Squeaking noise drawing with iPad Pro 2020 & Pencil 2.

Hey Zach,

you're not alone in this! I received the 2018 iPad Pro 11" with the 2nd gen Apple Pencil two christmas' ago as a gift since I was starting school. The whole time I've used my iPad and pencil, I have used a fine paperlike protector (though, not the paperlike brand). I recently removed the screen protector because the grain affect was getting really frustrating for all of my non-writing/drawing tasks. I noticed that whenever I angle my pencil tip or use it to shade (really fast, back and forth motions), that's when I notice the squeaking. For the time being I'm going to just do my work on paper until I can order another protector because I do NOT want to scratch my screen!

Update, Feb. 22, 2021: Thanks to all for the tips (no pun intended ;^). I am completely convinced it's the new coating. It NEVER happened on my iPad Gen 2. We've replaced everything else, and still it persists.

I'm on iPad Pro #3 now, and it's somewhat better. Still screeches, but not nearly as badly as the last one (which was WORSE than #1). I went ahead last week and (laboriously) put a highly rated Zagg glass screen protector on the iPad. To my dismay, though no screeching, the pencil slips like a skate on brand new ice... I'm an illustrator with a rock-steady hand, and I'm unable to draw a line of any kind w/o the pencil wobbling or sliding. (Matte screen protectors dull the view of the screen, not good for this fine-line illustrator.)

So I'm sending the glass screen protector back for refund and... I give up. Will just use the regular screen and try not to tip the pencil into an angle that screeches, when I find one. That means NO SWIPING emails away, which I have already found is one of the most offending motions.

To the many who've mentioned rubbing your hand oils on the screen: it WORKS. Ridiculous to have to smear one's hand on the screen to smooth a coating that's supposed to REPEL FINGERPRINTS, but there you have it. Way to go, Apple! (Sarcasm intended.)

Of note: Apple called back last week. I'd sent them 5 (FIVE) videos demonstrating the squeal, as well as the several links to similar videos from others. STILL, they wanted me to take a 45 mile drive to the nearest Apple Store, in the middle of Alabama's Covid Catastrophe, to demonstrate to the techs at the store. RIGHT. If the engineers themselves couldn't figure it out with all the ipads they have available, would the young whippersnappers at this store do any better? Seriously.

I know you already returned yours, but if anybody else has the same problem, my recommendation is to buy a MATTE screen protector, not a tempered glass one. These aim to make your iPad feel more like paper. Paperlike sells some great ones: https://paperlike.com/#klv1i6gnfx-

(To ipartcars & bookpower too)

It’s the same Apple tip on both Pencil 1 and Pencil 2. I think the only difference between the pencils is how they charge; the flat side on Pencil 2 is a magnetic charging surface (for iPad Pros GEN 4 only), vs the end lightning plug on Pencil 1 (which works on all newer iPads).

First thing Apple did for the screeching on my first GEN 4 iPad was replace my whole pencil*. They later sent me a box of tips (same replacement tip used for both pencils). Neither the pencil nor tips were the problem, ever. Wonder if anyone has tried a non-Apple pencil though?

* My puppy ate the whole tip down to the metal on pencil #2! Had to buy a new one. Same screeching issues with #3.

It is normal to need to replace the tip after a few months as the plastic does wear down and/or roughen with use (as any type of pencil would). And any little grain of dust or dirt stuck on it will damage it, so wipe it off periodically. The replacement tips are 4 for $19, which is a fair deal. Note that you can indeed get bad tips right out of the box... in my first box of tips, 2 were rough from the get-go.

I too originally had an iPad GEN 3 (December 2018). Never had a bit of trouble with screeching or scratching. I am convinced it is the new “oleographic” coating on the GEN 4 screen.

Go ahead and try rubbing your finger on any area that screeches or feels a little rough. See if that helps, at least for that area.

No mention of the screen attributes on the GEN 5. Anyone hear anything?

My 9.7” pro with the first generation pencil worked great. Apple has sent me three replacement ‘20 12.9” pro models and two second generation Pencils under warranty. The only thing that evens out the screen and noise is a glass type screen protector. Very frustrating since the older unit worked well. I just upgraded for the screen size.

I might suggest that the anti-reflection surface treatment on the iPad screen is a potential source of your difficulty.

If changing the tip of the Pencil doesn’t resolve the problem, you might perhaps consider using a good quality tempered glass screen protector. in addition to providing a smooth surface over which the Pencil tip will glide, the additional glass layer will protect both the original anti-reflection treatment - and the sacrificial oleophobic coating that will otherwise wear-out over time.

Wow. I am not alone! I’ve been going in circles with Apple for weeks because of this very same problem and they tell me they’ve never heard about it before. But I started googling it and here you are and I found others from last August, and a bunch more on Reddit, and more on MacRumors. Several people have even made videos demonstrating the squeak screech sound. They never heard of it?

They replaced my entire pencil. They replaced the entire iPad. They refused to replace the tips so I bought new ones myself. And still it squeaks. Terrified of scratching it because there is a big deductible if you need to replace a scratch screen.

The Apple engineers are making me jump through hoops. Now they’re demanding I make a video too. Even though they’ve seen the one someone else made and posted for Apple. They have told me too take photos from every side of the new iPad they just sent me! They told me to take photos of the “lightning connector and pins“ for a Gen 2 pencil that has no lightning anything!

From what I have read today it seems that there is a problem with the coating on the screen of their fancy new glass. Oh, and today Apple told me that I should buy a glass screen protector. And oh, they can’t send me one because they don’t sell them. I am just furious.

Unfortunately the same issue on my 12.9" 2018 manufactured Dec 2018. Only the right drawing angle and avoid touching the display helps. So I’m using the Magic Trackpad to avoid fingerprints. I never liked screen protectors. Even without screen protector the pencil tip wears in 2-3 months and has to be replaced. I hope the will use another coating on 5. Gen. iPad Pro 12.9". Although most people I know are using an mate protector for drawing so newer noticed this issue.

My 3. Gen 12.7" iPad Pro had exact the same issue as your 4. Gen iPad Pro. Maybe there are different display manufacturers? Even after cleaning without touching the display it builds up some noticeable resistance after a while that cause the squeaking noise. Cleaning these areas again with a microfiber cloth helps. How is the drawing experience on an "normal" iPad Pro? Similar to drawing on tempered glass or clear foil protector?

I just received the iPad Pro 11 inch last night and immediately noticed this - I even removed the paperlike screen protector thinking that was the cause. This morning, I switched the tip of my old apple pencil (gen1) to the new apple pencil (gen2) that seemed to do the trick. They look identical, so I'm not sure what exactly Apple changed and why!!?

Update in my case, the sound disapeared. I dont really know how and why now it stopped, but what I do know is that before going to the store yesterday I whipped/cleaned the screen with an eyeglass cleaner called Omni kleen and also rubbed the tip of the Apple Pencil with my finger and didn’t need to go check my problem at the store cause it was solved. Very strange !

HAD THIS PROBLEM!! Rubbing my hand all over the screen solved, thank you to the comment mentioning to do this!

Temperatured screen protector solves the problem but Apple will be contacting me tomorrow. Having to use one is a band-aid fix. Should not be a problem out of the box. If Apple can’t fix it I’ll be going an alternative route to get my money back. Silly after two replacement units and they won’t acknowledge the fault.

I’ve been in this thread after Zack for a while. The more I talk about it the more I hear people with the same squeaking problem. I am absolutely convinced it is the “oleographic” screen coating that is the problem, whether Apple admits it or not But I have found another problem as I draw. It seems like something builds up on the screen, a little bit of fine lumpish resistance after a minute or so. I have to wipe off the tip and rub the surface with a finger to make it smooth again. (Changing the tip makes no difference.) I’m going to start a new thread about that and see how many more people come out of the woodwork.

When an iPad 5 comes out, probably later this year, I will trade up my brand new iPad 4, take the money loss, and try again. I’m hoping that Apple has gotten enough complaints (that they refused to admit to) that they will change the coating. Hopefully. You can bet that I will hold on to the iPad 4 until I have tested out the screen on a new 5.

To everyone who likes the matt screen protectors… I’m glad they work for you, but I can’t use one because they blur the surface visually just enough that as an illustrator drawing with very fine lines, having the lines blurred defeats the purpose.

The only thing that has worked for me is a tempered glass screen protector. But that’s a band-aid fix. I wish Apple would step up and address the issue. Just sent back my third replacement. Very disappointing since I wanted to be able to use the pencil. I have the magic keyboard and like it but cad modeling and even just scrolling pages is no go with the pencil.