Therefore, I have made my go-to list for the best iPad apps for Apple Pencil. Go through each section, choose the right one, and unleash your creativity with these iPad apps to use Apple Pencil, whether you’re sketching, editing pictures, or taking notes.

iPad drawing and graphics apps for Apple Pencil

1. Autodesk Sketchbook – Editor’s choice

• Requirements: iPadOS 11.0 or later

Autodesk Sketchbook is for both amateur and expert artists and illustrators. It offers a simple user interface, all the necessary tools, and professional-grade features like layers and blends modes. If you’re a beginner and need assistance with drawings, you may use the basic french curves, ellipses, curved rulers, and conventional rulers.

I mostly use the Predictive Stroke tool to create flawless, smooth strokes. It also detects touch pressure and tilts in response. Besides, Autodesk has added support for the double-tap functionality of the second-generation Apple Pencil and Scan Sketch for subsequent iPad models, making it one of the best Apple Pencil apps. 

With its 170 customizable brushes, complete PSD layer and blending support, and switchable predictive stroke, it can turn your hand-drawn lines and shapes into clean, accurate forms. Amazingly, this is cost-free to use and comes without any obtrusive adverts or in-app purchases.

Price: Free 

Download

2. Adobe Illustrator – Best vector graphics editor app 

• Requirements: iPadOS 14.0 or later

Adobe Illustrator CC’s dedicated vector graphics features are a terrific complement for the Apple Pencil 2. I used it on my 11-inch iPad Pro and had a user-friendly and easy-to-access experience. You can create lines, shapes, typography, and gradients and convert your sketches into vectors. Also, use your Apple Pencil to quickly combine and clip drawings.

It offers 18,000+ fonts, 20+ color books, and effects like radial repetitions, point gradients, patterns, and symmetry. Besides, the share and collaboration function invites other people to modify your creations. Thanks to seamless cloud integration, you can import works from Photoshop and work with all of your Creative Cloud applications. 

I loved the calligraphic brushes, pinpoint editing, and live broadcasts feature. Along with that, the community support for professional inspiration is great. The basic version of the app is free, though you can get the premium with the Adobe Creative Cloud membership. 

Price: Free (In-app purchase starts from $9.99)

Download

3. Procreate – For professional artists

• Requirements: iPadOS 14.4 or later

Super HD canvases up to 16k:4k resolution, an easy Apple Pencil interface, 250 levels of undo and redo, 100+ adjustable brush parameters, etc., makes Procreate among the best Apple Pencil apps for artists. Using Apple Pencil 2, you can get a seamless pen and paper-like painting and sketching experience. 

The new 3D painting tools in Procreate 5.2 are great and compatible with other 3D apps like Zbrush and Blender. Many seasoned artists and graphic designers use it for their professional work since it is so effective. Although I think it’s not well-suited for vector work and graphic design.

You may import data from different systems and places. As a result, syncing your work from other devices to your iPad is much simpler. Additionally, you may zoom in and out of your artwork using hand motions and do layer tweaks. It’s ideal for newcomers who want to develop their abilities and become experts in their field.

Price: $9.99

Download

4. Paper by WeTransfer – Easy to use

• Requirements: iPadOS 13.0 or later

Although Paper seems to be a straightforward sketching app at first appearance, there are hidden features to unleash your creativity. It offers customizable tools for sketching, painting, drawing, and editing images. The interactive interface supports your creative process and provides distraction-free concentration.

There are a ton of creative prompts, how-to guides, tactics, and other resources available if you’re having trouble coming up with ideas. In addition, there are no complicated layers to deal with, making it simple to use. You just need to add many photos to a page, cut, attach, and reposition them to create works of art.

You can create diagrams and custom templates with various responsive brushes. Also, quickly annotate images or convert text into attractively organized lists using simple motions. It’s a great way to record and arrange the ideas and pictures you need daily.                       

Price: Free (In-app purchase starts from $1.99)

Download

5. Sketch Club – Well-suited for artist tribe

• Requirements: iPadOS 11.0 or later

Sketch Club is a digital notebook with tools for painting, editing pictures, and sketching. You may fully customize your work with hundreds of layers with various blending modes, naming, and color tagging. The background autosave, large undo history, automated ratio snapping, and dual mirror mode features make your artwork perfect. 

If you are a manga artist, the pen and text tools are worthwhile with excellent Apple Pencil integration! The great layer support allows printing canvases at a high resolution of 300 dpi and up to 16K with presets. You can make your own color themes and shortcut bar with favorite brushes and features.  

I recommend Sketch Club as one of the best iPad apps for Apple Pencil for its integrated community and engaging activities. There are daily tasks, weekly contests, monthly get-togethers, yearly prizes, and more to get inspiration and motivation. The tutorials and courses are also great if you want to improve at drawing.

Price: $3.99

Download

Best note-taking iPad apps to use Apple Pencil

6. Apple Notes – Best integrated notes app

• Requirements: iPadOS 10.0 and later

The built-in Notes app on your iPad is capable of more than simply typing and dictation. You can do handwritten notes, doodles, and drawings with Apple Pencil. Simply create a new note, choose the drawing tool, and begin to write or doodle! Apple also supports in-line scanning, annotations, and native text recognition search. 

Additionally, add checklists, photos, and subfolders, and upload various assets, including papers, links, and maps. Everything will be synced with iCloud. You may also pin important notes and secure them with the Password Protect function. I personally use Siri to take notes and do quick doodles with Apple Pencil. 

Price: Free 

Download

7. Microsoft OneNote – Great for collaborative work

• Requirements: iPadOS 14.0 and later

OneNote is amongst the best note-taking apps for Apple Pencil if you have a Microsoft Office subscription. Even you can use the free version to write memos, make a digital sketchbook and save notes. It’s packed with note-taking, handwriting, annotation, and drawing features and works flawlessly with the Apple Pencil. 

There’s a range of pen colors and personalized settings to create handwritten notes and doodles. Besides, you can add rich texts, pictures, music, calendars, and other elements to your notes. Add TouchID passwords for extra security of sensitive information. The best part is you can work collaboratively by generating a link to your whole digital notebook.

Price: Free (In-app purchase starts from $6.99)

Download

8. Notability –  Best digital canvas app for iPad 

• Requirements: iPadOS 14.0 and later

For a responsive, accurate writing experience, Notability has optimized its Ink for the Apple Pencil and included a double-tap gesture for tool switching, erasing, and other functions. Compared to many other apps, it has a simple, user-friendly layout and enhanced security with Face ID and Touch ID support.

That’s why it’s a popular iPad app among students. It has features like drawing pens, customizable colors, simple PDF exporting, voice recording, and the option to look up handwritten notes.

Also, you can modify and set your favorite backdrop, text size, pen type, and ink color. Additionally, a virtual notepad will allow you to store, arrange, and share your notes and import and export notes.

Price: Free (In-app purchase starts from $2.99)

Download

9. GoodNotes 5 – Flexible note-taking

• Requirements: iOS 13.0 or later

If you regularly take handwritten notes, GoodNotes is for you among other best iPad apps for Apple Pencil. It offers different digital paper forms like lined paper, graphic paper, designer paper, and even music sheets. You may also upload your own custom templates for doodles and flexible digital note-taking on multiple pages. 

Since it focuses on handwriting, you can easily input complicated mathematical and chemical calculations. You may annotate imported PDFs, search handwritten notes, and transform handwriting into text. It allows you to write searchable handwritten notes and transforms your iPad into a digital whiteboard during live broadcasting. 

You can access your notes from your iPad, iPhone, or Mac since they are immediately synchronized through iCloud.You may also backup notes to your preferred cloud storage service, such as Dropbox, or Google Drive. While the free edition is only partially functional, the full program is competitively priced at $7.99.

Price: Free (Full version at $7.99)

Download

10. Nebo – Advance handwriting recognition 

• Requirements: iOS 14.0 or later

Do you like to write notes by hand but want to share them as plain text? Then you should consider using MyScript Nebo for handwriting recognition. You can convert handwritten notes into text with 66 different languages” translation support. Even if the translation is imperfect, you can still save the handwriting and the original text.

Besides, Nebo offers veral digital pen tools to draw various shapes, mathematical equations, and doodles using the Apple Pencil. Also, you may annotate external material and insert diagrams and photos. It supports exporting notes in Powerpoint-compatible HTML, PDF, and text formats and sync to iCloud or Dropbox.

I use this app for the math solver that automatically solves equations if turned on. You can create artwork on as many canvases as you like, then copy it to use on other pages. To keep things organized, you can arrange your notes into colored notebooks. Using the drag-and-drop tool, everything is searchable and simple to classify. 

Price: Free (In-app purchases starts from $1.99)

Download

Annotation Apple Pencil apps for iPad

11. PDF Expert – A fine option for copy editors

• Requirements: iPadOS 14.0 and later

Since PDF Expert offers more functionality than Apple’s built-in Markup extension, it’s the best app to annotate and mark PDFs while taking notes. You can quickly open PDFs from iCloud, Google Drive, or other cloud storage, fill forms, sign papers, and do other actions.

Several tools include a digital pen, shape tool, underline, strikethrough, and highlighter. With PDF Expert’s free edition, you may read, annotate, highlight, draw, and fill out forms. You’ll need the Pro membership to alter the original PDF structure, add or change photos, sign documents, encrypt them with a password, create stamps from commonly used phrases, etc.

Also, it allows customizing your large PDFs using endless scroll and packing up several pages in one single-page view.

Price: Free (In-app purchase starts from $9.99)

Download

12. LiquidText – Best iPad pro app for research projects

• Requirements: iOS 14.1 or later

Researching on paper or online and gathering and arranging materials may be quite difficult. With its many capabilities, Both professionals and students can use it as a research tool. On Apple Store, it is “Apple’s most inventive iPad app” to read and annotate multiple PDFs together. 

According to me, the best feature is you can squeeze a document to compare portions, draw a line to link ideas in several papers, comment on numerous pages at once, note your thoughts for cross-reference, and many more.

Once again, having the Apple Pencil will make it quicker and easier to use the app. Additionally, LiquidText may feel like writing notes on paper with the Pencil’s pressure and tilt sensitivity and greater adaptability. You may benefit from LiquidText’s configurable double-tap compatibility if you own an Apple Pencil 2.

Price: Free (In-app purchase starts from $4.99)

Download

13. PDFelement – All rounder PDF app for any iPad

• Requirements: iPadOS 13.0 or later

PDFelement is a simple-to-use app to create, edit, scan, markup, and annotate PDF files. You can scan any paper to make a PDF, arrange the pages, and convert existing PDFs to other formats. You can share any edited PDF as a compressed ZIP file or via direct Wi-Fi transfer. To use all the features at no charge, all you need is a Wondershare account.

You can manage your PDF library using the embedded folders and import documents from any cloud storage. Its annotation and markup pens can do highlighting, underlining, strikethrough, text boxes, call-outs, stamps, and freehand drawing. It also performs various other tasks, including combining PDF files and filling out and signing forms. 

Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $6.99)  

Download

So, that’s all, folks!

Apple Pencil is really a revolutionary addition to the iPad. And all the best iPad apps for Apple Pencil smoothen your workflow, maximizing your productivity. Have you used any of these before? Which one would you download and use? Let me know in the comments below!

For more creativity, read on: 

• Tips and tricks for Apple Pencil to use like a pro 
• How to check Apple Pencil battery on iPad (1st and 2nd Gen)
• Best Calligraphy Apps for iPhone and iPad
• Best way to compress PDF file size on iPhone and iPad

The post Best iPad apps for Apple Pencil in 2024 appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

1. Check your iPad’s compatibility with Apple Pencil
2. Check Apple Pencil’s battery
3. Reconnect your Apple Pencil to your iPad
4. Disable and enable Bluetooth on iPad
5. Forget device and re-pair Apple Pencil
6. Clean Apple Pencil’s nib
7. Change Apple Pencil’s nib
8. Check whether the app supports Apple Pencil
9. Turn on Scribble mode on Apple Pencil
10. Remove iPad’s screen protector
11. Restart your iPad
12. Reset or update your iPad

1. Check your iPad’s compatibility with Apple Pencil

Before we delve into anything too technical, it’s wise to check if your Apple Pencil is compatible with your iPad. Here is a list of mentioned devices for your reference.

Apple Pencil (USB-C)

• iPad (10th generation)
• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad Air (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (all generations)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)

Apple Pencil (2nd generation)

• iPad mini (6th generation and later)
• iPad Air (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (all generations)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)

Apple Pencil (1st generation)

• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th generation)
• iPad (10th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch

2. Check Apple Pencil’s battery

If your Apple Pencil is indeed compatible with your iPad, ensure it has enough battery. It is common for wireless devices to experience glitches when they are running low on juice.

In case your Apple Pencil is low on battery, simply choose one of the following options based on its generation.

To charge the Apple Pencil (USB-C):

1. Slide open the top end of your Apple Pencil (USB-C). This will reveal the USB-C charging connector.
2. Attach a USB-C charging cable to the Apple Pencil.
3. Connect the other end of the USB-C charging cable to your iPad or to a power adapter.
   • If you are connecting to your iPad, make sure that the iPad is turned on and unlocked.
4. Your Apple Pencil will start charging automatically. You can check the battery level of your Apple Pencil in the Today View on your iPad.

To charge the Apple Pencil (2nd generation):

1. Place the Apple Pencil on the magnetic connector of the iPad case.
2. A few seconds later, a battery indicator will prompt on the screen.

To charge the Apple Pencil (1st generation):

1. Connect the Apple Pencil to the Lightning connector on the iPad.
   Alternatively, you can use the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter.
2. Open the Control Center and tap on the Bluetooth icon.
3. Upon connecting successfully, the battery level of the Apple Pencil will be displayed next to its name.

3. Reconnect your Apple Pencil to your iPad

If you find yourself facing issues with your Apple Pencil not working, a potential solution lies in reconnecting the pencil to your device.

1. Start by ensuring that Bluetooth is enabled on your iPad and remove any obstruction between the Pencil and the device.
2. Detach the Apple Pencil from its charging port and firmly plug it back in, ensuring you hear a click indicating a proper connection.

These steps should help you in reviving your Apple Pencil diligently. If not, read on to discover more solutions.

4. Disable and enable Bluetooth on iPad

If you find that your Apple Pencil is not functioning properly, a quick and effective solution may be to restart the Bluetooth connection. It may look primitive, but such temporary errors are not a new story in the world of gadgets.

1. Either head to the Settings app or simply disable Bluetooth from the Control Center.
   
   
2. Wait for a few moments before turning Bluetooth back on.
   
   
3. Finally, pair your Apple Pencil as usual.

In most cases, this simple restart of the Bluetooth connection should resolve any issues with a non-responsive or malfunctioning Apple Pencil.

5. Forget device and re-pair Apple Pencil

Should the above-mentioned fixes prove ineffective, there’s another way you can reset the connection between your Apple Pencil and iPad.

1. Navigate to the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Go to the Bluetooth option.
3. Tap the info icon next to the paired Apple Pencil.
   
   
4. Finally, hit Forget This Device → Forget Device when prompted.
   
   
5. Now, wait for some time. After a short duration, pair the Apple Pencil the traditional way.

6. Clean Apple Pencil’s nib

One potential solution could be to clean the nib of your Apple Pencil. Over time, debris such as dust and dirt can accumulate on the tip of the pencil, causing reduced sensitivity or even complete unresponsiveness. To fix this issue:

1. Start by removing the cap of the Apple Pencil and detach the nib from the main body.
2. Gently wipe away any visible debris using a soft, lint-free cloth or a microfiber cleaning pad.
3. Avoid using excessive force, as this could damage the nib.
4. Once cleaned, reattach the nib firmly to ensure a proper connection with your device.

7. Change Apple Pencil’s nib

If this cleaning method does not resolve the problem, there may be other underlying issues with your Apple Pencil. If the nib of your pencil looks worn out, or damaged, you should consider replacing the tip.

Replace the nib by gently unscrewing it from the tip of the pencil and inserting a new one. It is crucial to ensure that the replacement nib is genuine and designed specifically for your Apple Pencil model to maintain optimal performance.

Additionally, keep in mind that while changing the nib can restore functionality, it may not address other potential underlying issues.

8. Check whether the app supports Apple Pencil

Many users are unaware that not every app provides support for Apple Pencil.

The Apple Pencil is designed to work seamlessly with certain apps that have been specifically optimized for its use.

• Hence, take a brief look through the documentation of the respective app and keep an eye out for mention of Apple Pencil. The app developer should have mentioned a list of compatible stylus devices.
• Furthermore, a few apps require manual permission for Apple Pencil support. Go through their menu and system settings to discover one such feature.

In the event that the app supports Apple Pencil, these factors should be helpful. If not, I prefer sticking to the native apps for the time being.

9. Turn on Scribble mode on Apple Pencil

If your Apple Pencil is not functioning properly, the best way to verify your doubts is to enable Scribble Mode. This feature allows you to test your Apple Pencil through a series of functions and get a complete list of its capabilities.

1. Head to the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Select the Apple Pencil option to proceed.
3. Toggle on Scribble Mode.
4. Now, tap Try Scribble.
   
   
5. Here, you can test your Apple Pencil via any or all of the following actions:
   • Handwrite: Use your pencil to handwrite in the text area to convert it to type.
   • Delete: Remove editable text just by scratching the word or sentence.
   • Select: Circle or draw a line through the text to easily select it.
   • Insert: Tap and hold with your pencil to make room for new text.
   • Join: Draw a vertical line to join characters or separate words.
6. Tap Done to conclude the process.
   
   

By enabling this mode, you may experience improved functionality of your Apple Pencil, as it enhances its compatibility with various apps and enables handwriting recognition.

However, if you are unable to perform any of the listed actions, your Apple Pencil may require immediate assistance.

10. Remove iPad’s screen protector

Sometimes, screen protectors can cause functional issues, which are often blamed on the Apple Pencil. If you have been using a thick screen guard for your iPad, maybe it’s time to take it off.

This occurrence is pretty rare, but screen protectors tend to interfere with the pencil’s functionality by creating a gap between the screen and the stylus.

Hence, gently peeling off these protective layers from your iPad will eliminate any potential air gaps and restore the smooth operation of your Apple Pencil.

11. Restart your iPad

If you find your Apple Pencil not responding all of a sudden, a quick and effective resolution is to restart your iPad. This golden solution works for all kinds of bugs and errors.

Once the restart is complete successfully, reconnect your Apple Pencil to your iPad and see if it works properly. This troubleshooting step can resolve connectivity issues between the pencil and iPad, ensuring uninterrupted productivity or creativity.

12. Reset or update your iPad

Those who are still facing this issue should opt to reset their iPads to factory settings.

The Apple Pencil relies on compatibility with the iPadOS, and sometimes, a refreshed system can resolve all compatibility issues.

Apple often releases software updates that cater to minor bugs and bring the system back to its original state. If you’re lucky, this will get you going in a minute!

1. To update iPadOS, go to Settings → General → Software Update → tap Update Now if a new software version is available.
2. Once the update is complete, restart your iPad and try using the Apple Pencil again.

Contact Apple Support

Sadly, if the problem still persists, you must consider bringing in the experts. Contacting Apple Support is your best bet in this circumstance. They have a team of knowledgeable professionals who are equipped to provide comprehensive assistance and guidance tailored to your specific situation.

Through an interactive and efficient support process, they can help troubleshoot the issue and suggest potential solutions. In rare cases, there might be hardware-related issues that require repair or replacement, something that Apple Support can facilitate seamlessly.

Design uninterrupted!

There you have it, a rejuvenated Apple Pencil ready to amplify your creative endeavors. Whether you’re an artist, a student, or someone who simply loves the fluidity of digital inking, these tips should get you back on track. Now, go ahead, pick up that resurrected stylus, and let your ideas flow effortlessly once again.

Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Read more:

• Apple Pencil not charging? Easy ways to fix it!
• Best iPad apps for Apple Pencil
• Best iPad apps for better and smarter usage
• Best iPad Apps for Teachers

The post Apple Pencil not working? 12 Ways to fix it! appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

If you own an Apple Pencil 1 or 2, then you probably know how easy it is to misplace it. You may also have forgotten where you last left it.

Yes, you can magnetically attach the Pencil to an iPad Air, iPad Pro 12.9-inch, or 11-inch. However, we’re humans, and we can forget to attach the Pencil to the iPad, and that’s when you end up losing it.

Luckily, there are a few tried and true ways to find a lost Apple Pencil.

2 Ways to find a lost Apple Pencil using iPad

Losing your Apple Pencil can be one of the most frustrating experiences. Thankfully, there are a few methods you can employ to try and find your lost Pencil.

1. Use Bluetooth connectivity

You can employ this method if you have the iPad paired with your Apple Pencil.

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPad.
2.  Navigate to the Bluetooth option.
3. If your Apple Pencil is still Connected to your iPad, you can ensure yourself that Apple Pencil is somewhere within 30 feet of your iPad.
   
   

Now, just look around you! You should be able to find the lost puppy!

2. Use Wunderfind app to find lost Apple Pencil

Apart from the method mentioned above, you can use the Wunderfind app to find out the approximate distance between your iPad and Apple Pencil in meters.

1. Download the Wunderfind app from the App Store.
2. Once the download is complete, launch the Wunderfind app.
3. Tap OK when prompted, allowing the app to use Bluetooth.
   
   
4. If you want to use the app for free, just close the payment interface.
5. You’ll now be able to view the accessories connected accessories to your iPad.
6. Select the Apple Pencil from the menu, and a radar depicting the signal of the Apple Pen will appear.
7. You can follow the same until the signal strength reaches 100%.
8. When you find the Apple Pencil, tap I found it to conclude the search.
   
   

The simplest way to locate any Bluetooth-enabled accessories, including a lost Apple Pencil, is to use this method. However, the accessories must be connected to your iPad in order for this to function properly.

Note: The Wunderfind app might take some time to accurately locate the devices. Please wait for some time so that the app loads the required data. However, please note that the app is not a hundred percent reliable.

Other ways to find a lost Apple Pencil

Note that neither method mentioned above works if your Apple Pencil is discharged or not connected to Bluetooth. If otherwise, you might have to try some workarounds mentioned below:

• Track your steps back: Think about the last place you left it and follow the path back. If you’ve got a cluttered work surface, it’s possible that you’ve misplaced it in a stack of papers or underneath a laptop. Try to recall where you came from methodically to ensure you haven’t simply moved your Pencil from one spot to another.
• Shuffle through your belongings: In the worst-case scenario, it’s a good idea to shuffle through your belongings. Your Pencil could be hiding anywhere around you. Make sure to look for any spaces in which the Apple Pencil could have fallen, such as between couch cushions, under furniture, or in drawers.

Tips and tricks to keep your Apple Pencil safe

Losing an accessory may occur due to bad luck, and there’s nothing you can do about it. But precaution is better than cure. Taking the necessary steps and tweaking your habits a bit can reduce the chances of losing your Apple Pencil.

• Develop a habit of keeping your Apple Pencil in its designated place so that you don’t have to play prop hunting every time you’re in a hurry.
• Ensure that your Apple Pencil is charged after every use so that you can make use of Bluetooth to locate the same.
• Alternatively, you can attach the Apple Pencil to your iPad using a tether, making it impossible to lose.
• You can consider attaching an Air Tag to Apple Pencil, making it easy for you to find the same even if the accessory is discharged or not connected.

Keeping your Apple Pencil safe doesn’t require a magic solution. It just requires one to be responsible, and the above-mentioned pointers should help you get started.

Never get scolded by your mom again!

Losing an Apple Pencil can be frustrating, but with the above methods and prevention tips, you can minimize the chances of it happening. Even if you end up losing it, follow any procedure that suits you the best before your mom or partner finds out. Once that happens, there is no coming back.

Under any circumstance, if you’re unable to find your lost or stolen Apple Pencil, feel free to drop your concerns below, and I’ll be at your service.

Read more: 

• How to change Safari search engine on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• How to extract audio from video on iPhone and iPad
• Best compass apps for iPhone and iPad
• iPhone compass not working? 11 Ways to fix it!

The post How to find a lost Apple Pencil (1st and 2nd gen) appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

And even if you already love the iPad stylus, this article can help you see what you’re missing. Let’s not waste any more time and get on with it.

• Basics you should know about your Apple Pencil
• Best Apple Pencil tips and tricks for drawing
• Apple Pencil tips for note-taking
• How to get the most out of my Apple Pencil

Basics to know about Apple Pencil  

Apple Pencil will greatly ease your day-to-day work, whether you are an artist or a businessman. It could aid in drawing, note-taking, digital signatures, relaxation, and more. But before we dip into that pool, let’s get the basics out of the way.

Connect your Apple Pencil to the iPad

• Apple Pencil (1st Gen) – Unlock iPad → connect via Lightning pair → tap Pair.
• Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) – Unlock iPad → Attach the pencil to a magnetic strip → tap Pair.

If you face any issues with pairing, check out this guide for step-by-step tutorials.

Best Apple Pencil tips and tricks for drawing 

For many, the iPad and Apple Pencil are only for designers (graphic, interior, jewelry, fashion, etc.) or artists who need to draw, sketch, color, render, etc. And while not limited to these people, Apple Pencil makes their jobs much smoother.

And if you’re a budding or established designer/artist or new iPad user, here are some hacks to improve your drawing skill and speed.

1. Achieve perfect shading  

The ‘pencil’ in its name is more than a namesake. And at times like this, it behaves like a real-life pencil. When you are drawing or sketching, tilt the Apple Pencil to shade.

Furthermore, it also responds to the pressure, so you can darken or lighten the stroke accordingly, like a real-life pencil. While it works amazingly smoothly, you might have to practice to get the hang and master the skill.

2. Draw perfect shapes  

A part of the Scribble feature introduced in iPadOS 14. It enables the supported app to recognize the shape you’ve drawn via Apple Pencil and correct it, whether it’s a circle, square, star, heart, or hand.

1. Open the app and select the pen tool.
2. Start drawing the desired shape, but pause before you finish the shape.
3. iPad will get the signal and replace the shape with a perfect one.

Notably, if you do not pause before completing the shape, it will not be corrected and will remain as is. This allows users to draw random, rough shapes if they want to. And if you pause too early, the shape might not be recognized and hence not corrected.

3. Use Markup to draw a straight line

Drawing a super-straight line could be difficult, no matter how steady your hand is. But it’s a child’s play if you know this hack.

1. In a supported app, open the Markup tool.
2. Now select the ruler tool from the options menu (bottom right).
3. Place the ruler at the desired place and angle.
4. Select the pen/marker and trace the ruler’s edge.

4. Trace drawings  

Did you know that the iPad will register Apple Pencil strokes, even if a thin paper is on the screen? Well, it does, and you can use the feature to your benefit.

Supposedly, you have a sketch that you need to transfer onto the iPad. You can either scan the sheet or:

1. Open the drawing sheet (Notes or any other app you prefer).
2. Select the pen or marker.
3. Place the sheet on the iPad and use tape to hold the paper in place.
4. Take your Apple Pencil and start tracing the sketch.

5. Stop finger interference

Have children or naughty colleagues who can interrupt or want the Apple Pencil to have full control? Try this hack. The setting will only allow the Apple Pencil to draw and won’t register the finger moments.

Notably, this is only applicable when the Apple Pencil is connected to the iPad. You can still scroll using your fingers but not draw or write something.

1. Go to Settings → Apple Pencil.
2. Toggle on Only Draw with Apple Pencil.

The setting works in Notes, Photos, or anywhere else you use the Markup tools. To disable the setting, follow the steps above and toggle it off.

6. Insert a drawing into the email 

The feature has been part of the default Mail app since iOS 11 but is a bit hidden. So, many iPad users don’t know that it exists.

1. Launch the Mail app.
2. Compose new or reply to an existing mail.
3. Double-tap with Apple Pencil anywhere to bring up the options menu.
4. Tap the arrow to see more options.
5. Select Insert Drawing.

You can also go to the Markup tools → choose the tool → draw or sketch → tap Done → tap Insert Drawing. To make any changes, tap the drawing in the email and the Markup icon.

Apple Pencil tips for note-taking

To know what you’re missing, go to Pinterest or YouTube and search for iPad note-taking. You’ll find some talented artists brewing frame-worthy notes. And while that might not be the target for you and me, we can make decent and quick notes with these tips.

7. Use Apple Pencil even if the iPad is locked  

While Quick Note is a boon, you also have a quicker way to jot down notes directly from the Lock screen. When you’re in a hurry, tap, hold (for a millisecond), and release the Apple Pencil on the Lock Screen. A fresh note will appear on the screen, so right or draw away.

To enable the feature:

1. Go to Settings → Notes.
2. Toggle On the switch next to Access Notes from the Lock Screen.

Incredibly, while you can create a new note without unlocking the device, you won’t be able to access the previous notes. So, rest assured all your data is secured.

8. Quick Note 

Introduced in iPadOS 15, Quick Note allows you to call upon a fresh or existing note anytime by swiping inward from the bottom right corner of your iPad screen. Notably, it works over any and all apps, so you don’t have to leave the current app to make a note.

And the best part is that Quick Note is aware of the app you’re using. So, when you open Quick Note alongside Safari, an Add Link button appears. Or, when you long-press the selected text, an Add to Quick Note option is available in the menu.

Check out our complete guide on using Quick Note to make the most of this feature.

9. Master Scribble

Scribble has manifold the power and ease of the Apple Pencil. I’ve already introduced how it helps you draw the perfect shape, which is just the tip of the iceberg.

Convert handwriting to text

As the name suggests, the feature lets you scribble out things using Apple Pencil. And the iPad auto-converts your handwriting to typed text. Incredibly, it’s not just limited to a single app. In fact, you can scribble in any text field like the Safari address bar, online forms, messages, etc.

For text fields, simply write the text with Apple Pencil. However, for taking Notes, select the Markup toolbar and the Handwriting tool.

Scribble gestures

You can not just write but also edit or manage the text with some simple gestures:

• Select a word – Double-tap or circle the word.
• Select text – Underline or circle the text.
• Insert text – Long-press in the text area and write in the space that opens.
• Delete – Scratch the word out.
• Join or separate characters – Draw a vertical line between them.
• Select a paragraph – Triple-tap any word within the paragraph or slide the Apple Pencil from the start to the end.

Moreover, Scribble can recognize handwritten addresses, phone numbers, dates, etc. It will give them a yellow underline as a sign of recognition.

When you tap the underlined text, a contextual menu with connecting actions will pop up. For instance, call or message a phone number, add the date to the calendar, etc

10. Markup screenshots and documents 

While taking screenshots on an iPad is super simple (and I have a special trick for that mentioned below), marking them is quite easy, thanks to the built-in Markup tools.

Simply tap the Markup tool, select the pen/marker you prefer, choose the color and write or draw away.

11. Sign documents on the go  

You’ll probably know that you can scan documents via the Notes and Files app on an iPad. But that’s not it. Using the Markup tool, you can digitally sign the document wherever and whenever.

1. Open the document in Photos, Notes, or Files.
2. Tap the Markup tool icon.
3. Select + icon and then Signature.
4. Now, use your Apple Pencil to sign the document.

You can also save multiple signatures and use them as required, check out this article to learn everything you can do with the feature.

12. Search handwritten notes 

While not really an Apple Pencil hack, but worth mentioning in the section. A smart-on-device intelligence allows the iPad to search almost anything in notes, whether handwritten text, text in scanned documents, tags, mentions, and objects within images.

How to get the most out of my Apple Pencil   

13. Take a screenshot with Apple Pencil 

Oh yes! Your Apple Pencil can do that too. Swipe up from the bottom left corner of the screen using the Apple Pencil, and tada!

Notably, you can resize, Markup/annotate, share, use Live text, and easily manage the screenshot’s opacity. Once finished, tap Done and save the screenshot to Photos/Files or Delete it.

Furthermore, if you take a screenshot of a Safari page, you can tap the Full Page option from the top to capture the complete webpage and save it as a PDF.

14. Change Apple Pencil quick gestures 

Swipping in from the left side for screenshots and the right side for Quick Note is the iPad’s version of the Hot Corners. But if you’re a leftie/rightie and want to interchange the quick gestures, here’s how you can:

1. Go to Settings → Apple Pencil.
2. Under Pencil Gestures, select the Quick Gesture you want.

You can choose to turn off the gestures entirely; just select Off.

15. Customize double-tap features 

Like AirPods, the Apple Pencil 2nd Gen has a sensor near its tip. You can perform certain actions when you double-tap the sensor. By default, it switches you back to the last used tool. However, you can change the setting.

1. Go to Settings → Apple Pencil.
2. Under the Double Tap section, choose one of the following
   • Switch between current tool and eraser
   • Switch between current tool and last used
   • Show color palette
   • Off

Notably, The double-tap feature is limited to supportive apps like Notes.

16. Adjust Palm Rejection

By default, the Palm Rejection is turned on with Apple Pencil, i.e., if your palm touches the screen while using Apple Pencil, that won’t be registered.

However, that might not be befitting of your writing/drawing posture. The good news is that you can adjust the setting for third-party apps like Procreate, Good Notes, etc. Just go to the settings section of the app to adjust it.

17. Switch the tip regularly

When writing/drawing with a regular pencil, you need to sharpen its tip for best performance. Similarly, a lot depends on the tip of your Apple Pencil. While you don’t have to change it too frequently, heavy users are advised to change the tip within 6 months.

The best way to know is if the tip feels rough while writing or sketching. We have covered the whole procedure in detail. Check out this article on when and how to replace your Apple Pencil tip.

18. Manage Apple Pencil battery efficiently  

How tragic would the situation be that it is out of battery when you need the Apple Pencil the most? While you can go to Settings → Apple Pencil to check its battery, the best way is through the battery widget.

Long-press any app → select Edit Home Screen → In the jiggle mode, tap + from the upper-left corner. Here, find and add the battery widget to the Home Screen.

19. Keep your Apple Pencil securely 

If you have a case or cover for the iPad that houses the Apple Pencil, it is a win-win situation. However, if that’s not the case or your iPad is fixed on a stand on your desk, you might need extra protection for the Apple Pencil.

If you need assistance finding a case, cover, or sleeve for your Apple Pencil, check out our guide. You can also opt for a stand or holder to safely store your Apple Pencil when not in use.

20. Find a lost Apple Pencil  

While I don’t hope such a scenario happens, we should always be prepared for the worst. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t support Find My, so that’s a sad Tweet.

However, there are some tricks and third-party apps that can help you out. For detailed, step-by-step instructions, check out this article.

That’s all, folks!

That’s all the tricks, tips, and suggestions for Apple Pencil that I have up my sleeve. Is there something I am missing, or do you have any questions regarding something? Feel free to connect with me in the comment section below.

Want more great iPad hacks? Check these links out:

• How to use Stage Manager for multitasking on Mac and iPad
• All new iPad keyboard shortcuts
• Apple Pencil USB-C vs. Pencil Gen 1 and Gen 2: What should you choose?
• How to multitask on iPad: An ultimate guide

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