The most common reason your Apple Pencil won't connect

Your Apple Pencil stops connecting most often because Bluetooth has forgotten it exists — the pairing information got corrupted or cleared. Unlike a phone or keyboard that stays paired through restarts, Apple Pencils need to be re-paired fairly often, especially after the iPad updates or the Pencil hasn't been used for weeks. The second most common reason is that your iPad's Bluetooth is straightforward turned off, which sounds obvious but happens constantly when someone toggles it off to save battery and forgets to turn it back on.

A third reason, less common but frustrating, is that your specific iPad model does not support your specific Apple Pencil generation. An iPad Air from 2013 cannot use an Apple Pencil at all. A 2017 iPad Pro cannot use an Apple Pencil 2. Checking compatibility before you troubleshoot saves you an hour of frustration.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn Bluetooth on in Settings, then hold your Apple Pencil next to your iPad for 30 seconds — this re-pairs them in most cases.
  • If re-pairing does not work, restart your iPad completely, then try pairing again before moving to other steps.
  • Check that your iPad model actually supports your Apple Pencil generation — older iPads cannot use any Pencil, and iPad Pro 2017 cannot use Pencil 2.
  • If your Pencil still will not pair after restart, the Pencil's battery may be completely dead, which takes 15 to 30 minutes of charging to fix.
  • A factory reset of your Apple Pencil (holding the top button for 15 seconds) solves pairing problems that survive restart and re-pairing.

Check that your iPad and Pencil are actually compatible

Before you spend time troubleshooting, confirm that your iPad model can use your Apple Pencil generation. The original Apple Pencil works only with iPad Pro (all sizes), iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3, iPad (5th generation and later), and iPad mini 4 and later. The Apple Pencil 2 works only with iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation and later), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, and iPad Air (3rd generation and later). If you have an iPad from before 2015, or an iPad Pro from 2015, you may own a Pencil that your iPad cannot recognize.

You can find your iPad model by opening Settings, tapping General, then About. Look for the line that says "Model". Write down the exact name — "iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)" is different from "iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)". Then visit Apple's official compatibility page and search for your exact model against your Pencil's generation. If they do not match, pairing will never work, and you have found your answer.

Turn Bluetooth on and re-pair your Pencil

Open Settings on your iPad and tap Bluetooth. Make sure the toggle is switched on — it should be green or blue, not gray. If it was off, turn it on and wait 10 seconds for Bluetooth to fully set up. Then hold your Apple Pencil within a few inches of your iPad and keep it there for 30 seconds without moving it. You should see a pairing screen appear on your iPad asking you to pair. Tap Pair.

If no pairing screen appears after 30 seconds, your Pencil's battery is likely dead. Plug your Pencil into power — the original Pencil charges through the iPad's Lightning port, and Pencil 2 charges by attaching magnetically to the side of newer iPad Pros. Leave it charging for at least 15 minutes, then try the pairing process again.

Restart your iPad if pairing still fails

If re-pairing did not work, a full restart often clears the Bluetooth confusion that prevents connection. The restart process depends on your iPad model. If your iPad has a home button, press and hold the top button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off the iPad. Wait 30 seconds, then press the top button again until you see the Apple logo.

If your iPad does not have a home button (iPad Pro 2018 and later, iPad Air 4 and later), press and hold the top button and either volume button together until the power-off slider appears. Drag it to turn off, wait 30 seconds, then press the top button again until the Apple logo appears. Once your iPad has restarted completely, try pairing your Pencil again using the steps above.

Perform a factory reset on your Apple Pencil

If your Pencil still will not pair after restart, reset the Pencil itself. For the original Apple Pencil, hold down the top button for 15 seconds. You will not see anything happen on the screen — just keep holding. After 15 seconds, release the button and try pairing again. For Apple Pencil 2, hold the top button for 15 seconds in the same way. The Pencil will vibrate slightly when the reset is complete.

A factory reset clears any corrupted pairing data stored inside the Pencil itself. This solves the problem in most cases where restart alone did not work. After the reset, your Pencil will pair like it is brand new.

Check for iPad software updates

Occasionally, an iPad software update breaks Bluetooth pairing with older Pencils. Open Settings, tap General, then tap Software Update. If an update is available, connect your iPad to power and to Wi-Fi, then install it. This can take 20 to 30 minutes. After the update completes and your iPad restarts, try pairing your Pencil again.

If you see a message that your Pencil is not compatible after a recent update, the update may have changed which Pencil generations your iPad supports. Check Apple's compatibility page again — your Pencil may no longer be supported on your current iPad software version, which means you would need to either downgrade the iPad (not usually possible) or purchase a newer Pencil.

Forget the Pencil and pair it fresh

If factory reset did not work, you can tell your iPad to completely forget the Pencil and start over. Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and look for your Apple Pencil in the list of paired devices. Tap the information icon next to it, then tap Forget This Device. Your iPad will remove all pairing information. Now hold your Pencil next to your iPad again for 30 seconds and pair it as if it were brand new.

This step is different from the factory reset because it clears the pairing information stored on your iPad rather than on the Pencil. Sometimes one device remembers a broken pairing that the other has forgotten, and clearing both sides solves the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Apple Pencil with my iPhone?

No. Apple Pencils work only with iPad models. iPhones do not support any stylus, including Apple Pencil. If you need a stylus for your iPhone, you would need to purchase a third-party option, though Apple does not officially support these and they work inconsistently.

Why does my Pencil pair sometimes but not other times?

Intermittent pairing usually means your Pencil's battery is low or the Bluetooth connection is weak. Try charging your Pencil fully, then restart your iPad. If the problem continues, the Pencil's internal battery may be failing and the Pencil may need replacement.

What if my Pencil pairs but does not draw on the screen?

This is different from a pairing problem. Check that the app you are using supports Apple Pencil — not all apps do. If the app supports it, restart the app and try again. If it still does not work, restart your iPad. If drawing still fails after restart, the Pencil's tip may be worn out and need replacement, or the Pencil itself may have a hardware problem.

Does my Apple Pencil need to be charged before it will pair?

Not completely, but a Pencil with very low battery will not pair. If your Pencil has not been used in weeks, charge it for 15 minutes before attempting to pair. After pairing, you can use it while charging or let it charge fully before use.

Can I pair two Apple Pencils to one iPad?

No. An iPad can be paired with only one Apple Pencil at a time. If you try to pair a second Pencil, it will replace the first one in the pairing. You can switch between Pencils by forgetting one and pairing the other, but only one can be active at a time.