What Do I Do If My Apple Pencil Keeps Disconnecting (Answered!)

The Apple Pencil has made using an iPad so much easier. You no longer have to worry about your fingers messing up what you are working on. It adds precision to the process and ensures that what you are working on is accurate, more than a traditional stylus. One problem that many Apple Pencil users encounter is that it will constantly disconnect.

While you are researching Apple Pencil questions, <– bookmark our Apple category and be sure to save these popular topics for further reading: Why Is Double Tap Not Working On Apple Pencil?, Can One Apple Pencil Be Used On Two IPads?, and What iPads Work With Apple Pencil (And Which DO NOT!)

If your Apple Pencil keeps disconnecting, there are several things you can do to troubleshoot the problem. Most of them are easily fixable and won’t require you to buy a new Apple Pencil or take too much time stressing about how to reconnect your Apple Pencil.

Reconnecting an Apple Pencil is easy, but most difficulties come in finding out exactly why the Apple Pencil is disconnecting. Once you understand why your Apple Pencil is disconnecting, you can easily solve and reconnect the problem.

Reasons Why an Apple Pencil Disconnects

As with most forms of technology, you’re going to experience some glitches and setbacks. The Apple Pencil is not immune to this.

Thankfully, troubleshooting guides like this make it easy to solve difficulties when you use an Apple Pencil, you’re not only depending on the product itself to function properly, but you’re also depending on another tech to work correctly, such as Bluetooth.

Not all Apple Pencils are compatible with all Apple devices, so be sure to check the product specifications before purchasing.

When you’re using an Apple Pencil, there are some reasons as to why it will disconnect. Here are the following reasons:

1. The Bluetooth isn’t turned on.
2. There’s a Bluetooth connection issue.
3. The Apple Pencil’s battery is dead.
4. The Apple Pencil has a physical problem, such as the tip being damaged or loose.

Once you figure out why your Apple Pencil is disconnecting, follow the helpful steps below to get reconnected.

How to Reconnect an Apple Pencil

Once you know why it’s disconnected, reconnecting an Apple Pencil is a simple task. If you can’t figure out exactly what happened to the connection, you can surely go through each of these steps to reconnect your Apple Pencil to your iPad to get it working properly. 

Bluetooth pairing Issues

One of the most common reasons that an Apple Pencil will disconnect from the iPad is that there are problems with the Bluetooth. The most common issue is that it isn’t turned on. 

First, make sure that the Bluetooth on your iPad is on. To do this, open your settings and select “Bluetooth”. Then, toggle the switch on. After that, ensure that the Apple Pencil is able to be paired with the iPad. You may need to “forget device” and try pairing it again for this to work.

Another thing that could happen with a Bluetooth issue is that you might think your Apple Pencil is connected when it’s not. When you go into your settings and Bluetooth, select “Devices”.

The Apple Pencil should show up. You should plug the Apple Pencil into the Lightning Port if it doesn’t appear. This will help the iPad to recognize the Apple Pencil.

Battery Issues

Another common reason the Apple Pencil will keep on disconnecting from your iPad is that the battery on the Apple Pencil is dying or dead. 

To check the battery level on your Apple Pencil, you need to plug in your Apple Pencil to your iPad and open the “Today View”. You will see the Apple Pencil’s charge status where the charge status of other connected devices is, such as Apple AirPods.

If the battery level for your Apple Pencil is low, plug it into your iPad or with a USB power adapter. If your Apple Pencil doesn’t charge, you must replace it.

Apple Pencil Tip Issues

Having an issue with the tip of your Apple Pencil can also cause it to disconnect. There are a couple of issues that the Apple Pencil’s tip can have, including becoming too loose or being worn down.

It’s also possible that a screen protector may interfere with the Apple pencil nib. However, if you’ve never had an issue with it before, it may be more likely that Apple Pencil compatibility is at fault.

If the tip of the Apple Pencil is loose, tighten it back to normal. You will know if it is loose if it is falling off the Apple Pencil or wiggling when you are using it.

It is normal for the Apple Pencil’s tip to wear away with use. It will happen more frequently with certain screen protectors and how hard you push on the iPad’s surface. If the tip is worn down, you can easily buy a replacement tip to help your Apple Pencil work properly. 

Restart the iPad

Sometimes a device won’t work or connect properly for no obvious reason. Usually, when this happens, you should try restarting the devices. This is a common fix for most devices that have a Bluetooth connection, including cars, phones, and AirPods.  

Restart your iPad to give a fresh start for the Apple Pencil to connect properly. Sometimes you may have to reset it a couple of times for the pairing to work. You can restart your iPad by:

1. Press and hold the top button and volume up button until the power slider appears on the screen.
2. Power down the iPad. It will take thirty seconds to restart.

If the power slider doesn’t appear or you can’t slide it into the off position, you will need to do a force restart on your iPad. This happens when the iPad is frozen.

To do this, you will have to press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button, and then press and hold the top button. Power on your iPad and try reconnecting your Apple Pencil.

Further Help

If none of the above steps work to reconnect your Apple Pencil to your iPad, consider contacting Apple Support for further assistance. An Apple representative may be able to better help you.

You also might need to replace your Apple Pencil. The Apple Pencil has a one-year warranty, just like all Apple accessories.

If you’re consistently frustrated by your Apple pencil’s pairing, you can look into what other pens work with Apple iPad to find one that works better for you.

Conclusion

If you are using an Apple Pencil, you are depending on it to work precisely how you need it to, however, sometimes it may disconnect from your iPad.

Following several steps will surely help you reconnect your Apple Pencil to your iPad within no time and with very little hassle.

Related Content You May Find Interesting

Here are some more articles that may be of interest to you if you have an Apple Pencil.