iPad Accessories: Ins and Outs of the Apple Pencil

Some things are just easier with a pencil. When you need to jot down a quick note, fill out an online form, or draw lines, an Apple iPad pencil is nice to have as an accessory. However, that doesn’t mean all aspects of the Apple iPad pencil are intuitive, like how to charge or attach your Apple Pencil to your iPad. In this blog post, we’ll review some of the ins and outs of the Apple iPad pencil in order to help you get the most out of this cool Apple iPad accessory. Check out our in depth post on the iPad Keyboard here.

 

The ins and outs of the apple Ipad Pencil 

There are two different iPad pencils, the Apple pencil first generation and the Apple pencil second generation. The Second Generation Apple Pencil works with newer iPads:  iPad Air (4th Gen), iPad Pro 11 (3rd Gen), and more. Otherwise, you’ll be investing in the Apple pencil first generation. Be sure to check the compatibility of your iPad.

 

Physically, they look the same so when you’re at the store, don’t just grab the first one you see. The first generation Apple pencil has a silver band around it and is perfectly round. One of the new features of the new second generation Apple pencil is it’s flat on one side to prevent rolling and has the words “Apple Pencil” written on its flat side.

 

How to pair your Apple Pencil to your Ipad

Pairing is a fancy word for connecting a wireless device to another device. For the first generation Apple pencil, you’ll need to connect it to your iPad with its charging cord and make sure it’s on and unlocked. The Pair request should show up on its own, and you just tap “Pair” and you’re good to go. For the second generation Apple pencil, you’ll want to connect it to your iPad Pro 11 Case via its magnetic strip on the 2018 iPad Pro model you are using.

 

How to Check Battery Level of your Ipad Apple Pencil 

There’s no indicator light on your Apple iPad pencil itself. Instead, you’ll have to check your iPad itself. For the first generation Apple iPad pencil visit the Notification Center, and swipe right to see the Widgets screen. Select “Batteries.” If the Batteries icon is missing, you’ll need to add it as a widget. You do this by tapping “Edit” in the Widgets area, and then tap “Plus” to add. For the second generation Apple iPad pencil, you can follow the same steps above for the first generation Apple iPad pencil, or you can simply connect your Apple iPad pencil and a notification will pop up, alerting you to the battery percentage.

 

How to Charge your apple Pencil

The first generation Apple iPad pencil is a bit difficult to charge. Unfortunately you cannot just attach your Apple Pencil to your iPad. You remove the cap from the Apple pencil and magnetically attach it to the iPad next to the Home button. You’ll then attach your lightning connector into the port or connect the lightning connector to the lightning adapter, which then connects to your lightning cable. For the second generation Apple Pencil Holder Sticker, you simply connect the pencil to your iPad Pro with the magnetic strip. You get 30 minutes of use with just a 15 second charge. Connect longer for more time.