It is a specific kind of panic. You grab your iPad to sketch or take notes, but the Apple Pencil is at 0%. You snap it onto the magnetic strip or plug it in, and... nothing. No charging icon. No life.
Honestly, it’s frustrating because these things aren't cheap. Whether you’re rocking the classic 1st Gen, the sleek 2nd Gen, or the newer Apple Pencil Pro, charging issues are surprisingly common. Sometimes it's just a software glitch, but other times, you might be looking at a bricked battery.
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Why Your Apple Pencil Is Not Charging
The most frequent culprit isn't a broken chip; it's a dead battery cell. Most people don't realize that the battery inside an Apple Pencil is tiny. We are talking about roughly 86 mAh. For context, your iPad battery is usually over 10,000 mAh. Because it's so small, if you leave it completely drained for weeks—or god forbid, months—the battery can fall into a "deep discharge" state.
Once it hits that point, the chemical reaction inside the lithium-ion cell basically stops. It won't take a charge anymore. You've essentially got a very expensive plastic stick.
But before we assume the worst, let's look at the simple stuff.
If you have a 2nd Gen or Pro model, is your case in the way? Even "pencil-compatible" cases can sometimes be just a millimeter too thick, preventing the magnets from aligning perfectly. If the alignment is off by a hair, the induction charging won't kick in.
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The Weird "Heat" Trick
This sounds like some "voodoo" tech advice, but it actually has a basis in chemistry. Some users on the Apple Support forums and Reddit have found that gently warming a dead Pencil can sometimes jump-start a stalled battery.
I’m not saying stick it in the oven. Please don't do that.
But holding the Pencil in your hands for ten minutes or placing it near a warm (not hot) radiator can sometimes lower the internal resistance enough for the charger to finally "see" the battery and start pushing current. It’s a last-ditch effort, but when you're facing a $129 replacement fee, it’s worth a shot.
Troubleshooting the Hardware Connection
If your Apple Pencil is not charging and it's a 1st Gen model, the Lightning connector is your first stop. Gunk builds up in there. Use a wooden toothpick—never metal—to gently scrape out any lint from your iPad's port.
Check the Pencil’s own connector too. If those gold pins are dull or have a dark spot, wipe them with a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol on a microfiber cloth.
For 2nd Gen and Pro owners:
- Toggle Bluetooth: Go into Settings and flip it off and on. Sometimes the handshake between the iPad and the Pencil just hangs.
- The "Forget Device" Move: This is the most effective software fix. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your Pencil, and tap "Forget This Device." Restart your iPad completely (the old Volume Up, Volume Down, hold Power button routine). Then, re-attach the Pencil.
- The 30-Minute Rule: If the Pencil has been dead for a long time, the iPad might not show the charging notification immediately. Leave it attached for at least 30 minutes without touching it.
Software Bugs and Firmware
Apple occasionally pushes firmware updates for the Pencil, but they don't tell you. There’s no "Update" button. The update happens automatically when the Pencil is docked and the iPad is connected to Wi-Fi.
In 2025, several users reported a bug where the Apple Pencil Pro would stop charging at exactly 67% or 85% on M4 iPad Pros. This was eventually traced back to an iPadOS power management glitch. If your charging is stalling at a specific percentage, check for an iPadOS update. Apple usually bundles Pencil fixes into the general system updates.
When Is It Truly Dead?
If you’ve cleaned the ports, tried the heat trick, unpaired the device, and left it charging for four hours with no luck, the battery has likely failed.
Apple’s official stance is that they don't "repair" Pencils. They replace them. If you’re under the one-year warranty or have AppleCare+, you can usually get a swap for free or a small fee. Out of warranty? You might be looking at a "battery service" fee, which is cheaper than a new Pencil but still hurts the wallet.
According to long-time contributors on the Apple Support Communities like LotusPilot, the best way to prevent this is to never let the Pencil stay at 0%. If you aren't going to use it for a while, charge it to 100% first. For 2nd Gen users, just keep it docked. It won't "overcharge"—the iPad is smart enough to trickle charge and maintain the cell health.
Actionable Next Steps
- Strip the iPad: Remove any protective case and try charging the Pencil directly against the metal edge or in the port.
- Hard Reset: Perform a forced restart on your iPad while the Pencil is attached.
- Check Compatibility: It sounds silly, but ensure you aren't trying to pair an Apple Pencil Pro with an older M1 iPad—they won't charge or pair.
- Test Another iPad: If you have a friend with an iPad, try sticking your Pencil on their tablet. If it charges there, your iPad’s charging coil or port is the problem, not the Pencil.
- Contact Apple: If the "Batteries" widget shows a "0%" or a dash and won't budge after an hour, it's time to book a Genius Bar appointment.