Why will my Apple Pencil not connect to my iPad?

The most common cause is a pencil that does not work with that iPad. Check Apple's compatibility list first. Then make sure Bluetooth is on, update iPadOS, take off any case, and let the pencil charge for one minute before you try again.

Do Apple Pencils connect with Bluetooth?

Yes. Every Apple Pencil talks to the iPad over Bluetooth, so Bluetooth has to be on. You do not pick the pencil from a Bluetooth list, though. You pair it by attaching it to the magnetic side or plugging it in.

Which iPad models work with the 1st generation Apple Pencil?

Apple lists iPad (6th through 9th generation), iPad (10th generation), iPad (A16), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation), iPad Pro 10.5-inch and iPad Pro 9.7-inch. The 10th generation and A16 models need the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter.

Why does my Apple Pencil keep disconnecting after I restart my iPad?

If you have Apple Pencil (USB-C) or the 1st generation, that is how Apple built it. Apple says those pencils stay paired until you restart the iPad, turn off Bluetooth or pair with another iPad. Plug the pencil back in to pair it again.

How do I check my Apple Pencil battery?

Go to Settings, then Apple Pencil. You can also add the Batteries widget to your Home Screen. Apple lists both ways for every pencil.

Can I connect an Apple Pencil without plugging it in?

Apple Pencil Pro and the 2nd generation never plug in. They pair when you attach them to the magnetic side of the iPad. The USB-C and 1st generation models need a plug or cable for the first pairing, then you can unplug them.

Four Apple Pencils, Four Ways to Connect Them to an iPad

You just opened the box. You hold the new pencil against the iPad and wait. Nothing. You scribble on the screen and the page scrolls instead of drawing.

Most of the time the fix is a different motion, not a broken pencil. Apple sells four pencils, and each one connects its own way. Find out which one you have, then follow its steps.

Find Out Which Pencil You Have

Look at the pencil itself. Apple's compatibility page shows each one.

Apple Pencil Pro. The name is printed on the pencil, and the end is rounded. It attaches to the long side of the iPad by magnet.
Apple Pencil (2nd generation). It says Apple Pencil on the end. It attaches to the side of the iPad by magnet too.
Apple Pencil (USB-C). It says Apple Pencil on the end. The end slides open to show a USB-C port.
Apple Pencil (1st generation). It has a metal band near the end. The end is a cap that pulls off to show a Lightning plug.

The Pro and the 2nd generation look a lot alike. If the pencil sticks to the iPad but will not pair, check the list below. You may have the right shape on the wrong iPad.

Match the Pencil to Your iPad

This step saves the most time. A pencil that does not work with your iPad will never show a Pair button. Apple's list, as of October 2026, reads like this.

Apple Pencil Pro works with:

iPad Pro 13-inch and 11-inch (M4 and M5)
iPad Air 13-inch and 11-inch (M2, M3 and M4)
iPad mini (A17 Pro)

Apple Pencil (USB-C) works with:

iPad Pro 13-inch and 11-inch (M4 and M5)
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st through 4th generation)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd through 6th generation)
iPad Air 13-inch and 11-inch (M2, M3 and M4)
iPad Air (4th and 5th generation)
iPad (10th generation) and iPad (A16)
iPad mini (6th generation) and iPad mini (A17 Pro)

Apple Pencil (2nd generation) works with:

iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd through 6th generation)
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st through 4th generation)
iPad Air (4th and 5th generation)
iPad mini (6th generation)

Apple Pencil (1st generation) works with:

iPad (6th through 9th generation)
iPad (10th generation) and iPad (A16), with an adapter
iPad mini (5th generation)
iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation)
iPad Pro 10.5-inch and 9.7-inch

Two traps show up again and again. The 2nd generation does not work with any M4 or M5 iPad Pro or any M2, M3 or M4 iPad Air. The Pro does not work with older iPads, even ones that hold a 2nd generation pencil. Apple Pencil (USB-C) is the one pencil that covers almost every recent iPad.

Apple also says the Pro needs iPadOS 17.5 or later, and the USB-C pencil needs iPadOS 17.1.1 or later. Update your iPad in Settings, then General, then Software Update.

Connect Apple Pencil Pro or 2nd Generation

These two connect the same way. Apple's Pro guide and 2nd generation guide give the steps.

Turn on Bluetooth in Settings, then Bluetooth.
Lay the pencil on the magnetic connector on the long side of the iPad. Center it.
Wait a few seconds for the pencil to show on screen.

That is the whole job. The same spot charges the pencil, so leave it there when you are not using it. A case that covers that edge can block both pairing and charging.

Connect Apple Pencil (USB-C)

This one does not pair by magnet. Apple's USB-C guide uses a cable.

Slide open the end of the pencil.
Plug it into the USB-C charge cable that came with your iPad.
Plug the other end of the cable into the iPad.
Tap Tap to Connect when it shows up.
Unplug the cable once it is paired.

Apple says this pencil stays paired until you restart the iPad, turn off Bluetooth, or pair it with another iPad. After any of those, plug it in and tap Tap to Connect again. It is normal, not a fault.

The USB-C pencil charges while it is plugged into the iPad. You can also charge it with the iPad's cable and power adapter.

Connect Apple Pencil (1st Generation)

The first pencil connects through a plug. Apple's 1st generation guide splits it by iPad.

On an iPad with a Home button and a Lightning port:

Pull off the cap.
Plug the pencil into the iPad's Lightning port.
Tap Pair when the button shows up.
Unplug the pencil.

On iPad (10th generation) or iPad (A16):

Pull off the cap.
Plug the pencil into the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter.
Connect the adapter to the iPad with the USB-C charge cable that came with the iPad.
Tap Pair when the button shows up.

Apple's pairing page names the adapter as part MWML3AM. Like the USB-C model, the 1st generation unpairs after a restart, after Bluetooth goes off, or after it pairs with another iPad. Plug it in again to reconnect.

When the Pair Button Never Shows Up

Work down this list in order. It comes from Apple's pairing help page.

Leave the pencil connected and restart the iPad. Try again.
Open Settings, then Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is on.
Look under My Devices. If the pencil is there, tap the info button next to it, then Forget this Device.
Connect the pencil again. The Pair button should show up within a few seconds.
Still nothing? Leave the pencil connected for one minute so it can charge. Then connect it again and wait.
For the Pro or 2nd generation, take off any case or cover and try again.
Make sure the iPad runs the latest iPadOS.

If the button still will not show, Apple says the pencil may need service. A pencil that sat dead in a drawer for a long time may not wake up at all. An Apple Community guide written by a user warns that letting an unused pencil sit at low charge can harm its battery for good.

Check the Battery and Keep It Healthy

Apple gives two ways to see the charge in each guide.

Go to Settings, then Apple Pencil.
Add the Batteries widget to your Home Screen.

The same Apple Community guide adds a few habits that help a pencil last.

Keep a Pro or 2nd generation pencil on the iPad when you are not using it.
Do not store any pencil empty. Charge it before you put it away.
Replace a worn tip before the metal under it shows.
Screw a new tip in snug, not tight.

If the iPad itself will not charge well, the cable may be the weak link. The guide on why a phone charges slowly walks through the same cable and port checks. Before any repair visit, back up your photos and files.

Advice to Ignore

"Find the pencil in your Bluetooth list and tap it." Apple pairs every pencil by touch or by plug. The Bluetooth list is where you forget a pencil, not where you add one.

"Any Apple Pencil works with any iPad." Apple's list proves the opposite. A 2nd generation pencil on a new iPad Air will snap on and do nothing.

"If it drops off after a restart, the pencil is broken." For the USB-C and 1st generation models, Apple says a restart ends the pairing. Plug it back in.

"Keep the case on, it is fine." A thick case on the magnetic edge can stop a Pro or 2nd generation pencil from pairing or charging. Apple's own fix list says to take it off.

From the Inbox

Why will my Apple Pencil not connect to my iPad?: The most common cause is a pencil that does not work with that iPad. Check Apple's compatibility list first. Then make sure Bluetooth is on, update iPadOS, take off any case, and let the pencil charge for one minute before you try again.
Do Apple Pencils connect with Bluetooth?: Yes. Every Apple Pencil talks to the iPad over Bluetooth, so Bluetooth has to be on. You do not pick the pencil from a Bluetooth list, though. You pair it by attaching it to the magnetic side or plugging it in.
Which iPad models work with the 1st generation Apple Pencil?: Apple lists iPad (6th through 9th generation), iPad (10th generation), iPad (A16), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation), iPad Pro 10.5-inch and iPad Pro 9.7-inch. The 10th generation and A16 models need the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter.
Why does my Apple Pencil keep disconnecting after I restart my iPad?: If you have Apple Pencil (USB-C) or the 1st generation, that is how Apple built it. Apple says those pencils stay paired until you restart the iPad, turn off Bluetooth or pair with another iPad. Plug the pencil back in to pair it again.
How do I check my Apple Pencil battery?: Go to Settings, then Apple Pencil. You can also add the Batteries widget to your Home Screen. Apple lists both ways for every pencil.
Can I connect an Apple Pencil without plugging it in?: Apple Pencil Pro and the 2nd generation never plug in. They pair when you attach them to the magnetic side of the iPad. The USB-C and 1st generation models need a plug or cable for the first pairing, then you can unplug them.

Dig Deeper

Apple Support, Apple Pencil compatibility, accessed October 2026
Apple Support, If you cannot pair Apple Pencil with your iPad, accessed October 2026
Apple iPad User Guide, Pair and charge Apple Pencil Pro, accessed October 2026
Apple iPad User Guide, Pair and charge Apple Pencil (2nd generation), accessed October 2026
Apple iPad User Guide, Pair and charge Apple Pencil (USB-C), accessed October 2026
Apple iPad User Guide, Pair and charge Apple Pencil (1st generation), accessed October 2026
Apple Community, Apple Pencil compatibility, pairing, troubleshooting and storage tips, accessed October 2026