other Galaxy Note 5 features and detailed Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides, please check Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides page.

You may also download and read the official Samsung Galaxy Note 5 user manual here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brad says

    Have finally figured out how to use ACTION MEMO but…when I go to “Internet” to get the results, the pages come up, but they are in Koean or some such Asian dialect. My internet setting specify my language as English, but I can’t seem to figure out how to get my queried web pages to come out in English. This ACTIOM MEMO tool is not much good to me otherwise !!!

    Reply

  4. Mohamed Ali says

    My xalasy note 5 screen is not responding on finger but s pen only work and two touch button on both sides of home button is responding to finger but the srreen only not working on my finger I guess it has happened by some setting but I can’t see that in setting

    Reply

  5. Beth Hurd says

    My spen seems to be stuck in “scroll” mode. It will move things around on my screen but it won’t let me actually tap to make a selection. It just keeps moving the screen or the items on the screen. Is this a problem with the pen or did I mistakenly click something to make it do this? The pen is virtually useless like this and I use my pen to write and select a lot. Thank you.

    Reply

  7. Jonathan Slaytanic says

    Just a quuck question. I need to buy a replacement S pen for my Galaxy Note 5 DUOS (SM-9208). Are all the Note 5 S pens the same?
    The store im looking at buying from says that their Note 5 S pen is compatible with Samsung Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920T, SM-N920A, N920I but does not mention the SM-9208?
    Please help!

    Reply

  8. clifford says

    why i cant write using my s pen in my note 5??
    but detaching the s pen it appears air command and when inserting it the air command disappear..
    why when my s pen dettached to my note 5 it is not responding.???

    Reply

  10. David says

    Someone give the text software engineers a atomic Melvin for messing up the text drawing mode. That was not a cool thing to leave out ! Not VERY nice at all .

    Reply

  11. Raina Zee says

    My s pen will not draw a straight line diagonally. In one certain part of my phone I’ll try to draw a diagonal straight line it seems the pen gets a mind of its own and goes wherever it wants. I’m frustrated because I like to play draw something and I cannot because of this issue.

    Reply

  12. Pamela Jeffers says

    I’m now realizing that the draw mode is missing. I no longer see it anywhere especially when I’m messaging someone and I want to draw a pic within the message. Please help!

    Reply

  13. joyce wozniak says

    The tip of my pen (nib) apparently broke off and the stem is still inside the pen. Anyway I can remove it without having to buy a whole new pen?

    Reply

  14. liz b says

    while you article and comments were very informative you are giving people wrong information. my spen flew apart so i purchased one from amazon, it was completely useless. my phone would not even acknowledge it, so i bought a different it was slightly better but still not fully functional. i bought one more and it still didnt work. because all of them had those stupid little clicky pointer while mine which is the none clicky one, original out of the box no replacement nibs included. so please stop telling people they are all alike i am out quite a bit of money, and am noe stuck carrying my broken one in my pocket because i cannot just replace the nib as it is all one piece and no one seems to know where i can get a replacement that actually works

    Reply

  16. Aariz Rajul says

    How to change the appearance of the small dot on the phone screen when using S-PEN? Also is it possible to put some movement magic when it moves on the screen along with the S-PEN (i.e. meteor tail, magic glitters.)? I have read this whole section including the comments but i didn’t find what am looking for. I hope you can help me.

    Reply

  17. Beth Richtberg-Scala says

    Suddenly my keyboard has an icon for txting, etc with my S Pen. How can i get rid of that? It’s inconvenient, right next to my symbol key, and emoji jey!

    Reply

  18. Niyi says

    I mistakenly dropped my S pen while taking notes. Since then, it has been malfunctioning. Once the s pen is close to the screen, without touching the screen, it starts drawing on d screen as I move my hand. It selects colours on its own, becomes non responsive as I try to write with it, erases notes when I haven’t selected the eraser option and stuff like that. I can’t get to write properly with it. Do I change the s pen completely or just d nib?

    Reply

  19. Bilal Ahmed says

    I accidentally placed my Spen the wrong way and its back tip got stuck so I gave my phone to a shop so he can get that tip out without opening my phone instead he cut the Spen in half and said that it is impossible to take that tip out without opening the phone.Now the part of the Spen that has Samsung written on it he got that stuck in the phone on purpose I guess.So I got my phone opened finally and purchased a new Spen from another shop and it was not working the guy said to reset the phone then it will work so I reset my phone and the Spen is not working.The problem is that I live in Pakistan and I went to Dubai for holiday thats where I got my phone fixed he offered 130 dirhems thats around 40$ and the samsung repair center said 200 dirhems thats around 60$ my mum said to get it fixed from the shop thats offering 130 dirhems.I just want this Spen to work.Just give me a solution.Now I am back in Pakistan and I can not catch that guy who was a fraud.

    Reply

  20. Nicole says

    I have lost my s pen for my note 5. Honestly, I never ever use it (it fell out during a drop). I was just wondering how essential it is that I replace it? Like will my phone be drained of battery, etc., without it?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  22. Goldie says

    I bought a new s pen for my note 5. It works on everything but the action memo. What do I need to do for it to work?

    Reply

  23. Thabo says

    Hi. My note 5 pen has mysteriously developed a whole new functionality. Instead of opening air command, pressing the pen button now opens apps and pretty much acts as my finger, for example pressing and holding the button now lets me scroll through pages instead of highlighting text. It doesn’t write anymore and the screen only recognised it if I press the button. What can I do to change this?

    Reply

  24. Rouzbeh says

    i had note 3 and note 10.1 tablet and now i have note 5.
    to be honest changing the nib with that thing in the box is impossible. don’t do it yourself take the phone to samsung shops
    i bought 3 spen. until i find this

    Reply

  25. Linda says

    The nib of my Note 5 Spen will not come out using the provided tweezers. I watched several videos and read your instructions and tried several times but it will not budge. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

    Reply

  26. Milad says

    When my S Pen is inserted into the S Pen holder, the ringtone mutes after a few hours.
    This problem is appeared when I update android 7.
    there’s no problem without S Pen.

    Reply

  27. Milad says

    Hi, my S Pen when inserted into S Pen Holder after a few hours muted ringtone! This problem have been when After updated android 7! Whitout S Pen no problem! may I help you? Thank you

    Reply

  28. r0zZi3 says

    hi there, so if i puchase a new s pen to replace my faulty one it shld be able to wok just by inserting the new pen? no setup or smth required?

    Reply

  29. Jenn says

    Is there way to remove the S-Pen button from the screen? When playing games on the phone with the S-Pen, sometimes it gets in the way and I am tired of having to move the button around the screen so that I can push buttons associated with the game without opening the Air Command menu.

    Reply

  31. Bernard says

    Hi. My Galaxy Note 5 S-Pen was damaged, so I purchased an official Samsung replacement, but the replacement pen is too long!! It extends out past the end of the phone about 1/2 inch when fully inserted i to the slot. Anyone else had this issue? My Note 5 is fairly new (I am in the middle of my 2-yr plan). Any insight would be helpful. Thanks!

    Reply

  33. Anonymous says

    My Note 5’s S pen’s top click button is not working properly. Means sometimes the click button dont come back after clicking it and gets stucked until it is pulled out forcefully..I guess there’s a problem of its spring mechanism.. So Plz tell me how to fix it…

    Reply

  35. Shirley whisenhunt says

    Will the note 5 work without the pen, my husband lost his and it takes a week to get a replacement. Will he still be able to make and receive calls

    Reply

  36. Adam Bashforth says

    Is it technically possible to use 2 S pens at once on the Note 5? (I don’t own a Note 5, just thinking about buying a new Note 7.) Once I had a Nokia 5800 which used a touch pencil, it just worked by physical touch, of course not the same technology as the S pen, and typing messages with two plastic items, one in each hand, was very like typing normally, quite fast. So with 2 S pens, not using the buttons, would a similar typing experience be possible?

    Reply

  38. Reza says

    Hii.. I wonder, Can S pen nibs for note 3 become compatible and insertable into S pen note 5??? Thanks coz I lost my nibs part for my note 5.

    Reply

  39. Chris says

    Is there an app or a way to detect the location you last used your s pen? I lost it and was trying to figure where I last left it. Thank you.

    Reply

  40. Ale says

    Hi! Im really freaking out, my s pen does not come out. Its in the right way and all bur when i press de click it just doesnt pop ?? helo please

    Reply

  41. ilkkan Sah says

    what does the clicking of the spen tip do, I cant seem to find a setting that makes use of it, thanks –

    Reply

  42. Andy says

    Hey, recently I snapped my note 5 S pen but, it still works. However, I want a new one, is it possible to purchase only the S pen for the note 5? Or is the S pen that comes with it the only one that works. As i realize the S pen doesn’t work on any other samsung devices.

    Reply

  43. Mike says

    Is there a setting so that when my hand touches the screen while using the stylus that things don’t change (like hitting the back button)?

    Reply

  44. Z'yckeria WILSON says

    Hello, this may sound weird, but I dropped my S pen to my note 5 and the spring came out of the pen. I have no idea where the spring went so it is currently lost. I still have my pen I just need a spring for it. Is there any where that I can get a spring from? Or do you know why type of spring is used in the note 5 pen?

    Reply

  45. Fou Annie says

    Good day

    When I use my S pen it works properly but only on certain button for example when I use it to type a sms, it does not press all the buttons. Even if I select a picture and want to outline it, it suddenly stops at a certain place, thus I cannot outline the whole picture. Do I have to calobrate it, or what do you suggest.

    Reply

  46. Richard M says

    For S Pen stuck in slot backwards I found a video with a simple solution. Near the tip of pen there is a notch on the sides. When pen is inserted correctly a small arm sticks out and rests in slot. When inserted backwards the arm gets stuck on the clicking button on the end. To remove pen you can try this at your own risk:
    1. Cut a thin strip of paper longer than the s pen
    2. Fold paper in half long ways
    3. Wrap paper around 2 sides of s pen
    4. Slide the paper along pen and into the slot
    5. Once paper is in the length of pen gently try to remove pen. DO NOT FORCE IT.

    Reply

  47. Janice Culpepper says

    My pen doesn’t give me that pen on paper feel or the resistance feeling anymore . Is there a setting for this pen response?

    Reply

  48. parijman mistry says

    Hey, can I get the perfect dimensions of the s pen of note 5 and of the adapter or can you tell me on which site would I get the perfect dimensions? Because I am doing a study on this phone but I am not getting the dimensions of this anywhere. I would appreciate if you could help me with it.

    Reply

  49. Christopher Paul Dempster says

    Is there Anywhere I can go to get Official (Says “Samsung”on it) Note 5 S-Pens, either Cheap or even better Free??

    Reply

  51. selina says

    I got mud stuck all up in the s pe. lot of my note 5. Is there a way to clean the s pen chamber so I van get all the mud out?

    Reply

  52. shalabh dhaddha says

    Air Command is not working after android 6.0 – marshmallow update.the s pen settings its grayed out and is not accessible. even when i take out the pen from the slot , there is no floating air command like we had in 5.1.1 , any body has a solution ?

    Reply

  54. Mars says

    Random question but… I lost the pen of my Note 3 and unfortunately original/good quality pens for that model are hard to find now. As far as I understand, S pens works between devices, but can anyone help me and confirm if the Note 5 S Pen fits
    into the Note 3 S Pen slot? I’d like to know before I place an order, as original Note 5 pens are easier to find.

    Reply

  56. Abdelkader says

    I would like to know whether note 5 – S pen / nib is placed on a spring from inside or not. With the note 3 the s pen nib tend to go in and out as you write on the screen. I’m not seeing that with the note 5 S pen as nib is not going in and out as i write on the screen it is quite fixed. Just would like to make sure that my s pen is normal

    Reply

  57. Amir Rashid says

    Hi I Lost my note 5’s S Pen. And now I have tried using S pen of my friend’s note 5 but that didn’t work on my phone, when I take the new S pen out from the slot it shows all the options on the screen and notify that your Samsung pen is out but when I use it on the screen it don’t work at all. I got my phone from UK and now I’m in Pakistan. Some told me that it’s a model difference that’s y it’s not working and some told me to reset my phone. What should I do?

    Reply

  58. Ashton says

    When trying to write with my S Pen it starts to write on the screen before I even touch the screen with the pen..it’s almost like that little circle that’s controlled by the pen writes on the screen prior to me even touching the screen what can I do about this?

    Reply

  59. Guy Bojesen-Trepka says

    Hi, i broke my S-pen when I dropped my phone. It came apart in 2 pieces, the darker grey top with Samsung written on it, and the main barrel of the pen. My question is, when I go to replace it, is there any difference between the Note 5 pen and the earlier versions – and how can I tell? My other problem is I am living in Iraq with limited options and lots of fraudulent merchants,

    Reply

  60. TA Lua says

    The s pen writes without touching the screen, how do I remove that feature? The way the s pen is writing without touching screen makes the writing continuous and words did not break ip.

    Reply

  61. ron_b says

    Why is my interface different from the one displayed like oen style/pen point like a speedball point? it has no pen style or setting.

    Reply

  62. Steve says

    I just replaced My S Pen as my daughter lost hers so I gave her mine. and sent her off to college.

    I just got the replacement. The pen options with the various writing tips does not show, just the color choice options. (It used to show different types of pens as well). Please explain, or did I get ripped off from the Amazon company that replaced it?

    Reply

  63. Kristina says

    Ok – After 2 days my S Pen is missing. I don’t know if it fell out or what. If there is something that notifies you if the pen is 3 feet away so you don’t forget it somewhere, can I also use that feature to try to find it? It has to be somewhere in my house, LOL. Thanks.

    Reply

  64. Mari says

    Hi there, what does the upper click button does besideshe helping get the pen out the upper part feels like a real pen clicking does any function ?
    Thanks

    Reply

  65. Danielle says

    My s-pen spring broke. Only have had the phone 3weeks, went to sprint to get a new pen and they sent me a refurbished phone, instead of a new pen. Is there a reason why they would do that? For instance the pen is synced to that phone. I want to keep my phone cuz it was brand new nothing wrong with it, well except i cant get fast charge to come on everytime i plug phone in like it used to, i just dont want to keep this pen and return the phone they sent with my oringal s-pen and be screwed in the end.

    Reply

  66. Atarah says

    One more time, whats the difference between the tips? Should I switch them and see if I have more glide? More glide is good correct?

    Reply

  67. Atarah says

    Hi I still dont understand the difference in the pen tip colors. I have a outerbox and it has a screen protector with the case.what color would I use?

    Reply

  68. rao says

    i am using note 5 my problem was when i detach the spen it takes 20 to 30 sec for screen off memo are any spen options to function.
    second blue tooth range issue.if i move just a half foot away the voices gets break in bluetooth.

    Reply

  69. Tamer says

    Hi,
    My spenwas working correctly but one day it stopes to write on the closed screen and when i dattach it from the mobile, the air command do not show automatically i must press the pen button, i made a hard reset and re setup me note5 again but nothing happened, now i got 2 problems
    1. When detachment the pen, air command not automatically appered
    2. Pen stop write on the black closed screen

    Kindly help, thanks
    Tamer

    Reply

  70. Maram says

    The top part of my s bote 5 pen, the part where “samsung” is written, got lost. It got detached somehow and I can’t find it. Will this affect its functions ? How can I replace it?
    Thanks.

    Reply

  73. Name Required says

    The biggest difference between the tip colors is the line thickness.
    The dark tip is approx 3 times as thick as the white.

    It is not very noticable when looking directly at tips, but if you smudge the screen and slide them both across it’s obvious.

    The light tip is a huge performance increase to the note 5 as far as accuracy, particularly with drawing apps and hand write (s pen) apps.

    Reply

  74. Summer Perry-Nelon says

    Can I get replacement parts (nibs and tweezers) for my S Pen? As well, can the S Pen it self be replaced? If so, can you guide me to where I can get them please.
    Thanks!

    Reply

  75. Bob Farrelli says

    I lost my s pen and I want to turn off the s pen indicator in the lower right corner of the screen. Is there any way of doing that?

    Reply

  77. majida says

    Hi there . My s pen is not working only where the air command icons are displayed. What wiĺl be the possible problem?

    Reply

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