please connect the device first

i just got an xp pen artist 12 (1st gen) and im having issues with the driver ? the tablet connects and is displaying my computer but i cant get my pen to work, presumably because everytime i try to open the driver app it says "please connect device first" EVERYTHING IS PLUGGED IN and ive uninstalled and reinstalled 5 times . ive even looked at old reddit posts but they arent helping