How to Fix Apple Pencil Not Charging

If your Apple Pencil battery is not increasing, first use the charging method made for its model and check the cable, adapter, port, or magnetic connection. Then leave it charging, restart and update the iPad, and reconnect or re-pair the Pencil. If the percentage still does not rise, the Pencil, iPad charging hardware, cable, adapter, or battery may need Apple service or replacement.

Is your Apple Pencil charging, or is the iPad failing to detect it?

Check what the iPad shows before changing anything.

Apple Pencil does not appear in the Batteries widget or Bluetooth settings

This means the Pencil is not attached correctly, is connected through the wrong accessory, has a flat battery, or is not compatible with the iPad. A deeply drained Pencil might not appear immediately, so leave it connected correctly before deciding that it is undetected.

Apple Pencil appears connected, but the battery percentage does not increase

The Pencil is connected, but power is not reaching its battery. Check for a weak or interrupted connection, a damaged cable or adapter, debris in a port, or a battery that can no longer hold a charge. The percentage can remain unchanged briefly after connection; check again after leaving the Pencil connected for several minutes.

Apple Pencil charges only when it is held in a particular position

That is not normal. It points to a loose connector, damaged port, worn cable, or poor magnetic contact. Do not bend or force the connection to keep it charging; that can damage the iPad or Pencil.

First check which Apple Pencil you have and how it is supposed to charge

The charging method depends on the model. Using the wrong method can make a working Pencil appear defective, and forcing an incompatible connector can damage it.

Identify the Pencil by its shape and connector. The USB-C model has a sliding cap that reveals a USB-C port. The first-generation model has a Lightning connector under a removable cap. The second-generation model and Apple Pencil Pro have no exposed charging port and charge magnetically along the side of a compatible iPad. You can also check Settings > Apple Pencil when the Pencil is detected.

For the USB-C and first-generation models, test the cable, adapter, and power source separately with a known-good compatible accessory. With the first-generation Pencil, use the Apple Pencil Charging Adapter and a compatible Lightning cable. Do not connect incompatible Lightning or USB-C parts directly or force the Pencil's connector into a port.

For the second-generation Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro, remove any case that prevents the Pencil from sitting completely against the iPad's magnetic charging area. The iPad must support that Pencil model; magnetic attachment alone does not make every iPad compatible.

No administrator privileges are needed. A restart is not required for these initial checks, and charging checks do not erase data. Before continuing, inspect the connector or magnetic edge for dust, moisture, bent parts, or visible damage. Clean only with a dry, lint-free cloth, and keep liquid out of every port.

Try these fixes in order, starting with the connection and ending with re-pairing

Work through these steps in order. Stop when the battery percentage begins rising.

1. Disconnect the Pencil and inspect the charging path. For the USB-C Pencil, unplug and reconnect both ends of the cable. For the first-generation Pencil, reconnect the Lightning adapter firmly at both ends. For the second-generation Pencil or Apple Pencil Pro, remove the case and place the Pencil centered and flat on the iPad's magnetic charging area. Test a known-good compatible cable, adapter, or power source. Do not use a damaged cable, a loose adapter, or an improvised connector. The expected result is a secure connection that the iPad can detect. If the Pencil remains absent, continue.
2. Leave the Pencil connected to power for a while if its battery may be completely empty. Keep the USB-C or first-generation model connected, or leave the second-generation model or Apple Pencil Pro attached magnetically, while checking again later. If the Pencil appears and its percentage rises, it was probably deeply discharged. If it remains absent or the percentage does not change after a reasonable charging period, continue.
3. Restart the iPad while the Pencil is disconnected. Turn the iPad off using its normal power controls, wait for it to shut down, then turn it on and reconnect the Pencil using its correct method. A restart can clear a Bluetooth or charging-status process that has stopped responding. The expected result is that the iPad detects the Pencil after reconnection. If it does not, continue.
4. Install any available iPadOS update. Use the iPad settings here:

Settings > General > Software Update

Follow the on-screen instructions, then reconnect the Pencil. If no update is available, proceed to pairing checks. If the Pencil still is not detected or its percentage remains unchanged, continue.

5. Check Bluetooth and reconnect the Pencil. Open the iPad settings here:

Settings > Bluetooth

Make sure Bluetooth is on. If the Pencil is listed under My Devices, tap its information button and choose Forget This Device, then confirm. Reconnect the Pencil using its proper charging method and follow the pairing prompt.

Forgetting the Pencil removes its current Bluetooth pairing, but it does not erase iPad data. Do not repeatedly force a connector into the iPad or twist a Lightning or USB-C plug to make it fit.

If the pairing prompt appears and the Pencil then charges, the issue was likely a failed or incomplete pairing. If no prompt appears, the iPad still cannot detect the Pencil, or the battery remains unchanged, the problem may be physical rather than software-related.

How to confirm the Pencil is charging again

Use the battery percentage as well as the connection notification; a notification alone does not prove that the battery is receiving power. Add or open the Batteries widget on the iPad and look for the Apple Pencil. You can also check Settings > Apple Pencil when the model is connected.

Leave the Pencil connected using the correct method, then check the battery percentage again after several minutes. The expected result is a higher percentage or a clear charging indicator. A number that remains exactly the same over repeated checks does not confirm charging.

For a second-generation Apple Pencil or Apple Pencil Pro, make sure the Pencil remains aligned with the magnetic charging area rather than merely resting beside it. For the USB-C and first-generation models, gently check that the cable and adapter remain fully seated without holding them at an angle.

After the battery starts rising, open Apple Notes and draw a few strokes. The Pencil should respond normally without disconnecting. If it works in Notes but the battery display is slow to update, restart the iPad once more and check the Batteries widget again. If charging stops as soon as the cable moves or the Pencil shifts on the magnetic edge, treat that as an intermittent hardware connection rather than a display problem.

When charging still fails and what to do next

Arrange Apple support or service through an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider when the Pencil remains undetected after you use the correct charging method, test a known-good accessory, leave it charging, restart and update the iPad, and reconnect it. Repeated failure after that sequence points to a failed Pencil battery, damaged charging port, defective cable or adapter, damaged magnetic charging hardware, or an iPad compatibility problem.

Service is also the right next step if the Pencil has been dropped, exposed to liquid, become unusually hot, developed a bent connector, or charges only when pressure is applied. Do not open the Pencil, puncture it, heat it, freeze it, or try to revive it with an improvised power source. Lithium-ion batteries can be damaged by unsafe charging methods.

For a first-generation Apple Pencil, do not force its Lightning connector into an iPad, cable, or adapter that does not match it. Use the Apple Pencil Charging Adapter and a compatible Lightning cable as intended. For every model, avoid unapproved accessories that fit poorly or provide uncertain power.

Before contacting Apple, note the Pencil model, iPad model, iPadOS version, whether the Pencil appears in Bluetooth or the Batteries widget, and which cable or adapter you tested. That information helps separate an iPad problem from a Pencil or accessory failure. If the Pencil is out of warranty, Apple can confirm available battery or replacement options; a battery that no longer accepts charge is generally not fixed by software.

Conclusion

Use the charging method made for your Apple Pencil and confirm that the battery percentage rises. If the Pencil remains undetected or unchanged after the connection, accessory, charging, restart, update, and pairing checks, stop forcing the connection and arrange Apple service or replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Apple Pencil show 0% but not charge?

It may be deeply drained, connected through the wrong method, or affected by a damaged cable, adapter, port, or battery. Leave it connected correctly, restart and update the iPad, then reconnect it. If the percentage never rises, arrange Apple service.

Can I charge the first-generation Apple Pencil with any Lightning adapter?

Use the Apple Pencil Charging Adapter with a compatible Lightning cable and power source. Do not force the Pencil into an incompatible connector or use an adapter that does not fit securely.

Why does my Apple Pencil charge only intermittently?

Intermittent charging usually means the cable, adapter, port, or magnetic contact is dirty, loose, worn, or damaged. Remove any case, clean only with a dry lint-free cloth, test a known-good accessory, and seek service if movement still interrupts charging.