You’re about to sit down with your iPad and brainstorm your next bright idea when Apple Pencil kicks into gear. There are several possible causes why the Apple Pencil is not working. Below are several troubleshooting ideas to get your Apple Pencil working again.
check the battery
Is your Apple Pencil not charging? Could your Apple Pencil battery be dead? To check if your Pen is charged, do the following:
- Check the battery status in the Widgets view of your iPad. You can find widgets in Today view. To get there, swipe on the Home screen , the Lock screen, or while viewing your Notifications .
- You should see a Batteries widget . If not, make sure you have your Pen set up with Bluetooth.
- If the battery shows 0%, plug it in, recharge it, and try again.
Bluetooth is disabled
As mentioned in battery check, if the Apple Pencil does not appear in the list of devices in the Battery widget, or if there is no Battery widget, Bluetooth is most likely turned off. To verify it, do the following:
- On your iPad, tap Settings .
- Tap Bluetooth .
- Tap the rocker switch to turn on Bluetooth.
- If you can’t get it to turn on or see the spin/charging icon, restart your iPad and try again.
This is also a great way to troubleshoot Bluetooth malfunctions.
- That’s it.
Bluetooth not paired
If your Apple Pencil isn’t pairing, or your iPad has lost pairing, going through the Bluetooth pairing process again might solve your Apple Pencil issues.
- Make sure the iPad is turned on, unlocked, and with Bluetooth turned on.
- If you see your Apple Pencil listed, it may need to be repaired again.
- Tap the Apple Pencil, then select Forget This Device .
- Uncap your Apple Pencil and plug it into the iPad’s lightning port.
- A Bluetooth Pairing Request dialog box should appear . Tap Pair to start the pairing process.
- If the dialog above does not appear, continue with additional troubleshooting.
The pencil tip is worn
If the Apple Pencil behaves erratically or doesn’t behave at all, the tip of the pencil could become worn. Changing the tip is easy.
Although there is no exact lifespan for the Pen tip, many owners replace it when the feel, finish, or functionality begins to diminish. If the finish or feel is rough or similar to sandpaper, you should replace the Pen tip as it could scratch the surface of your iPad.
- Unscrew the tip counterclockwise until it comes off.
- Replace the new tip by screwing it on clockwise until it feels secure on the pencil.
The app does not support the Apple pencil
Not all apps are fully compatible with the Pen. To verify that your Apple Pencil is working, open a known compatible app. The Notes app is a great and reliable option to test your Pen, and it should be on your home screen. If it is not, you will need to download and reinstall it.
Not a supported iPad model
If your Apple Pencil still doesn’t work, check that your iPad is compatible. Apple Pencil works with the 2018 iPad 9.7-inch and all iPad Pro models. If your iPad isn’t one of those models, your iPad isn’t compatible with Apple Pencil and it won’t work.
Time to contact AppleCare
If you’ve tried all of the troubleshooting steps above, it may be time to contact AppleCare; , has a one-year limited warranty. If your Pencil is no longer covered under warranty, the cost of Apple’s battery repair is $29. You can take it to your local Apple Retail Store or call AppleCare at 1-800-MY-APPLE. You can also visit Apple’s website for a repair or replacement by mail.
