My Apple Pencil gen 1 won’t pair with my iPad 10th gen

Just purchased an apple pencil gen 1, and it won’t pair with my 10th gen ipad. I have followed youtube set up help and all ot says is it is not compatible….


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 13, iOS 18

Posted on Mar 13, 2025 8:38 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 14, 2025 9:30 AM

Start here:

Pair and charge Apple Pencil (1st generation) with iPad - Apple Support


Apple Pencils are not interchangeable; each can only be used with specific iPad models:

Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support


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.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 14, 2025 9:30 AM in response to KHeather

Start here:

Pair and charge Apple Pencil (1st generation) with iPad - Apple Support


Apple Pencils are not interchangeable; each can only be used with specific iPad models:

Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support


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.

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My Apple Pencil gen 1 won’t pair with my iPad 10th gen

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