iPad Pro Smart Keyboard not working

Exactly the same message. The keyboard ended up not working at all. Went to my local Apple Store and had the worst customer service experience ever! Apparently it was all my fault! Apple product with an apple product and they didn't want to know. Didn't even bat an eyelid when I said this was enough for me not to buy anymore apple products. Clearly they have gotten too big that they can now afford to ignore their customers. Moving to surface pro as I know that works with its keyboard!

Mt67,

I really hope you don't go Surface. A keyboard isn't worth all that. If you had a bad experience, I'd go to someone above and explain that to them, your problem, your experience with that employee. They will fix it. Or I would take it to another Apple Store. I've had better experiences at the larger ones than the smaller ones, since they do the most business they are all about customer service. Shouldn't be that way, but I've noticed that.

As for this keyboard, I do love it! But, I'm convinced there is a design flaw with this keyboard. I am on my third one now. I think (theory) the flexible ribbon that marries the keyboard to the contacts and the cover just ends up breaking over time after the constant bending back and forth.

Apple has to know this is going on since this is for one of their premiere products. I recommend going to the online service specialist first, and let them know what is going on with your keyboard, then once this is documented and then you return to the Apple Store, they will see that you tried to get this resolved and will not be able to refute your issue. They will have to fix this for you, depending on the length of time you've had the keyboard and how well you take care of it, which I'm guessing is very well. What they did with mine is test it on their display iPads and could clearly see that the Smart Keyboard wasn't working.

Let them know how long you have had the keyboard, and then point out that you've researched the issue online and that this is a common issue on the Apple forums, because it is! Heck, I have even had an Apple Genius tell me that this happens a lot and they swapped me out a new one with out question!

This iPad Pro is a fine product and the keyboard is great! Not perfect but it's almost there. They need to get this keyboard issue resolved.

My experience, the smart keyboard works great new, over time, it has trouble connecting to the iPad, typing text fails intermittently, you get the error flag that your device is not supported, then it is only a matter of time before it fails completely.

Definitely take it to a manager if you get the same run around. All customers deserve great customer service no matter where you go. Apple Store or not.

Good luck, hope you don't jump ship to an even greater headache.

~ MJ

Hi ondaalta,

See my other posts on this.

It's the Smart Keyboard. Check in with Apple Support app to document the issue with their tech support. From that point they will most likely send you to the local Apple Store for them to take a look, which should result in the new Apple smart keyboard.

I've gone through three of these and I never abuse them. I think it's just the design. They will have to come out with a better one on the next go around.

The steps to reconnect the Smart Keyboard DO NOT WORK! There is a bug with the new IOS and Apple need to provide a patch or get something sorted soon.

It is unconceiveable that this KNOWN issues has continued for months with no support from Apple.

Please provide an update on the patch/fix for this ongoing issues or refung the money for the Smart Keyboard so I can purchase another brand that works!

Regards,

GDJ

I Have the same problem when will apple fix this. Not impressed I dont want to reset (shutdown) my IPad when I want to use the keyboard. Same with the battery chime and flicker sometimes when the keyboards connected.

In my case I believe that the problem is proper contact with the three pins on the smart keyboard.

On visual inspection it looks as if my middle pin is a bit lower than the outer two. After flicking it up with my finger nail I was able to get it to prop up a little higher.

I can get the keyboard to work much more consistently now.

However, I've noticed that I have to be a little more deliberate in seating the ipad into the keyboard. It sometimes takes more than one try to get the connection working.

I can now confirm that this is definitely a hardware problem.

I went to the Apple store. My Ipad pro had no problem with another smart keyboard in the store and, correspondingly, I could not get another Ipad Pro to work reliability with my keyboard.

Because I still had Applecare I received a replacement keyboard that is now 100% reliable. Nothing changed in software.

Best. ;-norm

Hi,

I bought my Ipad a few weeks after it was released for my birthday. I bought the keyboard with it but after two days it stopped working. After that, it has been on off on off (mostly off) but now it has stopped working altogether. I have tried everything and I went to the Apple store (to the person who sold me it) but they did not replace it because I did not have a receipt. I checked everywhere for it and all my email accounts but I do not have a receipt and it is very irritating and these things are not cheap to replace ( my warranty expired recently). Please Help

Tried 3 different keyboard/cases. Still have this issue.

I wish I'd known before I purchased the ipad pro.

Really disappointed that there is no solution. Tried using the disconnect, reconnnect/turn off trick without success.

Sadly, these solutions are not permanent. My has completely failed (less than a year old and in pristine condition).

Pretty disappointed with apple support. The only options were to take it into an Apple Store (nearest one for me is a 2 hr drive) or ship it in and wait a week+ for it to be returned. Productivity with the iPad pro is greatly reduced without the keyboard and when I asked for a replacement to be sent first... I was told, "sorry, we at unable to do that." Pretty sad for Apple not to help me in this situation. We had a dog collar break recently and the DOG COLLAR company responded more appropriately than APple did here. We pay up for these products and expect them to work. When they don't, you have to stand behind them without inconveniencing us!

Very frustrating. This is supposed to be a laptop replacement product... well not for the week+ that I don't have there keyboard!!!

Hopefully by now you have solved your issue with the Keyboard; however, if you haven't, a working way is to reset all your setting under general. You will have to reconnect your WiFi and things of that nature but you Keyboard should work again.

Hi BobBurns,

I have been experiencing very similar symptoms to those you have described as well as ones reported by other users. Basically, my keyboard sporadically stopped working mid sentence, or didn't even start working.

I contacted Apple Support and to cut a long story short was advised to Reset Network Connections and so far, my keyboard has been working correctly ever since. To reset network connections go to : Settings > General > Reset, naturally, this will mean having to enter wifi passwords again etc.

Good luck and hope this works for you.

Removing the "Emoji" keyboard in the keyboard settings and restarting the iPad seems to work.

Although turning on the "Emoji" keyboard seems to bring back the fault. This results in the iPad being unable to use the "Emoji" keyboard, even though this is an Apple software keyboard, Apple hardware keyboard, and Apple iPad PRO.

This issue is completely unacceptable, especially when the manufacturer advertises this product coupled with an overpriced keyboard is able to replace a laptop. I purchased this product for the purpose on replacing a laptop, which worked great until the public release of iOS10 (the beta version did work until the public release date).

WHY IS THIS ISSUE STILL IN EXISTENCE???

I find that the problem is with light oxidation of the contact. When this happens, I used to reboot with mixed results. Now I just detach the keyboard, wipe the three contact points on the iPad with a dry cloth firmly, and do the same with the pins on the keyboard (but carefully). This always solves the problem.

Hello, I've been having the same issues with my keypad, as well as my pencil, says the device isn't supported. It also said that once after reconnecting my keyboard. I don't know if it's good for it or not, but I didn't care at the time, as I was ready to throw the ipad and ALL, out the window!!! I wiped the connection on the iPad and the keyboard with an alcohol swab, its working just fine now. I did try all the other suggestions first, even the reset.

Hope this helps someone