Common Pairing Issues for the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Solutions

Common Pairing Issues (And How to Fix Them)

1. Apple Pencil Not Charging

• Make sure it’s firmly connected.
• Carefully clean both the Pencil connector and iPad port.
  • It is OK to ask the Digital Marin Team for help to clean the Ports if you are not sure how or your attempts do not work.
  • Do not use rubbing alcohol or any other spray cleaners.
  • A lint-free dry cloth is fine.
  • A compressed air canister is fine for the Ports on the iPad & the Apple Pencil.
    • Try blowing it out quickly, like blowing on a candle on a birthday cake, first!
    • Don’t use a paper clip or any other sharp instrument, this may permanently damage the port.
• Try charging for 10 minutes, then reconnect.

2. Bluetooth® Toggle Doesn’t Help

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Network Settings
  • This often clears out stuck Bluetooth® cache.

3. Apple Pencil Not Showing in Bluetooth®

• This is normal. Apple Pencil does not appear under paired Bluetooth devices once connected.

4. Using the Wrong Adapter

• Apple Pencil (1st Gen) needs Apple’s official USB-C adapter if used with iPad (10th and 11th gen).
• Some 3rd-party adapters often fail to trigger the pairing prompt.

5. Pencil Not Responding in Apps

• Check that “Only Draw with Apple Pencil” is turned off in Settings.
• Restart the iPad and try another App like Notes.