How to Fix Apple Pencil Not Writing in Some Apps

If Apple Pencil writes in Apple Notes but not in one app, the Pencil is usually working; the affected app is using the wrong tool, does not support that Pencil model, has a document restriction, or has an app-specific bug. Test a new document in Notes and the affected app, then check the app’s Pencil settings, reconnect the Pencil, update the iPad and app, and force-close the app. If writing fails in every app, check Bluetooth, charging, compatibility, and possible hardware damage instead.

First, find out whether the problem is the app or the Pencil

Start with a controlled comparison. Open Apple Notes, create a new note, tap the Markup or drawing tools, and write a few words. Then open the app where writing fails and try a new blank document rather than an imported or protected file.

Apple Pencil writes in Apple Notes but does not draw or write in another app.

This symptom appears when Notes accepts Pencil input but the other app, its document, or its input settings do not. If the Pencil works in Notes and another drawing app, focus on the affected app. If it also fails in Notes, continue with the Pencil connection and hardware checks instead of repeatedly reinstalling the app.

Check these details first:

• Confirm that the Pencil tip is firmly attached and not visibly damaged.
• If it is a USB-C or Lightning Apple Pencil, charge it. If it attaches magnetically, leave it attached to the compatible iPad for a moment and check its battery level.
• Try finger input in the affected app. If a finger draws but the Pencil does not, the app may be filtering stylus input.
• Try a new document. A PDF, image, locked page, read-only file, or shared document may not accept handwriting.

Restarting the iPad is safe and does not delete documents, but save or sync open work first. A restart can help after an iPadOS or app update; it cannot make an app support a Pencil model it does not recognize.

Which iPad and app combinations are affected?

Apple Pencil support depends on the Pencil model, iPad model, iPadOS version, and the app itself. The first- and second-generation Apple Pencil, Apple Pencil USB-C, and Apple Pencil Pro do not work with every iPad interchangeably. Check Apple’s compatibility information for your exact iPad and Pencil models, especially if the Pencil was recently replaced or paired with another iPad.

Apps also handle Pencil input differently. Some accept Pencil input only in a drawing or markup mode; others support handwriting conversion but not freehand drawing. A document editor may require you to select a pen tool before it accepts Pencil strokes. An app can also disable writing for a particular file type, account, page, or collaboration mode.

Before changing settings, check:

• The iPad model and iPadOS version in Settings > General > About.
• The app version in the App Store.
• Whether the app’s current release lists Apple Pencil, handwriting, or markup support.
• Whether the problem occurs in a new document as well as the original document.

No Administrator or sudo privileges are involved. You need only the iPad passcode or Apple Account credentials if the app is downloaded again. Updating iPadOS normally preserves your data, but back up important documents before a major update or app removal. Do not delete an app until you know its documents are stored in iCloud, another cloud service, or an export; locally stored files can be lost when the app is removed.

Fix Apple Pencil writing in the affected app

Work through these steps in order. Test the app after each step so you can identify the change that fixed the problem.

1. Select the app’s writing, pen, pencil, or markup tool. Some apps treat the Pencil as a pointer until a drawing tool is selected. If the app has a setting such as Draw with Apple Pencil, Pencil only, or Finger drawing, enable the option that matches how you want to work.

Affected app > Settings or Preferences > Apple Pencil, Stylus, Drawing, or Input

The expected result is that a visible pen or drawing tool becomes active and Pencil strokes appear in a new document. If nothing appears, the app may not support your Pencil model, or the document may not be editable.

2. Check iPadOS settings that affect Pencil input, palm rejection, and handwriting. The exact names vary by iPadOS version and app. In Settings, review Apple Pencil, Multitasking & Gestures, and the affected app’s settings. If Scribble is enabled, it changes how Pencil input is interpreted in text fields; it does not give every app freehand drawing support.

Settings > Apple Pencil
Settings > General > Multitasking & Gestures > Gesture Settings
Settings > [Affected App]

The expected result is that Pencil input is allowed and the app’s stylus or palm-rejection option is enabled. If a setting is missing, the app controls that feature internally or does not support it.

3. Reconnect the Pencil. Open Settings > Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth off, wait briefly, and turn it on again. For a paired Pencil, tap its information button and choose Forget This Device only if ordinary reconnection does not work. Then pair it again using the Pencil’s supported method: attach a compatible magnetic Pencil, or connect a USB-C or Lightning Pencil as required by its model.

Settings > Bluetooth > Apple Pencil > Forget This Device

The expected result is that the Pencil appears as connected and its battery level is visible. If it does not appear, charge it, check compatibility, and try another compatible connection method. Do not repeatedly unpair a Pencil that is not compatible with the iPad; pairing cannot overcome a model mismatch.

4. Update iPadOS and the affected app. Install the iPadOS update from Settings > General > Software Update, then update the app in the App Store. Restart the iPad after the updates if prompted.

Settings > General > Software Update
App Store > account picture > App Updates

The expected result is an available app or system bug fix followed by normal Pencil input. If the app is already current and the issue remains limited to it, look for an in-app reset of drawing tools or contact its developer.

5. Force-close the affected app and reopen it. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause, or use the iPad’s app-switching gesture, then swipe the affected app off the screen. Reopen it and test a new document. Force-closing is reversible, but save work first because an app that is not responding may not have saved its latest changes.
6. Reinstall the affected app only after confirming that its documents are backed up or synced. Touch and hold the app, choose the removal option, delete it, restart the iPad if necessary, and download it again from the App Store. Sign back in and test a blank document before restoring a problematic file.

Do not delete the app if it stores documents only on the iPad or if you cannot confirm a backup.

The expected result is a clean app installation that accepts Pencil input. If writing still fails after reinstalling while Notes works, the limitation is likely app-specific, document-specific, or related to that app’s compatibility with your Pencil model.

Confirm the fix and prevent it from returning

Test the result in more than one situation. In the affected app, create a new document and write with the Pencil. Then open the original document, if it is safe to edit, and test a short stroke. Try a light and firm stroke if the app supports pressure, use a finger or the on-screen keyboard to confirm the rest of the app responds, and rest your palm on the display to check palm rejection.

A successful test means:

• Pencil strokes appear where the selected tool should draw.
• The Pencil continues writing after you lift and replace your palm.
• Pressure or tilt effects work when the app and Pencil model support them.
• Writing works in both a new document and the affected file, unless that file is locked or read-only.

If Notes also fails, check whether Bluetooth shows the Pencil as connected and whether the Pencil has charge. Try the Pencil with another compatible iPad only if you have access to one; this separates an iPad problem from a Pencil problem. A bent tip, intermittent strokes in every app, failure to charge, or a Pencil that will not pair points toward hardware rather than an app setting.

If only one app remains affected after updating and reinstalling, send its developer the app version, iPad model, iPadOS version, Pencil model, document type, and the exact steps that reproduce the failure. Contact Apple Support when the Pencil cannot pair, charge, or write in Apple Notes, particularly if it has visible damage or was exposed to liquid.

Conclusion

Compare Apple Notes with a new document in the affected app first. If Notes works, follow the app-tool, document, Pencil-setting, update, force-close, and reinstall steps; if Notes fails too, investigate pairing, charge, compatibility, and hardware. Keep app documents synced or backed up before removing anything, then contact the app developer or Apple Support once the failure is isolated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Apple Pencil work in Notes but not in one app?

The app may require its pen or markup tool to be selected, may not support your Pencil model, or may treat the document as read-only. Check the app’s Pencil settings and test a new blank document before changing the Pencil connection.

Will reinstalling an app delete my Apple Pencil settings?

It can remove the app’s local settings and documents stored only inside the app. Confirm that documents are synced or backed up before deleting it. Reinstalling one app does not normally remove iPadOS-wide Apple Pencil settings.

How can I tell whether the Apple Pencil itself is defective?

Test it in Apple Notes and another compatible drawing app. If it fails everywhere, will not pair, will not charge, or produces intermittent strokes across apps, investigate compatibility and hardware rather than an app-specific setting.