Procreate Not Drawing With Apple Pencil, How to Fix?

When it comes to a powerful digital art tool or application, Procreate is one of the revolutionary tools which works great on the Apple iPad along with the Apple Pencil. Professionals and creators prefer to use this combo to create digital art, animations, illustrations, and more quite precisely which also gives a feeling of hand-drawn art at the end of the day. However, sometimes Apple iPad users can face syncing issues with the Apple Pencil and Procreate app. Meanwhile, some are reporting that Procreate not drawing on iPad with Apple Pencil.

It’s needless to say that wherever the technology comes in the form of machine, coding, application, etc, it can sometimes occur several issues too. Similarly, nothing is more frustrating than opening the Procreate app to find that it’s not recognizing the Apple Pencil. It becomes hard for any user to create or edit any work on Procreate without Apple Pencil. If you’re one of them and facing this same issue then don’t worry. Here we’ve shared a list of troubleshooting tips for you that can help to get back to creating your art in no time.

Procreate Not Drawing With Apple Pencil, How to Fix?

If we talk about the possible reasons behind the Apple Pencil not working issue on the Procreate app, it seems that the application or the iPad system has some temporary glitches or conflicts with the Procreate brush settings, issues with the motion filtering, touch issues with the Apple Pencil tip, outdated iPadOS, conflicts with the palm rejection sensor, and more. As we’ve already mentioned the reasons, it’s time to check the troubleshooting methods too.

All the following mentioned methods should be performed one by one until the problem gets fixed. So, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into it.

1. Restart the iPad

First of all, you should start with iPad troubleshooting such as rebooting the Apple iPad device to ensure there is no temporary system glitch whatsoever. A restart can easily help to clear any issues that might be affecting the Procreate’s ability to recognize the Apple Pencil. To restart the iPad:

• Just press and hold the Power button (side button) on iPad for a few seconds.
• Then the Slide to power off interface will appear.
• Make sure to slide the slider from left to right to power off the iPad.
• Now, wait for a minute, and then long-press the Power button again to turn it back on.

2. Reboot the Apple Pencil

Another thing you can do is try plugging the Apple Pencil (Pencil 1) into the Apple iPad device or connecting it to the side of the iPad (Pencil 2) to ensure the Apple Pencil is charging. If it’s charging fine then wait for at least 10 minutes to gather some power. Once done, you can try using Apple Pencil again. If not, try re-establish the connectivity with iPad by simply turning off Bluetooth and turning it on again.

3. Disconnect Apple Pencil and Pair it again

Sometimes disconnecting the Apple Pencil and re-connecting it again with the Bluetooth pairing process might come in handy. You should try it too. It’ll basically refresh the connectivity conflicts or glitches with the Apple Pencil and iPad to resolve the majority of the issues a first glance. To do so:

• Go to the Settings app on your Apple iPad.
• Select the Bluetooth option > Make sure it’s Turned On.
• It’ll bring up all the devices that you have connected.
• Under the My Devices section, tap on the i icon next right to the Apple Pencil device.
• Now, tap on Forget to unpair the Apple Pencil from your iPad.
• Then wait for a few seconds and connect the Apple Pencil to your device with the pencil’s charging cord.
• Plug the other side into your iPad’s charging port.
• Go back to the Bluetooth settings again and select the Pair option next to the Apple Pencil.

4. Check the Procreate Brush Settings

You should also try checking out the brush settings in the Procreate app manually by following the steps below to ensure there is no issue with the drawing elements. If in case, the brush settings have been changed by mistake, the Procreate app won’t be able to detect Apple Pencil sometimes. To do so:

• Open the Procreate app on your iPad.
• Select the Settings menu > Choose Gesture Controls.
• Make sure that the Apple Pencil option is selected under Draw with Apple Pencil.
• You should also check the Spacing, Jitter, and Fall off options to ensure everything is correctly configured.

5. Check the Apple Pencil Battery Status

One of the most common mistakes that Apple Pencil users do is not checking the battery status. It’s always recommended to check the battery level on your Apple Pencil because the chances are quite high that the low battery issue is more troubling you than anything else. The Apple Pencil requires a sufficiently charged battery to function properly. You can go to the Widgets on your iPad and scroll down to the Batteries widget.

If the Apple Pencil is connected to iPad via Bluetooth, the battery status of the Apple Pencil will also be showcased there. If the battery level is low, simply charge the Apple Pencil (Pencil 1) using the charging cable or just attach it (Pencil 2) to the iPad.

6. Check the Apple Pencil’s Connectivity

Sometimes the Procreate application may not recognize the Apple Pencil if it’s not properly connected to the Apple iPad. It’s recommended to ensure that the Apple Pencil is connected. If it’s connected, then just remove it from the charging port, and re-insert it. If this does not work, try disconnecting and reconnecting the Bluetooth connection to sync both the Apple Pencil and the iPad again. To do this:

• Go to the Settings app on your iPad.
• Select Bluetooth > Disconnect and reconnect the Apple Pencil again.

7. Update the Procreate App

If the Procreate app becomes outdated for a while and you haven’t updated it for a couple of weeks or months then it’s time to check for the available updates manually. An outdated application can eventually trigger several issues with performance, app opening, performing any tasks, and even connecting with other devices. To update the app:

• Open the App Store on your iPad > Tap on the Profile icon.
• Tap on Updates > Here you’ll find out the Procreate app in the list.
• Just hit Update next to the app and wait for it to install.
• If the update isn’t available, then no need to worry.

8. Check for iPadOS Updates

The chances are high that your iPadOS is also outdated for a while and somehow the problem is troubling you a lot. You should always check for the iPadOS updates and install the available update by following the steps below.

• Go to the Settings app > Select General.
• Then tap on Software Update.
• If there is an update available, tap on Download and Install.
• Now, follow the on-screen prompts to update the software.
• Wait for the installation process to complete.
• Then reboot the iPad to apply changes.

9. Change the Streamline Dial and Motion Filtering

It’s also worth recommending changing the streaming dial and motion filtering option in Procreate so that you can easily get better accessibility. You can check the same of Procreate’s Accessibility Settings using Stabilization StreamLine. Just tap on Actions in Procreate to open the Stabilization option. The StreamLine reflects the speed of the brush movements.

Depending on the StreamLine amount level, your Procreate app will detect the Apple Pencil movements. So, you can turn it from medium to high to be able to use the Apple Pencil touch.

Whereas under the Stabilization option, you’ll also find the Motion Filtering toggle. Just adjust the Amount and Expression slider depending on your preference to cross-check whether the problem has been fixed or not.

10. Ensure the Apple Pencil Tip is Fine

Whenever you purchase an Apple Pencil, it basically comes with one tip which is too good to start your journey due to the quality material and development checks. But sometimes it can be loose enough or the tip doesn’t work properly which is a minor issue because it can happen with very few people. A loose tip might affect the connectivity between Apple Pencil and Apple iPad which eventually causes glitches in drawing or writing. Additionally, you should check for the physically damaged tip of the Apple Pencil.

11. Check the Palm Rejection Sensor

Well, some reports are also claiming that issues with the palm rejection sensor can also be a possible reason behind such an issue. It’s suggested to check the iPad’s palm rejection sensor which basically allows users to keep on the iPad screen to rest their palm while writing or drawing. If the palm sensor is turned on then the screen will also act the palm touches which can ruin the drawing experience. That’s turning it off is necessary unless you’re using fingers to draw gestures, etc.

Though you can prevent this issue by wearing a drawing glove, it’s not convenient for everyone. Actually, there is no specific palm rejection sensor option available on iPad but you can still adjust one setting to fix the issue. Just go to the iPad Settings > Tap on Accessibility > Hit Zoom. In one step, you’ll need to switch off the zoom feature to work the palm rejection sensor perfectly.

12. Try Using the Compatible Screen Guard on iPad

You should also try using the compatible screen guard or protector on iPad to ensure there is no issue with the touch response or drawing connectivity. Although it’s quite unlikely that the screen protector is troubling you, the chances are high that you’re using a local screen protector or the film isn’t fitted properly. You can either try replacing another screen guard or simply remove the screen protector to avoid Apple Pencil detection issues.

13. Cross-Check Your Apple Pencil with Other iPad

Try using another Apple Pencil or another iPad device to cross-check the issue. Sometimes conflicts with one specific device might trouble you a lot. You can also try using a touch detection app on your iPad to ensure the Apple Pencil input has been registered on iPad or not. If the touch input has been detected then there might be an issue with a third-party application or Procreate settings.

14. Try Using Apple Pencil Alternatives

If none of these workarounds did come in handy, then make sure to use the Procreate application without the Apple Pencil. You can either use your fingertips or an alternative to Apple Pencil like stylus pens to cross-check whether the problem is still bothering you or not.

FAQs:

Q1: Can You Use More Than One Apple Pencil in Procreate?

Answer: No! You can’t use multiple Apple Pencils in Procreate at the same time. Use one Apple Pencil at one time after pairing it with iPad via Bluetooth. Make sure both the iPad and Apple Pencil are charged sufficiently. If one Apple Pencil doesn’t work then try disconnecting it and pairing another one to use that.

Q2: Do All Apple Pencils Work With Procreate?

Answer: An Apple pencil will work with Procreate if the iPad model and Apple Pencil model (generation) match each other. For example, Apple Pencil 2nd generation will only work on iPad Pro models (won’t work on iPad standard models).

You can also check the model of your Apple Pencil with iPad by the following steps:

• Pair the Apple Pencil with your iPad on Bluetooth > Go to the Settings app.
• Go to General > Tap on About > Scroll down to About Apple Pencil.
• Now, check the Apple Pencil model number with the iPad model number.
• If both are similar then the Apple Pencil should work with iPad as well as Procreate.

Conclusion

Procreate is not only a drawing tool for Apple devices but also offers a lot more for creators and professionals. At times, it can be frustrating enough for iPad users it might not work properly with Apple Pencil. However, you should be able to either detect the possible reason and then fix the issue with this full-depth guide unless the Apple Pencil is damaged or the battery is damaged.

That’s it, guys. We hope this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, feel free to ask in the comments below.