What you’re dealing with
Whether it can be found by radio depends on the model. An Apple Pencil advertises when awake. A Samsung S Pen sitting in its silo has no independent radio at all.
| Broadcasts as | Apple Pencil, Surface Pen; the S Pen does not broadcast on its own |
|---|---|
| Typical battery | Days to weeks; charges when attached to the device |
| Findable by scan | Yes, while powered on |
| Search window | Days to weeks |
Once the battery is gone: Pens that charge magnetically on the tablet are rarely flat. Pens with replaceable cells can be.
Where it usually is
Against the skirting board
It rolled. Check the wall, not where you dropped it.
Under the sofa or bed
The far side, not the near side.
In a bag with the tablet
In the sleeve, not the main compartment.
How to search for it
- Check the last-seen map firstBefore you search a room, find out which building. A pin saves you from searching the right way in the wrong place.
- Scan from the middle of the roomNote everything that appears, then select the device you want so the rest of the list drops away.
- Walk and watch the signalSweep in a straight line, give each position a few seconds, and turn 90 degrees when the reading stops rising.
- Search inside things, not across themA strong signal with nothing visible means it is underneath or inside something. Fabric and metal block Bluetooth badly.
Tips specific to stylus or digital pen
- Search at floor level along the walls first. That is where cylindrical objects come to rest.
- An Apple Pencil advertises intermittently rather than constantly, so give a scan a full minute.
- Magnetic attachment is the real fix, a pen that lives on the side of the tablet does not get lost.
Other things people lose
The same method applies to these, with different battery windows and different hiding places.
- How to find lost AirPods, About 5 to 6 hours per earbud
- How to find lost AirPods Pro, Around 6 hours of listening
- How to find a lost AirPods case, Holds around 24 hours of earbud charge
- How to find your iPhone when it’s on silent, Varies
- How to find lost Sony WH-1000XM headphones, About 30 hours with noise cancelling on
- Last-seen map for your devices, Map tab
- How to find something you left in a restaurant or bar
- All device guides, the complete list
Common questions
Does an Apple Pencil show up in a Bluetooth scan?
When it is awake and charged, yes, though it advertises intermittently rather than constantly. Give the scan longer than you would for a speaker.