Having trouble writing on iPad with Apple Pencil

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Level 1

4 points

Having trouble writing on iPad with Apple Pencil

I have a 5th generation 12.9 iPad Pro and A2051 Apple Pencil. I had been doing a lot of writing mainly on Goodnotes without any issues but lately the word or letter just written will disappear or if I try to write something, nothing appears. If I lift my hand that has been resting on the iPad, return it and start writing again it works fine for a while until the same thing happens again. It has been getting more and more frequent, enough to totally break my writing rhythm. I tried writing something in Apple Notes and had the same problem. I have restarted and re-paired the pencil, to no avail. I have recently changed from writing with the iPad in landscape orientation to portrait and my writing hand rests entirely on the screen. Any suggestions

iPad Pro, iPadOS 16

Posted on Nov 2, 2023 10:56 PM

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Answer 1

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magstar510 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 3, 2023 6:59 PM in response to LotusPilot

Thank you. I haven’t updated to 17 but will do so. In the meantime, in writing about the issue, I realised it has only become a problem since I changed to writing with the iPad in the portrait position. I decided to revert to writing with the iPad in the landscape orientation and hey presto, problem gone. It seems like it might have something to do with the position and pressure of my writing hand on the screen when writing with the iPad in portrait orientation. Thinking back, it was always a similar area of the screen that would present problems… I can write now without glitches but still, it shouldn’t happen…

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Answer 2

Mar 25, 2024 3:36 AM in response to magstar510

I was having the same issue writing in OneNote - then by chance discovered that this doesn’t happen if I have ‘scribble’ (the function that allows you to handwrite and have it convert to typed words in text fields) function turned OFF in settings.

Scribble ON - writing disappears in notes apps, but I can hand write in fields and have it convert to text

Scribble OFF - writing remains in notes apps, but I can’t hand write in fields - I have to use the keyboard to input text.

Hope that helps any that are having the same issue - it was driving me spare!

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Answer 3

LotusPilot

Level 10

309,443 points

Nov 3, 2023 9:51 AM in response to magstar510

Have you updated your iPad to iPadOS17? Was this issue also noted in iPadOS16?

If you have already updated your iPad to iPadOS17, try a forced restart - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
Press and hold the top button.
When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)

Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

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Having trouble writing on iPad with Apple Pencil

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