Apple Pencil won’t charge? – 7 Solutions for both (1st and 2nd Gen)

When you attach your Apple Pencil to your iPad and it stays at 0% or gets stuck at 1%, even after charging for hours, it usually means that the iPad can see the Pencil, but the Pencil’s battery isn’t working properly. This error often happens when the battery inside the Apple Pencil is completely drained and can no longer hold a charge. The iPad may show that it’s “charging,” but the percentage never goes up.

The most common reason for this is leaving the Apple Pencil unused for too long with an empty battery, which can damage it. Other reasons include the Pencil being exposed to cold temperatures or being dropped, both of which can hurt the battery’s health.

Before you get started, make sure to remove any stickers or cases from the Apple Pencil. These can interfere with the magnetic charging function. Also, check if your iPad is compatible with your Apple Pencil—not every Apple Pencil can be charged with every iPad.

Before Troubleshooting: Check Compatibility & Charging Methods

Start by checking which Apple Pencil is compatible with your iPad.

Apple Pencil 1st Generation

The 1st Generation Apple Pencil is compatible with:

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation)
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th generation)

You can charge it:

• Directly through your iPad’s Lightning connector
• Using a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter connected to a device or wall outlet

Apple Pencil 2nd Generation

The 2nd Generation Apple Pencil works with:

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
• iPad Air (4th generation and later)

It can only be charged using the magnetic strip on the side of your iPad.

1. Force Restart the iPad

Sometimes, your iPad can’t charge the Apple Pencil because of a glitch between the charging modules. Force restarting your iPad can often fix this.

1. Disconnect the Apple Pencil from the iPad and restart the iPad to see if this solves the problem.
2. If the problem remains, connect the Apple Pencil to your iPad and quickly press the volume-up button.
3. Then press the volume-down button, and finally press and hold the power button.

   

4. Keep holding the power button until you see the Apple logo.
5. Wait for the iPad to finish restarting and check if the Apple Pencil is now charging.

If the problem is still there, try charging the Apple Pencil with a different device or a different method, like a wall charger or a power bank.

2. Remove the Apple Pencil from Bluetooth Devices

Every Apple Pencil keeps a small data profile to store its connection info. Sometimes, this gets messed up when connecting. Removing the Apple Pencil from the iPad’s Bluetooth settings and then pairing it again can help fix this.

Keep in mind: If the pencil’s battery is completely dead, you won’t be able to pair it again until it has a bit of charge.

1. Disconnect the Apple Pencil and open Settings > Bluetooth on your iPad.
2. Remove the Apple Pencil from your Bluetooth devices.

   

3. Force restart the iPad as shown earlier.

   

4. Unlock your iPad and plug the Apple Pencil back in.
5. Wait for the message asking you to connect the devices.
6. Once paired, give it 15 minutes, then check if the Apple Pencil is charging properly.
7. If pairing fails, leave the Apple Pencil charging for a couple of hours, then retry the steps above.

3. Charge the Apple Pencil While Charging the iPad

Occasionally, a glitch in the iPad’s power module can stop it from charging your Apple Pencil. Try charging your Apple Pencil while your iPad is also plugged in.

1. Disconnect the Apple Pencil and make sure your iPad is fully charged.
2. Connect the Apple Pencil and check if it charges.
3. If not, remove the Apple Pencil from the Bluetooth paired list and disconnect it from the iPad.
4. Plug your iPad into the charger, then immediately remove the charging cable.

   

5. Quickly connect the Apple Pencil to the iPad. If you see the pairing dialog, go ahead and pair them.

4. Update the iPad OS (Especially for Beta Users)

If you’re using a beta version of iPadOS, we recommend updating to the latest release as soon as possible. Beta versions are known to have bugs, and the issue you’re facing could already be fixed in the newest update.

1. Open your iPad’s Settings.
2. Go to General > Software Update > Install any update that is available.

   

3. When the update finishes, restart your iPad.

   

4. After restarting, check if your Apple Pencil is now charging.
5. If updating didn’t help, you might want to leave the beta program and return to the stable version of iPadOS.

5. Enable USB Accessories in the iPad Settings

Your Apple Pencil won’t charge if the “USB Accessories” setting is disabled on your iPad, especially for older Apple Pencils that charge via the port. If this setting is off, your pencil won’t charge unless your iPad is unlocked.

1. Open Settings on your iPad.
2. Go to Touch ID & Passcode > Allow Access when Locked > USB Accessories.

   

3. Enable this setting, then restart your iPad. Connect the Apple Pencil to check if it charges now.

6. Warm and Clean the Apple Pencil

Charging issues with Apple devices can also occur if the charging pins are dirty—or if the pencil is too cold. Warming your pencil and cleaning the pins might solve the problem. If the battery is extremely low, warming it can help jump-start the charging process.

1. Take a lint-free cloth and gently clean the charging pins of your Apple Pencil. Make sure all dirt is removed.

   

2. If cleaning doesn’t help, grab a large zip-lock bag and fill it about 30% with hot water (around 85°C). Double-bag it to make sure there are no leaks.
3. With the bag sealed, place the Apple Pencil underneath the bag (not inside the bag) for 30 seconds to warm it slightly.
4. Afterward, charge the pencil using a pencil adapter for a minute.
5. Check if your iPad now charges the pencil.

If one try doesn’t work, you can repeat the steps but keep the pencil warming for up to a minute (never much longer).

7. Reset the iPad to Factory Defaults

A faulty or incomplete iPadOS installation can sometimes cause charging issues. In this case, resetting your iPad to its factory settings may help.

Before you do this, make sure to back up your iPad and charge it fully. To check if the issue is with your iPad and not the Apple Pencil, try charging your Pencil with another iPad or a wall adapter. If it charges fine elsewhere, your iPad’s system may be the problem.

1. Go to your iPad’s Settings.
2. Navigate to General > Reset > Erase All Content & Settings.

   

3. If prompted, enter your passcode and confirm to reset the iPad.

   

4. When the process is finished, set up your iPad as a new device and try charging the Apple Pencil.
5. If everything works, you can then restore your backup.

If none of these steps work, you may need to get a new Apple Pencil or have the faulty one repaired through the Apple Store.

It’s always a good idea to keep your Apple Pencil charged—even when you’re not using it—to prevent it from becoming fully drained. Apple Support Specialists also recommend this tip.