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

For how long did you use the Pencil 2nd gen with iPad Pro 12.9” 3rd gen? Just fiddling around with it for a few minutes doesn’t prove anything. Mine can work too for a while.

Assuming that everyone’s pencil 2nd gen or iPad Pro 3rd gen magically broke as iOS 17.0.2 was released is as far fetched as thinking hitting the pencil hard on a table will fix this.

This is software related and Apple needs to fix it.

CaTorgie wrote:

I have nearly the same issue with an air m2 and a second gen pencil

never have been able to pair them

Correct. The second generation Apple Pencil is not compatible with the iPad Air M2 or iPad Pro M4. Your iPad Air M2 supports either the Apple Pencil Pro, or the USB-C Pencil.

Here is Apple’s definitive compatibility list for Apple Pencil and iPad:

Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support

Different models of Apple Pencil use entirely different pairing and charging interfaces.

The second generation Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro can only be used with iPad models that have a magnetic/inductive dock that is exclusively designed for the Pencil. Automatic charging and pairing of these Pencils is controlled by the iPad's magnetic dock.

While the second generation Pencil and Pencil Pro both use inductive charging/pairing, the inductive-coupling components that charge the Pencils are positioned differently - this being necessary to accommodate camera hardware used in 2024 models of iPad Pro and iPad Air.

The USB-C Pencil is compatible with all models of iPad that also feature a USB-C port.

In summary, the Apple Pencil models are not interchangeable - and can only be used with the iPad that has appropriate internal hardware.

Thanks MrHoffman. Just for fun, to add to the confusion I need to explain further:

• my Apple Pencil is not working on my iPad (which has been restarted, etc)
• however my pencil does work on my wife’s iPad
• And her Apple Pencil works on my iPad

So… somehow only MY Pencil doesn’t work on MY iPad hahaha I’m going to check myself into a looney bin!

We were going to swap pencils but my pencil has a special nib on the end (one that my wife does not like) so I said “no problem” let me put your nib, on my pencil (since my pencil works on her iPad) but when I swap the nib the pencil then does not work on her iPad. It only works with MY nib (the one she doesn’t like)… there is no consistency here and I’m at a loss lol.

Going to go in and talk to the Genius Bar.

Perhaps this issue plagues the 3rd gen iPad. It has actually gotten worse. Since the iPad disconnects from the pencil, the battery of both the pencil and iPad lowers quicker since they're both spending a lot of the time searching.

This was not an issue before 17.0.2.

Since I don't have any warranty left for the iPad or pencil, contacting the Apple support won't help me either.

[Edited by Moderator] 

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)

I’ve just updated to 17.3 and my 2nd Gen pencil now doesn’t work! Same symptoms as above, simply won’t appear in Bluetooth. I’ve tried everything other than a complete wipe of the iPad. Still works on my partners iPad who’s still on 17.2!

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.

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.

After all the upgrades my apple pencil 2 does not work with my ipad pro 11, unlike before, there was no problem using it. I unpaired all my bluetooth devices and reconnected to my wifi, but nothing. When the bluetooth is off, and i connect my pencil to the magnetic connection, there is a prompt to “tap to connect” but nothing happens after tapping. When i remove the pencil and replace it while bluetooth is on, the “tap to reconnect” prompt does not appear, just apple pencil.

Same problem here. iPad 12,9 Pro 3rd gen, Apple Pencil 2nd gen, iOS 17.0.3. I had high hopes the new update would fix this. Forgetting and reconnecting the pencil works only temporary, just as a reboot of the iPad. I had no problems with my iPad and pencil before 17.0.2.

After using the pencil with update 17.0.3 for most of a day now I’m sad to say the iPad on several occasions refuses to acknowledge the pencil when I place it on the iPad to try to reconnect it after the iPad as disconnected from it. Can this be fixed now, please…

I am on the latest iPad Air and it works fine for me, so this isn’t intentional on Apple’s side. Try force restarting iPad. If that doesn’t work, contact Apple support. Also, how often do you replace your pencil tip? Apple Pencil may just have a very worn out tip and stopped working by coincidence when you updated.

Fernie8999 wrote:

New iOS 17 update makes using your Apple Pencil 1 obsolete and drawing on older generation tablets impossible. Which means I’ll have to replace a whole tablet and get a new Apple Pencil? This was confirmed to me by geek squad.

False. iOS 17 does not obsolete Pencil first gen.

Apple is presently actively selling three Pencil models, including 1st gen: Apple Pencil - Apple

Fernie8999 wrote:

Just because they’re selling them doesn’t mean they’ll work. Even if I bought a new Apple Pencil 1 it won’t work on the iPad Pro 10.5 model. They intentionally put software that will make the pencil stop working.

That would usually mean an issue with the Apple Pencil 1st generation, or potentially with the iPad Pro itself.

Supported configurations: Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support

As a new Apple Pencil purchase has a warranty from Apple, contact Apple Support.

If this is an older Pencil purchased used, it’s quite possible the Pencil was damaged, or its battery has been depleted, potentially irrevocably.

If deprecation were true, we’d be awash in reports and questions and complaints.

darknight7 wrote:

…

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.)

If this is Pencil USB-C or Pencil 2nd gen, then force a restart and check again, then un-pair and re-pair the Pencil and check again, then contact Apple Support.

So I can’t ask what gen of iPad this happens to? That’s not a poll. That’s trying to find out the problem.