iPad Pro Smart Keyboard not working

I have found that if i clean the contacts, my keyboard starts working. So it might just be dirty.

I have also been struggling with this problem for some time, it’s very frustrating!

However, I watched a YouTube video tonight which seems to have come up with a simple solution that has sorted it for me.

Even when the keyboard isn’t working the “Command” button seems to still work. Press it a couple of times then use “Command + Tab” to cycle through the open Apps and, low and behold, it works.

This is the first time for months that my keyboard has worked ... don’t know how long that will last though!

Give it a try and report back and let us all know if it works as well for you as it seems to have for me.

I bought a new keyboard, worked with the new keyboard perfectly then I tested it by switching to the old keyboard which was intermittent and it didn’t work. Concluded it must therefore be a hardware failure and a design fault with something probably in the hinge between the magnetic strip and the joint holding the rest of the cover. I’ve cut the old keyboard open to try to figure out if it’s a case of a wiring fatigue but there doesn’t seem to be a solid connection to investigate. Apple should be fixing this and issuing a product recall because at £169 it should live up to Apple’s usual standards. From reading everyone else’s issues this ought to be resolved by Apple sooner rather than later.

I have found that when this happens and i connect it and put it into TYPE position, I have to then tilt the iPad forward a bit if it doesn’t connect. That seems to have fixed my problem with the non-connection!

Hi bob burns, to fix your issue you will need to disconnect your smart keyboard, restart your iPad Pro, when you turn your iPad Pro back on and reconnect your keyboard it should be working again, hope this was helpful and that you got your issue sorted 👍

Mine was replaced for free by post after I phoned Apple Support last year. Getting the serial number was an issue until I looked in the box, and there is was, printed in black ink on white. My wife no longer calls me silly for keeping the boxes for my tech in the attic, so that's one less thing.

So this was very frustrating for me too and I tried it all. First there was intermittent error messages that the accessory wasn’t supported and then it came up all the time and even several messages one after another and nothing worked. I had an inkling that maybe Bluetooth may somehow be interfering so I turned it off and tried an voila the keyboard worked. Then I turned on Bluetooth again and it still works. I’m typing this on the keyboard. Hope this works for anyone else having the issue! Yay on my end!!

I had the same issue and then toggled Bluetooth and turned off the ipad. It worked for a bit and then it wasn’t being recognized again. Now it’s working again. Only difference is that I’m turning off the iPad Pro at night where I used to leave it in sleep mode all the time when not using it. Since I started doing that, it hasn’t disconnected and always recognized. Worth a try...

If you’ve had your iPad and keyboard for a while (a year or more) you might try cleaning the contacts. Rub the contacts lightly with a dry pencil eraser, then reconnect the keyboard to the iPad.

At this stage, if you can't get it replaced for a new one, you will have to buy it.

I think they did a silent redesign for the Original Smart Keyboard. If you can give them an accurate serial number on your keyboard at the Mac Store they might give you a replacement.

Search the thread for instructions on how to get the cleanest image of your serial number since it's now down hard to read due to usage on flat surfaces. I noticed that they made a huge effort to make the serial number on the new keyboards very dark and much easier to read.

In a nutshell use your iPhone Video feature , shoot in 4K with the flash on, and you should be able to get the clearest image the serial. The still photos just don't cut it.

Good luck!

MJW

Disconnecting other keyboards and cleaning contacts will not cure the main cause which is broken tracks in the cover.

HERE is the only fix that fixes it: A youtube video: https://youtu.be/buNYHzMZJdk

I gave up on the Apple keyboard. I purchased a Brydge keyboard instead, selecting the right model for my iPad Pro 10.5". It connects via Bluetooth and has a rechargeable battery. It's a little bother to recharge every now and then, but so far I've used it for a couple of weeks without recharging. The connectivity works very well. The keyboard is also optionally backlit, which I love.

moogie007 you have been mislead. There is no update to solve this problem. It is a hardware design failure. You need a new cover. Apple is not gracing up to their issues. They must have sold thousands of these things.

My first Smart Keyboard failed completely. Took it to an Apple store and they replaced it. I did have AppleCare.

There is clearly a software issue with is10 and the keyboard working. Too many people with the same complaint. The only option being turning off and on, disconnecting and reconnecting. I expect better from apple products than having to reboot every few hours to accommodate a technical issue. I also dislike being made to feel that my care of the keyboard or ipad is at fault, when it is not. Apple - what are you doing about this?