What your Apple Pencil can do depends on which one you own and which iPad it’s paired with. A USB-C Apple Pencil can’t sense pressure. Apple Pencil Pro adds squeeze, barrel roll and Find My, but it only works on newer iPads. This guide covers how to tell what you have, and the settings worth changing on each model.
Which Apple Pencil do you have?
| Apple Pencil Pro | Apple Pencil (2nd gen) | Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Apple Pencil (1st gen) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure sensitivity | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Double tap | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Squeeze | Yes | No | No | No |
| Barrel roll | Yes | No | No | No |
| Haptic feedback | Yes | No | No | No |
| Hover | Yes, on supported iPads | iPad Pro (M2) only | Yes, on supported iPads | No |
| Find My | Yes | No | No | No |
| Charging | Magnetic, on the side of the iPad | Magnetic, on the side of the iPad | USB-C cable | Lightning (or adapter) |
Apple Pencil Pro works with these iPads only:
- iPad Pro 11-inch and 13-inch (M4 and M5)
- iPad Air 11-inch and 13-inch (M2, M3 and M4)
- iPad mini (A17 Pro)
It needs iPadOS 17.5 or later. It won’t pair with older iPads, including the M1 iPad Air and earlier iPad Pro models. That’s the most common reason a new Pencil Pro “doesn’t work”. If you’re choosing between iPad Air models, see our iPad Air 2022 vs 2024 comparison.
Apple Pencil settings: change what double tap and squeeze do
Go to Settings > Apple Pencil. You’ll only see the options your Pencil supports.
- Double tap (Pro and 2nd gen) can switch between the current tool and the eraser, switch between the current tool and the last one you used, show the color palette, or do nothing.
- Squeeze (Pro only) opens the tool palette by default. You can set it to any of the double-tap actions instead, or have it run a shortcut.
On Apple Pencil Pro, you’ll feel a light tap through the barrel when a squeeze or double tap registers. In apps that support barrel roll, rotating the Pencil changes the angle of shaped pens and brushes, the same way turning a real chisel-tip marker does.
Set up the corner gestures
In Settings > Apple Pencil, under Pencil Gestures, you can assign a swipe from the bottom-left and bottom-right corners of the screen. Each corner can take a screenshot, open a Quick Note, or do nothing. Quick Note opens even when you’re in another app, which makes it the fastest way to jot something down.
Write in any text field with Scribble
With Scribble turned on (Settings > Apple Pencil), you can handwrite into any text field and your iPad converts it to typed text. This works in search bars, Messages and web forms. To edit what you’ve written:
- Scratch out a word to delete it.
- Circle a word to select it.
- Touch and hold between words to insert space.
Handwriting and math tools in Notes
- Smart Script (iPadOS 18 and later) tidies your handwriting as you write and lets you paste typed text in your own handwriting.
- Math Notes (iPadOS 18 and later) solves equations you write by hand. Write an expression followed by an equals sign and the answer appears in your handwriting. It works in Notes and the Calculator app.
- Reed pen (iPadOS 26) is a calligraphy tool in the Notes and Markup tool palettes. It gives thick and thin strokes depending on the angle of the stroke.
Smart Script and Math Notes need a supported language. Smart Script may also not be available on every iPad.
Stop your palm from drawing
If your hand keeps leaving marks, turn on Only Draw with Apple Pencil in Settings > Apple Pencil. Your finger will then scroll and select instead of drawing. You can also undo and redo with your fingers while the Pencil is in your hand:
- Swipe left with three fingers to undo.
- Swipe right with three fingers to redo.
Check the battery
Add the Batteries widget to your Home Screen or Today View to see your Pencil’s charge next to your iPad’s. On Pro and 2nd-gen models, attaching the Pencil to the side of the iPad also shows a brief charge indicator at the top of the screen.
Find a lost Apple Pencil Pro
Apple Pencil Pro shows up in the Find My app on your iPad. It shows the last place the Pencil was connected to your iPad. Other Apple Pencil models don’t support Find My.
Known problems
- Won’t pair: Check that Bluetooth is on. Then attach the Pencil to the magnetic connector, or plug in the USB-C model, and wait for the pairing prompt. If that fails, restart the iPad and try again.
- No pressure response: If you have the USB-C Apple Pencil, this is expected because it doesn’t sense pressure.
- Hover missing: Hover only works on newer iPads. The 2nd-gen Pencil supports it only on iPad Pro (M2).
Apple Pencil FAQ
Where are the Apple Pencil settings?
On your iPad, open Settings and tap Apple Pencil. The menu only appears after a Pencil has been paired with that iPad.
What are the main Apple Pencil functions?
Writing and drawing with pressure sensitivity (all models except USB-C), double tap to switch tools, squeeze for the tool palette (Pro only), Scribble handwriting-to-text, corner swipes for screenshots and Quick Notes, and hover previews on supported iPads.
Does Apple Pencil Pro work with my iPad?
Only with iPad Pro (M4 and M5), iPad Air (M2, M3 and M4) and iPad mini (A17 Pro). Older iPads need the 2nd-gen, USB-C or 1st-gen Apple Pencil.
MacReview verdict
Most people never open Settings > Apple Pencil, and it’s the quickest win here. Map double tap to the action you use most and set one corner swipe to Quick Note, then turn on Scribble. If you’re buying a Pencil, check your iPad model before you pay: the Pencil Pro is the best one Apple makes, but only on an iPad that supports it.
