Nothing is worse than sitting down to get some work done and noticing the Apple Pencil not working with your iPad. Here’s everything you can do to fix that!
Although Steve Jobs frowned upon the idea of a stylus to use with the iPhone or iPad, the Apple Inc. we know today is different from its late founder’s imagination. To make the iPad and iPad Pro the perfect tablet for notetaking, graphic designing, and more, the Apple Pencil was unveiled back in 2015. Since then, the official iPad stylus has been upgraded with a second-generation model, and continues to be a favorite among users.
There are several reasons why your Apple Pencil is no longer charging or won’t connect with your screen. And many of them are easy to resolve. If your Apple Pencil is actually broken, you’ll have to send it in for repair or replace it. But first, go through the steps below to rule out all of the simple fixes.
What causes the Apple pencil to stop working?
We received reports from consumers that their Apple Pencils stopped working after potential upgrades or that they stopped working at random. As we’ve seen, the behavior is quite random. And the fixes given below will be applied in all cases.
After analyzing all of the user responses, we found that the Apple Pencil was not working due to the following reasons (not all of which may apply to you):
Less charge: If your Apple Pencil is not fully charged, it will fail to connect to your iPad device or may disconnect in the middle of your work. Anything less than 30 percent is considered less charged in this respect.
A charging issue: If you recharge your Apple Pencil 2nd Gen with your iPad (by sticking it along the edge), it needs to be placed perfectly in line with the magnetic dock to charge. Similarly, for the 1st Gen Apple Pencil, the Lightning port needs to be plugged into the iPad’s port, which may not charge if there is a physical obstruction between the two.
No iPad version is supported: As previously stated, some iPad models do not support the Apple Pencil (1st and 2nd). There’s nothing you can do about this except upgrading your iPad.
Improper bluetooth configuration: In another interesting example, Apple Pencil that is already Bluetooth-connected to the iPad were not being registered when used. This automatically indicates that either something is physically wrong or there is a problem with the connection.
Loosened nib: The nib on your Apple Pencil may be loose or not properly connected. As a result, you may encounter a number of writing-related problems. Tightening the nib works in this case, but it may require a replacement if the issue persists.
Internal issues: There may be internal issues, such as physical damage to the Apple Pencil. If there is physical damage or something is wrong with the hardware modules within, the only thing you can do is contact Apple Support.
High opacity: Another issue that consumers noticed was the Apple Pencil not operating properly in applications. Changing the settings can help in this case.
How to fix an Apple pencil that isn’t working using these 11 simple solutions
Here’s a complete guide to troubleshooting your Apple Pencil:
Solution 1: check the battery
For maximum performance, the Apple pencil’s battery must be properly charged. You can check the iPad’s current battery level by doing the following steps:
- On your iPad, go to widgets to check the battery level of your Pencil. In the Today View, you’ll see widgets. Swipe right on the Home screen, lock screen, or while scrolling through the phone’s notifications to get here.
- Look at the Batteries widget. If you don’t see the Apple Pencil, make sure it’s properly connected via Bluetooth and that batteries are set to display in the Today’s view tab.
- You can also check your device’s battery level by going to Settings > Apple Pencil and looking for the battery percentage at the top of the display screen.
- If the battery percentage indicated is 0%, the Apple Pencil has to be charged.
Solution 2: recharge the Apple pencil
The next step is to ensure that the Apple Pencil’s battery is completely charged. It may sound like a no-brainer, but there are times when this one-of-a-kind stylus will not function properly due to a low battery. Navigate to the notifications center and look for the Apple Pencil in the “Batteries” section.
If your Pencil has totally run out of power or hasn’t been used in a long time, it may take up to 10 minutes to reactivate the stylus. Don’t be worried if you can’t see the device right away; give it some time to charge. The Apple Pencil charges quickly, so you should be ready to go in no time.
Users can charge the pencil in one of the following ways:
- Charge the Apple Pencil 2 by magnetically attaching it to the side of the iPad. To charge this stylus, ensure sure the accessory is linked to the tablet through Bluetooth.
- Charge the Apple Pencil 1 by simply plugging it into the iPad’s Lightning connector or using the Pencil’s USB power adapter.
Solution 3: confirm pencil compatibility with iPad
The Apple Pencil 1 and 2 are intended to function with various iPad models. This means that if you try to use the Apple Pencil 1 with a tablet meant for the Apple Pencil 2, it is not going to work.
iPads that work with the Apple Pencil 1 include:
- iPad (6th and 7th generation)
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st or 2nd generations)
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPads that are compatible with the Apple Pencil 2 include:
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd and 4th generation)
- 11-inch iPad Pro
Solution 4: check that the iPad’s bluetooth is turned on
The Apple Pencil will only operate with your device after it has been Bluetooth-connected. If your Apple Pencil isn’t listed as a connected device in the Batteries widget, or if you can’t find the battery widget at all, it’s possible that you haven’t turned on your Bluetooth.
To see if your Bluetooth is turned on, follow the following steps:
- In your iPad’s menu, select Settings.
- Choose Bluetooth. Toggle the switch to enable or disable Bluetooth on the device. If the Apple Pencil was properly paired, it would be under the My Devices tab.
- If Bluetooth does not turn on or you see a loading icon, restart your iPad and try again.
Solution 5: pencil tip is worn out
If your Apple Pencil isn’t working, the tip may have worn out. The tip is quite simple to replace. Please keep in mind that while there is no set time frame for how long the Pencil tip should last, most people replace them when the feel, finish, or functioning starts to degrade. If the finish or feel is rough or sandpaper-like, consider replacing the Pencil tip to avoid harming the iPad’s surface.
- Begin by unscrewing the pencil tip counterclockwise until it detaches.
- Screw the new tip clockwise until it is securely attached to your Apple Pencil.
Also, if the tip is not properly screwed on, the Apple Pencil will not work properly or at all.
Solution 6: disabling zoom accessibility
Apple is well-known for its accessibility support, which enables users with disabilities or other common issues to use the device without difficulty. Although useful, this feature might cause problems when the device (such as the iPad) is used with other apps or peripherals.
In many cases, Zoom accessibility seems to be the cause of the problem. Zoom allows users to zoom the current screen they are viewing. In this solution, you will go to your iPad settings and disable Zoom, then see whether that solves the problem.
- Go to the Settings app and select Accessibility from the drop-down menu.
- From the Accessibility menu, select Zoom.
- If the option was previously enabled, click the slider once to disable it. Save your changes and then exit. Connect your Apple Pencil and restart your iPad.
Solution 7: reset its connection
An Apple Pencil will not work with an iPad that has not been properly paired. An Apple Pencil that has stopped working could be having connection problems.
To begin, unpair it from your iPad.
- Open the Settings app on your iPad and select Bluetooth from the left sidebar.
- Tap the “i” icon to the right of Apple Pencil’s name if it appears under My Devices. If your Apple Pencil isn’t shown here, go to the pairing process.
- Select Forget This Device from the screen.
Let’s reconnect it to the iPad.
- To connect a 1st Generation Apple Pencil, plug it into the charging port of your iPad. Then click Pair when it shows on the screen.
- To connect an Apple Pencil 2nd generation, latch it onto the side of your iPad and then click Pair if it shows on the screen.
Solution 8: reboot your iPad
The problem can also occur from the iPad’s side at times. By restarting your iPad, you are giving it a fresh start by clearing its temporary memory. Minor bugs that may have occurred will be removed during the reboot.
Follow these steps to restart an iPad with Touch ID:
- Press the Home and Power buttons at the same time.
- When the Apple logo displays on the screen, let go of both buttons.
Follow these steps to restart an iPad with Face ID:
- Press and hold the Volume Up button for a few seconds.
- Press and hold the Volume Down button for a few seconds.
- Finally, hold the Power button down until the Apple logo shows on the screen.
Once your iPad restarts, try using the Apple Pencil.
Solution 9: update your iPadOS
Check to see if the Apple Pencil is compatible with other iPads. If it does, it means your iPad is to cause. The best option to deal with the problem is to update the operating system.
Follow the steps below to update the iPadOS:
- Open the “Settings” app.
- Next, go to the “General” options.
- Select “Software Update.”
- Let your iPad look for updates. If any are identified, click “Download and Install.”
- Wait for the iPad to download the update before using the Apple Pencil with your iPad to try it.
Solution 10: disable Airplane mode
Make sure your iPad Pro is not in Airplane Mode. Check that the Airplane mode is turned off by bringing up the control center from the screen. The trick to access Control Center on iOS 14/iPadOS,
- Method 1: Go to the Settings app > the first option is Airplane Mode; turn off the toggle to grey.
- Method 2: Using the iPad Control Center, Pull your finger down from the top-right corner of the iPad screen. Now, press and hold the network card to see the Airplane icon, which must be turned off.
Solution 11: checking for internal issues
If none of the above techniques work and you still can’t get your Apple Pencil to work, you can have the Pencil and iPad tested for any hardware or internal issues. These may not be visible to the human eye from outside the Pencil. There have been multiple incidents where the Pencil stopped working as predicted as a result of it falling or being submerged in water.
Conclusion
If you’ve tried all of the above solutions and are still experiencing issues with your Apple pencil, you may need to contact Apple. You can take it to an Apple Retail Store or contact 1-800-MY-APPLE. The Apple pencil is covered by a one-year limited warranty. If your device is no longer under warranty, a battery service will cost you $29. You’ll soon have your Apple pencil up and running with minimal to no problems.
Related: These are Apple Pencil Accessories You May Like
FAQs
Q1. Why isn’t my Apple pencil working?
Your Apple Pencil may stop operating unexpectedly because it needs to be charged or the connection to your device needs to be redone.
Q2: How can I know if my Apple pencil is broken?
If your Pencil tip or nib feels harsh to the touch, or if it does not glide smoothly and gently across the screen of your iPad, it is broken. If there is any exposed metal, it is also broken.
Q3: How long doe s an Apple pencil last?
If your pencil battery is properly maintained and not stored away for a long time, it has an undefined life span.
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