So, you’ve treated yourself to an iPad and that sleek, white wand known as the Apple Pencil. Maybe you bought it with dreams of becoming the next digital Picasso, or perhaps you just wanted to jot down grocery lists without wasting paper. But after a few weeks, you might find that your Apple Pencil is spending more time magnetically attached to the side of your device than actually creating magic on the screen.
The truth is, the Apple Pencil is one of the most powerful tools in the Apple ecosystem, but it comes with a surprisingly steep learning curve if you don't know where to look. It is far more than just a fancy stylus; it is a mouse, a paintbrush, a document scanner, and a navigation tool all rolled into one. Whether you have the original Pencil, the 2nd Generation, or the newer USB-C or Pro models, there are hidden features buried in iPadOS that can completely transform your workflow.
Ready to move beyond basic doodling? Let’s dive into the hacks that will help you unlock your iPad’s true potential.
1. Master the 'Scribble' Feature
When Apple introduced Scribble, it changed the game for handwriting recognition. In the past, if you wanted to search for something in Safari or reply to a text message, you had to put the Pencil down and type on the virtual keyboard. With Scribble, your iPad converts your handwriting into typed text in real-time, in almost any text field.
However, simply writing is just the beginning. To truly master Scribble, you need to learn the editing gestures that make you feel like a wizard.
- The Scratch-Out: Made a mistake? Don't look for the undo button. Simply scribble vigorously (scratch it out) over the word or sentence you wrote, and it will vanish instantly.
- The Circle Select: Need to highlight a specific word to copy or bold it? Just draw a circle around the handwritten word. The iPad will select it as if you clicked and dragged a mouse over it.
- The Slice to Separate: If you squashed two words together and need a space, draw a vertical line downwards between the letters. The words will part ways, creating a space.
- The Joiner: Conversely, if you accidentally put a space in the middle of a word, draw a vertical line between the characters to pull them back together.
Pro Tip: Scribble works incredibly well in the Safari search bar. You don't need to tap the bar, wait for the keyboard, and type. Just start writing your search query directly over the address bar, even if it looks like you are writing over existing text. The iPad figures it out!
2. The Secret Corner Gestures
If you aren't using "Hot Corners" (or corner gestures) with your Apple Pencil, you are taking the long way around for everything. By default, your iPad is set up to recognize swipes from the bottom corners of the screen as specific commands. This allows you to capture information instantly without fumbling through Control Center.
Here is how the default setup usually works, though you can customize it:
- Bottom Left Swipe: Drag your Pencil diagonally up from the bottom-left corner to instantly take a screenshot. This is much faster than pressing the volume and power buttons simultaneously. Once the screenshot is captured, it opens immediately in markup mode, ready for your annotations.
- Bottom Right Swipe: Drag diagonally up from the bottom-right corner to open a "Quick Note." This opens a small floating notepad over whatever app you are currently using. It is perfect for jotting down a phone number, a sudden idea, or copying a link from a website without leaving the page.
If these gestures aren't working, or if you want to swap them (perhaps you are left-handed), you can easily change them in your settings.
Settings Path: Go to Settings > Apple Pencil > Pencil Gestures. Here you can assign Screenshot, Quick Note, or "Off" to either corner.
3. Instant Shapes and Color Picking
You don't need to be a professional illustrator to appreciate this next hack. Have you ever tried to draw a circle to highlight something in a presentation, only to have it look like a lopsided potato? The Apple Pencil has a built-in "shape perfection" tool that works in Notes, Freeform, and Markup.
The trick is all in the pause. Draw your shape—whether it’s a circle, square, triangle, arrow, or even a star—and do not lift your pencil tip when you finish the stroke. Hold it there for half a second. You will see the line snap from your shaky hand-drawn version into a mathematically perfect geometric shape.
But the creativity hacks don't stop there. If you are designing a document or just doodling and want to match a color exactly from a photo or website you are looking at, you can use the Eyedropper tool effectively.
- Open your color palette in a creative app (like Procreate or even the standard Notes markup tool).
- Select the Eyedropper.
- Drag the dropper over anything on your screen. It will sample that exact pixel color for your pen.
4. Paperless Productivity: Instant Notes and Signatures
One of the most practical uses for the iPad and Pencil combination is eliminating the need for a printer and scanner. We have all received that email attachment requiring a signature. The old way involved printing, signing, scanning, and emailing back. The Apple Pencil way takes about 30 seconds.
First, let’s talk about Instant Notes. Imagine your iPad is asleep and the screen is black. You need to write something down immediately. Do not unlock the iPad. Do not find the Notes app. simply tap the locked, black screen with your Apple Pencil tip. The iPad will wake up and immediately open a fresh Note, bypassing the lock screen (don't worry, it won't show your private, previously saved notes without a passcode). You can write your thought, lock the screen, and walk away.
Second, let's look at signing documents:
- Open the PDF or image in the Mail app or Files app.
- Look for the Markup icon (the tip of a pen in a circle) usually found in the top right corner.
- Sign your name directly on the document.
- Hit "Done" and select "Reply All" or "Save to Files."
Did you know? In the Notes app, you can actually scan a physical document using the camera, and then use the Pencil to mark it up. Tap the Camera icon in Notes > Scan Documents. Once scanned, it treats the paper as a digital PDF ready for your Pencil.
5. Customizing the Double-Tap (2nd Gen & Pro)
If you have the Apple Pencil 2 or the newer Apple Pencil Pro, you have a flat side on the pencil that is touch-sensitive. By default, double-tapping this flat area near the tip switches between your current tool (pen) and the eraser. While this is handy for artists, it might not be the best use of the gesture for writers or business users.
You can customize this to suit your workflow better. Go to Settings > Apple Pencil and look at the "Double Tap" options. You can change it to:
- Switch between current tool and last used: This is excellent for highlighters. You can switch from a black pen to a yellow highlighter and back again with a quick tap, rather than erasing.
- Show color palette: If you use your iPad for coloring or design, this saves you from constantly reaching up to the toolbar.
- Off: If you find yourself accidentally triggering the eraser while shifting your grip, turning this feature off will save you a lot of frustration.
For users with the Apple Pencil Pro, you also get "Squeeze" gestures, which bring up a new palette near the tip of the pencil, allowing you to switch tools without moving your hand across the screen.
Final Thoughts
The Apple Pencil is a device that gets better the more you use it. It relies heavily on muscle memory. The first time you try to "Scratch-out" text to delete it, it might feel strange. But after the third or fourth time, it becomes second nature, and you’ll find yourself trying to scratch out text on physical paper (which, unfortunately, just makes a mess).
Take a few minutes today to go into your settings and try out these gestures. Scribble in a search bar, swipe up from the corner, and tap your locked screen. Once you unlock these habits, your iPad transforms from a tablet into a true digital notebook.