You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Apple Pencil 1st Generation will not work.

I got my Apple Pencil 1st Gen May 24, 2020. It worked well for a while but now the pencil will not write on the IPad. It says it is connected to Bluetooth but it won't write on the IPad when I use Procreate or an App Note. I have tried to change out the tips and unscrew and screw the tips back on but nothing is working. I think the battery might be bad so I ordered a new Pencil. I was wondering if can still get help with the old one. Do you think it's the pencil or IPads fault?

iPad Air 3, iPadOS 14

Posted on Mar 26, 2021 11:59 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 26, 2021 12:26 PM

If the new Pencil works, you'll know the problem is with the old Pencil, not the iPad. The Pencil comes with a one year warranty, so contact Apple for assistance.


Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

5 replies

Mar 26, 2021 4:54 PM in response to Mag2535

You cannot store Apple Pencils for any prolonged period of time and NOT keep them charged up to some level.

If your Apple Pencil/s sat around unused or unopened and not kept charged up for more than a few weeks, or so, OR

LONGER, then the battery in your Apple Pencil may have failed and is dead and you will have to purchase another

brand new Apple Pencil or get, if still under warranty, a free replacement Pencil from Apple.


Sorry.


And it looks like some things about the Apple Pencil have NOT changed in the new version 2 model, either.


FYI and something Apple will never, EVER divulge to it potential iPad Pro/Apple Pencil customers/users unless the potential customer/user is smart enough to ask about,


Due to the “always on and active/standby” nature of the Apple Pencil and, also, due to its very tiny rechargeable Li-

ion battery ( smaller than the eraser head on a REAL wooden pencil ), the Apple Pencil needs to be constantly charged up to some significant charge level ALL THE TIME, even when not using the Pencil for prolonged periods of time.


The Apple Pencil needs to be kept charged to a minimum of 5-10% all the time.


If the Apple Pencil battery is allowed to drain down to 0% and allowed to stay in that flat condition for more than a few weeks, or so, OR EVEN LONGER, that very tiny little Li-ion battery is too small to keep at a 0% state for a long period of time and it will fail and the Apple Pencil will be dead and you may have to “pop” for another $99 Apple Pencil, once again!


Apple only has a one-year warranty on any Apple accessory items.


You need to keep your Apple Pencil charged all the time, even if it is only to 10%-15% charge. It must keep some charge level in that tiny Lithium-ion battery at all times!



One last ditch thing you can try is to plug the Pencil's Lightning connector into the iPad.

Then, try a simple hard reset of your iPad by holding down both the Home and sleep/wake buttons simultaneously until your iPad goes to black and restarts with Apple logo, then release the buttons.


See if the Pencil starts charging then, when it reaches a sufficient charge, like over 15%, or so, or more, disconnect the Pencil and reconnect it to see if it Bluetooth pairs.

If it does pair, try using it.


Someone else posted another possible idea/solution that you can try before completely giving up on your Apple Pencil.

Try heating up your Pencil using a hair dryer on its highest setting for 5-10 minutes.

Do not get the hair dryer heat too close to the Pencil.

Or try leaving it near an active home heating register, where you live, for 10-15 minutes, or so.

See if this will revive the Apple Pencil battery, or not.


If still no joy, your Pencil is definitely dead.



Sorry and Best of Luck to You!

Apple Pencil 1st Generation will not work.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.