Losing your Apple Pencil can be a big frustration for anyone who uses Apple's stylus to create art or take notes on their iPad. The Apple Pencil is one of our favourite styluses, especially the second-gen iteration. It's well build, comfortable to hold and it feels perfectly weighted to use with the iPad. With its pressure sensitivity and other features, it also feels wonderfully natural for digital illustration.
But as with any accessory, you might fight that you keep losing your Apple Pencil. If you have Apple Pencil 2 and a newer compatible iPad model, then you have the advantage of magnetic connection to hold it fairly well to the tablet. If you have Apple Pencil 1 and an older device, you don't have that option, and worse still, the Apple Pencil 1's rounded shape means that it can easily roll away.
Even if you have the Apple Pencil 2 and a compatible tablet, and even if you've got one of the best Apple Pencil grips, you still might find you lose it. The magnetic connection isn't likely to be strong enough if you're throwing your tablet into a bag for example. So whether you use the Apple Pencil 1 (which is still the only option for the basic iPad, even the new iPad 2022), or the Apple Pencil 2, we have some suggestions below for how you can avoid losing your Apple Pencil.
To see just what you can do with the Apple Pencil, see pick of the best iPad apps for designers article. On the other hand, if you've yet to buy your stylus, see the best cheap Apple Pencil deals or choose from the best Apple Pencil alternatives. We also have a guide that explains all the differences of Apple Pencil 1 vs Apple Pencil 2.
How to avoid losing your Apple pencil
01. Use an iPad Smart Keyboard or a case
If you're using a Smart Keyboard with your iPad Pro, you may find it can help you to avoid losing your Apple pencil. The keyboard is slightly magnetic along the left-hand edge, and the Apple Pencil will just about cling on. This will stop the Pencil from rolling away on its own if you leave it on your desk. Similarly, some of the best iPad pro cases can help you to avoid losing your Apple Pencil.
02. Magnetise Apple Pencil 1 with the Moxiware Magnet
If you have the 1st Gen Apple Pencil and an older iPad, then the pencil won't magnetically stick to your device. Moxiware (opens in new tab) has produced a reliable magnet-oriented solution to that in the form of a very Apple-esque set of sleeves for the Apple Pencil. These allow a truly magnetic connection to your iPad Pro and are bound to stop you losing your Apple Pencil. They're compatible with an iPad 9.7, iPad Pro 12.9 and 10.5.
03. Try the pencil clip hack
For a more homemade solution to avoid losing your Apple pencil, this remains a good one. Reddit user texasdoesitbest (opens in new tab) discovered that the Pentel Sharp Automatic Pencil's removable metal clip fits the Apple Pencil exactly and allows you to clip the Pencil to your notepad or shirt pocket. Since it's chrome, it even matches the Pencil's shiny metal band. Discover how it's done here (opens in new tab).
04. Use the Leuchtturm1917 Pen Loop
Premium notebook-maker Leuchtturm1917, the favourite notebook brand of some at the CB office, sells a handy self-adhesive pen loop (opens in new tab) to attach to its stationery. It's a quality item, as befits the Leuchtturm1917 brand, and Tumblr blogger #MykeWasRight (opens in new tab) spotted that it also makes an excellent Apple Pencil holder.
It certainly looks neat, and you can select a colour to suit your iPad Pro or Smart Cover's dominant hue. However, what you really need to do is pair this with the pencil clip hack (03, above) to ensure that there is something to stop the Pencil from escaping. Belt and braces, and all that…
05. Stand your Apple Pencil with a Belkin stand
Belkin's case and stand for the Apple Pencil (opens in new tab) is one of the most elegant storage solutions to keep your stylus protected between uses. It holds the Apple Pencil upright and protects the tip while also allowing you easy access to the device on your desk. The stand doubles as a case, so you can also use it to store your Pencil safely when you're not using it.
06. Make a stand out of Lego
Alternatively, you could make your own stand. In one of the most creative solutions we've seen to avoid losing your Apple Pencil, foul-mouthed Glaswegian illustrator @davidgalletly (opens in new tab) took to making an Apple Pencil stand with Lego. It's also a great excuse to take a break from work to tinker with Lego bricks.
07. Strap Apple Pencil to your iPad with Stylus Sling
Finally, the Stylus Sling (opens in new tab) lets you strap your Apple Pencil to your iPad to ensure it's with you at all times. It might be a little utilitarian in design, but it's effective. Cleverly, it even has a little pocket for the lightning connector cover so you don't mislay that either. This is certainly an option if you're moving about with your iPad and want to take your Pencil with you.
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