iPad Pro Keyboard "This accessory is not supported by this device"

I have the same problem, and have had...didn’t last long at all before it started. My husband got it through his work rewards program, or I most certainly would have returned it. I guess I’m just another one of those 3000 or so who reported on this blog alone, yet too few of us to fix the problem??? What is the magic number? So disappointing as I really wanted to go with apple products that used to be known for stability. I’m having the issue daily...mostly multiple times. I’m texting this vs. typing. 😟 I have cleaned the contacts, wiggled the iPad to seat it better, and only thing that helps is completely rebooting...and gotta tell you it’s a pain when you are in the middle of something. I’m probably going to have to find an off-brand Bluetooth keyboard before I go any crazier.

Nice! I don't think they will replace mine...but who knows, it's a definite no if I don't! 🙂 I found an old jet tech blue tooth keyboard that I had before this issue and may go with that, if they don't. Just wanted to keep the weight down with this bigger iPad. But it is almost useless now, so if you all are under warranty, get it replaced while you can, as it only gets worse! Thank you for the reply!

Thanks ILLUMEJAMES! My Smart Keyboard went on strike 2-3 days ago with the accessory not supported message but I still somehow managed to get it going with iPad restarts or reconnecting the keyboard with the iPad. From yesterday, the keyboard became completely useless. I reset to factory settings, cleaned the connectors, rebooted the iPad hundred times... Just now when I found a magnet to try the magnet magic, I saw your post and did the home and power button hard reset before trying the magnet, and IT WORKED! Thanks a lot!

Since two months, I have issue about “This accessory is not supported by this device” from using the Smart Keyboard on iPad Pro 12.9 inches. It has multiples warning, sometimes more than 10 times consecutively. Should I reclaim the new keyboard from Apple ? My keyboard is still within the waranty time preriod.

I would take it back if under warranty. Problem only gets worse...mine is almost unusable. I’ve cleaned, wiggled contacts, etc. but the only thing that sometimes works is to restart it (holding home and power buttons)...but having to do that multiple times a day now. Even though I’ve only had it for just over a year, my warranty was out...but I didn’t buy it from Apple. And they wouldn’t exchange it.

I had this problem too and it was driving me crazy. Then I read iPodge’s advice about re-magnetizing the connectors between the iPad and the keyboard. So I got a simple fridge magnet - the soft rubbery kind - and rubbed it against the iPad connectors and the keyboard connectors. I was amazed, it worked and now I don’t have any more problems. No need to go find some sophisticated magnet - it seems any old magnet will do. It’s a bizarre fix but seems to work. Thanks iPodge.

So after trying the magnet magic for the first time successfully, the magic is gone and the keyboard is literally dead. Lost the receipt, so my chances of getting the keyboard replaced is closed to zero :-(. Do I need any special magnet?

You need to rub a magnet on the top of the keyboard where the guttering is present.

This will activate the magnetivity of the guttering.

Moreover, the keyboard needs to be placed on a flat or plain platform so that the gutttering can stay in position.

Then disassemble the keyboard and assemble it again and see if it works

Good comments. I looked at the gutter above the 1 an 2 on the keyboard and found some debris. Thus, I removed the debris and now it works fine. Even a small distance cecreased the magnetic field greatly. I will remagnetize it if necessary, but for now it is fine.

My iPad Pro 10.5 showed all the above symptoms and after 17 months totally failed. I am convinced it is a hardware problem. At a service agent he could not get it to work on a new iPad.

Purchased a new keyboard and it worked instantly. I have a photo of the old keyboard taken near the 3 connectors and it shows definite signs of a ribbon connector and a bubbling of the plastic. New keyboard has no such signs. Looks like the ribbon connector has failed.

I am convinced wear from opening and shutting the cover has caused this, so I have bought a non keyboard cover to use when I don’t need the keyboard.

I see that Apple has extended the warranty to 3 years for 9.7 and 12 inch keyboards. When I rang Apple service they would not do the same for my 10.5. I think that’s really poor as I believe it’s the same fault.

Well, I didn't use a magnet, but take care to put the keyboard first between de 1, 2 keys, and then the rest... et voila! the screen keyboard disappeared... and the keyboard start to work again after a couple of reboots and attach and detach... Thanks for the tip... I hope this allows me to use it without a problem...

Have been having this problem with the 12" smart keyboard for about six months, at first intermittently, then lately, totally unresponsive. Wasn't even getting the "doesn't support the device" message. Called Apple. The rep was quite nice, and offered to replace it. But the serial number is mostly unreadable. So that ended that conversation. I also have the 9.7" and tried that on my 12.5" Pro, and it worked. So I tried the 12" keyboard on the 9.7" Pro, and it worked! Yes, both keyboards worked on both machines, regardless of size. So that eliminated an iPad software problem. But the next day, the 12" keyboard was unresponsive again. I tried the switching again, and it worked while switched, but not when I put it back on the right iPad. So, I tried your magnet idea, and it appears to have worked...at least for tonight. When I let the keyboard snap into the gutter for use, the iPad recognized it immediately. I have a few hooks with magnetic base for hanging things under my metal overhead file cabinets. Don't know what brand of magnet. But they're fairly strong little things. They looked a bit like the neodymium magnet you have...just with hooks on them. First few rubs above the 1 & 2 keys did nothing. It took a minute or so of just passing/rubbing the magnet over the entire gutter strip, and recognition finally did jump start the thing again. Turned the iPad off and restarted with the keyboard in place, and it recognized it on boot up so I could I type in the passcode with the keyboard. So it's cool. For now. I'll know tomorrow if the repair sticks. Thanks for the tip. Excellent troubleshooting.

Hi there, my 11 year old son has had this same problem as well... Upon him telling me that his keyboard for his iPad Pro 12.9" wasn't working, I suggested him to restart the iPad, update the software, yet none of it worked. We decided to go to our nearest Apple store at the Tysons Corner Mall in Maryland to see if they could do anything about it. Mind you, we had not bought any insurance on this product. We came there and in no time found out that many people (like the other 3552 people on this website) has the same problems. The worker was very helpful and checked the serial number for the iPad keyboard and said that it could be replaced free of charge! They had none in stock at the time, but said they would call/email the given contact info to schedule a time to pick up the keyboard. All in all, the easiest solution to the problem was to head over to the nearest Apple store and get it replaced, free of charge. Really helpful staff, really surprised by the outcome, the great reason why me and my family are all Apple customers.

Hi Everyone. This is one of the best threads I have read through. I have the 12.5” and 9.7” Pro models. I purchase the keyboard for both. The 12.5” was purchased when it came out. And used extensively until the 9.7 came out. At that time I purchased that model and keyboard. About 1 year into the use, it started having the same problem everyone here has been facing. It would connect 4 out of 5 times and progressively got worse. Last month it got to a point where it wouldn’t even function as a cover. Meaning I couldn’t even use the iPad with out this error message. That’s when I found this discussion. Here is what I learned:

1) There seems to be a weak connectivity issues in the keyboard. Hence people using the Magnet between the 1 & 2 keys.

2) Software update to 11 has made it worse. Not sure what the change is, but it seems to push the error message.

3) Apple has admitted to the failure and extended to a 3 YEAR warranty.

I believe the release was in Feb 2016. So, anyone with this problem has ample time to get it replaced at any Apple store. I went this morning and had mine replaced with a new one. Purchased in May 2016 and they still helped me out. Don’t wait like I did. Go to Apple and they will replace it no questions asked. Good luck to everyone.

Yep. Apple agreed to exchange it, no problem. However, I couldn’t read the serial number, which you’ll need. So, I got a case number from the phone support folks, then took it into the store. They told me that the felt makes the S/N very difficult to read, in addition to the teeny tiny type. But the folks at the store just put scotch tape over it, and then could read it just fine. The bad news is that the store said they didn’t have it in stock, so I’m waiting two days now for the exchange to come in. They said it could take weeks. Guess it’s because of the sudden demand. But since I’ve already had this problem for many months on and off, I can handle the wait. For anyone interested, if you’ve got another apple Smart Keyboard as I do, just a different size, either size keyboard works on either size iPad Pro. Most of the time. I think.