Why is my Apple Pencil not charging past 0%?

I've recently started using my iPad again and the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil as well. However, I found that despite being able to connect and the iPad saying the device is charging, it is not going up beyond 0% after many hours of "charging". The pencil hasn't been used for a few months but is otherwise brand new and in pristine condition. I wanted to know if this was an issue I could solve at home or if I need to reach out to Apple about replacing it.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Apple Pencil (2nd generation)

Posted on May 6, 2023 7:16 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 13, 2024 4:14 PM

How do you do a hard reset??


32 replies

May 6, 2023 9:41 PM in response to sarahalmorg

Your Apple Pencil may be showing signs of a failing or failed battery.

IF your Pencil was left laying around unused for ANY prolonged period of time without being charged up and ready to use, then your Pencil battery may have failed and your Pencil may be dead.


Sorry.


You cannot store and/or NOT use Pencils for any prolonged period of time and NOT keep them charged up to some level.

If your Pencil/s sat around unused or unopened and not kept charged up for more than a few weeks, or so, OR

EVEN LONGER, then the battery in your Pencil may have failed and is dead and you will have to purchase another

brand new Pencil or, if still under warranty, get a free replacement Pencil from Apple.


Sorry.


And it looks like some things about the Pencil have NOT changed in the new version 2 model, either.


Due to the “always on and active/standby” nature of the Pencil and, also, due to its very tiny rechargeable Li-

ion battery ( smaller than the eraser head on a REAL wooden pencil ), the Pencil needs to be constantly charged up to some significant charge level ALL THE TIME, even when not using the Pencil for prolonged periods of time.


The Pencil needs to be kept CONSTANTLY charged to a minimum of 5-10%, OR GREATER, all the time!


If the Pencil battery is allowed to drain down to 0% and allowed to stay in that flat condition for more than a few weeks, or so, OR EVEN LONGER, that very tiny little Li-ion battery is too small to keep at a 0% state for a long period of time and it will fail and the Pencil will be dead and you may have to “pop” for another $99/$129 Pencil, once again!


Apple only has a one-year warranty on any Apple accessory items.


You need to keep your Pencil CONSTANTLY charged up all the time, even if it is only to 10%-15% charge. It must keep some charge level in that tiny Lithium-ion battery at all times!



One last ditch thing you can try is to plug the Pencil's Lightning connector into the iPad.

Then, try a simple hard reset of your iPad by holding down both the Home and sleep/wake buttons simultaneously until your iPad goes to black and restarts with Apple logo, then release the buttons.


OR


Put your Pencil 2 atop the magnetic charging edge of your iPad.


Then, try the new hard reset procedure for the 2018/2020 iPad Pro/iPad Air 4 models without a Home button.


1. Press and release the volume UP button.

2. Then immediately press and release the volume DOWN button.

3. Then, press and hold the Power button at the top. You will see the Slide to Power off button, but keep on holding down the Power button until you see the Apple logo, then let it go.

Once you have performed all the steps, wait for a few seconds and your iPad Pro will boot up completely to the iPad Pro’s Lock screen.


See if the Pencil starts charging then, when it reaches a sufficient charge, like over 15%, or so, or more, disconnect the Pencil and reconnect it to see if it Bluetooth pairs.

If it does pair, try using it.


You can also try gently warming up your entire Pencil for a few minutes wrapped in a damp dry warm/hot face cloth/towel to warm up the entire Pencil for a few attempts/minutes.


Test the Pencil, again.


If still no joy, your Pencil is definitely dead.


If your Apple Pencil is still under its one-year warranty period, you are still entitled to a free replacement Apple Pencil from Apple.

Use the “Get Support” link, at the upper right hand corner of every Apple Support Community Webpage to attempt to schedule an appointment with your nearest Apple Store location and bring in both iPad your defective Pencil.

Apple Store employees will be glad to help/assist you with getting another free, replacement Apple Pencil.

Test this Pencil in the Apple Store before you leave the store to make sure both your iPad and replacement Pencil are working together.




Sorry and Best of Luck to You!

Sep 30, 2023 4:45 PM in response to sarahalmorg

"Be aware that if your Pencil has been set-aside for an extended period, unused and uncharged, the Pencil battery may have been now be damaged through deep discharge. In common with all Li-ion batteries, they must always have some level of charge, requiring periodic recharge when unused to keep the battery healthy."


Is it part of the official Apple Pencil user guide or care instructions? I got my second pencil died like this and saw no official instruction or warning about this outcome.


Of course it is nice to learn that from Apple discussion board, but this doesn't constitute official instruction I believe.

Jun 19, 2024 8:13 AM in response to Daniboroz

Daniboroz wrote:

Something i still haven't heard and i can't understand why its not a bigger issue is the fact that a new apple pencil at the store or any retailer might very well lay around for a couple pf months before someone purchases it. So many pencils would be dead or dying by the time someone takes them home. I dont get it.


An Apple Pencil prior to initial device pairing will be in its shipping state - where all of its electronics are effectively shut-off. In this state, the Pencil's battery is using no power at all - and can survive without charging for many months.


After the device is paired with its host iPad, when motionless the Pencil will enter its low-power "sleep" state - where the Bluetooth radio is shut-off to save power. In this state the Pencil's accelerometer remains active - and will fully reawaken the Pencil with the slightest disturbance or moment. When sleeping, the Pencil's electronics are semi-active - and will slowly deplete the Pencil's tiny battery.



To place an Apple Pencil back into its hibernation/shipping state, you must follow a very specific sequence of steps.


1) Ensure that the Pencil is fully charged.


2) On the host iPad, open your Bluetooth settings; the Pencil status should show the Pencil as Connected

Settings > Bluetooth


3) On the host iPad, temporarily fully turn-off bluetooth

Settings > Bluetooth - set to OFF


4) Set aside the Pencil somewhere that it will not be disturbed. Any movement will re-awaken the Pencil - and prevent the Pencil from fully shutting down. Leave the Pencil undisturbed for at least an hour.


5) You can re-enable Bluetooth on the iPad; the Pencil will show its status as Not Connected. Should you choose to do so, you can remove the Pencil from the list of paired Bluetooth devices; simply tap the corresponding blue “i” icon, then tap Forget This Device.


Provided that the Pencil remains undisturbed as directed, it will eventually fall into its low-power shipping state. The a healthy Pencil will retain its charge in this state for several months. Pairing the Pencil with an iPad will recover the Pencil from hibernation.



May 7, 2023 2:34 AM in response to sarahalmorg

Perhaps some succinct guidance and explanation will be useful to you…


Here is one of the better troubleshooting guides for Apple Pencil:

https://appletoolbox.com/apple-pencil-not-working-heres-our-troubleshooting-guide/


Be aware that if your Pencil has been set-aside for an extended period, unused and uncharged, the Pencil battery may have been now be damaged through deep discharge. In common with all Li-ion batteries, they must always have some level of charge, requiring periodic recharge when unused to keep the battery healthy.


The tiny internal Li-ion battery is susceptible to permanent/irreversible damage through being left discharged for long periods. Even some “new” pencils can exhibit signs of failure out-of-the-box, especially if they are “old stock”. 


It is essential that if you have an Apple Pencil that you charge it regularly - whether used or not - so as to protect the battery from deep-discharge. Do not allow a pencil to remain in low-charge state for any period of time - as the internal battery will fail, rendering the Pencil useless. Setting aside an unused Pencil, for extended periods, is a recipe for premature death of the Pencil battery.


If the Pencil Battery has failed, the only remedy is to replace the Pencil. If the battery has failed and your pencil is within its one-year warranty, you should look to having it replaced by your retailer or at an Apple Store. Within its warranty period, Apple will usually exchange a dead but otherwise undamaged Pencil without question.


Gentle warming of the Pencil (such as placing on a hot water radiator), prior to attempting charging of the Pencil, can sometimes resurrect a dead Pencil battery.


May 6, 2023 9:44 PM in response to sarahalmorg

sarahalmorg Said:

"Apple Pencil Unable to Charge"

-------


For reference...

Troubleshooting Apple Pencils:


Use these Links:

Syncing is off, or perhaps it is no longer being seen as a trusted device. So, refer to the following...


Verify the compatibility of your iPad and Apple Pencil


View: If your Apple Pencil won't pair with your iPad


Make Sure: that Bluetooth is enabled


Be Certain: there is power to your Apple Pencil


Successfully Pair: and charge your 2nd Generation Apple Pencil

Why is my Apple Pencil not charging past 0%?

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