I can't get the keyboard to allow me to type. what is wrong?

Please confirm the version of iPadOS that’s in use here. Settings > General >About, and > Software Update. Your iPad might be brand new, but it’s probably not running 13.5 if it hasn’t been updated locally very recently, as iPadOS 13.5 has been available for ~3 days.

I’m persisting here with the iPadOS version check and update, as there’ve been a number of folks that haven’t updated, and this is the symptom with the Magic Keyboard dock.

If this iPad is running or has been updated to iPadOS 13.5, then reboot the iPad, and try again.

Failing that, then contact the folks at Apple Support, using the link in the upper right of this webpage.

Ensure that your iPad Pro is running at least iPadOS 13.4.1 or the now-current 13.5. If you’ve not updated in a while, update, and try again once you’ve loaded 13.5.

Even a new iPad Pro should not be loaded with iOS 13.5, since that was just released. Double-check what iOS you have loaded, go to Settings>General>About>Version.