Quick Links
- Use Find My to Locate Apple Pencil Pro
- Use Your iPad's Bluetooth Connection
- Retrace Your Steps or Nudge Things Around
- Tips to Avoid Losing Your Apple Pencil
Key Takeaways
- If you own the Apple Pencil Pro, you can easily locate it using the built-in Find My app.
- If you have an older Apple Pencil, you can use your iPad's Bluetooth connection to see if it's close.
- You won't be able to locate your Apple Pencil once its battery runs out.
If you've owned an Apple Pencil, chances are you've been in a situation where you struggled to find it. If you're in that boat right now, don't worry! Here are a few simple methods to find and reunite your Apple Pencil with your iPad.
Use Find My to Locate Apple Pencil Pro
To start, if you own an Apple Pencil Pro, you can simply locate the stylus with the Find My app—the same tool you use to find your lost iPhone. Launch the Find My app, head to the Devices tab and select your Apple Pencil to view its location on the map.
You can tap Find if you're nearby and want to know its precise location. An overlay will appear on the screen, showing an onscreen circle that indicates whether it's nearby or within reach.
Your iPad must be in portrait orientation to find your nearby Apple Pencil Pro. Also, it's worth noting that you can only pair one Apple Pencil with your iPad at a time.
Use Your iPad's Bluetooth Connection
If you own one of the older Apple Pencil models, unfortunately, they do not support Find My integration. Therefore, to find your Apple Pencil—or at least estimate its location—you'll need to rely on your iPad's Bluetooth connection.
To check if your Apple Pencil is nearby, go to Settings > Bluetooth > My Devices on your iPad. If your Apple Pencil appears as Connected, you know that it must be within 30 feet since that is the range of Bluetooth.
To further narrow this down, you can use a Bluetooth finder app like WunderFind. It has a simple overlay that shows the proximity between your iPad and Apple Pencil in terms of percentage values. The closer your Apple Pencil is to your iPad's Bluetooth module, the higher the number shown on screen.
Download:WunderFind (Free)
By simply combining the iPad's Bluetooth settings menu and the WunderFind app, you can locate your Apple Pencil fairly easily. However, if your iPad can't establish a Bluetooth connection with your Apple Pencil, WunderFind won't be of any help either.
Bluetooth range significantly reduces depending on the materials between your devices. For instance, thick walls, floors, or even furniture can affect how well your Apple Pencil connects over Bluetooth.
Retrace Your Steps or Nudge Things Around
The last method would be to simply retrace your steps by remembering exactly where you last had your Apple Pencil in hand. Review your recent files on your iPad, such as signed documents, drawings, or notes, for clues such as timestamps or location details.
For those who take their Apple Pencil to the office, check the areas surrounding your workstation, such as under the table, behind the monitor, or inside pedestals. You may also want to contact your office's lost and found department to check if anyone tried to return it.
If your Apple Pencil has been missing for a while, it may have fallen asleep. When an Apple Pencil is asleep, you can't connect to it over Bluetooth, even if it's charged up. A quick tip to make it easier to find your Apple Pencil is to attempt to nudge the device to wake it up.
By shaking your bag, flipping couch cushions, or rummaging through desk drawers, you may be able to nudge your buried Apple Pencil and wake it up. If you suspect you have lost your Apple Pencil in your car, driving around may also activate it.
Tips to Avoid Losing Your Apple Pencil
While losing an Apple Pencil can sometimes be a matter of bad luck, here are a few steps that you can take to avoid a similar situation again.
Always Keep Your Apple Pencil Charged
While it's possible to locate your Apple Pencil using Bluetooth, the methods discussed above only work if your Apple Pencil has power. Since Apple Pencils are designed to run continuously on standby, their batteries need to be charged regularly to function properly.
If lost and left uncharged for several weeks, it may cause the battery to fail and no longer be able to turn on. So, make sure your Apple Pencil is always powered.
Personalize Your Apple Pencil
If you work at a design studio or office, know that multiple Apple Pencils could be lying around at any time. Personalizing your Apple Pencil is a great way to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.
One way of personalizing your Apple Pencil is to engrave it for free upon purchase at Apple Store Online. Should you lose your engraved Apple Pencil while working in a café or co-working space, prospective thieves are less likely to steal it as it will have lower resale value.
If you prefer to keep your Apple Pencil without an engraving, you may also modify it using stickers, wraps, or protective cases.
Give Your Apple Pencil a Home
A tried-and-tested way to avoid misplacing loose items of any kind is to give them a home. When organizing your workspaces, having a dedicated spot for storing essential items such as your Apple Pencil keeps them from getting lost. From special pencil cases and charging blocks to pencil stands, there are many Apple Pencil accessories you can buy.
Losing your Apple Pencil can be a stressful experience. However, it is avoidable if you take the proper steps. In case things do go wrong, your iPad is well-equipped to help you find your missing Apple Pencil.
