Is your Apple Pencil draining too quickly? Do you have to charge it every hour while using it constantly? If yes, your Apple Pencil battery might be faulty.
If you are a professional designer or use your Apple Pencil very often, it can get frustrating if the gadget only lasts for less than three hours while on a full charge.
Though the Apple Pencil is a reliable gadget for iPads, it can develop issues that keep it from performing as intended.
If you charge your Apple Pencil sparingly, especially when it is past half charge, it will start draining faster than usual. The fast discharge could also occur if you leave the Bluetooth on or idle and uncharged for a long time. You can reset your Apple Pencil or plug in the device to fix the battery drain issue.
In this article, you will find out why your Apple Pencil discharges so quickly and how to fix the quick discharge issue.
By the end of the article, you will also be able to determine the battery usage time of your Apple Pencil and how to replace it if necessary.
Why My Apple Pencil Drains So Fast?
Your Apple Pencil drains quickly due to a lack of constant charge. The Apple Pencil will start draining faster if the battery is frequently low.
The Apple Pencil discharges while idle and when you use it because it does not have an on-and-off switch.
The difference between the battery drainage speed of both modes is that the Apple Pencil discharges faster when it is in use and slower when it is idle.
Therefore, you must charge your Apple Pencil while using it (if you can).
However, if the Pencil drains faster than it should, it can be due to varying reasons, ranging from the regularity of its charge and frequency of device idle time to hardware issues.
That said, here are four (4) reasons your Apple Pencil is draining so fast;
#1. Bluetooth Is Constantly On
When you connect to your iDevice, you have to turn on both devices’ Bluetooth to connect. This connection is necessary to use the Apple Pencil with the iDevice.
However, you may forget to disconnect the Apple Pencil from your iDevice, which will cause it to reduce faster than it should.
Though the device discharges when you disconnect it from your iDevice, it drains faster when you leave the Bluetooth connection on while it is idle.
However, it would be best if you took note of the battery discharge rate while your Bluetooth is on, while it is idle, and while it is in use.
This action will help you pinpoint the cause of the fast battery drainage in the Apple Pencil.
#2. The device Is Idle for Too Long
Your Apple Pencil does not have an on/off button, making it difficult to leave it idle without charging.
However, only a few users know that the battery drains even when disconnected from the iDevice.
Though you can save energy by using the device for a lesser period, keeping it idle can hurt the device.
If you leave the battery idle for days or weeks, it will keep depleting till it reaches 0%.
Without power, the battery loses its durability over time. Therefore, ensure to charge the device while it is not in use.
#3. The Battery Is Constantly at Low Charge
The more your Apple Pencil cell goes below its 20 to 10 percent charge, the faster it is likely to drain at full charge.
Once you stop charging your Apple Pencil, it is bound to reduce.
However, allowing the battery to go below 10 to 5 percent charge constantly will drain the battery faster.
An Apple Pencil at full charge can last for about 12 hours unless you intend to use it constantly or the battery develops issues.
Once the battery depletes till there is no charge left, you might lose the Apple Pencil altogether.
Therefore, you must charge the battery as soon as it clicks 10 percent to avoid fast battery discharge.
#4. Hardware Failure
Apart from the Apple Pencil charging and Bluetooth issues, you can experience faster battery drainage due to device hardware failure.
This failure can occur if your Apple Pencil falls on a hard surface or glitches in the device’s hardware.
In this case, you should contact the Apple Support Center for more information on the cause of the hardware failure.
Here is a table showing the various reasons your Apple Pencil is draining so fast;
| Reasons for Battery Drainage | Solutions |
|---|---|
| Hardware failure | Contact the Apple support center |
| Battery constantly at low charge | Turn on the battery notification and charge the device if you notice a low battery. |
| Bluetooth is constantly on | Turn off the Bluetooth after use. |
| Apple Pencil is idle for too long without charge. | Purchase a charging stand to keep the device at a constant charge. |
How Do I Fix an Apple Pencil That’s Draining Fastly?
If your Apple Pencil is draining too fast, you can fix the issue by increasing the rate you charge your device or purchasing a portable charging stand.
Unlike most mobile devices and appliances, the Apple Pencil has no reset button. The battery is also in-built.
Therefore, resetting the device to fix the battery issue is impossible. However, you can try the following solutions below for your device battery issue;
#1. Plug in Your Device
Charging your device is necessary to avoid any unnecessary battery drainage during use.
Therefore, ensure your device is connected to a charging unit while it is in use.
Charging it will also keep your Apple Pencil from draining till it goes below its power limit.
Before your device reaches a 10 or 5 percent charge, plug it in to prevent fast battery discharge.
You can plug your device by charging it at the port with your iDevice or any other reliable charging port.
#2. Turn Off Bluetooth After Use
Bluetooth drains the Apple Pencil faster when it is in use. Though this is natural, turning it off after using the Apple Pencil with your device is vital.
After usage, disconnect your Apple stylus from your iDevice and connect it to a charger.
#3. Purchase Charging Stand
It can get tiring to plug the Apple Pencil into your iPad, especially if you use a Pencil 1 model.
The Apple Pencil drains your iPad faster. You can purchase a charging stand to remedy this issue.
The charging stand also serves as a resting point for an idle Apple Pencil. Moreover, you won’t have to worry about your battery draining fast from the device.
#4. Contact Apple Support
If you have tried all the solutions listed above, and the battery still discharges quickly, it might be due to a hardware issue.
It could also mean your battery is beyond repair, so you must replace your Apple Pencil.
Contact Apple Support via their website to get a replacement for your device.
If the Apple Pencil is still under the one-year warranty, you can get the replacement for free or at a discount.
How Long Does a Charged Apple Pencil Last?
An Apple Pencil on a full charge will last for about 12 hours. A 30 seconds charge can get you about 30 minutes of usage.
However, this depends on how well you maintain the device while using it.
For instance, if you use the Pencil to draw or write for a while, it will discharge faster.
Contrastly, your device will last longer if you are using the device to tap on your iDevice screen.
An Apple Pencil can last for a few years before its lithium-ion cell completely discharges.
As long as you charge your device constantly without letting it stay idle without charge for a long time, your Apple Pencil will last long enough.
Ultimately, the duration of your Apple Pencil also depends on the tasks you perform, your rate of use, Pen age, and charging habits.
You also must ensure the Pen’s battery does not click 10 percent while using it.
However, to keep a tab on your Apple Pencil’s battery percentage, you must activate its notification tab. To keep tabs on your Apple Pencil battery;
#1. For Apple Pencil 2:
- Attach the Pen to the magnetic part of the iPad.
- Once connected, a notification will display the percentage of your Apple Pencil.
- This notification will appear for a short while and disappear.
- If you want to recheck the battery percent, you can remove the Apple Pencil from the magnetic charging port and replace it.
#2. For Apple Pencil 1:
- On your iPad Home screen, swipe right to access View Today.
- Scroll through the menu and click on Edit.
- Tap on the add (+) button at the top display of Today View.
- A widget selection menu will appear.
- Locate the Batteries widget in the menu and tap on it.
- Select your preference from the next menu and click on Add Widget.
- You can view your Apple Pencil battery percentage for later reference.
Can You Replace an Apple Pencil Battery?
You cannot replace your Apple Pencil Battery, but you can get a replacement for your Apple Pencil if it is not functioning correctly.
Unlike a few other stylus products, Apple Pencils do not have a removable battery.
However, if your Apple Pencil battery is damaged, you can purchase a replacement from the Apple Store.
Moreover, if your Apple Pencil is still under the one-year AppleCare warranty, you can get a free replacement from the Apple Store.
Contact your local Apple Store or visit the Apple Support Center online for more information on Apple Pencil replacement and Warranty.
Final Words
In conclusion, the Apple Pencil battery will not drain so fast if you:
- Charge your device when it is getting low
- Turn off your Bluetooth after every use.
- Purchase a charging stand to charge the device at idle time.
- Maintain your Apple Pencil.
Following these tips will keep your Apple Pencil from discharging quickly and increase its battery lifespan.
Reference
- https://www.lifewire.com/check-battery-level-apple-pencil-5187162
- https://thegadgetbuyer.com/how-fast-does-apple-pencil-lose-charge/#:~:text=Things%20like%20Bluetooth%20connections%20can,What%20is%20this%3F&text=Keeping%20your%20Apple%20Pencil%20charged,you%20will%20get%20some%20drain.
- https://technology.purplepedia.com/apple/can-the-apple-pencil-battery-die/
- https://www.cultofmac.com/707649/quickly-fix-apple-pencil-issues/