Apple offers two different generations of Apple Pencil, which is compatible with different iPads. Since both are powered by batteries, it will inevitably run out of juice. Here’s how to charge and check the battery percentage of your Apple Pencil.
How to download the first generation Apple Pencil
Loading the first generation Apple Pencil is not the most elegant thing. The first-generation Apple pencil is compatible with all iPads sent with a physical home button and a lightning port.
If you need help identifying which Apple Pencil you own, then know that the first generation accessory is completely circular.
It is connected and loaded in the same way. Take your Apple Pencil and remove the shell from the top of the stylus. You will now see a Lighting connector on the end of the Apple Pencil.
Insert this connector into the Lightning port on the bottom of your iPad. You hear a thing and the Apple Pencil starts loading.
Keep the Apple Pencil plugged in; a full charge happens within about 15 to 30 minutes. We’ll show you how to see the battery percentage of an Apple Pencil at the end of the article.
If you do not want to load your Apple Pencil on your iPad (which is quite an awkward affair), you can use the Lightning adapter that came in the box with your Apple Pencil.
Connect your Apple Pencil to the adapter, and then connect the adapter to a Lightning cable to charge your stylus.
How to upload the second generation Apple Pencil
Apple has improved the charging experience with the second-generation Pencil by leaps and bounds. The second generation Apple Pencil is supported by newer iPad Pros and iPad Air. These iPads have flat edges and do not have physical home buttons.
The second generation Apple Pencil slaps magnetically on the side of the iPad because it has a single flat edge (along with a programmable button). And that’s all you need to do to connect and charge your Apple Pencil.
Put your Apple pencil on top of your iPad (if it’s in the landscape), and you’ll see a banner telling you that the accessory is charging. You will also see the battery percentage.
Since this is your way of storing and carrying your Pencil with your iPad, your Apple Pencil will almost never be free.
If it does, it will be attached to the iPad by you within minutes. You will also be notified when your Apple Pencil is empty.
How to see your Apple Pencil Battery percentage
If you use a pencil with your iPad, Apple automatically adds a batteries widget to the Today View screen. You can swipe from left to right on the iPad home screen to bring up ‘Today View’. Swipe up here to find the “Batteries” widget.
Here you can see the battery levels of a connected Apple Pencil.
If you are unable to find the batteries widget, you can add the widget within a few seconds. Tap and hold an empty part of your home screen to enter Jiggle mode.
RELATED: How to add widgets to your iPad’s home screen on iPadOS 14
Tap the “+” button in the upper left corner of the screen.
Select the “Batteries” option from the pop-up menu.
You will see the widget in three sizes. Use the small or large size to see the percentage of battery and then tap the “Add widget” button.
The widget will be added at the end of Today View. You can move it to the screen you want to move to. Swipe up from the home bar to save the widget layout.
You can now see the battery percentage of your Apple Pencil at any time, no matter if it is charging or not.
One of the best things you can do with the Apple Pencil is to use it to create handwritten notes in the Notes app. Say goodbye to pen and paper, once and for all!
RELATED: How to take handwritten notes on your iPad using the Apple Pencil