To pair an Apple Pencil, you plug or attach it to your iPad so Bluetooth can recognize it, then confirm the pairing prompt on the screen.

Identify your Apple Pencil

  • Apple Pencil (1st gen): Glossy cylinder, removable cap with a Lightning connector.
  • Apple Pencil (2nd gen): Matte finish, flat edge, no cap, snaps magnetically to the side of certain iPads.
  • Apple Pencil (USB‑C): Looks like 2nd gen but has a sliding cap over a USB‑C port and no magnetic charging.
  • Apple Pencil Pro: Similar to 2nd gen, magnetic, works with newer iPads and supports squeeze/haptic features.

Pair Apple Pencil (1st gen)

  1. Turn on Bluetooth in Settings > Bluetooth on your iPad.
  1. Remove the cap from the Pencil to reveal the Lightning connector.
  1.  * If your iPad has a Lightning port: Plug the Pencil directly into the iPad’s Lightning port.

 * If your iPad has USB‑C (e.g., 10th‑gen iPad): Use the USB‑C to Apple Pencil adapter plus a USB‑C cable between Pencil and iPad.
  1. Wait for the Bluetooth pairing popup, then tap Pair.
  1. Unplug the Pencil; it stays paired unless you restart the iPad, turn on Airplane Mode, or unpair it.

Pair Apple Pencil (2nd gen) and Pro

  1. Make sure Bluetooth is on in Settings > Bluetooth.
  1. Find the flat edge of the Pencil.
  1. Attach it to the magnetic connector on the side of your iPad (usually the right edge, below the volume buttons on supported iPads).
  1. When the Pencil image or pairing message appears, tap Connect if asked.
  1. Leave it attached for a bit so it can charge; it will auto‑reconnect whenever it’s snapped on.

Pair Apple Pencil (USB‑C)

  1. Confirm your iPad is on iPadOS 17.1 or later (required for USB‑C Pencil).
  1. Turn on Bluetooth in Settings.
  1. Slide open the cap on the Pencil to reveal the USB‑C port.
  1. Connect a USB‑C cable from the Pencil to the iPad’s USB‑C port.
  1. When the pairing prompt appears, tap Connect/Pair.
  1. Disconnect the cable; the Pencil will now use Bluetooth and stay paired until restarted or unpaired.

If pairing doesn’t work

  • Check compatibility: Some iPads only support specific Pencil models; if they’re not compatible, pairing will fail.
  • Charge the Pencil: Low battery can prevent pairing; connect it (via Lightning, USB‑C cable, or magnet) and wait a few minutes.
  • Toggle Bluetooth: Turn Bluetooth off and on again in Settings.
  • Forget and re‑pair: In Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to Apple Pencil and choose Forget This Device , then try pairing again.

Meta description:
Learn how to pair Apple Pencil (1st gen, 2nd gen, USB‑C, and Pro) to any compatible iPad, plus quick troubleshooting tips if your Apple Pencil won’t connect.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.