Lance Whitney/ZDNETIn the past, I'd never been a big user of the Apple Pencil or other stylus devices. I just didn't see much need for them. But after snagging the latest iPad Pro last year, I decided to add the Apple Pencil Pro to the package. And I'm glad I did.Since working and playing with the new Pro pencil, I've been able to enjoy and appreciate its capabilities. Writing, drawing, and annotating on the tablet are fun and easy, especially with the Pro pencil's powers. You can squeeze and tap the pencil to activate its palettes and tools. When you squeeze the pencil, you'll receive haptic feedback as confirmation. The Pro pencil also works with the Find My app, so you can locate it if it gets lost.Also: The Apple Pencil Pro drops to $99 thanks to Amazon's likely upcoming Spring SaleYou must meet a few requirements before you can use the Pencil Pro. At this point, you'll need one of the following iPads: iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), iPad Air 13-inch (M2 or M3), iPad Air 11-inch (M2 or M3), or iPad mini (A17 Pro). You also must be running iPadOS 17.5 or higher.The Pencil Pro will work with many text-based and drawing apps. But you may not be able to tap into all its features, or you might find that the features vary. Some apps convert any text you write into regular typed characters. In other apps, your text remains how you draw it but is transformed into more legible and straightened characters. Certain apps also support squeezing the pencil to display the palette and similar tools, while others do not.I typically use the pencil in such built-in apps as Notes and Freeform. But I've also tried it in several third-party apps, including note-takers, drawing and painting programs, and even ones that help you learn to draw. Ultimately, you'll have to experiment to see which apps are the most Pencil-Pro friendly. To get a head start, open the App Store app on your iPad and run a search for "Apple Pencil" or "Apple Pencil Pro." You'll find a host of apps that support the pencil.One more option I'd recommend is getting a case with a pencil holder. Yes, the pencil attaches magnetically to the iPad, but it can come loose. A good case will hold it in place. I use a Fintie Hybrid Slim Case for the iPad Pro 11, with a colorful lilac marble front cover, a hard plastic back, and a convenient space to hold the Pencil Pro.Now, here's how I use the Apple Pencil Pro and how you can use it as well. 1. Squeeze to access the palette Squeezing the pencil to quickly access the palette may be my favorite feature. For this, you can squeeze anywhere on the stem of the barrel, but doing this near the tip probably works best if your hand is already positioned there. Not all apps support the squeeze, but you'll know right away based on whether or not a palette pops up in response.Depending on the app, the palette should display the different drawing or painting tools available as well as a circle to change the color and icons for undo and redo. Hover your pencil over each icon to see it respond. Tap the tool you want with the pencil tip. Tap the dot to switch the color. Tap undo to reverse your last action. You may also find an ellipsis icon that offers access to more tools and settings. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETAlso:iPad Pro review: Apple's most advanced tablet is no MacBook, and I'm okay with that 2. Double tap to switch between tools Here's a quick way that I switch between tools. Double tap the barrel of the pencil with your forefinger. Continue to double tap and you'll switch between the last two tools that you accessed, such as a pen, paintbrush, or eraser. Depending on the app you're using, the tool you choose will appear, pop out, or be highlighted on the screen to show you which one you're about to use. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET 3. Hover over the screen I haven't got the steadiest hand when it comes to drawing or writing on the screen, so I'll take all the help I can get. That includes the hover feature, which shows you where the pencil is about to hit the screen. For this, choose a pen tool. As you move the tip of the pencil toward the screen, a small circular shadow shows you where the tool will land, allowing you to precisely start drawing or writing in a specific area. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETAlso: The best iPad stylus of 2025: Expert tested 4. Change the thickness Instead of fiddling with the palette to change the thickness of the pencil or brush, I like to adjust it by varying the pressure. To try this out, draw lightly on the screen to create a thin line or shape. Apply more pressure and repeat the same action. Do it a third time, applying even more pressure. You should see a difference in thickness among the three items you drew. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET 5. Draw a straight line My mom was the artist in the family. Me? I can't even draw a straight line, at least not without help. But that's where I rely on a ruler. Certain drawing and even note taking apps let you turn on a ruler so that you can draw against its edge and produce a straight line.Also: This $80 off iPad deal is a steal - and it's the model I recommend to most peopleTo try this, open an app like Notes on your iPad. Tap the pencil icon at the top to display the palette at the bottom. Select the Ruler tool and position the straight edge ruler on the screen with your fingers. You can then create a straight line by drawing it against one of the edges of the ruler. Tap the Ruler tool again to remove it from the screen. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET 6. Select an object Sometimes I want to move, resize, or otherwise modify an image I've drawn. One quick and easy way to do that is with the lasso tool. From the palette in Apple Notes, select this tool (it's the one to the left of the eraser). Draw over and around any objects on the screen to select them. You're then able to move the selected area and make other changes to it. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET 7. Convert handwriting into text Sometimes I find it easier and more comfortable to write text with the pencil than type it out on the iPad's virtual keyboard. But ultimately I still want that text to be editable. For that, I can choose a tool to turn my handwriting into text. Here's how. Open the palette and tap the pencil with the letter A on it. Write some words, and your handwriting is turned into text. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET 8. Auto refine handwriting Here's another option I use to turn my messy handwriting into more legible characters. With auto-refine, the words you draw with the pencil are smoothed out and straightened while still retaining the original look and style.Also: How to transform your doodles into stunning graphics with Apple's Image WandTo try this, squeeze the barrel of the Pencil Pro. At the small curved toolbar, tap the ellipsis icon, pick the gear settings icon, and turn on Auto-refine Handwriting. Use one of the drawing tools to draw a word or two on the screen. Wait a few seconds, and the text is transformed into more refined characters. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET 9. Practice, practice, practice Before I first took the Pencil Pro for a spin with actual apps, I wanted to practice some of the actions to get the hang of them. To do this, go to Settings and select Apple Pencil. Turn on the switch for Scribble if it's off and then tap the entry for Try Scribble. At the next screen, you can practice handwriting with the pencil as well as deleting, selecting, inserting, and joining characters. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET 10. Check your battery level The longer you use it, the more the pencil's battery charge gets drained. To check on the current charge, just attach the pencil to your iPad. Go to Settings and select Apple Pencil. The setting at the top shows you how much charge is left. If the charge is low, keep the pencil attached until it reaches 100% -- which takes no more than 15 to 20 minutes. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET 11. Change pencil actions and gestures The default settings for the Pencil Pro work for me. But you can always change specific actions and gestures. Head to Settings and select Apple Pencil. Under Actions, you're able to modify what happens when you squeeze and double tap the pencil. Further down under Pencil Gestures, you can tweak what happens if you swipe the pencil diagonally from the corners of the screen. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET 12. Find your Apple Pencil Pro If you ever forget where you put your Pencil Pro, you can locate it with the Find My app. To add it initially, open the Find My app on your iPad. Tap Devices and attach the Apple Pencil Pro to your iPad. Tap the plus button, tap Apple Pencil, and follow the on-screen instructions.Also: The best Bluetooth trackers of 2025: Expert testedIf you ever misplace the Pencil, open the Find My app on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or the iCloud website. Select the Devices icon and tap Apple Pencil Pro. Follow the directions to find the pencil or mark it as lost if you can't track it down. Show more Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETLooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.More how-tos