Newsroom Update
Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, matching watch face, and dynamic iOS and iPadOS wallpapers as a way to champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities. Learn more >
Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, matching watch face, and dynamic iOS and iPadOS wallpapers as a way to champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities. Learn more >
Announcement
Introducing the iPad Pro with Apple M4 chip, the redesigned iPad Air in two sizes, and the all‑new Apple Pencil Pro. Watch the event >
Introducing the iPad Pro with Apple M4 chip, the redesigned iPad Air in two sizes, and the all‑new Apple Pencil Pro. Watch the event >
My biggest concern is why Apple hasn't addressed why they chose not to warn their customers on purchase that an idle/uncharged 1st gen apple pencil will die and become unfixable if not kept charged up!?
Prior to this issue, when was the last time your Pencil was charged up and used?
Did your Pencil EVER lay around unused for ANY prolonged period of time without being charged up and ready to use?
Your Pencil battery has failed and your Pencil is dead.
Sorry.
You cannot store and/or NOT use Pencils for any prolonged period of time and NOT keep them charged up to some level.
If your Pencil/s sat around unused or unopened and not kept charged up for more than a few weeks, or so, OR
EVEN LONGER, then the battery in your Pencil may have failed and is dead and you will have to purchase another
brand new Pencil or get, if still under warranty, a free replacement Pencil from Apple.
Sorry.
And it looks like some things about the Pencil have NOT changed in the new version 2 model, either.
Due to the “always on and active/standby” nature of the Pencil and, also, due to its very tiny rechargeable Li-
ion battery ( smaller than the eraser head on a REAL wooden pencil ), the 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.
Apple and Apple stores will NOT simply and voluntarily just divulge this information unless a potential customer is smart enough about technology to ask.
The Pencil needs to be kept CONSTANTLY charged to a minimum of 5-10%, OR GREATER, all the time!
If the 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 Pencil will be dead and you may have to “pop” for another $99/$129 Pencil, once again!
Apple only has a one-year warranty on any Apple accessory items.
You need to keep your Pencil CONSTANTLY charged up 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.
OR
Put your Pencil 2 atop the magnetic charging edge of your iPad.
Then, try the new hard reset procedure for the 2018/2020 iPad Pro/iPad Air 4 models without a Home button.
1. Press and release the volume UP button.
2. Then immediately press and release the volume DOWN button.
3. Then, press and hold the Power button at the top. You will see the Slide to Power off button, but keep on holding down the Power button until you see the Apple logo, then let it go.
Once you have performed all the steps, wait for a few seconds and your iPad Pro will boot up completely to the iPad Pro’s Lock screen.
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.
You can also try gently warming up your entire Pencil for a few minutes wrapped in a damp dry warm/hot face cloth/towel to warm up the entire Pencil for a few attempts/minutes.
Test the Pencil, again.
If still no joy, your Pencil is definitely dead.
Sorry and Best of Luck to You!
Prior to this issue, when was the last time your Pencil was charged up and used?
Did your Pencil EVER lay around unused for ANY prolonged period of time without being charged up and ready to use?
Your Pencil battery has failed and your Pencil is dead.
Sorry.
You cannot store and/or NOT use Pencils for any prolonged period of time and NOT keep them charged up to some level.
If your Pencil/s sat around unused or unopened and not kept charged up for more than a few weeks, or so, OR
EVEN LONGER, then the battery in your Pencil may have failed and is dead and you will have to purchase another
brand new Pencil or get, if still under warranty, a free replacement Pencil from Apple.
Sorry.
And it looks like some things about the Pencil have NOT changed in the new version 2 model, either.
Due to the “always on and active/standby” nature of the Pencil and, also, due to its very tiny rechargeable Li-
ion battery ( smaller than the eraser head on a REAL wooden pencil ), the 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.
Apple and Apple stores will NOT simply and voluntarily just divulge this information unless a potential customer is smart enough about technology to ask.
The Pencil needs to be kept CONSTANTLY charged to a minimum of 5-10%, OR GREATER, all the time!
If the 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 Pencil will be dead and you may have to “pop” for another $99/$129 Pencil, once again!
Apple only has a one-year warranty on any Apple accessory items.
You need to keep your Pencil CONSTANTLY charged up 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.
OR
Put your Pencil 2 atop the magnetic charging edge of your iPad.
Then, try the new hard reset procedure for the 2018/2020 iPad Pro/iPad Air 4 models without a Home button.
1. Press and release the volume UP button.
2. Then immediately press and release the volume DOWN button.
3. Then, press and hold the Power button at the top. You will see the Slide to Power off button, but keep on holding down the Power button until you see the Apple logo, then let it go.
Once you have performed all the steps, wait for a few seconds and your iPad Pro will boot up completely to the iPad Pro’s Lock screen.
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.
You can also try gently warming up your entire Pencil for a few minutes wrapped in a damp dry warm/hot face cloth/towel to warm up the entire Pencil for a few attempts/minutes.
Test the Pencil, again.
If still no joy, your Pencil is definitely dead.
Sorry and Best of Luck to You!
All rechargeable batteries, regardless of battery chemistry, require maintenance through periodic charging. In this regard, the battery within the Apple Pencil is no different to any other device that is powered by an internal battery.
Where the Apple Pencil differs from larger devices, such as iPad and iPhone, is the size of the battery. The Pencil Battery is tiny - and can hold only a tiny fraction of the total charge of much larger batteries. It is perhaps for this reason that the Pencil may appear to be more susceptible to battery failure than other devices. That said, be under no illusion that your larger devices, if left uncharged for long periods, can suffer the same consequence of battery failure.
Thank you for your really comprehensive (and kindly apologetic) reply MichelPM.
It is a bitter pill to swallow knowing Apple knows the shortcomings of these tools but withholds the information unless pressed.
This is surely a consumer rights issue as I would assume it's vital information for the customer that should surely be apparent at purchase so the item can remain fit for purpose and it's battery life lasts as long as possible?
I also really appreciate the warning that the 2 gen pencil is susceptible to the same problem as I have recently acquired a new iPad with said pencil and shall now micromanage it's charging levels.
Thank you very much.
Why has my 1st gen Apple Pencil battery died after 3 uses and a couple of charges?
