As good and valuable as Apple pencils are, they are not without challenges. Due to them not having an on/off button, you can’t put it off at will when done with it.
That makes your Apple pencil go into sleep mode, and it sometimes gets challenging to wake it up.
At other times, due to the small battery size, it can fully drain when left unused. Then you begin to look for ways to wake up your pencil.
To wake up your Apple pencil, try to charge it to know if the problem stems from a low battery. If you’re sure the battery isn’t low anymore, try connecting to your iPad and see if your pencil wakes up. If it doesn’t, check your Bluetooth connection, and you might need to restart your iPad.
In this article, I’ll explain five (5) ways to wake up your Apple pencil. Also, what to do when it’s broken and all you need to get your Apple pencil working well.
By the end of this article, you will know when your Apple pencil is in sleep mode and what to do. Furthermore, how to fix it when broken and maintain your Apple pencil.
How Do I Wake up My Apple Pencil?
There are a few ways you can wake your Apple pencil. I’ll be explaining four of those ways below.
#1. Nudging Things Around
In a blog post by Bluetooth finder, you can wake up your Apple pencil by nudging things around the pencil.
This way, your Apple pencil can then be discoverable by your iPad’s Bluetooth.
#2. Charge Your Apple Pencil
If you’ve drained your Apple pencil, it won’t work, so you need to charge it.
If it’s a 1st generation pencil, connect the lightning connector to the iPad lightning port.
For a 2nd generation pencil, place it by your iPad’s right side, where the magnetic connector is and the pencil charges.
After charging your pencil, connect it to your iPad, it should wake up, and you can continue your work.
#3. Check Your Bluetooth Connection
After charging your Apple pencil and connecting it to your iPad, it’s time to check your Bluetooth connection if it doesn’t wake up.
You might need to disconnect the connection between your iPad and pencil before reconnecting them.
You might have had an altered Bluetooth connection because the pencil wasn’t awake.
After re-establishing the Bluetooth connection, your Apple pencil should now be awake.
#4. Restart Your iPad
If your pencil still needs to wake up after re-establishing your Bluetooth connection, you can use this method.
You reboot your iPad and then try to reconnect your Apple pencil to it. If it connects and shows, then you know your pencil is now awake.
#5. Do a Hard Reset of Your Apple Pencil
If all these fail, it’s time to reset your Apple pencil hard. Go to the Bluetooth app on your iPad; before that, ensure you connect your pencil based on their generation.
Find the name of your Apple pencil under the list of connected devices in Bluetooth and press the info button.
Then, “forget the device,” and that’s it. You can then reconnect your Apple pencil to your device and set it up.
If your pencil doesn’t wake up, it’s probably defective, and you should consult Apple support for help.
How Do I Get My Apple Pencil out of Sleep Mode?
You should know that your Apple pencil must always have a charge on it, or it will be damaged if you leave it uncharged for some time.
Before you can get your Apple pencil out of sleep mode, you must ensure that it has a charge on it and isn’t low or dead.
The sleep mode happens when the pencil is inactive. So, if you move your Apple pencil, it should get the pencil off sleep mode.
However, if it doesn’t immediately snap out of its sleep mode, you probably left it alone for so long that it no longer has a charge.
So, try to boost the battery by charging the Apple pencil before getting it out of sleep mode.
Also, if your iPad isn’t close to your Apple pencil, then your pencil can go to sleep.
To get your pencil out of its sleep mode, connect it to your iPad, and it should wake up.
Moving your Apple pencil will ensure it doesn’t sleep and keep it active.
So if you notice your Apple pencil is asleep, moving it around or connecting it to your iPad will get it off sleep mode.
What Should I Do When My Apple Pencil Does Not Turn On?
When you discover that your Apple pencil isn’t turning on, the first thing to do is to troubleshoot to find out the cause.
Here are some possible reasons your Apple pencil doesn’t turn on;
- Battery issues.
- Compatibility issues.
- Bluetooth disconnection.
- A loose pencil nib.
#1. Battery Issues
If your Apple pencil doesn’t turn on, it might be because you didn’t charge the battery.
Connect it to your iPad to charge based on the pencil generation and check the battery level.
Leave it to charge for about 10-15 minutes, and try to use it. It should turn on then, and the battery might be faulty if it doesn’t.
To be sure it’s a battery issue, you can try to connect your Apple pencil to another device. If it turns on, it’s probably the device, and nothing is wrong with our widget.
However, if your Apple pencil still needs to turn on, you need to send your pencil to the Apple store to help with it.
#2. Compatibility Issues
Your Apple pencil not turning on might be because it isn’t compatible with your iPad.
There are two Apple pencils available in the market now; the 1st and 2nd generation Apple pencils.
Each of these pencils has iPads that they can work with. If it isn’t compatible with your iPad, it won’t work. Check your iPad’s compatibility with your Apple pencil.
The table below shows the list of compatible devices for your Apple pencil 1&2.
| iPad Type | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| iPad Air 3. | Apple Pencil 1. |
| iPad Mini 5. | Apple Pencil 1. |
| iPad Pro 11-inch. | Apple Pencil 2. |
| iPad Mini 5. | Apple Pencil 1. |
| Series 6,7,8 iPad. | Apple Pencil1. |
| iPad Air 4. | Apple Pencil 2 |
| 9.7 or 10.5 inches (iPad Pro). | Apple Pencil1. |
Now you know which iPad you can use for your Apple pencil. If this is the cause of your pencil not turning on, you should get a compatible pencil.
Know the iPad model so you can know which Apple pencil is compatible to use that will work.
#3. Bluetooth Disconnection
Your Apple pencil will only turn on if your Apple pencil connects to your iPad.
You should confirm if the Bluetooth has disconnected and turn it on, then reconnect your Apple pencil to it.
Your Apple pencil should now be on and working. Just ensure your Apple Pencil is appropriately connected so it can work.
#4. A Loose Pencil Nib
If you try to use your Apple pencil and discover it doesn’t turn on, it might be because of a loose pencil nib.
You need to tighten your pencil nib and try using it again if it turns on. If it doesn’t, it is probably damaged, and you need to replace it.
How Long Can I Leave My Apple Pencil Uncharged?
Leaving your Apple pencil uncharged for about 3-4 weeks is dangerous. It destroys the Apple pencil battery and reduces the battery lifespan.
Although, the battery would have drained long before the battery would get damaged. The lack of charge for a long time damages the pencil.
If left idle, your Apple pencil will lose 5-10% of its battery charge, except it is already getting bad and loses its battery faster.
So, it will take a while, say a few weeks, before it fully drains. After the battery is dead, and you leave it that way for some time, you’re damaging it, and one day, it won’t come on.
However, if you’re using your Apple Pencil, you can only use it for about 12 hours before the battery drains.
If you do not connect it, you’ll have a flat battery, which isn’t suitable for the pencil. I advise you to charge your Apple pencil before you have a low battery.
How Do I Know If My Apple Pencil Is Broken?
There are several ways to know you have a broken Apple pencil. If you notice your Apple pencil not functioning well, it’s broken, and you need to fix it.
Here are some signs to look out for to know you have a broken Apple pencil.
- Your Apple pencil won’t charge.
- A broken nib.
- Physical breaking of the pencil.
#1. Your Apple Pencil Won’t Charge
If you notice your Apple pencil isn’t charging even after connecting it properly to your iPad, it’s probably broken.
After trying to troubleshoot, reconnecting to your iPad, restarting your iPad, and all sorts of, the same result, you have a broken pencil.
Sometimes, you might be charging, and it’s charging, but it isn’t holding a charge. It might be because you have a broken pencil.
When it becomes like this, you have to take to Apple support to help with it. If they can fix it, or you need a replacement.
If your Apple pencil is still under warranty, you’re lucky, you only have to pay $29, but if not, you’ll pay more.
#2. A Broken Nib
Another sign you have a broken Apple pencil is a broken nib; you can get a replacement. If you were to use your warranty on this, it would be more expensive.
#3. Physical Breaking of the Pencil
A clear sign you have a broken Apple pencil is if it physically breaks; that can happen when it falls.
If your pencil is under Applecare+, take it to them, and they’ll help.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the Apple pencil goes into sleep mode if left inactive for a while; moving it around helps it remain active.
If your Apple Pencil isn’t responding or waking up, check these;
- If the pencil is charging.
- Check the Bluetooth connection.
- Intact Apple pencil nib.
If it still doesn’t wake up, contact Apple for help with it.