iPad Pro Smart Keyboard not working

Disconnecting the keyboard and restarting the iPad is a very hit or miss solution. Some days It's like the pencil, I just can't get it to work no matter how many times I try disconnecting & restarting the iPad?

Hoping for a solution "Real Soon"!

I've been using Apple products for 15 plus years. This is probably the most frustrating issue I've ever encountered with an Apple product. I got it replaced once under warranty. The issue started again recently. I went in to buy a new keyboard and an Apple Genius assured me it was covered by an REA. I went round and round with Apple support for hours over a few different chats. Each one stonewalling me. This after both Apple Store Genius and friends who work at Apple assuring me there was a repair extension. Complete waste of my time. The keyboard is absolutely garbage compared to normal Apple standards. But when it works it's my favorite browsing device. I've resigned myself to purchasing a new keyboard once a year as long as I want to continue using the iPad Pro.

I have a first-gen iPad Pro with the smart keyboard, and I went from *zero* keyboard connection problems to literally having to try six to a dozen times or so to get the keyboard and iPad to talk to each other literally overnight after installing iOS 12 a few months back.

I've been patient, assuming it was just a small bug that was introduced along with the several colonies of bugs introduced with iOS 12, but every dot release that comes out just seems to make the keyboard less reliable.

I used to travel with my iPad for convenience, giving presentations or taking notes, generally -- but after once or twice looking like a maniac disconnecting and reconnecting my iPad from its keyboard a dozen times in front of a room full of tech folks who just absolutely drool over every little thing Apple doesn't do perfectly ...

I've lost my train of thought, but all of that to say this: three years and 26 pages of this problem, and still no solution? Has Apple even acknowledged there is a problem here, or should I take some GENIUS advice and restore from backup and try again, like my iPad is running Windows 95 or something -- it's really quite pathetic and a frillion percent NOT PROFESSIONAL.

-Sent from my iPad Amateur

lol yeah OK, the NDA. iOS stability has taken a nosedive, three years and 27 pages of complaints about this ridiculous problem, but omg, better not mention I’m using beta software. This problem existed before I jumped on the beta, and it’s persisting after I’ve jumped off.

I don’t care about the NDA, I care about a functional, professional product that Apple stands behind, which they don’t.

I did a factory reset of the iPad, updated to 12.2 (don’t snitch, it’s not beta), and the problem persists.

It’s worse with the official 12.2 release — I have to disconnect / reconnect the keyboard an average of six times for it to be recognized by the iPad.

If anybody wants to buy an iPad, mine will be on Swappa soon. Bye, Felicia.

I also have IPad Pro 10 keyboard that I purchased 2 years ago and it’s not responding. Upon investigation I was told that I need to purchase a new one. This is not acceptable. I switched to apple 9 years ago and this product is really testing me if I should trust other apple products although my other apple devices have fared well

I too feel very disenfranchised! I’ve been a loyal apple prod user —iPhone, iPad, iPad Pro, Smart Keyboard, Apple Watch, Nano, iPod — and after learning that they broke the $1 trillion dollar valuation and their products are less and less reliable, material quality included and their only solution is to spend more money to replace product. Not cool Apple, not cool!!!

I had the same problem and now after the latest OS 12 ver it doesn’t work at all. This iPad is not that old for replacement. I am very disappointed in Apple. You had complaints all this time and didn’t do a thing. I doubt buying a new keypad will fix anything. We need a fix now.

Thank you.

So i have tried these steps and I’m still having issues on and off. The thing is I’m on iOS 12.2 and have been having this issue for a while now. I use this keyboard a lot i have two iPad Pro models both of them are the larger screen sized iPad, i switch between the two . At first i thought it was because i was swapping back and forth but realized not long after i stopped swapping back and forth that it was just an issue with the keyboard working in general. It’s annoying and for what you pay for these things it shouldn’t be malfunctioning.. I’ve only had the keyboard for about a year maybe two.. it’s annoying to have to reboot your device because an accessory isn’t playing nice, the whole reason i started using  products was because they just work., except for when they don’t. I’m wondering if because i use it on my lap, on a flat table sometimes on a pile of books or a little stand that is smaller than the base of the keyboard if that kind of usage has warped something and that’s why it’s intermittently being an issue or if its a software bug.. the biggest issue is that this is my favorite keyboard to use, i like it better than any other keyboard out there i just wish it would work lol.

Judging by the dates of postings, this is an ongoing problem. I've tried all suggestions listed, including magnetizing the switch above the number 2 and 3 keys. Using the magnet works on a temporary basis. But the recurrence rate is increasing.

My iPad is about 2 years old.

I'm not expecting much of a reply as it seems all possibilities have been covered. I'm not going to purchase another keyboard, this was expensive enough. So this post is just to support those who have already written. Apple need to sit up and take notice. Someone suggested a re-call? I doubt that will happen not after all this time. But we can live in hope.

My iPad Pro 9.7 Smart Keyboard is becoming less and less responsive. I am frequently having to restart programmes or indeed the ipad to get it to work. The iPad as a whole is becoming more and more buggy with he latest iOS updates- mail and safari freezing and web pages becoming non responsive.

Not something I expect from a piece of equipment I absolutely loved and had virtually replaced using my laptop at home - however due to these issues Ive been going back to my 2015 laptop!

Here we are near the end of July 2019 and I am sure there are many more people than on the 28 page epistle wondering what to do! My keyboard worked faultlessly until just over 2 years and was told by JB , “sorry, warranty time’s up!”

Went to Brisbane from Tassie (Australia) for a few weeks and did some MacPro classes at an Apple store , after querying the keyboard problem, was told by an experienced (7years) staff member that it was a known problem and to ring APPLE support as we don’t have genius bars in our state. Finally girded my loins and rang today.

There might be light at the end of the tunnel as tomorrow I take it into our Mac shop who are authorised repair agents to take a look at the keyboard for repair/replacement.

It’s like typing in two languages being switched between 2 keyboards.

Their hold music on the phone is enough to make you want to roll over and keep the thing!

3 weeks on..... nothing other than the “circle game”. Approved repair agent can expedite the matter as they can’t read the model number on the fleet base, Apple won’t authorise and repairs as they don’t have the number. Apple ring my Mac shop who tell them they are accelerating the matter,, Apple ring me to tell me it’s been accelerated! Quite funny if there wasn’t so much at stake- money and my pride!!

i now don”t have a magnetic cover for my expensive IPad Pro, my screen is getting grubby quickly, it goes flat because it doesn’t Shut down, I have to prop it up on my knee and I’m getting grumpy.

if anyone is reading this, make sure you write down the serial number because it will wear out!

Thanks for the advice, sadly I hav been told today that Apple can no longer help me”because the serial number can not be supplied”, sighhhhh! So many week’s of being duck shoved by Apple and my local authorised repair shop!

i will go and collect the non working keyboard so I have a cover and stand to use. I certainly won’t be buying mother (in)Smart Keyboard!

Sooo. I have tried to get my keyboard replaced under the Apple programme. They are refusing as the keyboard has delaminated slightly on the side. They claim it is a tear and not normal wear and tear! It has split where plastic meets the felt part. I was disgruntled that it was ANOTHER failure on Apples part! At the shop they even told me what good condition the keyboard was in!

I have escalated this to customer services who have fobbed me off and are now ignoring all my further emails...!

Updated to iOS 12.4 and the problem continues to occur

I also noticed that the problem started since an update to ?iOS10

There are solutions proposed by third parties on the web that suggest it is a magnet problem but this does not seem to be the case - it was working perfectly for years and then one day it just wasn’t

The expense of the smart keyboard and the irritation it causes (physically disconnecting and re-connecting very often) really must be attended to by Apple - hopefully very soon??