Apple Pencil 2 stopped working on iPad Mini 6 after iOS 18.3.1 update

If your iPad or Apple Pencil are not operating as expected, begin with a forced-restart of your iPad - as this will often clear an isolated or post-update software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to hands-on test and assess your iPad and Pencil:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

I appreciate your response, but the whole point of my question to Bear919 was that I also tried the things in your original post and was still having issues.

I wanted to see what the people at the Genius Bar said to Bear919. I especially was curious to see if they mentioned that it was in fact a bug in caused by an update to my iPad's OS. Per Bear919's response that wasn't the case.

I ended up going to an AASP, but they didn't really try anything different and told me that I might have just needed a new pencil. Still seems odd to me that two people seemed to have the same type of issue and the response seemed to just default to "buy a new pencil."

Thanks for the update. Sounds like we had a similar experience with the support (although mine was at Best Buy since the nearest Apple store to me is an hour away). If it is a software issue, hopefully others will see this and it can somehow get escalated.

I ended up buying a $20 off-brand pencil as my solution (for now).

Any update to this? I think that I may be experiencing the same problem.

pc_shill wrote:

Any update to this? I think that I may be experiencing the same problem.

If you are experiencing similar issues to Bear919, follow the guidance that I have already provided. If you cannot resolve the problem yourself, contact Apple Support yourself using the methods that I have described - and/or visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or AASP.

Unless a consistent or repeatable issue is brought to the attention of Apple Support, a problem related to a system software update might not be addressed and resolved.