iPad Pro Smart Keyboard not working

Me too using my iPad Pro + Smart Keyboard for work. It’s extremely annoying that after upgrading to iOS11, my Smart Keyboard just keeps going haywire—it’s connected to the iPad but I just can’t use it to type. I have to keep repeating this stupid step almost once every 15 minutes—lock and unlock the iPad screen in order for the Smart Keyboard to work. Apple! Please take a serious note of it and fix it ASAP.

My Smart Keyboard also had the intermittent problem of warning messages saying it was an unsupported device, although apart from the annoying messages it did actually work.

I was was really pleased initially when with installing os11, the messages stopped - but - now the keyboard is not detected at all.

Any ‘fixes’ I have seen, seem to be about replacing the keyboard, but it seems more like a software issue. Anyone help?

As someone who hates to reboot the iPad when the Smart Keyboard stops working, I found the following steps to work for me:

1.) From your home screen, swipe to the right to get the search bar at the top.

2.) Tap into the search bar and see if typing with the keyboard works. If it does, you can now type in Safari and other apps now.

3.) If that still didn’t work for you, then I’m afraid a reboot is necessary.

Regards,

Daric

I have a 12” iPad Pro that I purchased a weeks ago. After about a week I started having the same issue. I went to the Apple store where they replaced the keyboard today. Now I have to return because the keyboard is not responding regardless what I try.

I was hoping iOS 11 would resolve the issue, but it seems to have only exacerbated it. When I can get the keyboard to work, it never lasts long. What’s funny is that I have an iPad Pro 10” too and have been using the Smart Keyboard from that device on the 12” device.

hopefullu Apple will resolve this issue as these keyboards are not cheap.

I spoke to Apple tech support this morning (use the chat facility, much better than phone)... Seems iOS 11.0.1 should fix this. Upgraded to 11.0.1 this morning and keyboard working fine, for now. I’ll update later today if it stays that way!

Also just check the three little brass pop up connectors on your keypad. I found one of mine was sticking. They are sprung so they keep good contact with the iPad so if it sticks it means the iPad gets the wrong signal and can not identify the keyboard as a supported device and comes up with the message “This accessory is not supported on this device”. Give them a clean with Microfibre cloth.

Good news / bad news... The keyboard only disconnected once since the update and that may be down to my sticky connector... Give the rev-up to 11.0.1 a go

Oh and I‘ve sent the CEO of Apple an inmail on LinkedIn to see if he can help get some traction on this issue!

When I first upgraded to 11.0.1 the keyboard didn’t work. I tried disconnecting and reconnecting the keyboard to no avail. Based on a comment that JC_DJ made, I decided to manually depress each of the pins a few times. After that the keyboard started working and I’m using it right now to type this response. If things change I will update the thread, but for now, it’s working.

iOS 11.0.1, Just had it fail again randomly while switching apps. The left swipe and type in the search box worked. I tried disconnecting and re-connecting and that did not. I have 2 Pros both with keyboards and it happens on both so i doubt its the pogo pins. It does seem to be software as if you do end up not being able to type in apps, then you can in the seach bar, then it works again, how can that be hardware.

Apple needs to correct this ASAP....it works once, then not. Stand on your head, look to the left, they it might work. It’s not hardware bad use i have the same issue in using my old keyboard and a brand new one rigot outta the box. Maybe time for a Surface Pro !!!

Just happend again just switching apps. Seach bar did not work either but hitting the power button and reauthenticating did work. I reported this as a bug in every public beta of iOS 11 (even though it was there in iOS 10 too). Not sure what else we can do if its always been there and its only going to be addressed if fixed by accident.

This is crazy. I just purchased an iPad Pro and Smart Keyboard to replace my laptop for short business trips Two days ago. Over $1,500 dollars. The keyboard was working sporadically the first night - but mostly not. I went to the apple store the next day and they replaced both the iPad and keyboard. It’s still not working. This is not right - there are 100,000 views on this thread with over 2,000 people logging in to say they have this problem too.

Why is this being ignored? I look ridiculous typing on the screen with a full keyboard right in front of me. What number do I call to talk to an actual person who can acknowledge this problem and get it fixed?

What drives me absolutely nuts is that I purchased the iPad - spent an entire evening setting it up from scratch - email accounts, clouds storage services, apps, etc. I take it back the next day to get replaced - the “genius” believes it is a hardware issue - doesn’t solve it - and replaces everything. I set everything up again and find out that this is a MAJOR issue for thousands of people.

There is a software bug that disconnects the keyboard. At a minimum put the Smart Keyboard in the Setting app so we can actually see that it is there.

I’ve had Apple products since 1988 - I can’t believe they would let such a bug exist in a Pro Product for so long. Don’t get me wrong - I’ve had tonnes of issues with all sorts of things in the past. I acutally emailed Steve Jobs a 5-page email when the initial .mac services were release and let him know all the issues - it was a buggy mess that was not ready for prime time. I couldn’t sync basic appointments from my calendar. I actually got a call from an Apple staff member the next day referening the email to Steve and worked to connect me with the development team to discuss the issues. I think Steve was embarrassed and tore a strip out of someone. Colour me impressed.

But with the iPad Pro being a “replacement” for a laptop and not having one of the prime interface devices not working - an interface device that I paid $200 for - is just ludicrous. I’m going to go to with Windows Store this weekend and have a look at the surface. I don’t want to leave the iOS world - but for the love of all that is holy how can you release a product that requires me to constant reboot to use the keyboard???

In the last 24 hours there have been about 200 active threads in the iPad forum. Most threads have less than 100 views. There are very few threads that have over 1,000 views. There are only two threads that have 100,000+ views. This is one of them. I don’t understand why this is ignored. Why is it important to have a poo emoji that can talk as opposed to create a working keyboard? How does one get Apple’s attention on this matter? If was a millionaire I would create a billboard as close to the Apple Campus as possible that contains the text “Why is my iPad Pro keyboard so flakey?*”

* - Typed on the on-screen keyboard because the Smart Keyboard is not working at the moment!

Going to look at Surface today, since after 6 weeks and thousands of posts, Apple seems to give a #@$%&. While i know they won’t care if lose one customer, I would hope losing a few thousand might land on someone’s desk! Good luck all! Look like your going to need it