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Your apple pencil does not work with you new ios 17 software.

I do not understand why apple would put out a software that would not work with their own accessory devices. I have a apple pencil 2 with an ipad 12.9 pro. I have been using my apple pencil with my ipad with NO problems since I purchased the ipad. I upgraded my ios software and now my pencil does not work. It will connect and charge, but with not interact with the ipad. They really need to fix this problem with the software.

iPad Pro (5th generation)

Posted on Sep 21, 2023 3:02 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Nov 30, 2023 12:48 PM

Hi friends,

iPad 12.9 (6th Gen) here, running iOS 16.7.2, and My Apple Pencil was working all morning when suddenly mid-use it started acting funny.

By “funny” I mean: it would hover and be recognized by the iPad but no tap feature worked. Apps swell when I hover over them, but will not open if I tap them.

  • I unpaired
  • hard reset

…no dice!


  • updated to iOS 17.1.2
  • unpaired again
  • hard reset again

…still nothing!


However I did try the pencil on another device running 16.5.1 - and it works (so it’s not the pencil)


Is this just a bug in the iOS that needs to be fixed? (I find it weird that it happened randomly before the update even occurred.)


Thanks for reading!

72 replies

Dec 23, 2023 3:21 PM in response to EliseCharlene

I have an Apple Pencil first generation that worked fine with iPad ninth generation. It is now not working on iOS 17.2 despite trying all related help topics on re-pairing. I am considering buying a new Apple Pencil first generation thinking current one just bit the dust. Am I correct that is not the solution and must by a new iPad that supports a later generation pencil?!?

Dec 29, 2023 9:22 AM in response to darknight7


I just had this issue. I restarted my iPad Air, backed up, reset, and erased everything, but nothing happened. An Apple Support person told me to remove all my connected Bluetooth devices on the iPad and turn off all the Bluetooth devices that are open nearby. Apparently, that was the main issue. My Apple Pencil connected right away when I did all those steps, then I just paired everything back and turned on other devices. My pencil is working fine now just like before. Hope this works for you.

Jan 11, 2024 5:28 AM in response to EliseCharlene

Same however I do not have another device that I can test my apple pen on. It links to my ipad pro 12.9 like it did before. ITt will not write or do anything other than charge and link. I dropped it and thought I might have broken it so I ordered a new one. I will be extremely upset if I order a new one to find out it was the software all along.

Jan 11, 2024 5:42 AM in response to darknight7

Update:

for anyone who read my original issue - you will know how extremely confusing it was. I brought it to the Genius Bar and confused 4 geniuses as well. No one could understand what was happening or why (quick recap: my pencil wouldn’t work on one iPad but would work on another with a third party nib, but if I swapped the nib to the stock apple tip it no longer worked on anything.)


The Apple team tested multiple iPads and pencils (with alternate tips) and couldn’t find a solution so they just swapped out my pencil and that solved the issue.


Not sure what this all means, but I hope it helps anyone having a similar issue.


Solution: Order a new pencil ✍️ (or have it replaced at the GBAR)

Jan 28, 2024 12:10 AM in response to Cheshire_Pete

Still having this issue. The pen now won’t connect to the iPad at all. It acknowledges it (the “Apple Pencil” text comes up as I place it on the iPad), but never connects.


I had no problems with my iPad and pencil before 17.0.2.


None of the different solutions or newer firmwares have worked for me, I’ve tried everything except wiping the iPad. I’m thinking if this is software related Apple could fix the bug via firmware update.


iPad Pro (3rd gen)

iOS 17.3

Apple Pencil (2nd gen)


I have an appointment at the genius bar today. We will see what they have to say.

Jan 31, 2024 11:42 AM in response to EliseCharlene

Hi guys,


So it seems that the Apple Pencil [Gen 2] that I have is not working with any of the 17.0 and after updates on my M1 iPad Pro 12.9”.


It has been bugging out for some time and i even thought it was the nib.


Now it is not even pairing after the update 17.3.


This is a software issue from what it looks like?


Hopefully they can fix it soon.

Your apple pencil does not work with you new ios 17 software.

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