After updating an iPad (2025) to iOS26 the Apple Pencil first generation don’t stay connected.
I have to connect it by cable to the iPad to re-establish the bluetooth connection but after a while of not use it disconnects again.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: iOS26 apple pencil
iPad, iPadOS 26
Same problem with iPad A16 2025 and Apple pencil 1st gen.
Worked perfectly on 18.6.2. After 26.0 update pencil don't reconnect to ipad after some time. Always need to "wake up" it by charging or connecting to ipad (and even not supported iphone).
Unpaired it and paired pencil to older ipad model: AP works like a charm - after 1, 2, 3, 5 hours of no use it momentally reconnects to ipad.
I'm downgrading to 18.6.2 while I still can. Judging by the thread, this is a widespread issue, but there's still no hotfix or any official information.
Same for me. I have the first gen pencil which has lightning and the 2025 Ipad. I’ve updated it overnight, and thought my pencil battery was low ( it wasn’t) so i’ve put it to charge, then it worked fine. I’ve left home to study in a coffee shop and now discovered that it disconneted again, of course why would I have the long cord with me…. Please fix the bug…
You need to have both of the following:
Then it works
Well, you know wrong. It worked perfectly till today. Well, it still works but as I wrote doesn't stay connected.
It's the Apple pencil 1st generation with a male lightning connector and it's listed as a compatible accessory to the iPad (A16) on the Apple store.
To charge and pair it I use a usb-c cable and the usb-c to apple pencil adapter sold in the Apple store.
Bought everything this year in the same store.
After pairing the pencil via cable it stayed connected without any issues. Had to re-pair only when restarting the iPad.
After the iOS26 update it disconnects after about 30 minutes or less of no use.
Hope in a better answer next time.
Having the same issue, A16 and a first gen Apple Pencil both purchased in the last month. Hope this gets fixed soon. Very frustrating to have to pull out a cable and dongle every 30 minutes just to use the pencil.
Same here. I have the iPad A16 and the 1 generation Apple Pencil and it started disconnecting after no more than 30 minutes (sometimes even less than 10 minutes when we have a break at school). It’s really frustrating. I tried everything disconnecting and reconnecting the pencil, restarting my iPad and nothing works. Hope it gets fixed as soon as possible.
I am having the same issue. I have a A16 iPad and just updated to 26.0 iOS. I have a brand new brick USB-c cable and Gen 1 pencil lightning to USB-c adapted all from Apple store all brand new bought online. The pencil disconnects after 5 min of non use or immediately when waking up device from sleep. I have to use the cord+ adapter to reconnect them. The battery on all items is full or 80%+ when issues have been happening. This only started after the update.
I use the apple community site to go through all the steps of forget device, and re-pair. Forget WiFi and reconnect , new tips, bluetooth cleared and reset. Nothing helps.
Apple support can you fix the glitch!?
Mine too I bought my ipad 2 months ago together with apple pencil gen 1 I even bought the small connector to connect it to my iPad 11th gen (A16) everything are all original. 2 days ago I updated to iOS 26 and now the pencil suddenly disconnecting after few hours of not using it's so annoying to always get the cable and connect again. Please I hope you can fix the bug immediately.
I have the same issue, I update to iOS 26 then right away, I cannot connect my apple pencil pro to ipad air m3 2025 which I bought last sept 11 only. I also do the restart, connect and re-connect, forget and pair thing but I can’t. I can’t take notes 😭 it’s also fully charged.
I am having the same issue here with my 13in iPad Pro and gen 2 pencil. Updated last night and when I tried to use my pencil today it wouldn't work. I have gotten the pencil to connect for a span of around 8 seconds 5 times now. Everytime it disconnects partway through a pencil stroke. The pencil is fully charged. It's kind of rediculous that this bug made it through as the pencil is the biggest reason to justify owning an iPad followed by cellular support.
Same problem here. iPad A16 and Apple pen 1st gen. Think I would have learned not to update to a new version after the last time. iPad 7th gen not able to open Apple news for month or more. I never learn. Fingers crossed I can go back to 18.6.2. Way she goes.
Same with my Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) and iPad Pro (3rd Gen). When I connect it to the magnetic strip it identifies that it's there, but won't let me pair it to my iPad. I have tried absolutely everything from all corners of the internet, with not luck!
Same here, I noticed this today in the middle of class. While talking notes during lecture, I had to reconnect several times. My level of frustration and anger stems from being impatient. I should’ve waited before DL the update. Apple I need you, the thought of using actual paper is devastating! Please fix this error ASAP
I have the same issue since the update.
apple pencil gen 1
latest A16 ipad
i have to reconnect the pencil every time i stop using it for 5 min
I am having exactly the same problem since updating to iPadOS 26 with my iPad A16 and Apple Pencil 1, there was never a problem with iPadOS 18.
Same here. Apple pencil pro and iPad Pro M4. Updated to iPadOS 26 last night and now I can’t take notes in my lecture because it keeps disconnecting. I already did the bluetooth forget device thing.
Apple Pencil disconnects after iPadOS 26 update on iPad
