Connect Apple Pencil to iPad

If you have an Apple Pencil and an iPad, you must wonder what to do with it. Well, firstly, you have an amazing tool at your hand that will help you take notes, draw whatever you want in an easy manner, and give you the ability to sign any document that is present on the device in a pretty simple way. But to do this all, you have to make a connection between both of your devices. Here, we will explain how to connect an Apple Pencil to an iPad in simple steps.

What Can Apple Pencil Do?

Depending on the model of your gadget, you can use it to do a lot of stuff like:

  • Writing and converting notes into text
  • Entering and editing text
  • Drawing and sketching
  • Marking up any pictures
  • Signing of your documents

Before pairing both devices, ensure your model is compatible. Here's a quick list:

Apple Pencil (1st Generation) works with:

  • iPad (6th gen and later)
  • Mini (5th)
  • Air (3rd)
  • Pro 12.9-inch (1st & 2nd)
  • Pro 10.5-inch
  • Pro 9.7-inch

Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) works with:

  • Pro 12.9-inch (3rd & later)
  • Pro 11-inch (all gens)
  • Mini (6th)
  • Air (4th)

Apple Pencil (USB-C) works with:

  • 10th gen iPad
  • Mini (6th gen)
  • Air (4th gen & later)
  • Pro 11-inch (all gens)
  • Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen & later)

How to Connect Apple Pencil (1st Generation)

  1. First of all, you have to remove the cap on it.
  2. You can insert the gadget into the Lightning port if your tab has a Home button.
  3. If it doesn’t have it, you can use a USB-C to Apple Adapter to connect both of these.
  4. You have to tap on PAIR when it will appear on the screen.
  5. Your device is now ready to be used.

How to Pair Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)

  1. Here, you will be attaching the pencil to the magnetic connector that is present on the side of your tablet. You can find it below the volume buttons.
  2. It is going to start charging automatically and also going to pair these both up.

How to Pair Apple Pencil (USB-C)

  1. You need to make sure that your device is updated. It should be running on iPadOS 17.1 or later.
  2. You can remove the cap of the pencil and then insert this USB-C cable into the device.
  3. You have to connect the other end of the USB cable to your tab.

Troubleshooting: If Your Apple Pencil Isn’t Connecting with iPad

If it is not pairing, then you can try these simple solutions:

1.   Check for Physical Damage

You have to make sure that the gadget is in good shape. If the tip or something else is damaged, it may prevent it from working. You might have to replace it if that happens.

2.   Close Your Apps

There may be an app that is interfering with the process. You can close all the apps and try the pairing process one more time.

3.   Restart Your tab

You can give a shot to restarting as well. This can help fix many issues. When it reboots, you can try to pair it again.

4.   Charge It

●      For the 1st Generation

You can plug it into the Lightning connector which is found on your tab for around twenty minutes. It will fully charge for this duration.

●      For the 2nd Generation

You have to enable Bluetooth on your tab by heading to Settings and making a selection of Bluetooth from there. Now, you can attract the Pencil to the magnetic charger so that it can be charged.

5.   Clean Your Charging Port

If using the 1st Generation, clean the iPad’s Lightning port with a cotton swab or compressed air to clear any dust.

6.   Forget and Re-pair the Device

You have to go to Settings and then proceed to Bluetooth. Tap to the blue ‘i’ that is next to the device and then click on Forget this Device. After this, you have to initiate the process to get it paired again.

If these steps do not work, you might have to go to a repair service.

Additional Tips and Considerations

While this process is pretty straightforward, it is important that you have some extra considerations in mind so that you can make sure that you have the best performance. This Pencil is going to work best when you are going to pair it up with the right model.

With new versions released, features like pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and double-tap gestures are improving. This means that this is going to be even more useful for drawing, note-taking as well as for other tasks.

The 1st Gen Pencil only works with those tabs that have a Lightning port. The 2nd Gen and USB-C versions are made for newer ones. If you have a newer model, you may want to upgrade to a second-generation or USB-C Pencil for better features like magnetic charging and faster pairing.

If you use your Pencil for long periods, keep an eye on the battery. The 1st Gen needs to be plugged into the iPad’s port to charge. The 2nd Gen charges wirelessly when attached to the magnetic connector on the side of the iPad. A full charge lasts about 12 hours of use, so be sure to recharge when needed to avoid interruptions.