A connected Pencil that will not draw can have a loose/worn tip, unsupported app state, low charge or model incompatibility. Test in Apple Notes before changing an art app. Tighten the tip and draw in a new Apple Notes document.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple Pencil connects but will not write”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The Pencil tip is loose or worn
What separates it The Pencil shows connected but produces no line, or a broken line, and the tip is loose or worn down.
How to confirm Tighten the tip and draw in a new Apple Notes document.
- 2
The Pencil battery is very low
What separates it The Pencil connects and stops writing as the charge falls.
How to confirm Check the Pencil battery in the Batteries widget or the Settings screen.
- 3
The app or the iPad software has a fault
What separates it The Pencil writes in Notes but not in the app you use.
How to confirm Test in Notes, restart the iPad and compare another Pencil-aware app.
- 4
The Pencil model is not supported by the iPad
What separates it The Pencil pairs and does nothing, and the iPad model does not support that Pencil.
How to confirm Check Apple's compatibility list for your iPad and Pencil.
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the Pencil writes in Notes and in the app you use.
- The Pencil battery and the tip's condition.
- The iPad model and the Pencil generation.
Try in this order
0 of 4 completedCapture the exact symptom
ReversibleCheck Pencil battery, tighten the removable tip and draw in a new Apple Notes document.
Run the smallest isolation test
ReversibleTest finger drawing where supported, restart the iPad and compare another Pencil-aware app.
Correct only the proven cause
ReversibleReplace a worn tip, update the app/iPadOS or re-pair only after confirming the Pencil model matches the iPad.
Verify before changing anything else
ReversibleWrite continuously in Notes and test pressure/tilt in a supported app.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Replace a worn tip with the correct one, and re-pair the Pencil only after confirming the model is supported.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my Apple Pencil connect but not draw?+
The tip may be loose or worn, the battery may be very low, or the app may not respond. Test in Notes first.
Can a screen protector stop the Pencil writing?+
A thick or textured protector can change the feel and sometimes the response, so test on a bare part of the screen or another iPad if you can.
Why does the Pencil connect but not write?+
The app may not support it, or a software glitch may be at fault.
Could the tip be worn?+
Yes, a worn tip can fail to register. Replace it.