S Pen Compatibility: Which Galaxy Z Fold Models Support a Pen? | Fold-By-Fold

Samsung’s S Pen works on the Galaxy Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5, and Z Fold6 main screens, but the Galaxy Z Fold7 and every cover screen are off-limits.

The Fold’s inner display hides a digitizer layer that senses pen input, and the outer screen skips it entirely.

That single design choice explains every compatibility question below — which Fold models take a pen, which pen to buy, and why the newest Fold dropped support.

Which Fold Models Take an S Pen?

Four generations support pen input, and the current Fold7 does not. Samsung’s compatibility page lists the S Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Pro as working across Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5, and Z Fold6, and states plainly that the Galaxy Z Fold7 does not support S Pen.

The support boundary is the screen, not the phone’s age. On every compatible model, the pen writes only on the unfolded main display. Touch the cover screen with the tip and nothing registers.

The Two Pens That Fit a Fold

Buy one of exactly two Samsung pens: the S Pen Fold Edition or the S Pen Pro. Everything else is a risk.

The S Pen Fold Edition is the cheaper route. It writes, opens Air Command, and feels like a real pen on glass, but it carries no battery and no Bluetooth — so no Air Actions, no remote shutter, no gesture control. Samsung sells it separately, and no Fold has an internal pen slot, so it travels loose.

The S Pen Pro costs more and does more. It has a physical switch that flips between Z Fold mode and standard S Pen mode, plus Bluetooth for Air Actions on devices that support them. Forget to flip that switch and the Pro acts dead on your Fold — the single most common setup mistake.

If you want a grip, a case, or a pen that survives being dropped in a bag, our tested picks for the best Z Fold pen cover the accessories worth pairing with either model.

Common Fails That Cost You a Screen

Samsung warns about this directly, and the warning is not marketing.

• The tip and pressure profile differ, and the digitizer is sensitive.
• Samsung states it does not work with the Z Fold series.
• Nothing happens, and pressing harder does not help.
• Only the Pro does, and only after charging and pairing.
• Watch the case fit. Fold Edition pens for Fold3, Fold4, and Fold5 can interchange between phones, but their holders are cut for one model’s body.

Pairing the Pro takes under a minute: set the pen to Z Fold mode, press the Connection button, tap Connect on the pop-up, then open Samsung Notes and write. If the pen is not charged, nothing connects.

Do Air Actions Work on a Fold?

Rarely, and never with the Fold Edition. Air Actions are absent from the Z Fold5 S Pen, Z Fold6 S Pen, S Pen Fold Edition, and S Pen Creator Edition. On a Fold paired with the S Pen Pro, Air Actions need One UI 3.1 or later, a charged pen, and an active Bluetooth connection.

Where they work, the path is Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > Air actions. Turn the switch on and set Press and hold Pen button to whatever you actually use. If the toggle is missing, the pen is not paired or the phone does not support it.

For most Fold owners, Air Command matters more than Air Actions — and Air Command works on every compatible model with either pen.