Is it normal to have to re-pair new fully charged usb-c pencil (ipad air m3) every time the ipad is shut down?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Usb-c pencil pairing
iPad Air, iPadOS 26
Harp596 wrote:
I have to re-pair my new USB-C pencil literally every 10-20 seconds. My iPad is open and I set the pen down for 5 seconds, and I have to re-pair the pen before I can use it again. This means plugging the pen into the charger each and every time. You can’t use the pen unless you have access to a plug. It’s a terrible design and Apple does not disclose this to you when you purchase the pen.
As described, your Pencil's rechargeable battery has failed.
Be aware that if your Pencil has been set-aside for an extended period, possibly 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.
Harp596 wrote:
I have to re-pair my new USB-C pencil literally every 10-20 seconds. My iPad is open and I set the pen down for 5 seconds, and I have to re-pair the pen before I can use it again. This means plugging the pen into the charger each and every time. You can’t use the pen unless you have access to a plug. It’s a terrible design and Apple does not disclose this to you when you purchase the pen.
As described, your Pencil's rechargeable battery has failed.
Be aware that if your Pencil has been set-aside for an extended period, possibly 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.
After a full shut-down, it is often necessary to re-pair an Apple Pencil with the host iPad.
Unless you intend to leave an iPad unused for many days, there is no tangible or technical benefit in shutting down your iPad. Many tasks that would otherwise normally run in the background when the iPad is idle (such as automatic backup to iCloud - or file system optimisation) won't have opportunity to run.
When idle and locked, with the screen extinguished, your iPad uses very little power. Depending upon configuration, typical battery use will be in the region of 5-10% over 24hrs.
If your iPad is not operating as expected, 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:
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 test and assess your iPad and Pencil. If a fault is identified, you'll be in the best possible place to explore your available options:
I have to re-pair my new USB-C pencil literally every 10-20 seconds. My iPad is open and I set the pen down for 5 seconds, and I have to re-pair the pen before I can use it again. This means plugging the pen into the charger each and every time. You can’t use the pen unless you have access to a plug. It’s a terrible design and Apple does not disclose this to you when you purchase the pen.
I used the wrong term. I seldom shut down the ipad, but when I close the cover and/or when auto lock shuts the screen down, I have to re-pair the pencil when restarting.
I keep it charged, so this is not a matter of a deep discharge. Rather a poor quality product.
Repeated pairing of USB-C Pencil with iPad Air after shutdown
