iPad Pro Smart Keyboard not working

my problem was a wifi problem. it works at home fine, but doesn’t work with a certain public wifi location. as soon as i go to airplane mode, the keyboard starts working again. for my problem, i never got an error message indicating that my keyboard is unrecognizable.

I called tech support and they told me to post on the forums. I think they are tired of people calling about it and not having any answer for why it is happening. I’m not sure how Apple can hope to compete with laptops and other tablets if they cannot even get the keyboard working consistently. Based on the comments lists it looks like a lot of people who ordinarily do not take the time to post on these boards are signing up and taking the time to comment out of frustration.

The first time my smart keyboard stopped working I was on the phone with Apple support. I restarted my iPad Pro and the keyboard started working again. But now, I'm in Skype and even after restarting, it still doesn't work. So, i disconnected the keyboard, restarted again, plugged in the Apple pen again because it loses bluetooth when you restart, and the keyboard still doesn't work. Apple has created a monster with this smart keyboard.

Apple isn’t publicizing this, but they know there’s a problem with the Smart Keyboard. They have a “quality program” for that product and replaced mine even out of warranty. Make an appointment at the Genius Bar.

I don’t get any error messages, but almost everyday the keyboard stops working. The only way to fix is to restart iPad — pretty annoying. I bought the keyboard in Canada and am now travelling abroad — not sure where I can go in Indonesia to have it replaced or serviced??

That's what I'm thinking, too. Mine has only worked once or twice, and now nothing I can do gets it to connect. I guess it's time to make an appointment at the Apple store, though perhaps Costco will also exchange it.

I have purchased 3 different iPad Pro Apple keyboards and all 3 fail intermittently. I am very frustrated and will probably have to move back to the "laptop world". My issue is always centered around public wifi. Once I get on wifi the keyboard starts to blink out and I have to reboot.

This issue is, I strongly believe, software or firmware related — prolly software.

As of Dec 2017, I have a replacement iPad AND Smart Keyboard from a device purchased in late Sept suffering the same problems.

I noticed a distinct correlation — possible causation? — between using the charging port to charge, connect the Apple pencil, or attach any other accessory, such as airpods.

There were, equally, reports of Logitech’s Create Case/Keyboard similarly failing.

I strongly believe that a software loop designed to periodically detect attached accessories (including simply plugging the iPad in to charge it) is failing.

Were I Apple, that’s where I’d look.

Very disappointing performance, Apple.

Hi,

the same probleme. I went in an Apple store and they said me that i was the first person with this problem. While i was explaining my problem other persons in the Apple store said that they have the same problem and i know that there are many friends and collegues which cannot work for these reason.

The Apple store didn't change my Keyboard and for me is unbeliveable that for a 179,00 € hardware purchased for work reason there is not a solution.

Hi, ask the store to double check. Your keyboard might be like mine, part of a large production batch with faults. Apple knows about it but didn’t recall as not all keyboards in those batch have issues. They’ll replace it for free. However, if it’s not, then I’m not sure what they’ll do. Try the online support (chat), and they might be able to help.

This is not a bad batch issue. I have owned multiple keyboards from Apple (all brand new from different stores or web sites), all built for the iPad Pro and they all have this issue. It is always failing near or at the time I use wireless on my LTE enabled device. I have officially stopped trying to use the keyboards. I now use the lame software keyboard built into the iPad.

I had this fault too.

It is a hardware fault with the keyboard connection. Over time the strip that connects the pins and the keyboard stretches, thus causing an intermittent short between the pins and the keyboard itself.

I have a new keyboard now, so will see how that goes. My old one lasted about 14 months.

The “incline tip” appears to be working. I.e press down on the front of the keyboard slightly. Then the keyboard gets activated.

@apple - should that be the use case for this accessory? It’s almost like ”miss connection“ between the keyboard and the iPad Pro 😟

I took my iPad Pro and my smart keyboard to an Apple store yesterday. They could not get the keyboard to connect. They gave me a new keyboard. They could not get it to connect either. So, they have ordered a new iPad for me; they did not have my model in stock. We'll see whether a new keyboard and a new iPad solve the problem when I get the new one next week. It seems odd to suspect the connectors since this is a magnetic connection (like the MacBook Pro's power cord) which snaps into place, but we shall see.

Try getting Apple to take interest in you live outside the states.

They basically told me to go **** myself here in NZ even though the problem was happening before my warranty ended. They said, tough, you're outa warranty, you want us to look at it? It'll cost you $100 just for an inspection and we'll need your iPad for three days. If it's a repair job we'll just bill you want it takes.

"Gee, thanks, but it's my work iPad so it' hard to go without for three days and I've had this issue for nearly 6mths interimitently and..."

'Tough nouggies - get in line and pay up' was their response.