How to Check Your Apple Pencil Battery: 4 Simple Methods

You can check your Apple Pencil battery percentage on the iPad it is paired with. The quickest options are the Batteries widget on the Home Screen, Today View, or Lock Screen; you can also open Settings > Apple Pencil. The Pencil itself has no screen or battery-light indicator, so the iPad provides the charge reading.

For any of these methods to show the Pencil, the iPad must recognize it as a connected accessory. If you have not paired it yet, use the correct connector for your Pencil model and keep Bluetooth turned on. Apple’s iPad battery guide and Apple Pencil pairing guide list the current options.

1. Check the Batteries widget on your Home Screen

The widget gives you a quick reading without opening Settings. Add it once, then check it whenever you want:

1. Go to the Home Screen and touch and hold an empty area until the icons begin to jiggle.
2. Tap Edit at the top of the screen, then tap Add Widget.
3. Search for or select Batteries. Swipe through the available sizes, then tap Add Widget.
4. Position the widget and tap Done.

When your Apple Pencil is paired and recognized, its charge appears in the widget with its name and a battery icon. A larger style can show more connected accessories at once. The displayed percentage in the image is an example; your Pencil’s level will be different.

2. Use the Batteries widget in Today View

Today View is useful if you want the battery list in a separate panel instead of among your apps. From the Home Screen, swipe right from the left edge of the display to open Today View, then scroll to the Batteries widget. If it is not there, touch and hold an empty space in Today View, tap Edit or Add Widget (the label varies by iPadOS version), and add Batteries. Tap Done to save.

Once it is in Today View, look for the Apple Pencil row and its percentage. Apple documents Today View as a place to view widgets on iPad.

3. Open Settings > Apple Pencil

For a direct check, open the Settings app and tap Apple Pencil in the sidebar. The battery level appears near the top of the Apple Pencil settings screen when the stylus is connected. This route works without adding a widget and is listed by Apple for supported Apple Pencil models.

If you do not see an Apple Pencil section or a charge level, confirm Bluetooth is on in Settings > Bluetooth. Then connect or attach the Pencil using the method for its model. If the iPad does not recognize it, the settings page cannot report a current level.

4. Add Batteries to the Lock Screen

On iPadOS 17 or later, you can put a Batteries widget on the Lock Screen for a glanceable reading. Wake the iPad, touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, and choose the widget area. Tap Add Widgets, select Batteries, choose a layout, then tap Done. If you are creating a new Lock Screen, add the widget during setup.

Wake the iPad to view the widget. Depending on the layout and available space, it may show the Apple Pencil row alongside the iPad’s own charge. If you cannot fit a useful battery display there, use the Home Screen or Today View widget instead. Apple’s iPad widget instructions explain the Home Screen and Today View, and its Lock Screen guide covers adding widgets.

Connect the Pencil correctly if no battery level appears

Apple Pencil models do not all charge the same way. In particular, a Pencil that sticks to the side of an iPad is not always charging there:

See Apple’s official instructions for Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (2nd generation), Apple Pencil (USB-C), and Apple Pencil (1st generation).

If the Pencil still does not show up

• Check that Bluetooth is on and that the Pencil is paired with this iPad, not another one.
• For a magnetic model, reseat it on the connector. A case or cover can prevent a secure connection, so remove it temporarily if needed.
• For Apple Pencil (USB-C), use a cable to pair or charge it; attaching it magnetically to the iPad stores it but does not charge it.
• After connecting, wait briefly and reopen the widget or Settings. A battery pop-up is not guaranteed, so use one of the four iPad displays above for the percentage.