The Apple Pencil is widely beloved for a reason. It lets you sketch, draw, take notes, and annotate with ease and precision. So, no wonder you might want to use it with every single device you have. This guide teaches you how to connect Apple Pencil to Windows.
Can You Connect Apple Pencil to Windows 10 and 11?
Unfortunately, you can’t connect Apple Pencil to Windows devices. For these devices, the Apple Pencil is nothing but a fancy paperweight. The reason for this lies in incompatible technologies. Simply put, the Apple Pencil is designed specifically for use with Apple products. iPads, to be more precise. Different Apple Pencil models can work with different iPads, like iPad Prom iPad mini, and iPad Air. But Windows is nowhere on this list.
This is because Windows devices support an entirely different stylus input. This input relies on digitizer layers and specific drivers that aren’t compatible with Apple’s proprietary technology.
How to Connect Apple Pencil to Windows 11 and 10
Now, you can’t connect the Apple Pencil to a Windows device directly. However, this doesn’t mean they can’t be connected at all. You’ll just need to get a little creative. To connect your Apple Pencil to your Windows device, you’ll need to mirror its screen to your iPad.
A few apps can help you with this. Here are two that have proven the most useful.
How to Connect Apple Pencil to Windows Using Spacedesk
Spacedesk is a driver that lets you turn your Windows computer into a multi-display workstation. Your iPad can be one of those displays, effectively transforming it into an extended desktop. This will allow you to use your Apple Pencil as a mouse. Here’s what to do.
Step 1:Download the Spacedesk Driver to your Windows PC and install it.
Step 2:Download and install the Spacedesk Viewer on your iPad. This will allow you to actually mirror your PC’s screen.
Step 3: Connect the PC and the iPad to the same network.
Step 4: Launch Spacedesk on both devices – the Driver on the PC and the Viewer on the iPad. Your PC’s IP address should pop up on your iPad.
Step 5: Select the PC’s IP address to connect the two devices.
Your iPad will now act as a second display for your Windows device. This means that you can use your Apple Pencil on your Windows PC. There’s just a middleman involved.
How to Connect Apple Pencil to Windows Using Duet Display
Duet Display turns your iPad into a second display for your Windows PC. If you upgrade to the Pro version of this software, you can use your Apple Pencil with your PC. Here’s how.
Step 1: Download the Duet Display desktop app to your Windows PC.
Step 2:Download the Duet Display app to your iPad.
Step 3: Install the software on both devices. Follow the on-screen instructions to do so.
Step 4: Connect your iPad to your Windows PC using the same Wi-Fi network.
Step 5:Upgrade to the Pro version of Duet Display for Apple Pencil Support.
With Duet Display, your iPad will act as a touchscreen for your Windows PC. With the Pro version, you can start using the Apple Pencil for tasks like drawing in Photoshop.
As an avid gamer, I’ve run into my fair share of error codes and weird faults that have forced me to find fixes to problems I never anticipated. That gave me a passion for sharing those fixes with others so we can all game without feeling like our hardware is rebelling against us.
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