As an Apple Pencil owner, I was incredibly frustrated when I started experiencing problems with it skipping. After doing some research and testing, I decided to share my experience here in a blog post to help others who may be having similar issues.
Likely reasons why your Apple Pencil is skipping are that the Bluetooth is not connected, the battery has a fault, the tip needs replacing or is not attached properly or because the palm rejection is not working properly.
There are a number of possible reasons why your Apple Pencil has been skipping. However, there are also a number of things you can try and there are some things you can consider to help figure out the cause.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Possible reasons for Apple Pencil skipping: Bluetooth not connected, battery fault, tip needs replacing, tip not attached properly, or palm rejection not working properly. |
| Charge your Apple Pencil, try turning the iPad off and on, ensure the tip of the pencil is connected correctly, replace the pencil tip, ensure your iPad’s Bluetooth is turned on, and try holding your Apple Pencil differently if you experience palm rejection issues. |
Table of Contents
Why is my Apple Pencil skipping?
Below are possible reasons why your Apple Pencil has been skipping:
Broken pencil tip
The cause might be that the nib on your Apple Pencil is broken causing your iPad to not always detect the pencil. This would be more likely if it is visibly worn down or if there are scratches on it.
It could also be the case that it is not attached to the Apple Pencil correctly. It would help to make sure that it is connected properly and it would help to replace it if you can do.
Read more: Does the Apple Pencil work on Android?
Broken battery
It is also possible that there is a problem with the battery. This would be more likely if you recently dropped your Apple Pencil allowed it to get wet or allowed it to be at 0% charge for more than a few days.
It would also be more likely if your Apple Pencil runs out of power very quickly or if it is difficult to get it to connect to the iPad.
In this case, the only option would be to return it or to buy a new pencil since you cannot replace the battery.
Read more: does the Apple Pencil need a case?
The palm rejection is not working
It could also be the case that the palm rejection is not working properly. This would be more likely if your Apple Pencil only seems to skip when you hold it in a certain way.
In this case, it would help to try drawing with the Apple Pencil with only the tip of the pencil touching the screen.
If it only skips when your palm is also on the screen, it would be more likely to be due to an issue with how you are holding the pencil or a problem with the palm rejection.
Not connected to Bluetooth
It is still possible for the Apple Pencil to work without being connected to the iPad’s Bluetooth if it is charged. If your Apple Pencil is not connected to the iPad’s Bluetooth, it will not work properly and it will only work as a dumb stylus without any of the functionality that you get with the Apple Pencil.
It would help to ensure that the Bluetooth is turned on on your iPad and that your Apple Pencil is connected to it.
Using an old iPad
The old iPads and the current base model iPad 10th gen all have 60hz screens. If you have gotten used to drawing on a 120hz screen, it might seem like the pencil is skipping to you because of the refresh rate of the screen.
A problem with the app you are using
If your Apple Pencil only skips when you are using certain apps, it might also be the case that there is a problem with the app you have been using. It would help to make sure that your apps are all up to date.
How to get my Apple Pencil to stop skipping?
In order to get your Apple Pencil to stop skipping, it would help to try the following:
- Charge it
- Turn the iPad off and on
- Update the apps you are using
- Ensure the tip of the pencil is connected correctly
- Replace the pencil tip
- Ensure your iPad’s Bluetooth is turned on
- Try holding your Apple Pencil differently incase it is an issue with the palm rejection
If none of that works, you could try taking it to an Apple Store to see if they find a problem with it. Otherwise, you will likely need to replace the pencil itself.
Why does my Apple Pencil skip randomly?
If your Apple Pencil skips randomly, it could be because the tip needs to be replaced or it might be because the iPad has not always been rejecting your palm.
It would help to see if your pencil still disconnects when it is only the pencil tip that is touching the screen. If the pencil disconnects when your palm is touching the screen, it might be the case that you need to hold the pencil slightly differently.
It might also be the case that there is a problem with specific apps that you have been using which would be more likely if the Apple Pencil only skips when you use certain apps.
However, it could also be the case that the pencil is faulty. This would be more likely if the problem has appeared suddenly.
Pros and Cons of Using the Apple Pencil
Pros:
- The palm rejection works well and allows for a smooth drawing experience.
- The battery lasts for a long time.
- It is easy to connect to the iPad.
- It is very accurate and responsive.
Cons:
- The tip can easily be damaged.
- It is expensive.
- It is not compatible with all iPads.
- It can sometimes be difficult to connect to the iPad.
