<!--
{
  "documentType" : "article",
  "framework" : "Updates",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/Updates/ApplePencil",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "article",
  "title" : "Apple Pencil updates"
}
-->

# Apple Pencil updates

Learn about important changes to Apple Pencil.

## Overview

Browse notable changes in <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/ApplePencil>.

## June 2024

### UIKit

- Implement custom low-latency drawing if your app doesn’t use PencilKit. Participate in UI updates and influence UI update behavior using <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UIUpdateLink>.

### PencilKit

- Offer a wider variety of marking tools by creating a configurable tool picker. Create a <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/PencilKit/PKToolPicker>, add standard system tools or define your own custom tools with <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/PencilKit/PKToolPickerCustomItem>, and specify which order the tools appear in. Include an optional <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/PencilKit/PKToolPicker/accessoryItem> in the tool picker to provide quick access to additional features directly from the picker.

## May 2024

### SwiftUI and UIKit

- Perform actions in your app in response to squeeze interactions on Apple Pencil Pro. People can choose their preferred squeeze action in Settings > Apple Pencil > Actions > Squeeze, such as switching drawing tools, showing a contextual palette, or performing an App Shortcut. You can also implement a custom action for squeeze and give people the choice to use your app’s custom behavior instead. In SwiftUI, use <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/SwiftUI/View/onPencilSqueeze(perform:)>. In UIKit, use <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UIPencilInteractionDelegate/pencilInteraction(_:didReceiveSqueeze:)>.
- Perform actions in your app in response to double-tap interactions on Apple Pencil. People can choose their preferred double-tap action in Settings > Apple Pencil > Actions > Double Tap. In SwiftUI, use <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/SwiftUI/View/onPencilDoubleTap(perform:)>. In UIKit, update your implementation to use <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UIPencilInteractionDelegate/pencilInteraction(_:didReceiveTap:)>, which replaces the deprecated <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UIPencilInteractionDelegate/pencilInteractionDidTap(_:)>.
- Leverage the hover pose of Apple Pencil to support more complex interactions in response to a double tap or squeeze. Information about the hover pose — such as azimuth, altitude, and hover distance — is available when a person holds a supported model of Apple Pencil close to the screen during a double tap or squeeze. In SwiftUI, use <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/SwiftUI/PencilHoverPose>. In UIKit, use <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UIPencilHoverPose>.
- Provide tactile feedback on Apple Pencil Pro by playing haptics in response to certain actions, such as snapping objects to a grid. In SwiftUI, use <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/SwiftUI/SensoryFeedback>. In UIKit, use <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UIFeedbackGenerator>.
- Track the barrel-roll angle of Apple Pencil Pro to create more expressive drawing experiences and hover previews using <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UITouch/rollAngle>.

- Check the value of the hover tool preview preference from the Apple Pencil section of the Settings app using <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/UIKit/UIPencilInteraction/prefersHoverToolPreview>.

### PencilKit

- Take advantage of barrel-roll tracking for Apple Pencil Pro when a person makes marker and fountain pen strokes. Support <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/PencilKit/PKContentVersion/version3>, which includes the version of the inks that incorporate barrel-roll data.

---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)