How to Use Apple Pencil | Pair, Charge, Create

Apple Pencil turns your tablet into a fast, precise notebook and sketch pad. You can jot a note, mark up a PDF, sign forms, sketch ideas, and control the screen with pixel-level accuracy. This guide shows pairing, charging, quick gestures, and the habits that make writing feel smooth.

Using Apple Pencil On iPad: Setup, Gestures, Tips

Quick Start: Pair, Charge, Write

1. Check model: There are three current styles. The magnetic model with double-tap, the original with a cap, and the USB-C version.
2. Pair: Attach the magnetic model to the tablet’s side rail, plug the capped model into the tablet’s port or use its adapter, or connect the USB-C cable. Wait for the prompt and tap Pair.
3. Charge: Keep the magnetic model docked on the rail, use the cap model’s Lightning port or adapter, or connect a USB-C cable.
4. Write: Open Notes, tap the pencil tool, and start writing. Palm rejection lets your hand rest on the glass.

Most settings live in Settings > Apple Pencil. You can toggle double-tap actions, handwriting options, and new gestures offered by newer hardware.

Models, Pairing, And Charging At A Glance

Model	How To Pair	How To Charge
Magnetic (2nd gen)	Snap to right rail; confirm on screen	Magnetically on rail
Cap Model (1st gen)	Plug into tablet port or adapter; tap Pair	Lightning under cap or adapter
USB-C Version	Connect USB-C cable; confirm prompt	USB-C cable

Know The Buttons And Gestures

The magnetic model offers a quick double-tap near the tip to switch tools. You can map it to swap between current tool and eraser, show the color palette, or trigger the last tool used. The cap model skips this, and the USB-C version focuses on writing with a lower price and handy hover where available.

Hover (on compatible tablets) lets the pointer preview strokes while the tip hovers above the glass. It speeds up tool selection and makes shading easier.

Handy Actions You Will Use Often

• Double-tap: Toggle eraser or color palette on the magnetic model.
• Press And Hold: In many art apps, hold to sample a color.
• Flick: Flick from a screen corner to start a Quick Note.

Handwriting With Scribble And Quick Markup

Scribble turns handwriting into typed text in any text field. Write into a search bar, a form field, or a note line; the words convert instantly. Draw a vertical scratch to delete, loop to select, or draw a caret to insert space. It feels natural once you try it for a day.

Markup lets you write on screenshots, PDFs, and images across many apps. Take a screenshot, tap the thumbnail, and write your notes. In Files, open a PDF and use the markup tools to sign, circle, and annotate.

For official setup steps, see Apple’s guide on pairing and charging Apple Pencil and the page on Scribble on iPad.

Notes App Basics That Save Time

Open Notes, tap the pencil icon, and pick a tool. You can switch between pen, pencil, highlighter, eraser, and lasso. Long-press a tool to change thickness and opacity. Tap the color circle to pick a hue or eyedrop a color from the canvas in many builds.

Make Lines, Shapes, And Perfect Strokes

Draw a line or circle and hold the tip down for a moment at the end; the shape snaps into a clean version. For straight lines, use a ruler overlay found in markup tools in many apps. With grid or lined paper set in Notes, handwriting stays neat.

Organize Notes With Speed

• Create a folder for classes or projects.
• Use tags like #todo or #reading for quick filters.
• Pin a note that holds reusable headers, checklists, and a blank grid page.

Sketching And Art App Tips

Many art apps map tilt to shading and pressure to line weight. Angle the tip to lay down a soft wide stroke, then rotate the barrel to vary texture. Set up a brush set with three thickness presets so you can swap fast during a sketch.

Layer Discipline

Keep line art, color fills, and shadows on separate layers. Name layers simply: Line, Base, Shadow, Notes.

Color And Texture Workflow

• Build a small palette that fits the project. Save it as a set.
• Use multiply for shadows, screen for highlights, and overlay for warmth.
• Add a light paper grain above art at low opacity to avoid flat color.

Read, Review, And Sign Faster

Open a PDF in Files or your reader. Use the pen for notes and the highlighter for lines you plan to revisit. The lasso tool moves handwritten blocks without re-writing. For signatures, create a saved signature in Markup and drop it in with a tap.

Screenshot And Quick Note To Capture Ideas

Swipe up from a corner with the tip to start a Quick Note. It stores source links from Safari and apps. For long pages, use full-page screenshots, then mark them up and share a PDF. Full-page capture saves long web pages and documents in one PDF for later.

Tune Settings For Comfort

Open Settings > Apple Pencil. Set double-tap behavior, switch handwriting options, and try hover settings where available. In Notes, visit Settings > Notes to set Quick Note corners, default paper style, and sorting.

Left-Handed Comfort

Move toolbars to the opposite edge in apps that allow it. Turn off resting edge gestures that get in the way. A matte screen protector can add tooth, which many left-handed writers like because it reduces slide.

Tool Presets That Fit Your Work

• Writing set: fine pen, mid highlighter, eraser.
• Sketch set: pencil, ink brush, soft airbrush, smudge.
• Markup set: pen, lasso, shape-snap on.

Care, Tips, And Battery Habits

Keep spare tips in your bag. Replace a tip when lines look uneven, strokes skip, or the tip feels sharp. Twist off the worn tip and hand-tighten a new one. Clean the glass with a soft cloth; grit scratches both tip and screen.

For battery health, avoid running flat for long stretches. Dock the magnetic model when you stop. With the cap and USB-C versions, give them a short top-up each day you draw or write.

A Carry Kit That Works

• Two spare tips inside a small pouch.
• Short USB-C cable and the Lightning adapter if you use the cap model.
• Thin sleeve or case that keeps the stylus attached to the tablet.

Fix Common Issues Fast

Troubleshooting Checklist

Symptom	Quick Fix	Where To Check
No response	Charge for 10 minutes, then re-attach or re-plug	Battery widget; Settings > Bluetooth
Wonky strokes	Replace tip and clean glass	Spare tips kit
Pairing fails	Toggle Bluetooth, restart tablet, try again	Settings > Bluetooth
Lag	Close heavy apps, reduce brush effects, lower canvas DPI	App settings
Hover missing	Check device compatibility and turn on hover	Settings > Apple Pencil

Workflows For Class, Office, And Home

Fast Note Capture

From the Lock Screen, tap the tip on the display (on compatible devices) to jump into a fresh note. Title it later; the idea is captured.

Reading And Research

Split view with Notes on one side and Safari on the other. Handwrite quotes and drop source links. Use tags to group notes by course or project.

Math And Diagrams

Handwrite equations, then convert to clean text where your app offers it. Snap lines and boxes, then use the lasso to rearrange pieces during review sessions.

Practice Routine For Better Handwriting

• Ten minutes of drills: loops, lines, and letter shapes.
• Write a paragraph from a book you like.
• Finish with a page of labels you use each week.

Tips That Keep Gear Safe

Avoid tossing the stylus loose into a backpack. The tip can snag and bend. Attach it to the rail or put it in a sleeve. Keep liquids far from the tablet during long writing sessions.

If you share a tablet, set your own note folder and tag prefix. That keeps work tidy and avoids losing pages inside a crowded app.

App-By-App Starter Moves

Notes: Fast Daily Writing

Use a pinned template note that holds a title line, a checklist block, and a blank grid area. Duplicate it each time you start a new page. Double-tap to flip between pen and eraser when you are moving in class or a meeting.

Create a Smart Folder that gathers notes tagged with a class code or client code.

Freeform: Big Canvas Planning

Drop sticky notes, arrows, and quick sketches on a near-infinite board. Drag in screenshots, pages, and photos. Use the lasso to group a cluster and nudge it as one chunk.

PDF Readers: Review Packs And Contracts

Set a color code that stays consistent: yellow for general highlights, green for action items, red for quotes to revisit.

Study Apps: GoodNotes And Notability

Pick one notebook per course. Import lecture slides, then write directly on top.

Art Suites

In Procreate-style apps, bind double-tap to the eraser or eyedrop. Keep a canvas preset at common poster sizes and a second preset that is small for quick thumbnails. Save brush sets for line work, paint, and textures so muscle memory kicks in.

With pairing done, a charged stylus, and a few gestures under your belt, writing and drawing feel natural. Keep a simple tool set, swap tips when lines look off, and store the stylus on the rail or in a sleeve. The rest is practice and good habits.