M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard randomly stops working

Begin with a forced-restart of your iPad - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)

Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad and Keyboard:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

If purchased directly from Apple, in most countries/regions you have 14-days within which you can unconditionally return your iPad or Apple accessories for exchange of refund. If applicable, you might be well advised to consider this option while it remains available to you. Upon expiry of 14-days, Apple standard warranty terms will apply.

Hi all,

Just to save you all some trouble, you will not be able to resolve this issue nor will Apple support I believe its a fundamental software even potentially an iPad hardware issue, I have an M4 13 inch iPad with magic keyboard started by factory resetting the iPad the problem persisted. I then carried out a fresh software install via my Mac as instructed by Apple Senior Support.

After many weeks of back-and-forth with various members of the senior support team, some helpful some very misleading. It was agreed that a keyboard replacement was required. Upon getting the replacement I was able to re-create the keyboard issue, which basically for me freezes apps at random, so both keyboard and screen touch have no effect yet the touch screen will allow app switching, the only way to fix them is to come out of the app switcher kill the app and go back in and the app could function for an hour or go do the same thing in 20 minutes. Again, back to the senior team and with a lot of trouble, I convinced them to take a look at my iPad at this stage I wanted a refund I was advised that the iPad being sent in as a repair would most likely be replaced as they are hard to repair in general what they did in fact do was to try and re-create the issue on their side which they could not and sent the iPad back, which was very frustrating. Again after a number of weeks of back-and-forth, they decided to replace my iPad within hours of receiving the new device I could still re-create the issue, which I found very strange considering I was using a completely new set up now setup as a new iPad with no backups and a new magic keyboard.

The only thing I can confirm through extensive testing is that the iPad being used as an iPad, touch screen only, does not exhibit the same problems it is only when the Magic keyboard is introduced to the set up that the problem arises. Senior support offered me a refund for the keyboard however, I had to test another keyboard, so effectively three magic keyboards in order to be eligible for the refund so I tested two separate iPads and three magic keyboards and the issue was not fixed on any device. I hope this helps and saves people some time as this has taken me almost 2 months to resolve. Apple is in the process of giving me a refund and even that is taking a lot of time. I get the impression this is a well know issue just not widespread enough for a recall and there was no mention of a software fix anytime soon. It is a real shame because I really liked using the iPad with the keyboard and it has put me off the iPad Pro range in the future and the not so good support experience.

Leaving this here in case this helps someone. I just got the new iPad pro M4 and magic keyboard. I experienced the same issue: my screen would freeze up and I would not be able to type, tap, scroll… It affected most apps including Safari. I would not be able to scroll across screens using the trackpad…

I’d end up having to close Safari every few minutes or restart the iPad altogether very frequently.

What caused the issue for me was the hover typing feature which seems to conflict not only with the magic keyboard but the iPad too. I had it set up and on but the typing bar bugs. Since I turned it off, I’ve had no issues whatsoever.

Might be worth checking accessibility features and see if they’re on and conflicting with the hardware.

I’m still annoyed that I can’t use the accessibility options as this was one of the main reasons I moved from Android but at least I can use the magic keyboard which I love.

Temporary Fix: Swipe with three fingers just a little to the next app without actually switching. Then it works again, I thought it was a iPadOS 18 bug but seeing this now with iPadOS 17 users as well

Additional to the excellent suggestions from LotusPilot, I will suggest a few other points

Your report seems to be the only one of its kind (so far) so my feeling is this will be something unique to your setup, either a specific software glitch or a hardware defect (but which one... keyboard or iPad?)

Hit the App Store, and make sure all your third party apps are fully updated to the latest version. For apps you use regularly which might be suspects in the keyboard problem, go into each app's page and look with your eyes for any updates offered. I have seen it happen that updates exist but they have not been offered until I searched the hard way!

Try to think back to what you were doing in the last usage before the problem appeared (last hour or so). Is there a pattern, which might suggest one app is causing problems for everything else which follows?

Does the problem first appear each time in one specific app? (might be difficult to be sure if you have one app which you use more than others)

If you disconnect the Magic Keyboard after the problem appears and use your iPad stand alone, does it resume working correctly with on screen keyboard, or does the fault remain active until restart? (This might be a clue whether it is a software lock-up, -or- a hardware problem which is unlikely to roll through to standalone usage)

The bottom line is as LotusPilot suggests. If you can't resolve it in a day or two, get it raised as a case in the Apple Support system, and if it has not been cleared by Day 10 of your 14 day return window, reject the devices for replacement with new. My only reject experience (with a Series 3 Apple Watch) is that if there is a defect within 14 days they will probably offer to replace with a brand new replacement rather than have you return, refund, buy again. After 14 days you might get a service exchange unit, which could be reconditioned or new (no way to predict but I doubt there will be many reconditioned around for a few weeks yet).

I‘m having the exact same issue on my iPad Pro 11“ since ages. I think it persists since the first iPad OS with external monitor support. It first occured to me with a 3rd party bluetooth keyboard. First I thought it might be some bluetooth issue, so I bought a Magic Keyboard. But the problem is still there on a daily basis.

My setup:

• iPad Pro 11“ with M1 Chip
• HP Z38c Monitor connected via USB-C

Some keys work all the time, like for example Cmd + Space to invoke Spotlight search. But as soon as there is an text-input, it‘s game-over.

Sometimes I‘m having limited success by force-quitting apps. Then text input works for some time. But sometimes nothing helps except restarting a device.

I think I will sell the iPad because of this. Currently it‘s my main computer for private usage. It‘s a pity because if it just worked, the iPad would offer everything I need besides work.

But the issue is so annoying that I will switch back to a Mac or maybe a Microsoft Surface.

I‘m also really dissapointed to read here, that the issue is still there on the newest M4 models. Such a pity: beautiful, powerful hardware, but a buggy OS that‘s lettings users down :(

Updated to iPadOS 18.2.1 and haven’t seen an unresponsive keyboard since .. fingers crossed 🤞

I have the same issue. I would like to add that it will not type text into cells in Obsidian.md, into number inputs on the fax app, and on any webpage that has popup overlay form field. The reason seems to be the act of clicking into the field. I cannot click into anything, and I have to resort to using keyboard shortcuts. Clicking into the field using the touchscreen does not work while the keyboard is attached.

Feedback:

• FB16059730 (Clicking Space on Magic Keyboard Does Not Work in First Instance)
• FB16060023 (On Screen Keyboard Does Not Pop Up When Clicking Into Textbox in Tablet Mode)

Hi Nomi, thank you for the post. It is exactly what I am experiencing. I can also confirm that it’s indeed relevant to the external monitor USB-C connection.

iPad Pro M4 13’ and new Magic Keyboard.

My intermittent keyboard problems happened without being connected to external monitors, thumb drives, or any other external connection.

They just appear. The keyboard suddenly stops working.

The only pattern seems to be that the intermittency has almost never happened while I am typing in the same app. It is common when I want to type in a different iPad app. I switch to the other app and the keyboard doesn't go with me.

To me, this suggests some sort of bizarre iOS software bug.

I too am having the same problem. The function keys remain functional, and I am able to manually enter passcodes with the number keys, but typing text, punctuation and numbers do not work. Restarting does work for a while, then the problem keeps happening again. Does seem to point towards a software issue, given that a hardware issue would not have partial dysfunction of the keyboard, and would certainly not be resolved by restarting.