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

Thanks iPodge.

Like others in this thread, I started to get this issue after about a year of use. It started out as an intermittent problem and I was able to resolve it by reattaching the keyboard, or rebooting the iPad. But recently, it simply stopped working.

So, frustration brought me here.

I tried your magnet trick (with a bit of trepidation - I have always been taught that computers and strong magnets don’t mix - but frustration trumps caution), which did not work the first time. I did not get the same behaviour you described where the onscreen keyboard disappeared. But it may have helped. I also took a close look at the three contact points on the bottom of the iPad itself and there was a bit of wear.

I polished these points up with a lint free car cloth and it seems to have done the trick for me. If could be both steps that helped.

I know you first reported this problem a year ago, but just thought I would mention my experience.

This message started popping up on my ipad when my Smart Keyboard was about 18 months old. I got both the iPad Pro and the Smart Keyboard when they first came out.

I tried all the workarounds and finally went to the Genius Bar. Maybe because I buy so much Apple equipment, they replaced my Smart Keyboard. They didn’t do any troubleshooting, they just said based on the serial number, it was likely a known problem. The new one worked fine until iOS 11.02. Now both my and my husband’s Smart keyboards keep losing their connectivity (typing on the keyboard does nothing) which I assume must be a software problem with iOS. Am going to make a support call about this...

I suffered the same issue with my iPad Pro Smart Keyboard: “Error message: This accessory is not supported by this device”. What worked for me was connecting the iPad to the keyboard flap, but not snapping the flap into the gutter at the top of the keyboard. Then I cleaned out the gutter using a soft cloth. Hey presto, everything worked!

I had this happen tto me his morning on my ipad pro. I resolved it by backing up my ipad to itunes. I then dowloaded 11.1.1 and restored my ipad from my Mac Pro. Now my keyboard works on my ipad keyboard case again. Not sure if it was a bug in the last update of iOS, but I am glad it works again. Paid too much for it not to. Hope this is helpful.

Hi tass and others,

Besides replacing the keyboard or having to deal with the glitches, be sure to update to 11.2

This has fixed an array of issues including keyboard.

Try that - update wired via itunes preferably

Force restart

Connect

Should resolve

If not, I'd definitely ask for an exchange but again, I feel confident it's in need of a good, clean install of an 11.2 sw update

They should. I haven't had a problem taking the keyboards back and I have brought back many. I work at a school, but we have no special contract with Apple. Apple is pretty crappy with education support, but that is for a different thread. My point is that, we deal with the same process that consumers deal with. The store manager said he knew about extending the warranty from 1 to 3 years.

Although there could be multiple reasons why your particular keyboard doesn't work right, the big issue is a physical one. A keyboard from another company may or may not have this issue. It is not likely the version of iOS you are on or your Smart Connector. However, you do want to rule things out, so upgrading to iOS 11.2 is smart.

We have been using the new Logitech Slim Combo with the Smart Keyboard connector since August and have not had that same issue, so I do not think it is a Smart Connector issue.

For the majority of users, it all points back to a hardware issue with the Apple Smart Keyboard.

My wife's 12.9 iPad Pro (1st Generation) is experiencing the same problem. To make sure there was an issue with only her iPad Pro Smart Keyboard and not her iPad, I placed her iPad on my 10.5 iPad Pro Smart Keyboard and it worked fine. I place my 10.5 iPad Pro on her Smart Keyboard and got the "Accessory Not Supported" message also. I also brought a Logitech Smart Keyboard for her iPad Pro. To go even further, I used the Logitech Smart Keyboard with her iPad and it also worked just fine.

Before doing all of this, I perfomed a regular reset, tried the Apple Smart Keyboard and had negative results. The same was performed with a hard reset and still, negative results. It seems the issue lies within Apple's Smart Keyboard and not the actual iPad or it's software??? Just guessing.

If anyone found a solution to this problem, please let me know. Otherwise, we will go to the Genius Bar and see if her Apple Smart Keyboard can be replaced. Hope this helps and thank you.

I had this problem for a while now. I thought the “device not supported” message was referring to my Apple Watch.

With much skepticism I tried the magnet suggestion ... ran a magnet over the contact points on the keyboard and iPad Pro ... worked like a charm.

Hello All-

i tried ipodge’s suggestion with a small but powerful Neodydium magnet. I rubbed 10x over the 1 and 2 keys on the keyboard when it wasn’t attached and 10x up and down the attachment strip. It has been 2 days and I have had no “accessory not supported” error. I got this error many times an hour before the magnet solution.

I took the iPad and the failing Smart Keyboard to the Apple store where I purchased them late October 2016. I had made an appointment at the Genius Bar. The tech told me there was a 'quality alert' on this product, verified that I was having the problem and promptly issued me a replacement for the Smart Keyboard at no charge. Problem solved.

Great suggestions. I did the magnet thing and it didn't work for me. Next I tried wiping down and using a fingernail to scrape off any 'gunk' off the magnetic gutter area. Once it was clean I tried again and it worked!

I started having the same issue about six months ago. I purchased the keyboard along with the iPad Pro through Verizon two years ago. The first issue was it not working in the middle of typing and having to pull it off the iPad and reconnecting it. Then started receiving the “not supported accessory” code. It took it occurring a few times before I realized the code was referring to the keyboard. I was like, whaaat? It‘s an apple product how can in suddenly not be supported. Then the iPad kept vacilating between the onboard qwerty keyboard and the Smart Keyboard attached, back and forth repeatedly. It became so annoying. I tried cleaning the contacts but still kept getting the error code. Just cleaned the trough the iPad sits in which is also magnetized and used the little magnet cover of my electronic pen. The part that covers the charging port to re-activate (?) the magnet in the trough and it seems to be working so far. This was a suggestion from another poster above. I thank you for that advice as it does seem to have, at least for now, solved the problem.

I was starting to consider buying another electronic keyboard like the Zagg I have on my other Series 2 iPad which I use for games, watching netflex and audio books. It still works great, has back lighting, keeps a charge forever, has been virtually trouble free and is much more stable than this Smart Keyboard which is too flimsy, falls off far to frequently and bounces around alot when I’m typing.

Considering the **** thing cost me $149.99 I expected better. It’s showing significant wear and is virtually impossible to use at night since it isn’t back lit. I’ll continue to use it until it dies but I would not recommend it to anyone. There are now more affordable options available out there.

Use the magnet, as iPodge suggests. It works!!

I don’t think I even have a fancy, rare-earth magnet. I just grabbed one off of the fridge. You can feel each magnet “grab” the magnet as you gently slide it across the gutter. That action is more pronounced with the rib that sets in the gutter. It does seem like the magnets above the “1” and “2” keys are the ‘switch’ that tells the iPad is connected. I left the magnet there for about 30 minutes.

iPodge. This really helped me. I cleaned my connectors and connections surfaces to no avail. Finally I just rubbed the connection surfaces with my finger and felt some grit still there (possibly magnetised) near the 1-2 keys.

Board now works.

If your Smart Keyboard is less than 3 years old you may be eligible for a replacement. Normally the warranty is 1 yr but for certain Keyboard issues it is a special extension up to 3 years. My Apple authorized dealer told me this and I received a new replacement. FYI