Justin Drake Carroll Apple

What to Do When Your Apple Pencil Won’t Charge

Whether you’re taking notes during a business meeting or using one to draw, it’s safe to say digital pens have revolutionized how we work and play. The digital pen industry is growing at a whopping 13.3% per year, with many people using them to replace the traditional pen and paper.

Of these pens, the industry-leading Apple Pencil may be the king. With low latency and stellar precision, they’re perfect for any iPad user.

That’s why battery issues can be so devastating to your workflow. When your Apple Pencil is not charging after you’ve come to rely on it, what can you do? Here’s a quick look at how to troubleshoot the issue and get back to work.

Know Your Apple Pencil Version

Before you start worrying about your Apple Pencil battery, figure out which version of the device you have.

1st Generation

If you have the 1st-generation Apple Pencil, you’ll see a rounded design with a silver ring on one end. These devices use a Lightning connector to charge.

You’ll need to plug the pencil into your iPad’s Lightning connector or use a charging adapter to insert your Apple Pencil into a Lightning cable. You can also use a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter, also called a Pencil Connector.

2nd Generation

If you have the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, the design will have long planes that make it look more like a pencil, with no silver ring on the end. These devices use Bluetooth to charge. Simply attach the pencil to your iPad’s magnetic connector.

USB-C

If you have the new Apple Pencil (USB-C), it will look much like the 2nd-generation model. However, it also has a hidden port that you can use to charge the device with any USB-C cable.

Double-Check Your Apple Pencil Compatibility

If you have a 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, it will only charge with compatible iPads. If you have an older model and your Apple Pencil isn’t charging, it might be because the device doesn’t have the ability to do so.

The iPads that are compatible with the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil include the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd and 4th generation) and any iPad Pro 11-inch.

Do a Restart

If your Apple Pencil isn’t charging, even when you’re sure you have the right chargers and devices, use a tried-and-tested strategy: a system reboot. This might seem like a no-brainer, but many users forget that some errors will resolve themselves with a quick restart.

Update Your iPad

If a restart doesn’t work, a software update might. If you haven’t updated your iPadOS in a while, it’s possible that a glitch or bug affecting your system has been addressed in the update. Follow Apple’s instructions to update your device, then try to charge your Apple Pencil again.

Troubleshoot Your Bluetooth

The 2nd-generation Apple Pencil needs Bluetooth to charge. If you turned your iPad’s Bluetooth off, this may be the reason for your charging issues.

If you have a different Apple Pencil model, Bluetooth might still be causing your problem. Is it possible that your Apple Pencil is charging, but you can’t tell by looking at your iPad? If there’s an issue with your Bluetooth, the Apple Pencil’s battery icon might not display the correct information, or it may not show the device is connected at all.

Turn your Bluetooth off, then turn it back on and see if the battery indicator updates.

If that doesn’t work, try unpairing the device and then pairing it again. In your iPad’s settings, tap Bluetooth>My Devices. Find your pencil, tap the info button beside it, and select Forget This Device.

Restart your iPad for good measure, then pair your Apple Pencil again.

Try a Different Cable

If you have an Apple Pencil that charges with a cable, the cable itself may be to blame. This is especially true if you have an old, worn, or dirty cable.

Troubleshoot your cable the same way you’d troubleshoot a phone charging issue. Switch the cable out with a different Lightning or USB-C cable, plug in your Apple Pencil, and see if the problem persists. While you’re at it, try a different outlet as well.

Clean Your Port

If you have a 1st-generation Apple Pencil or an Apple Pencil (USB-C) that won’t charge, there may be an issue with the port. Cleaning loose dust or debris may be all your device needs to charge.

However, you’ll need to be careful: cleaning the port on your own can damage the device if done incorrectly.

Grab a flashlight to look for any debris inside the port. If you see anything, try to dislodge it with a wooden toothpick and very light pressure. Never use sharp or metal objects inside your Apple Pencil’s port.

Apple does not recommend using compressed air on any of its devices, though some users find success with it. This substance can dislodge smaller particles, but it can also shoot them further into crevices within your Apple Pencil’s port. Be careful!

Get Apple Pencil Repair

If your Apple Pencil still isn’t working after you’ve tried the steps above, you may have a battery issue you can’t fix on your own. The lifespan of the average Lithium-ion battery is long, but heavy use can degrade it over time.

If you’ve left your Apple Pencil uncharged for a long period, you may have damaged the battery by accident. Like your phone’s battery, these devices are designed to remain active and should have at least a small charge at all times.

Whatever the cause of your battery issues, a repair expert can solve them. By troubleshooting various hardware and software issues, they can help you decide whether you should repair or replace your Apple Pencil.

Trust Us if Your Apple Pencil Is Not Charging

If you rely on your iPad for work or school, there’s nothing more frustrating than an Apple Pencil that’s not charging. Fortunately, following the steps above can help you troubleshoot the problem, which might save you a lot of headaches.

If the issue seems too complicated to figure out, don’t struggle with it alone! The experts at Fruit Fixed make sure broken devices don’t stay that way for long. Find your nearest store for device repairs or contact us today with questions.

Justin Drake Carroll Repair

What to Do When Your Samsung Galaxy Watch Won’t Charge

As great as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is, it does have a few flaws. One that most of its owners will point to is the middling battery life.

To an extent, this isn’t a surprise. Galaxy Watches, other than the rugged Watch 5 Pro, never had a particularly big battery. Still, having to charge them a bit more often is a small price to pay for what they offer.

But what if your watch doesn’t charge at all? Well, a Samsung Galaxy Watch not charging could indicate a variety of issues. Some of them happen due to a faulty battery, but there could also be a problem with the watch itself.

Want to resolve your Galaxy Watch charging issue? This guide will let you know how to do it as quickly as possible!

Reboot the Watch

“Turning it off and on” is a cliche, but sometimes it does work. If the charging issue occurs due to a software bug, a simple reboot will fix it.

If your watch still has some battery left, try rebooting it before doing anything else. Swipe down from the watch face, then select Power > Turn Off. Wait 15 seconds, then hold the Power button to turn the watch back on.

If your watch is unresponsive, you’ll need to force-reboot it. You can do so by holding the Home and Power buttons for about 10 seconds. Release them as soon as you see the “Rebooting” message on the screen.

Once you’ve rebooted the watch, place it on the charger. If it’s still not charging, move on to the rest of this guide.

Use Another Charger

The next step you should try is to use another charger. If the new charger works, you’ll know that the issue doesn’t lie with your watch.

For best results, use the official Samsung wireless charger. Many third-party charging accessories aren’t compatible with Samsung watches. In the worst-case scenario, using them may even damage your battery.

While trying out the new charger, ensure it’s aligned with the watch. If you’re using a charging dock, the back of the watch must be in the center of it. Ensure you’re not using the wrong charging dock for your watch model.

While you’re at it, check the charging cable for damage as well. Many cables get frayed over time, particularly if you’re not careful about using them. If you notice any fraying or debris, try another USB-C cable.

Try a Different Power Source

If the new charger or cable doesn’t resolve the issue, use another power source. Fortunately, these watches come with a variety of charging options.

The easiest way to do this is to plug your charging cable into another outlet. You can use any laptop or phone with a USB-C port for this purpose. The watch won’t charge as fast as with the official charger, but it should work.

You can also try to charge your watch via Wireless PowerShare. To do this, you’ll need a WPC Qi-enabled phone. Keep in mind that this charging method will only work if your phone’s battery is over 30 percent.

To use PowerShare, go to your phone’s Settings and click on Battery and Device Care. Go to Battery > Wireless Power Sharing and enable it. Then, place the devices with their backs facing each other until they connect.

Give the Watch Time to Cool Down

All Galaxy Watches have a thermal protection system. If the battery gets too hot, the watch will stop charging, seemingly at random.

If your watch does seem a bit hot, give it time to cool down. Disconnect it from the charger, wait 15 minutes, then try charging it again. If you’re using third-party charging accessories, replace them with the original charger.

Of course, inconsistent charging is far from the only reason why overheating is bad news. If your Samsung Galaxy Watch battery gets hot often, take the device to a repair shop as soon as possible.

Update the Software

Rebooting your watch will deal with most minor software bugs. If your watch still seems buggy, there may be a new update that you need to install.

To get a new software update, first connect your watch to Wi-Fi. Then, head to Settings and select Software Update > Download and Install. Wait until the watch installs the update, then try charging it again.

Another way to update your watch is via the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone. This app is one of the biggest advantages Samsung has over Apple. Simply open it, then go to Watch Settings > Watch Software Update. 

Reset Your Watch

If none of the above methods work, the issue likely lies with your watch. The only question is whether it’s a software or hardware issue.

If it’s a software issue, you can resolve it by doing a factory reset. This will delete all the data on your watch and restore it to factory settings. To keep your data, use the Galaxy Wearable app to back it up in the Cloud.

To reset the Galaxy Watch, hold the Power and Back buttons until you see the Rebooting message. Press Home to get into the Reboot Mode menu, then head to Recovery and follow the on-screen instructions.

Once you’ve reset the watch, see if it can charge again. To restore your data, open Galaxy Wearable, then go to Settings > About Watch > Back up and Restore. Select the data you want to restore, then tap Restore Now.

Head to a Repair Shop

If resetting doesn’t work, you’re dealing with a major hardware issue. The only way to fix that is to take your watch to a repair shop.

For watches under warranty, your best bet is to head to the Samsung service center. Find the original invoice and take it to the nearest repair shop. You can also contact Samsung customer service to learn more about your issue.

Dealing With Samsung Galaxy Watch Not Charging

As you can see, a Samsung Galaxy Watch not charging can happen due to a variety of issues. Follow the above guide to learn how to make it work as intended again!

Is your Galaxy Watch out of warranty? If so, our experts at Fruit Fixed can fix it for you at the best available price! Click here to learn more about our low-price guarantee!