How To Find Your Apple Pencil If You Lost It

Since its release in 2015, the Apple Pencil has made the stylus sexy again. Not only is it a great tool for digital artists and designers, but it has also helped ordinary users take notes like never before. However, there is one universal problem that many Apple Pencil users face–they keep losing it.

There Are Several Ways to Find Your Lost Apple Pencil

With its Bluetooth-enabled design, the Apple Pencil gives you unobstructed capabilities to write and draw in whatever way you want. However, its wireless nature does make it easier for users to lose it.

You can use Apple's Find My app to find most Apple devices, but not the Apple Pencil. So until Apple adds that capability, here are a few alternative methods you can use to find it instead.

1. Use Your iPad's Bluetooth Connectivity

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 maximum range of Bluetooth.

Bear in mind that the Bluetooth range significantly reduces depending on the materials in between your devices. For example, thick walls, floors, or even furniture can affect how well your Apple Pencil shows up.

With this, we know that if your Apple Pencil is connected, it can actually be a lot closer than 30 feet.

2. Download the Bluetooth Finder App

The Bluetooth Finder app can help you find your Apple Pencil by connecting toits wireless signature. Take note that using the Bluetooth Finder app will only work when the Apple Pencil is charged and awake.

To find your Apple Pencil using this method, open the Bluetooth Finder app and select Apple Pencil from the list of previously paired devices.

The Bluetooth Finder app will then show you a radar with the signal strength and estimated distance from the device. When the app shows a distance of less than 0.5 meters (two feet), your Apple Pencil should be nearby.

Download: Bluetooth Finder ($4.99)

3. Retrace Your Steps

Retrace your steps by remembering when exactly you last had your Apple Pencil on hand. Review your files, such as documents signed, drawings, or notes for any 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 examine your office lost and found department, in case anyone tried to return it.

4. Nudge Things Around

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.

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 that you have lost your Apple Pencil in your car, driving around may activate it as well.

How to Prevent 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 help avoid it happening again.

Always Keep Your Apple Pencil Charged

Take note that while it's possible to locate your Apple Pencil using Bluetooth, the methods discussed above only work if your Apple Pencil is charged. For first-generation Apple Pencil users, you can charge it by removing the cap and connecting it to the Lightning port on your iPad.

If you own a second-generation Apple Pencil, you can charge it simply by placing it on the magnetic charging point on the side of your iPad, provided you've got a compatible iPad.

Since Apple Pencils are designed to run continuously on standby, their Li-On batteries need to be regularly charged 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.

If your Apple Pencil is still under the AppleCare warranty, you may be able to get a replacement. Apple does not replace or repair Apple Pencil batteries.

Personalize Your Apple Pencil

For many design studios or offices, multiple Apple Pencils may be lying around at any given 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 the online Apple store. 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 your Apple Pencil by using stickers, wraps, or protective cases.

Attach a GPS Tracker

With GPS trackers becoming increasingly available, you can attach a GPS tracker to your Apple Pencil to avoid loss or theft. Many new forms of GPS trackers come in the form of stickers or keychains that are light to avoid ruining the writing and drawing experience.

Lastly, GPS trackers will work even if your Apple Pencil runs out of battery or falls asleep.

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 it comes to organizing our workspaces, having a dedicated spot for storing important items like your Apple Pencil keeps them from getting lost.

From special pencil cases, to charging blocks, to pencil stands, there are many ways to store your Apple Pencil so that you always know where to find it when you need it.

Keep Your Apple Pencil Safe

Losing your Apple Pencil can be a stressful experience. However, it is completely preventable if you take the right steps.

Personalize your Apple Pencil with Apple's free engraving option, attach sticker wraps, or use protective cases to avoid mix-ups at home or in the office. Save yourself the anxiety of misplacing your Apple Pencil by always keeping it charged or purchasing a proper GPS tracker that can work even the device is asleep.

Thankfully, your iPad is well-equipped to help you find your Apple Pencil if you do lose it, whether it's using the built-in Bluetooth function or third-party apps to do so.

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