Apple Pencil Palm Rejection Not Working: How To Fix [2023]

Be it digital art or simple note-taking, the Apple iPad and Pencil combo is simply amazing for it. But what if one of its most prominent features fails to work - Palm Rejection?

I myself enjoy the Ipad and Apple pencil combo. That is why I had to find a solution when palm rejection ceased to work on my Apple Pencil.

If you face the same issue, then you have come to the right place. Without any further ado, let's get on with the fixes.

If palm rejection is not working on your Apple Pencil, first, ensure the zoom feature is turned off. Next, check if the app you are using supports the palm rejection feature. Also, make sure that your Apple Pencil hardware isn't worn out. If the issue persists, power cycle your iPad.

This article will explain what you can do if the palm rejection feature does not work on your Apple Pencil.

Turn OFF the Zoom Option from the iPad Settings

The palm rejection feature, one of the foundational elements of how an Apple Pencil works, is enabled by default with the Apple Pencil. But having the zoom feature turned on can cause problems with it. 

Zoom enables you to zoom or magnify your entire screen or any part of the screen on the iPad. Having it on will cause palm rejection to fail sometimes.

To turn zoom off, follow these steps:

1. Go to settings 

2. Scroll down and click on General 

Apple Zoom tile

3. Click on Accessibility 

Zoom Feature disabled

4. Click on Zoom - here, turn off the zoom feature.

Now check whether the palm rejection works.

Check App Support for Palm Rejection

Check App Support for Palm Rejection

Even though most iPads support the palm rejection feature, it is not something built natively into the device, meaning it's not something that you can turn on or off in settings. 

The Palm rejection feature has to be supported on the app that you use.

Both the Apple Procreate app and the Apple Notes app have the palm rejection feature built into them.

So when your hand accidentally touches any part of the screen while using these apps, the iPad knows to avoid those touches.

This might not be the case with every app you are using.

Some apps lack the palm rejection feature entirely and hence are prone to accidental touches. The only way around this is to use apps that have the palm rejection feature.

Check whether the app supports palm rejection before downloading it.

Like in the case of Apple Pencil, nowadays, third-party alternatives, too, come with Palm Rejection and pressure sensitivity detection features. The Adonit Pixel+ is a great example.

Check if Palm Rejection Works on the Notes App

Apple Pencil palm rejection on iPad

Checking whether the palm rejection feature works on the Apple Notes app is an easy way to determine whether the feature is working or not. 

If palm rejection works on the notes app, you can rule out the possibility of faulty hardware or a buggy feature.

The next most probable cause for the issue is the app you are using.

In that case, switch over to an app that has the palm rejection feature.

Under optimal circumstances, you could use the palm rejection feature in tandem with other cool features on the Apple Pencil like the hover feature or the Scribble feature.

Check Apple Pencil Hardware

Apple Pencil tip

If you have been using your Apple pencil for quite a while, it's possible that the pencil tip has worn out.

And a worn-out tip happens to be a leading cause of not just features to fail on your Apple Pencil but might also cause harm to your iPad. Worn-out tips can scratch the iPad screen.

Make sure your apple pencil is in good condition for the iPad to recognize it properly.

Having worn-out tips will cause problems with stroke detection and palm rejection. We suggest you replace the Apple Pencil tips in case the old ones seem to be worn out.

To install new tips, simply unscrew the old ones counter-clockwise and then screw the new ones back in. 

If you are using the first-generation Apple Pencil, then make sure that both the Pencil charging head and the iPad lightning port are clean.

Apple Pencil 2 differs from Apple Pencil 1 in this regard. The second-gen model is charged wirelessly via the magnetic strip on the side of the Pencil.

We advise you to try disconnecting and reconnecting your Apple Pencil once in a while to ensure smooth operation. You could also try un-pairing and re-pairing the Apple pencil.

Power Cycle the iPad

Power cycling is a fancy term for restarting your device. Power cycling effectively clears any bugs or glitches in your device and will help it restart its firmware.

Restarting your iPad once in a while will help it recover from any crashes or connection failures. 

To power cycle an iPad without a Home button:  

iPad restart
  1. Press and hold either the volume button and the sleep or wake button together
  2. Keep holding until the Power off slider appears 
  3. Drag the slider and wait for your iPad to turn off 
  4. Wait for a couple of seconds and then turn your iPad back on by holding down the sleep or wake button

To power cycle an iPad with a home button:

  1. Press and hold the sleep or wake button until the power off slider appears
  2. Drag the slider and wait for your iPad to turn off 
  3. Wait for a couple of seconds and then turn your iPad back on by holding down the sleep or wake button

Now check whether this resolves the issue.

Power cycling your iPad will not erase its data or personalized settings.

Hard Reset the Apple Pencil

Hard Reset the Apple Pencil

Hard resetting your Apple Pencil is yet another way to resolve the said issues on your device. It will also clear up any occasional bugs stemming from the Apple Pencil software.

For hard resetting, go to Settings> Bluetooth, here you can see your Apple Pencil as connected, now click on the info symbol next to the Apple pencil and click on Forget.

Now try re-pairing the Apple Pencil to the iPad:

Apple Pencil Gen 1

  1. Turn on Bluetooth on your iPad. 
  2. Remove the cap and connect your apple pencil to the iPad via the lightning port
  3. Click on pair when the option appears

Check whether palm rejection works now

Apple Pencil Gen 2

To connect your second-generation Apple Pencil to your iPad, simply attach your Pencil to the magnetic connector on the side of the iPad. 

Check whether this resolves the issue. 

One of the things that make the Apple Pencil different from other styluses is the ease with which it pairs with the host device, the iPad.

All you have to do is to connect it to the iPad, may it be by connecting the leads or attaching it to the magnetic strip, and that's all to it.

With other Styluses, you'll have to go through the hassle of pairing it up via Bluetooth or any other mode of syncing.

Force Restart your iPad

You could also try force restarting your iPad in case the issue still persists.

To force restart an iPad without a home button:

  1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the sleep or wake button.
  2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the sleep or wake button.
  3. Press and hold the sleep or wake button.
  4. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears

To force restart an iPad with a power button:

  1. Press and hold the sleep or wake button and the Home button together 
  2. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears and then release the button.

Reset the iPad

Reset the iPad

If the issue still persists, hard resetting the iPad might solve the issue. Hard resetting will resolve occasional hiccups with the iPad software.

Although, resetting your iPad will delete all its stored data and saved networks. You will have to set up the iPad as new again

To reset the iPad:

  1. Go to settings 
  2. Scroll down and click on General 
  3. Click on Transfer or Reset iPad 
  4. Click on Reset

For iPadOS 13/14, you can see the “reset” option instead of the “Transfer or reset iPad” option.

Contact Apple Support

In case none of the steps work, it might be a hardware issue.

If so, it's time you make an appointment at the Apple Store. You could also call up Apple customer care, we are sure they will help resolve the issue. 

Apple also has an excellent and active support forum where you will find answers to a number of your queries.

Final thoughts 

The Apple Pencil, which is different from Surface Pen or a Zagg Pro stylus in many ways, is indeed one of the best when it comes to features like Palm Rejection or Pressure sensitive detection.

But in time, as a result of a worn-out tip or software bugs resulting from an erroneous update, Palm rejection and other similar features are bound to get affected.

In case the problem persists, if possible, try using a drawing glove to keep your palm off the screen. 

If you are a beta tester and if you recently updated to a newer version of the software, that might also be the reason for your palm rejection to suddenly stop working.

If this is the case, downgrade to an earlier version. 

Have a great day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does the First generation Apple Pencil support palm rejection?

Yes, the first-generation Apple Pencil supports the palm rejection feature.

How to activate palm rejection in Goodnotes?

On the Goodnotes home page, click on settings > stylus & palm rejection.

Click on Smart stylus to select your stylus (Goodnotes only supports the Apple Pencil at the moment).

You can also set your palm rejection sensitivity here to High, Medium, or Low.

What is the lifetime of an Apple Pencil tip?

The lifetime of an Apple pencil tip will depend on your use case.

If you are someone who uses the apple pencil regularly, then your tip will wear out soon. If you use them only occasionally for light scrolling or writing, they will last longer. 

As a general thumb rule, we recommend you change the tip once every 2 years. 

If the pencil feels rough or doesn't glide over the screen smoothly then it's time to replace the tip.

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About Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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