My 1st gen Pencil Won’t pair with my 10th gen iPad

When trying to pair the first generation Apple Pencil with the iPad10, are you using the special Apple USB-C to Lightning adapter to connect the USB-C/USB-C cable supplied with the iPad? If not, this may the source of your difficulty.

• USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter

https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/MQLU3ZM/A

While this special adapter is included in the box of new first generation Apple Pencils, some older stock Pencils may not have this adapter in the box - but will instead include a Lightning/Lightning adapter.

The first generation Pencil is paired using the wired connection between the iPad and Pencil.

Otherwise, this support page may be helpful with pairing and use of the Pencil with your iPad:

Connect Apple Pencil with your iPad - Apple Support

If you continue to experience difficulties, here is one of the better troubleshooting guides:

https://appletoolbox.com/apple-pencil-not-working-heres-our-troubleshooting-guide/

Be aware that if your Pencil has been set-aside for an extended period, unused and uncharged, the Pencil battery may now be irretrievably damaged through deep discharge. In common with all Li-ion batteries, they must always have some level of charge.

The tiny internal Li-ion battery is susceptible to permanent/irreversible damage through being left discharged for long periods. Even some “new” pencils can exhibit signs of failure out-of-the-box if they are “old stock”. 

It is essential that if you have an Apple Pencil that you charge it regularly - whether used or not - so as to protect the battery from deep-discharge. Do not allow a pencil to remain in low-charge state for any period of time - as the internal battery will fail, rendering the Pencil useless. Setting aside an unused Pencil, for extended periods, is a recipe for premature death of the Pencil battery.

If the Pencil Battery has failed, the only remedy is to replace the Pencil. If the battery has failed and your pencil is within its one-year warranty, you should look to having it replaced by your retailer or at an Apple Store.

Some reports suggest that gentle warming of the Pencil (such as a hot water radiator) prior to attempting charging of the Pencil can resurrect a Pencil battery.

Did you purchase the new $9 U.S.D. USB-C to Lightnng adapter and have you made sure the correct end of this adapter is plugged in to your iPad charge cable and the correct adspter end plugged into your Pencil?

The adqpter that comes in the Apple Pencil box is THE WRONG adapter for this new 10th gen iPad.

That adapter is for older iPad models that still use Apple's Lightnng port/connector.

You need to purchase this adapter below.

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MQLU3AM/A/usb-c-to-apple-pencil-adapter

The sooner you purchase this adapter, the sooner you can start using your 1st gen Apple Pencil witn your new 10th gen iPad.

Best of Luck to You!

You are very welcome. While “old“ and “new” stock first generation Pencils remain in circulation, this may be a continuing problem.

Every iPad with a Lightning connector, that supports the first generation Apple Pencil, requires the original Lightning/Lightning adapter. The iPad10 uniquely requires the new Lightning/USB-C adapter. Nobody wants to get home with the correct Pencil and the wrong charging adapter. For those that do, its another trip to and Apple Store to buy the correct “special” adapter…

It came with a lightning to lightning adapter and I have a usb-c to lightning cable. I have it hooked up but it doesn’t see it. I’ve rebooted a few times and it doesn’t recognize it.

Thank you kindly! I’ll get the correct adapter.

Thank You! My pencil came with the wrong adapter, I’ll need to get the correct one.