So, you’ve picked up an Apple Pencil. Maybe you bought it with dreams of becoming a digital artist, or perhaps you just wanted to look professional taking handwritten notes in your Monday morning meeting. But if you are only using this incredible tool to tap on icons or doodle the occasional stick figure, you are barely scratching the surface of its potential.
The Apple Pencil isn’t just a stylus; it is a deeply integrated input device that can completely change how you navigate iPadOS. Whether you have the original Pencil, the magnetic 2nd Generation, or the fancy new Pencil Pro, there are hidden gestures and software tricks designed to speed up your workflow.
Ready to go from casual tapper to iPad power user? Let’s dive into the essential tips and tricks that will make your Apple Pencil feel like a magic wand.
1. Stop Typing and Start 'Scribbling'
For the longest time, using a stylus meant an awkward dance: pick up the pencil to draw, put it down to type, pick it back up to edit. Apple solved this with a feature called Scribble. This feature allows you to handwrite into any text field on the iPad, and the system automatically converts it into typed text.
You can use this in the Safari search bar, iMessage, the Calendar app, or even third-party apps. It’s surprisingly good at reading messy handwriting, too. But the real power lies in the editing gestures that come with it.
Here are the essential Scribble gestures you need to memorize:
- Scratch to Delete: Make a mistake? Don't look for the backspace key. Just scribble vigorously (like a scratch-out motion) over the word, and it will vanish.
- Circle to Select: Want to bold or copy a specific word? Just draw a circle around it. The iPad will highlight the text for you.
- Slash to Separate: If two words are stuck together, draw a vertical line between them to insert a space. Conversely, draw a line between two spaced words to join them.
Pro Tip: If you find Scribble interfering with your drawing apps, or if you simply prefer the virtual keyboard, you can toggle this feature off by going to Settings > Apple Pencil > Scribble.
2. Unlock the Power of Corner Gestures
One of the fastest ways to boost your productivity is to master "Corner Gestures." By default, your iPad is set up to perform specific actions when you swipe your Pencil diagonally from the bottom corners of the screen.
These are massive time-savers when you are in the flow of work and don't want to navigate through menus.
- Bottom Left Swipe (Screenshot): Swiping up from the bottom-left corner instantly takes a screenshot. But it’s better than the button combo because it immediately opens the markup editor. You can annotate the image right there and send it off without saving it to your Photos library.
- Bottom Right Swipe (Quick Note): Swiping up from the bottom-right opens a "Quick Note." This is a floating window where you can jot down a phone number, a brilliant idea, or copy a link from Safari. The beauty of Quick Notes is that they are context-aware; if you are looking at a website and add a link to the Quick Note, the iPad remembers where you were when you wrote that note.
If you are left-handed or just prefer a different setup, you can customize these. Head to Settings > Apple Pencil > Pencil Gestures to swap them around or turn them off entirely.
3. The Secret to Perfect Shapes and Instant Notes
Have you ever tried to circle something in a presentation or draw a diagram in the Notes app, only to have it look like a wobbly potato? Apple has a built-in "shape recognition" tool that makes everyone look like a graphic designer.
The trick is all in the pause. When you draw a shape—be it a circle, square, triangle, arrow, or even a star—do not lift your pencil tip off the glass immediately when you finish the stroke. Instead, hold the tip down for half a second.
You will see the line snap from your hand-drawn wobble into a mathematically perfect geometric shape. This works in the Notes app, Markup, and many third-party design apps like Procreate.
Furthermore, there is a trick for when your iPad is asleep. If you need to write something down right now:
- Leave your iPad screen black (locked).
- Tap the screen once with your Apple Pencil tip.
- The iPad will wake up and immediately launch a new, blank Note.
Security Note: By default, this creates a new note so that someone can't access your old private notes without your passcode. You can change this behavior in Settings to resume your last note if you prefer continuity over privacy.
4. Master Markup for Email and Photos
The days of printing a PDF, signing it with a pen, scanning it, and emailing it back are over. The Apple Pencil makes the iPad the ultimate document processing machine, but many users forget the tools are baked right into the Mail and Photos apps.
For Emails: When you receive a PDF attachment in Mail, tap to open it. Look for the little marker tip icon (usually top right). Tap that, and you are instantly in Markup mode. You can sign your signature, highlight clauses, or cross out text. When you hit "Done," choose "Reply All," and the signed document is automatically attached to a new email draft.
For Photos: This is incredibly useful for home renovations or giving directions. Snap a picture of a wall, tap "Edit," and then the Markup icon (the pen tip in a circle). You can write measurements directly on the wall in the photo or draw arrows to show exactly which cable needs to be unplugged.
5. Customizing the Double-Tap (Pencil 2 and Pro)
If you have the Apple Pencil 2, the USB-C model, or the Pencil Pro, you have a flat edge that magnetically attaches to the iPad. This isn't just for charging; it’s a touch-sensitive button.
By double-tapping the flat side of the pencil near the tip, you can trigger an action. The default is usually switching between your current tool (like a pen) and the eraser. This allows for a very fluid workflow where you write, make a mistake, double-tap to erase, double-tap to write again—all without moving your hand to a toolbar.
However, not everyone likes the eraser toggle. You can customize this to suit your style:
- Switch to Last Used Tool: Great if you are constantly swapping between a highlighter and a pen.
- Show Color Palette: Perfect for artists who need to change shades frequently.
- Off: If you find yourself accidentally triggering the button while adjusting your grip, turning it off will save your sanity.
6. Caring for Your Pencil
Finally, a little hardware advice. The tip of your Apple Pencil is made of a specific plastic designed to glide on glass without scratching it. Over time, however, this tip will wear down. If you use a "paper-like" matte screen protector, the friction will wear the tip down significantly faster (sometimes in just a few months).
Keep an eye on the tip. If it starts to feel rough, or if you can see the metal transducer peeking through the plastic, stop using it immediately. A worn tip can scratch your iPad screen permanently.
Maintenance Tip: Make sure the tip is screwed on tightly. If your Pencil starts "skipping" lines or acting unresponsive, 90% of the time it is because the tip has vibrated loose over time. A quick twist to tighten it usually solves the problem!
The Apple Pencil is one of the most sophisticated accessories Apple has ever made. By mastering these gestures and settings, you move past simple input and turn your iPad into a true extension of your mind. So go ahead, customize those gestures, practice your perfect circles, and enjoy the flow!