User profile for user: Yashaswi M G
Yashaswi M G Author
User level: Level 1
68 points

Issues with the Smart Keyboard (iPad Pro 9.7)

I recently purchased the iPad Pro 9.7 inch, Space Grey, Wifi, 128GB. Operating system's iOS 9.3.1.


A couple of issues I've faced in my four days of using the iPad with the Smart Keyboard:


NOTE: The following issues persist despite a technical support call I made which lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes. I had to restore my iPad to factory settings by connecting it to iTunes via my PC to reinstall the latest iOS.


i) Switching apps: If I want to shift, say, from safari to adobe, it's quite easy to do so with the keyboard. However, there is an intermittent problem when switching apps. When I try to open Adobe while I'm using safari, the iPad screen shows the apps that are open as soon as I press the command and tab key.


What's supposed to happen - I choose to open Adobe, Adobe opens.

What happens instead - Adobe does not open. Another application 'X' that's running, opens. It's quite frustrating, because there is no pattern to this. If I once again use the keyboard shortcut to open Adobe, now some other application 'Y' that's running, opens.


This happens, I have observed, often when the App Store is up and running.


ii) Command Key: At times, soon after I use the shortcut keys to switch apps, on the screen pops up the shortcut box (shortcut pop-up) - this is supposed to happen if and only if you press and hold down the Command Key.


This happens often when I switch to Safari.


iii) Unresponsive Keyboard: A problem I faced today for the first time. My keyboard just won't respond. I had to disconnect and re-connect the keyboard for it to function.


iv) Unresponsive Space Key: To wake up the iPad, hitting the space key suffices. You don't have to press the home button. Yet, at times, the space key does not respond and you have to use the home button.


v) Quick app-switching causes keyboard shortcut function to crash: If I want to switch from app 'X' to app 'Y', but by mistake switch to app 'Z', I would immediately want to shift to 'Y'. However, I can't do this in quick succession. I have to wait for a second or two before I can switch from app 'Y' to app 'Z', else the switching app pop-up crashes and you have to once again wait for a second or two before switching.


My diagnosis:


I) There could be a problem with the smart connector on my iPad. A hardware issue. But that would not explain why the switching app pop-up appears and switches correctly but ends up opening the wrong applications. It also would not explain why the problem is intermittent.


II) A software glitch. That however would make me the first one to be facing the 5 issues all at once. Sort of. I was surprised that apart from issue #3 and #4, there was almost no mention of the other problems.


Restarting the iPad or disconnecting and reconnecting the keyboard helps. But I don't think anyone would be willing to do this 4-5 times on a daily basis.

iPad Pro 9.7-inch WiFi, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on May 10, 2016 12:43 PM

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15 replies
User profile for user: aysai
aysai
User level: Level 1
4 points

Jun 7, 2017 2:01 AM in response to cchia123

I have the same problem. When I connect it , it does not even respond and all of a sudden the screen starts to blink continously and the battery goes down very fast.. no one is able to help from the Apple store. Just the basic shut down-restart.... I dont know how to solve this.. just want to share, with no sokution offers. Sorry

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User profile for user: skullnbones
skullnbones
User level: Level 1
6 points

Jun 15, 2017 8:11 PM in response to Yashaswi M G

I worked out what was happenning. I am writing on the Apple Smart Keyboard now. A few minutes ago I was unable to use the apostrophe (but shift to " worked) or the whole \| button, including shift. I deactivated the Google keyboard (G Board) and now it works just fine. There must be a conflict between inputs between the smart keyboard and GBoard. I also had the issuse of the iPad not recognising that the keyboard was attached to the smart connector and the GBoard soft keyboard would come up. Onice I disabled GBoard, '" and \| work okay. I will see if the same thing happens with SwiftKey.

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User profile for user: strick33702
strick33702
User level: Level 1
4 points

Jul 26, 2017 1:10 PM in response to aysai

I have had this same problem as everyone else on this blog and constantly have to disconnect and reconnect the keyboard to make it work which is so annoying. I also have the issue where the screen starts blinking while the unit is in sleep mode in my bag and it gets extremely hot and kills the battery. APPLE YOU NEED TO admit that this is a problem. I called support and they acted like they have never had a call about this.

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User profile for user: cchia123
cchia123
User level: Level 1
9 points

May 29, 2016 10:13 PM in response to Yashaswi M G

i Have similar issue with the Smart Keyboard 9.7, or maybe even worse. It started when my Smart Keyboard suddenly become unresponsive to my iPad Pro. I tried to restore my iPad Pro to factory setting and it only allows me to use my smart keyboard for few minutes before it suddenly become unresponsive again. Rebooting the iPad only helps temporaily as the keyboard become unresponsives again after a few minutes.


I tried to bring it to an apple store to get it check it out, but it isn't helpful. What the apple guy did is just restarting my iPad and try it out on the spot and it works. Only when I bring it back home, it stopped working Again. The constant failing of the Smart Keyboard and the need to reboot my iPad countless time make it frustrating and it is the worse experience I had with an apple product.


to those who is thinking of buying a Smart Keyboard or buying iPad Pro because of the smart keyboard, my advice to you is to DONT BUY IT. Believe me you will regret it.

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User profile for user: Yashaswi M G
Yashaswi M G Author
User level: Level 1
68 points

May 31, 2016 8:04 AM in response to cchia123

Update + response to cchia123

Hello cchia123. Thanks for replying. Good to know I'm not the only one.


Yes. It is quite frustrating. One, this keyboard is expensive. Two, it's Apple. I always have heard that you don't have to ever worry about exchanging any product you buy from Apple. The iPad Pro 9.7 and the Smart Keyboard (as well as the pencil) are the first set of Apple products I bought. And guess what? I had to exchange my Smart Keyboard.


Using the smart keyboard has been a not-so-good experience so far. A couple of days after I replied to MrJandro, I had an appointment at the Genius Bar. I thankfully had recorded videos of my keyboard acting all conk, and as expected, the keyboard was working just fine at the genius bar. Given the fact that my appointment at the genius bar was within 14 days of the product purchase, they suggested I exchange the keyboard (Exchange a new keyboard for a new keyboard 😝). They had no clue as to what the causes for such issues with the keyboard were (they watched the videos I had recorded).


Since then, I have not used it as often as I did earlier, because I bought the Apple Pencil which helped me substitute a good amount of work that I used to do with the keyboard. But I do use the keyboard for about 2 hours everyday. And yes, the problems persist.


This is certainly not a product for individuals who can't do their work without a well-fuctioning keyboard. I mean, it feels awesome, and when it works flawlessly, it seems like an absolutely insane product. It takes time to get used to (Smaller keyboard, as well as lesser 'spring' action for your fingers to bounce around), but it is fantastic eventually. But. Only when it works.


I will write to Apple about these issues. I also will write a review on their website. I hope others who face similar problems will do the same.

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User profile for user: cchia123
cchia123
User level: Level 1
9 points

Jun 1, 2016 12:31 AM in response to Yashaswi M G

Hi Yashaswi M G,


Yes it is frustrating as it always failed during crucial period. Imagine having your iPad and keyboard ready in a meeting only to have it failed when you need it the most. For me, smart keyboard is totally a waste of money.. I would probably do what you did, records the thing in video and show it to them at Apple Store. I hope i could get a refund and maybe get a bluetooth type keyboard, or maybe just dump the whole iPad pro and switch to window surface.


Today the whole day i couldn't get my smart keyboard to work.. Countless time i restarted my iPad, it is still not responding.

I have given up on my apple keyboard, and will definitely going to make a scene on my next trip to the apple store. APPLE IF YOU ARE READING THIS, I WANT MY MONEY BACK AND YOU CAN HAVE YOUR JUNK KEYBOARD BACK!!!

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User profile for user: xcitedigital
xcitedigital
User level: Level 1
4 points

Jun 24, 2016 4:04 AM in response to Yashaswi M G

I have updated the iOS to 9.3.2 and the problems still exist. It seems that the keywords functions change depending on the App, and can't always work out what its meant to be doing as it integrates the keyword board functions, with the onscreen functions, and the desktop functions.


Its a pretty big challenge to converge the universe like this, so I understand, and love the capability of the keyboard after using it for over 6 months daily.


The biggest challenge so far is editing spreadsheets using Google Sheets, normally you can use the arrow keys and auto select fields to edit, but sometimes this works, sometimes you need to use your finger. This extra arm work makes my blood flow a little more in the day so it's pretty positive all round.

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Issues with the Smart Keyboard (iPad Pro 9.7)

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