Apple Pencil (1st generation) keeps disconnecting from newly bought iPad (A16)

Hi!

I have an Apple Pencil (1st generation) that I originally used with my old iPad (6th generation).

I recently bought a new iPad A16. At first, I was considering buying a new Apple Pencil, but instead I got a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter so I could continue using my old pencil. This worked perfectly until I upgraded iPadOS from the preinstalled version (18.3.2) to iPadOS 26.0.

Since the update, the Apple Pencil keeps disconnecting. I basically have to re-pair it every time I want to use it, which is very frustrating. I’ve tried forgetting and re-pairing the pencil. It works fine while I’m actively using it, but once I put it down for a few hours (or days), I find that it has disconnected and I have to pair it all over again.

Has anyone encountered this? Any known solutions?

Thanks in advance!