Level 1

37 points

Disable Apple Pencil automatic drawing

Is there a way to disable automatic drawing with the Apple Pencil.

I purchased the Pencil to use mostly as a navigation tool, so I do not always touch the wrong thing with my fat fingers. I find it very frustrating when iOS creates a new note whenever I want to clear a notification and don‘t think of using my finger instead of the Pencil. It is also extremely annoying that the just updated Numbers, Pages and Keynote apps now implemented automatic drawing without the possibility of turning that behaviour off. I use Numbers a lot, and navigating with the Pencil was great to use check boxes and place the cursor in the desired location within cells for editing. Now, it has become a useless tool within the apps that I use the most!!

I just realized today that automatic drawing can be disabled in the Notes app, why is this not available in the other apps? There should also be an option (in Accessibility?) that allows users to turn off automatic drawing and Notes creation! Users who want automatic drawing in apps could still be able to enable that behaviour in the individual apps’ settings.

Please fix this ASAP (or tell me where the settings can be changed to stop that very frustrating behaviour)!

iPad Pro Wi-Fi, iOS 11.2.6, Apple Pencil

Posted on Mar 27, 2018 4:17 PM

Top-ranking reply

Stacey_Undead

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Feb 1, 2019 12:45 AM

Way late to the party here, but for those who come here looking - like I did and didn't find the answer. Go into settings, scroll to the app you are using, in my case it was keynote, and then select 'Select and scroll with Apple Pencil' :)

View in context

110 replies

Aug 9, 2018 1:01 PM in response to BBengel

BBengel wrote:

You make it seem like a pencil and stylus are two inherently different products, that cannot be combined into one.

They certainly can. But, in this case, they were not. Let Apple know that you'd like to see them do something different:

Product Feedback - Apple

Oct 4, 2018 10:52 AM in response to christianfromheuringhem

christianfromheuringhem wrote:

Since this problem exist, it seems that Apple sees no interest in allowing an optionnal drawing usage of the pencil in Numbers.

For me Numbers has lost a lot of interest on iPad.

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

Mar 27, 2018 6:10 PM in response to f1major

They need to fix this ASAP I also use it for a nav tool why would you want to draw on spreadsheets. DOPE.

Mar 28, 2018 12:28 AM in response to MichelPM

This is beside the point. Even for those people who use the Apple Pencil for both drawing and navigation, having the drawing feature activate automatically is a huge flaw in its design.

Mar 28, 2018 2:57 AM in response to f1major

I suffer from this new feature toooooo!!!! So annoying!!!!

By the way, I have just sent a feedback to Apple. Hope they will fix this ASAP!!!

BBengel

Level 1

8 points

Jul 22, 2018 12:59 AM in response to jonathanfromwexford

We now have a solution for Pages/Numbers/Keynote, but the situation for Notes and for Files and Mail (opening any pdf file) still remains unchanged and uses the pencil for drawing only.

Dec 10, 2018 11:03 PM in response to jchalfant.com

There’s a way to disable it. Go to your settings app and follow the Numbers, Pages, or Keynote sections. Elect to have the Pencil be used for navigating.

Mar 29, 2018 12:03 PM in response to f1major

Just bought a Apple Pencil 3 days ago for my iPad Pro now it draws in numbers instead of allowing me to press on options, if this is a permanent option can i get my money back?

i did not buy it to draw on a spreadsheet or in a document

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 31, 2018 4:52 AM in response to christianfromheuringhem

Use your fingers for navigation for now.

You are using a touch screen device, after all.

What’s the difference if you poke at the screen with stylus or use your finger/s to poke at the screen for navigation?

Mar 31, 2018 5:10 AM in response to MichelPM

I have not big fingers, but with the pencil, it is easier and faster to poke a single case in Numbers without zooming a lot.

It is a question of comfort on my 10.5 iPad Pro.

Until it is possible to desactivate automatic drawing, i will limit the use of my pencil to applications that justify it.

Mar 31, 2018 4:59 PM in response to MichelPM

As a consumer, we are allowed to buy whatever we want. In my case, the Apple Pencil came free with my iPad due to a promotion. I use it to write notes for class (I’m not a drawer) but when I want to flip between writing notes and making a slideshow, it shouldn’t assume I want to draw on a slide. But please don’t criticize someone for spending whatever they want on a stylus. $99 might be a lot for some people and not justifiable, but for others it’s not a big deal.

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 31, 2018 5:12 PM in response to brennanmuir

Since I wasn’t addressing you, as your post came much later in this conversation, why do you care/feel compelled to comment about something that did not apply to you?

My questions and inquiries were to two of the Original Posters who stated that they only used their Apple Pencils for just navigation.

So, if you didn’t like my comments, why did you mark my post as helpful as it, obviously, was not helpful and did not apply to you, at all!

Thanks for the points, anyways!

f1major Author

Level 1

37 points

Mar 31, 2018 5:51 PM in response to MichelPM

Sorry, MichelPM but you are taking this much too personal and seem to be using this forum to express your opinions on what others expect from products and applications! We know full well that we can use our fingers, the fact that we prefer to use the Apple Pencil is not for you to judge! Your identification header shows you as level 7, I don’t know how those levels are assigned but it can’t be for the level of technical support that you provide to the members of the community because I haven’t seen a single helpful comment from you of the several that you have posted on this thread!! I guess the level is be assigned purely on quantity of posts, and you seem very gifted at that! You mentioned a couple of times that the proper place to address the shortcomings of features or apps is in Apple’s feedback pages. The problem with these is that feedback only goes one way, it is like sending messages into a black hole! The community forums, on the other hand, helps people who write on them feel that they are not the only ones thinking that something is not right and it encourages users to voice their insatisfaction with apps and products. Don’t try to belittle us for voicing our opinion!

Mar 31, 2018 6:10 PM in response to MichelPM

Didn’t mean to mark it as helpful, that was my mistake. But, you’re welcome!

Secondly, isn’t that how a forum works? People can jump in and voice their opinions? I didn’t see what compelled you to criticize other people’s purchases but that’s your opinion, so I shared my own.

Have a good day 🙂

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 31, 2018 11:31 PM in response to brennanmuir

No.

I asked questions related or respond to the information given and my queries and responses may seem to you to be an opinion,but if you read the way I, typically, respond here, as it should be, the answers are always referenced in a technical support nature/context and not, always and necessarily “voiced” as my own opinion.

These Apple Technical Support Communities are NOT a “socializing” platform for product opinions and conversations about Apple or Apple products.

These are for technical support of an Apple product with some leeway in the types of responses allowed here by the ASC staff moderators.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Disable Apple Pencil automatic drawing