Apple Pencil Pressure Not Working in Procreate? (Troubleshooting Guide)
If your Apple Pencil isn’t responding to pressure the way it should in Procreate—no taper, no variation in line width—this post can help.
Let’s walk through the most common reasons pressure sensitivity stops working in Procreate, and how to fix it, step by step.
✅ Start Here: Is It the Pencil?
Let’s first make sure your Apple Pencil is functioning properly.
1. Confirm You’re Using an Apple Pencil
Some third-party styluses don’t support pressure sensitivity at all. If you’re not using an official Apple Pencil, that could be the issue.
2. Check Which Apple Pencil You Have
The Apple Pencil with USB-C does not support pressure sensitivity. It only supports tilt—not pressure. Annoying I know! If purchasing a new Apple Pencil, make sure to compare tech specs.
3. Check the Pencil Tip
Make sure the tip is tightly screwed in.
If it feels worn down or unresponsive, try replacing it. A fresh tip often restores pressure accuracy.
4. Reconnect the Pencil
Fully charge your Pencil. Low battery can cause poor response.
Unpair and re-pair the Pencil in Settings > Bluetooth.
Restart your iPad after reconnecting, just to be safe.
🛠️ Still Not Working? Try These Procreate-Specific Fixes
If the Pencil is working fine in other apps, like Notes, then the problem is likely inside Procreate.
1. Reset the Brush
Sometimes pressure stops working because a setting was accidentally changed. To reset a brush:
Tap the brush to open Brush Studio
Scroll down to About this Brush
Tap Reset Brush
This will restore the brush’s original settings—including pressure behavior.
💡 Tip: Use a Procreate default brush like Tinderbox (in the Inking set) to test pressure. It’s designed to show pressure variations clearly.
2. Check the Pressure Curve
Procreate has a global pressure curve setting that affects every brush.
To access the App Pressure Sensitivity curve setting, go to Actions (wrench icon) > Prefs > Pressure & Smoothing
If the curve is too flat, it can prevent brushes from reacting to pressure properly. The default curve is a straight diagonal line (see photo). If your curve is unintentionally different, you can undo by tapping Reset all.
3. Restart and Update
It sounds simple, but it works:
Restart your iPad
Check for Procreate and iPadOS updates in the App Store and Settings
Reopen Procreate and test again
This can fix any software-level hiccups that might be interfering with input.
📱 Test Pressure in Other Apps
Before assuming it’s a Procreate-only problem, open the Notes app or another drawing app. Does pressure sensitivity work there?
If it does, your Apple Pencil is working fine—and the issue is specific to Procreate.
If it doesn’t, it’s likely a Pencil hardware or compatibility issue (see above).
🧠 Bonus: Still Feels Off?
Sometimes pressure technically “works,” but your lines still feel rigid or lifeless. That might be due to brush settings like opacity, size jitter, or pressure smoothing.
If you're exploring pressure-based brushes for fashion linework, you might like this post on The Secret to Smooth Lines in Procreate, which covers streamlining and stylus control in more depth.
🔗 More Troubleshooting & Setup Guides
If you're running into other common frustrations, these guides can help:
If you’re just getting started, I walk through all the foundational settings and tools inside my Procreate for Fashion Design course—designed to help you draw clean, editable sketches without the overwhelm.
✍️ Recap
If pressure sensitivity isn’t working in Procreate:
✅ Double-check your Pencil model and tip
🔄 Restart and reconnect via Bluetooth
🧽 Reset your brush settings
⚙️ Check your global pressure curve
🧪 Test pressure in other apps to isolate the issue
These steps should cover most of the common causes—and if all else fails, it may be worth booking a Genius Bar appointment or contacting Apple Support to test your Pencil hardware.