If Apple Pencil is lagging, drawing unexpected lines, or not working in Goodnotes, follow these checks in order. If it behaves the same way in other apps, Goodnotes troubleshooting cannot resolve the underlying Apple Pencil or iPad issue.
Check the Apple Pencil tip
- Make sure the tip is screwed on securely.
- If the issue continues, unscrew the tip and gently clean the exposed metal connection.
- Reattach the tip and test writing again.
A loose or worn tip can cause delayed ink, intermittent input, or unexpected strokes. If you use a non-Bluetooth capacitive stylus with a replaceable tip, try replacing its tip.
Check the battery
Confirm that Apple Pencil has enough charge. See Apple’s instructions for checking the Apple Pencil battery.
Restart and pair Apple Pencil again
- Restart your iPad.
- Pair Apple Pencil again by following Apple’s pairing instructions.
- Open Goodnotes and test writing in a new page.
Test Apple Pencil in another app
Try writing in Apple Notes or Freeform. If the same lag, missed strokes, or unexpected lines occur there, contact Apple Support for hardware assistance.
Turn off Accessibility Zoom
- Open the device Settings app.
- Select Accessibility > Zoom.
- Turn Zoom off, then test Apple Pencil in Goodnotes again.
Reinstall Goodnotes only after backing up
Deleting Goodnotes removes locally stored documents from the device. Confirm that your complete library is safely backed up before reinstalling.
Before reinstalling, create a Manual Backup or confirm that iCloud Sync has finished syncing your library.