Apple Pencil Not Connecting After iPadOS 13.5 Update

This appears to be a bug affecting some users. Another contributor, ApplesAreUs, reports having found a workaround solution.

“... can confirm the issue is iOS 13.5. The only way to pair your 1st Gen Apple Pencil to your iPad Air 3 is to quickly connect and then disconnect power to your iPad then plug the Pencil into the Lighting port. This will fix the issue and will pair successfully”

It’s like the quick jab of power to the iPad ‘wakes’ some part of the software into action. I can confirm I’ve tried this on 2 different iPad Airs with same result.

This discussion details the workaround:

this solution worked for me

I followed this instruction in another reply and it worked.

The only way to pair your 1st Gen Apple Pencil to your iPad Air 3 is to quickly connect and then disconnect power to your iPad then plug the Pencil into the Lighting port. This will fix the issue and will pair successfully.

It’s like the quick jab of power to the iPad ‘wakes’ some part of the software into action. I can confirm I’ve tried this on 2 different iPad Airs with same result.

Here is a quote from AppleAreUS’s posting at the bottom of page 1 of this post.

In case you you didn't understand something. This is a pretty easy thing to try.

"Yep, I can confirm the issue is iOS 13.5. The only way to pair your 1st Gen Apple Pencil to your iPad Air 3 is to quickly connect and then disconnect power to your iPad then plug the Pencil into the Lighting port. This will fix the issue and will pair successfully.

It’s like the quick jab of power to the iPad ‘wakes’ some part of the software into action. I can confirm I’ve tried this on 2 different iPad Airs with same result."

This worked for me too. I had upgraded from 13.5 to 13.5.1 and could not pair Pencil 1 at all. Inserting Pencil into Lightning port did nothing, was as if the Pencil was dead. But this post saved me:

• insert power cable
• remove power cable
• insert Pencil 1
• Pairing dialog appears
• Pair and go!

hello everyone! i just bought the ipad air 3 along with the apple pencil gen 1. i was having the same connectivity problems as everyone else. i tried methods found on other forums and articles such as resetting network settings and all that jazz. after a couple of hours of experiments, nothing worked.

then, i tried the trick mentioned by ApplesAreUs:

"Yep, I can confirm the issue is iOS 13.5. The only way to pair your 1st Gen Apple Pencil to your iPad Air 3 is to quickly connect and then disconnect power to your iPad then plug the Pencil into the Lighting port. This will fix the issue and will pair successfully.

It’s like the quick jab of power to the iPad ‘wakes’ some part of the software into action. I can confirm I’ve tried this on 2 different iPad Airs with same result.

Come on Apple, please fix this issue on next iOS update."

it worked instantly. made me gasp, followed by a "woah" lolol.

note: be as swift as you can when performing this method, but also be careful not to break anything.

i hope this helps anyone out there who was struggling with this puzzle!

peace and blessings.

Yes. I did this with the iPad:

.. can confirm the issue is iOS 13.5. The only way to pair your 1st Gen Apple Pencil to your iPad Air 3 is to quickly connect and then disconnect power to your iPad then plug the Pencil into the Lighting port. This will fix the issue and will pair successfully”

This did not work with the iPhone 1.

Had the same issue. Upgraded to iOS 13.6 and the issue was resolved.

Interestingly, there was no mention of the fix in the Release Notes of 13.6 but it's definitely fixed.

Yep, I can confirm the issue is iOS 13.5. The only way to pair your 1st Gen Apple Pencil to your iPad Air 3 is to quickly connect and then disconnect power to your iPad then plug the Pencil into the Lighting port. This will fix the issue and will pair successfully.

It’s like the quick jab of power to the iPad ‘wakes’ some part of the software into action. I can confirm I’ve tried this on 2 different iPad Airs with same result.

Come on Apple, please fix this issue on next iOS update.

(In response to quickly charging the ipad, then unplugging + plugging in the pencil quickly)

Can confirm this just worked on a brand new iPad Air 3rd Generation that we just purchased and picked up from the Apple Store on 7/4/2020. Software version 13.5.1. Ridiculous that it took an hour plus of searching to find this answer. Thank you so much though!

Apple, please patch this or update the pairing instructions for the iPad Air Gen 3 +Apple Pencil 1.

I was having trouble pairing my brand new Apple Pencil (first gen) with my iPad Air 3. I was going to go tomorrow to return it until I saw a comment on this page. It worked!!! Plus the iPad into a power cord really fast and then plus in the Apple Pencil.

I had the exact same issue on two iPad Airs with the 1.Gen Pencil. After updating to 13.5 the Pencil wont charge. I unpaired them in the bluetooth settings and after that i wasn't able to connect them again. Both pencils and iPads won't connect in any configuration. I plugged the pencil in, and nothing happend. I fully charged the pencil and it still won't work.

But I found the solution. I charged the Ipad and the Pencil both to 100%. Then it worked! On both iPads with both Pencils.

I had the same problem for 3 days! I found a solution: I did the same thing AppleAreUs, and by connecting and disconnecting the iPad to power, and the quickly connect the Apple Pencil, it woke up! 🤩

Charging my iPad to 100% and connecting the Pencil worked.

I am also having intermittent problems with IPadOS 13.6.1 on an iPad Pro 12.9 and my Apple Pencil. Also lagging response on touch screen. The Apple Pencil will connect in bluetooth, but will not work. I have found turning off Zoom allows the Pencil to work again. There also seems to be an App causing the responsiveness problem. Maybe FB, but this never had a problem before the 13.6.1 update.

Contact Apple Support