Apple Pencil stop working after 18.0.1 update.

I've been experiencing same issue. I just bough a Second gen Apple pencil and its not working. It pairs to my ipad pro when I connect it magnetically to the side, but the very moment I remove it, it disconnects. Tried all troubleshooting steps and nothing is working.

Same issue yesterday after ios 18 update.

The ipad recognizes the pencil when docked, 100% battery, write for 1 min, then stops writing.

Several forums on reedit with the same problem.

That's a shame.

In 2018, after update ipad pro 10.5, he died. Apple didn't assume any responsability. I'm done with apple products. I'v to work several months to buy my ipad and pencil... Apple didn't care about anyone. Just profit

Please can you look into this it is an update issue. Can i roll back to an earlier update if so how do i do that please. I have tried all the advice below and its not working on two pencils dont tell me the batteries have gone simultaneously on both, mine and my partners. Both pencils working before the update.

Mine also stopped working with the 18.1 iPadOS update. It worked beautifully before I updated it. Come on Apple. Time for a bug fix! Enough people have reported the problem

Me too. It’s working but adhoc. Also when it does it’s skipping parts of the writing. Wish I’d not updated now.

iPad gen 8 and 1st gen pencil

nop.

ios 18.1 released today did worse...now pencil simply don´t work...dead

I've done all of the suggestions (with the exception of vising an Apple Store) and nothing works. Surfing around various communities, this is not a localized situation as there are a ton of people with the same problem. It's only coincidence if it's a few like instances. I stop believing in coincidences when the numbers easily hit double digits and above.

It's a shame that we pay top dollar for something and they don't take these situations more seriously. The pencil is a very important tool for most that use the ipad, especially those of us who use it for work. Lots of people have been having this issue since the iOS 18 update and we were hoping the 18.1 would fix it.

My steps to fix it IPad Air 3:

1. Reboot
2. Remove iPencil from Bluetooth devices
3. Connect iPencil in Lightning port.

I am having the same trouble with my Apple Pencil 2 after OS18.1.1 recently. When I used the pencil on November 10, it was working well (I do not know what version of OS my iPad was on then). This time around, I deliberately updated the system and look what happened. I have been force resetting my iPad about 40 times in the last 24 hours and it has only managed to detect my pencil 4 times.

Finally I spoke to Apple Support and they say that there is a possibility that there is a glitch during a firmware installation, something like that. I am waiting to speak to them on the phone tomorrow. I really hope this can be fixed, I cannot bring myself to buy this same pencil without a good explanation.

Did you solve your problem yet? Please share your solutions.

jaime_rcz arjunaakko Jvarzea kenjivictor BigBubba221

If your iPad and Pencil are not operating as expected, try a forced-restart of your iPad - as this will often clear an isolated or post update 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:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. 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.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to assist with troubleshooting:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

arjunaakko wrote:

I've been experiencing same issue. I just bough a Second gen Apple pencil and its not working. It pairs to my ipad pro when I connect it magnetically to the side, but the very moment I remove it, it disconnects. Tried all troubleshooting steps and nothing is working.

The behaviour that you describe indicates that the Pencil will successfully pair when docked with the iPad. Loss of connection when the Pencil is un-docked would suggest failure of the Pencil's battery.

Be aware that if your Pencil has been set-aside for an extended period, unused and uncharged, the Pencil battery may have been 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.

Gentle warming of the Pencil (such as placing on a hot water radiator), prior to attempting charging of the Pencil, can sometimes resurrect a dead Pencil battery.

Seniora wrote:

Please can you look into this it is an update issue. Can i roll back to an earlier update if so how do i do that please. I have tried all the advice below and its not working on two pencils dont tell me the batteries have gone simultaneously on both, mine and my partners. Both pencils working before the update.

1) First, please understand the Apple Support Community is a user-to-user technical forum. Contributors here are all end-users, just like you. Other than the site Moderators, Apple neither monitor nor participate here. As such, if you hope to reach Apple through these forums, you will be disappointed.

2) Rolling back to an earlier version of iPadOS is not supported. All System Updates are digitally signed by Apple - and can only be installed whilst the digital signatures remain valid. After release of a new iOS/iPadOS version, the immediately preceding version continues to be digitally signed by Apple - however, usually within a few days, Apple will revoke the digital certificate with which the earlier version is signed.

3) You might be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page.

Alternatively, you can initiate and manage your support cases from Apple devices using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to offer assistance:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

I was having a very similar issue. Ever since the ios 18 update I noticed my pen would randomly stop writing on my ipad and I'd have to forget and reconnect the the pencil to fix. Then today, I went to do the same as usual and it connected but I couldn't write on anything, even after forgetting and reconnecting the device. The Apple 2nd gen pencil definitely was charging, definitely had charge, and was definitely connected to my ipad (i could tell all this from the battery management widget), but no touches were being recognized in anywhere.

Enough yapping, here's what I did to fix it:

1. Connect apple pencil magnetically to the ipad, ensure it's connected and recognized as charging
2. While still physically connected to the ipad, forget the pencil in bluetooth settings
3. Force restart the ipad (look up how to do this separately) with the pencil still physically attached
4. Once restarted remove the pencil from the magnetic holder and place it back
5. It should now reconnect, and hopefully function

• This solved my issue and I noticed that the connection animation that happens at the top of the ipad was distinctly faster than when I would connect and it wouldn't work

What I tried before that didn't work:

• I tried these exact steps without the pencil physically attached to the ipad during the force restart and it didn't work
• I tried just a normal bluetooth reset
• I tried letting the pencil fully die and reconnect

My system details are as follows:

• iPad air 4th gen
• ios 18.1.1
• Apple pencil 2nd gen
• All roughly 3 years old and I had never had issues like this before.

My pencil also stopped working after upgrading to 18.1. Pencil connected, double tap working but not writing.

Mine too. The update killing the pencil. T_T