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Apple pencil shows connected but is not recognized.

Apple pencil was working fine, then it stopped working. I used quick charge for several minutes, but still no connection.


BLuetooth settings shows it is connected.


Any ideas about what is wrong? How can I tell if the pencil is charged?

Apple Pencil, iOS 9.2

Posted on Jan 7, 2016 2:45 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 28, 2017 1:59 PM

I have the same issue. Tip on tight. Says connected. Battery charged. But the pen stops working. Then it starts working again. I have tried re-pairing it twice, both times fixed the problem for the short term. Although it eventually fails again.

14 replies

Nov 10, 2017 7:15 AM in response to dougfromfredericksburg

Why is no one mentioning the software updates? My Ipad pencil shows connected to blue tooth. Charges up to 100%. However, problems with the pencil did not start until after the last updates. Mine now is 11.1.1 But before the two previous updates my ipad pencil worked just fine. It is after the updates that my ipad pencil started to work sporadically until the point it doesn't work at all. I have tried all of the procedures Apple recommends to connect the pencil. It still does not work. Let's mention updates here.

Mar 22, 2016 5:46 PM in response to dougfromfredericksburg

I Am having the same problem but neither of these suggestions work for me. i know my pencil is nearly fully charged. The tip is on tight. Says it's connected. Still won't respond. This happened to me before and so I took it to the Genius Bar but it mysteriously started working right when I handed it over to the apple technician. But there was no explanation why it stopped working Or how to get it working again.

Dec 3, 2017 3:11 AM in response to dougfromfredericksburg

I started having the same problem. It said connected but the pencil wouldn’t work. I found this solution- Do not use the pop up box to turn on Bluetooth. Go into settings and make sure Bluetooth is turned off. Plug in pencil and quickly turn on Bluetooth. The pad must recognize the pencil from settings instead of the pop up box. Connect if necessary. If it doesnt work the first time try the procedure again. The trick is to turn on and connect from settings instead of the popup box. Since my last update this what is occurring. Yes this is more time consuming tha easily connecting from the quick pop up box but at least my $100 pencil now works!

Feb 15, 2016 8:36 AM in response to Texman72

Texman72,


I finally figured out that the tip on my pencil was loose. Tightened it and that fixed the problem.


i recently had a different problem. While drawing a line the pencil would skip, leaving an irregular dashed line. The pencil was constantly touching the screen, but somehow not applying the mark.


I talked to tech support, after some trouble shooting and still no results, he had me try the pencil on another iPad Pro. On a different iPad Pro the penci skipped. He had me return the pencil sent me a new one.


God Bless


Doug

Sep 4, 2017 6:31 PM in response to dougfromfredericksburg

I had this same problem recently. Was working away and suddenly nothing. I tried all the suggestions here and on Google and was ready to go into Apple ready for a fight because it was JUST out of warranty. I noticed that sometimes It would work if i pushed really hard after giving it a whack. In a last ditch effort to get it working again i changed the tip and it started working again. This defies logic, the old one was screwed in nice and tight. I don't understand how a new tip that looked identical in condition to the old one made a difference but somehow it did. Confused, I put the old one back on thinking it had to be a fluke and sure enough it stopped working again. I have no idea how replacing the tip made it start working but it did. Give it a try?

Oct 21, 2017 6:41 AM in response to camjung84

My pencil wouldn’t work at all after not being used for a while but in a case attached to iPad Pro. It was 100% charged and connected. It finally started working but required extra pressure on the screen and skipped badly. Saw post to replace tip so I did even though tip was like new. Voila! Pencil is working perfectly now! The tip must acquire a charge of some sort after a while (or lose it).

Apple pencil shows connected but is not recognized.

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