How To Track An Apple Pencil

The Apple Pencil is a wireless stylus that was first announced with the original iPad Pro. It's an excellent tool for note-taking, drawing, and marking on a compatible iPad.

If you own an Apple Pencil 1 or 2, then you probably know how easy it is to misplace it. You may also have forgotten where you last left it.

Yes, you can magnetically attach the Pencil to an iPad Air, iPad Pro 12.9-inch, or 11-inch. However, we're humans, and we can forget to attach the Pencil to the iPad, and that's when you end up losing it.

Luckily, there are a few tried and true ways to find a lost Apple Pencil.

How to find a lost Apple Pencil for free

The Apple Pencil uses Bluetooth to connect to your iPad, and you can technically use a Bluetooth tracking app to find a lost Apple Pencil. However, you must ensure that you don't disconnect the Apple Pencil from your iPad before using this app.

Use Wunderfind app: Find Lost Device

Enter the Wunderfind app, which is available on the App Store for free. This is essentially a Bluetooth tracker that can be used to locate Bluetooth-enabled devices such as your AirPods, Apple Watch, or even your MacBook.

Here's how you can use it.

Download Wunderfind on your iPad from the App Store.
Launch the app.
It should automatically show all connected Bluetooth devices within range.

The app will show you how far the device is from your location. The pro version also unlocks a Map view, but you can simply move around the house and find the Apple Pencil with the free version of the app. It works great, and it's exactly as advertised. That's one smart way to locate a lost Apple Pencil.

Remember, make sure that your lost Apple Pencil remains connected to your device.
As soon as it's in range, the app will let you know. The app doesn't use any GPS magic, so you can't get an accurate location; it only uses the Bluetooth connection to approximate a location.

Is there a way to locate a lost Apple pencil nearby?

Here's a way to locate a nearby Apple Pencil without having to download any app. Once again, make sure that the Pencil is connected and that you don't turn off Bluetooth on your device.

Now, open the Bluetooth menu on your iPad, and walk around the last known location of the Pencil. It should automatically connect to the iPad when it's in range. This means that it's nearby, as the Bluetooth range is only about 10 to 15 feet.

Now look for the Apple Pencil within 10 to 15 feet of the iPad. Search between the couch cushions, under the bed/couch, in the drawers, inside your cat/dog's mouth (ha!), and any other place you can think of. It might even be right in front of your face, perhaps under a book.

Hopefully, this helped you spot your lost Apple Pencil.

Avoid losing Apple Pencil with these accessories

The best way to find your Apple Pencil is not to lose it in the first place. Or, you could just purchase some Apple Pencil cases or sleeves. These are perfect for storing your Pencil and can be attached to the back of the iPad, so you never misplace it.

There are plenty to choose from, and they'll pay for themselves with the time you save not scouring the house for your lost Apple Pencil. If you own the second-generation Apple Pencil, then check out our roundup of the best Apple Pencil 2 cases and covers.

You may also want to invest in some iPad Pro folio cases. These not only protect your valuable tablet but also come with additional space to hold the Apple Pencil safely. This way you'll always have the Pencil in view and a safe place to store it when you're finished using it.

Try not to lose your Apple Pencil! Preferably get a case for it, or get a cover for the iPad Pro that has a secure place to keep the Pencil. Wunderfind works great and makes it easy for you to locate the Pencil.

However, the Bluetooth tracking apps will only work if the Apple Pencil was still connected to your tablet before you lost it. Sometimes you may end up disabling Bluetooth, or the Pencil runs out of charge. In this case, you're unlikely to be able to find your lost Apple Pencil with much ease (sorry!)

You may also like to read these posts:

Best Apple Pencil Holders
How to Check Apple Pencil Battery on iPad
Apple Pencil Not Working? Here's How to Fix it
Best iPhone stylus to draw and color your heart out

Siddharth is a freelance technology writer with over a decade of experience. He has written tutorials, guides, features, how-tos, listicles, and more for sites such as 91mobiles, MySmartPrice, GadgetReview, TheAndroidSoul, and more. In his free time, he loves to travel, ride motorcycles, watch movies/TV shows, and pet dogs.