How-To

How to fix an unresponsive Apple Pencil

September 18, 2023 ⋅ By Matt Ronge

Is your Apple Pencil not working? Or is it unresponsive to your iPad? This guide will get your Apple Pencil back up and running in no time!

Apple Pencil and iPad with flower illustration

What to do when your Apple Pencil isn’t working

If your Apple Pencil is unresponsive, there are three ways to get it working properly with your iPad again:

  • Charge Apple Pencil battery
  • Reestablish your Apple Pencil’s connection with your iPad
  • Force re-pair your Apple Pencil with your iPad

Charge Apple Pencil battery

If your Apple Pencil is not working or unresponsive, most likely it’s out of battery.

How to charge your Apple Pencil:

  • Apple Pencil 1: Plug the Pencil into your iPad.
  • Apple Pencil 2: Place the Pencil on the side of your iPad.

Allow the Apple Pencil to charge for about ten minutes. Then try using it again to see if it is responsive with your iPad.

Reestablish your Apple Pencil connection with iPad

If you charge your Apple Pencil battery and it is still unresponsive, you may need to reestablish a connection with your iPad. 

There are two ways to reestablish a connection between your iPad and Apple Pencil:

  • On your iPad, try turning Bluetooth off and on. This can restart the connection.
  • Check to make sure your Apple Pencil’s nib is securely tightened. If you’re using a fine-point ballpoint nib like Rock Paper Pencil, make sure it is twisted all the way down on your Apple Pencil.

Force re-pair Apple Pencil with iPad

If the previous methods don’t work, you will likely need to charge your Pencil and force it to re-pair with the iPad:

  1. Let the Apple Pencil charge for at least one hour (using the charging instructions above).
  2. Visit the Bluetooth settings on your iPad and remove Pencil from the list of My Devices. by tapping on Forget This Device.
  3. Re-pair your Apple Pencil to your iPad by plugging it into the device with Bluetooth enabled, and following the pairing dialog that appears.
  4. Once your Apple Pencil has paired, test it to make sure it is responsive.

We hope this guide helped!

Now that your Apple Pencil is working again, make sure you have the right accessories to get the most from your iPad:

An Apple Pencil touching an iPad with a screen protector
Rock Paper Pencil is the most realistic pen-on-paper feel for iPad

Magnetic iPad Screen Protector + Apple Pencil Tips

Rock Paper Pencil combines a custom Apple Pencil tip and a precisely engineered screen protector. Together, they create the most realistic pen-on-paper feeling for iPad.

Rock Paper Pencil product packaging
  • Ditch the slip: On its own, the iPad’s glass screen is a slippery surface that creates an inconsistent drag on your Apple Pencil.
  • Smoother, more precise strokes: Rock Paper Pencil adds subtle friction between your screen and Apple Pencil tip, giving you more control with each stroke output.
Shop Rock Paper Pencil →