Apple Pencil Not Working on iPhone Duo? Fixes to Try

How tosiOSiPhoneby Imran Hussain

Apple Pencil not working on iPhone Duo usually means the Pencil is the wrong model, the phone is not on iOS 27.2 yet or the two lost their pairing. The phone works with Apple Pencil (USB-C) and no other model, and it needs iOS 27.2 or later.

iPhone Duo with Apple Pencil support in iOS 27.2

Apple said Pencil support was coming later this year, and it arrived with iOS 27.2 on October 26. The phone shipped with iOS 27.1, so it needs the update before a Pencil will work.

Apple Pencil (USB-C) Is the Only Pencil That Works on iPhone Duo

The iPhone Duo supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) on both the inner and outer displays for sketching, annotating and handwritten notes, but Apple Pencil Pro and other Pencil models are not supported.

Pencil hover does not work on the iPhone Duo either. Code in iOS 27 pointed to a hover path for the iPhone Duo, but the feature is not part of iOS 27.2, so a Pencil that does nothing when it floats above the screen is not broken.

Apple Pencil Not Working on iPhone Duo Starts With the iOS 27.2 Update

  1. Open Settings, tap General, then tap Software Update.
  2. Install iOS 27.2 or any newer update that is offered.
  3. Restart the phone once the update finishes.
  4. Try the Pencil on the inner display and then on the outer display.

If the Pencil writes on one display and not the other, note which one, because that narrows the problem to the phone and away from the Pencil.

Forget the Pencil and Pair It Again if It Will Not Connect

If the Pencil is the right model and the phone is up to date, forgetting the Pencil and pairing it again is the step for a pairing problem.

  1. Keep the Pencil plugged into the phone with a USB-C cable and restart the phone, then try pairing again.
  2. Open Settings, tap Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is on.
  3. Under My Devices, find your Apple Pencil, tap the info button and tap Forget this Device.
  4. Connect the Pencil to the phone with the USB-C cable and tap Pair when it appears after a few seconds.
  5. If the Pair button does not appear, let the Pencil charge for one minute, then connect it again and wait for the button.

If the Pair button still does not appear after that, you may need service from Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, because repairs elsewhere are not covered by the warranty or AppleCare plans.

No Pencil comes in the box, so the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is a separate purchase.

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About the Author

Imran Hussain is the founder and editor of iThinkDifferent, which he launched in 2008 to cover Apple news, reviews, and how-to guides. He has spent over 15 years writing about iOS, macOS, and the wider Apple ecosystem, with a focus on hands-on guides - installing developer betas, troubleshooting, and walking through new features on his own devices. Based in Dubai, he also loves to cover photography, gaming, and the tech industry more broadly on his social media profiles.

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