User profile for user: marilyndw
marilyndw Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

How to charge the Apple Pencil (1st generation)?

I bought a 1st generation apple pencil to pair with my very old but still functional iPad mini. The box contained an extra tip and two flattened plastic tubes, meant to attach to a charger or plug to pair with the ipad, apparently. One is longer than the other. The end of the pencil can attach to one end of the shorter one (looks like the pencil has a male lightning type attachment). The other end of the tube will not accept either a lightning or usb-C cable, however. The size and shape look like USB-c, but it just falls off the cable.


The longer tube - no idea what it is for. The "instructions" are useless.


Is the only way to charge it to plug it directly into my ipad? That would work. But what are these other things for?

iPad Pro

Posted on Nov 5, 2026 1:03 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Phil0124
Phil0124
Community+ 2026
User level: Level 10
242,106 points

Posted on Nov 5, 2026 1:48 PM

Hello,


The first generation pencil charges as you surmised by plugging it into the iPad directly if the iPad has a lightning port.


For the adapters, one can be used to connect the pencil to a regular lightning to USB cable to charge using a regular wall charger, the other is used to plug the Pencil into a newer compatible iPad that has a USB-C port instead of lighting to pair and charge via a USB-C cable.


The longer adapter is the USB-C version, while the shorter one is the Lightning Adapter.

USB-C Adapter:


Lightning Adapter:




You can charge the Pencil by either plugging it directly into the iPad or to a wall charger. Either way should work to charge a Pencil with a working battery.


If the pencil's battery is at 0% and will not charge, it's also possible the battery has failed and can no longer hold a charge. Specially likely if the Pencil was bought used, or has spent a long time in the box since it was manufactured.


The battery in the pencil is very small and can fail if left fully discharged for extended periods of time.


View in context
2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Phil0124
Phil0124
Community+ 2026
User level: Level 10
242,106 points

Nov 5, 2026 1:48 PM in response to marilyndw

Hello,


The first generation pencil charges as you surmised by plugging it into the iPad directly if the iPad has a lightning port.


For the adapters, one can be used to connect the pencil to a regular lightning to USB cable to charge using a regular wall charger, the other is used to plug the Pencil into a newer compatible iPad that has a USB-C port instead of lighting to pair and charge via a USB-C cable.


The longer adapter is the USB-C version, while the shorter one is the Lightning Adapter.

USB-C Adapter:


Lightning Adapter:




You can charge the Pencil by either plugging it directly into the iPad or to a wall charger. Either way should work to charge a Pencil with a working battery.


If the pencil's battery is at 0% and will not charge, it's also possible the battery has failed and can no longer hold a charge. Specially likely if the Pencil was bought used, or has spent a long time in the box since it was manufactured.


The battery in the pencil is very small and can fail if left fully discharged for extended periods of time.


Reply

How to charge the Apple Pencil (1st generation)?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up