Smart Keyboard not working since ios11.

I received a replacement. It didn't work immediately, then it worked briefly, but was very spotty. I've decided $190 is way too much to spend on something that doesn't work 24/7/365 without fail. Returned the replacement for full refund.

I’ve experienced the same thing too since Sept... nothing seems to work. Without the keyboard, it renders this device useless for me. PecKing on the built in keyboard with the ipencil isn’t the best use of time. This was my first foray into Apple with intentions of leaving the PC/windows world behind. I editted my book on the iPad Pro with Apple keyboard. Now I hardly use it. Debating if I want to upgrade this device and repkace my laptop with a Mac book. Very disappointed. Hope they solve this soon

I have an iPad Pro 12.9, with keyboard, purchased in December. I have just had the opportunity of trying a switch with someone who has an identical setup, purchased last September and who has never seen the problem.

So trying their keyboard with my iPad and their iPad with my keyboard. Results were conclusive. The problem is hardware in my case. Problem gone, on my iPad, when using their keyboard. Time to call Apple for a replacement.

Many people say it started with 11.0 installed and last week was at the Apple store here in Orlando and saw the error “accessory not supported” on the 12.9 in iPad Pro on display there after u spent a few minutes using it.

This appears to work >>> At the start of your day, wipe off the three contacts on the iPad Pro and the three contacts on the Smart Keyboard. I have encountered far fewer disconnects after doing this.

Also, as a secondary measure, I bought a $15 “lap desk” on Amazon. Previously, I had the smart keyboard on my lap on a pillow so the three contacts may have been “flexing” and lost contact?

I am on my second iPad Pro Smart Keyboard. My local Apple Store replaced mine for free. Guess what? It has the same intermittent problems that you have all described. Very often (~30-50% of the time), the keyboard is not recognized and the on-screen keyboard pops up instead. I have also gotten an “device not compatible” message once or twice too. Seems to me to be an iOS problem since it can be temporarily remedied by a reboot.

Apple, please address this in a patch!

I'm not convinced this is a hardware issue, partly because the problem started almost simultaneously in two different iPad pros I own after the iOS 11 release, they were bought a year apart and are two different sizes and one keyboard has hardly been used at all.

The other reason is an observation that in many cases the Smart Keyboard *is* working but very slowly. This would be odd for a hardware problem.

I note that there are certainly hardware issues with the keyboards because Apple has extended the warranty on smart keyboards to three years because of problems, but there appears to be a deeper problem going on here and I'm guessing it has to do with whatever controller and firmware is handling the smart connector.

The problem seems less severe on the one iPad I've installed iOS 11.3 beta on, so maybe Apple are starting to get a handle on this. I notice also some news that Apple have removed some planned features from iOS 12 to focus on making it a consolidation release so they have the opportunity to fix existing problems, that seems wise as if they don't fix these keyboards they will lose sales to Surface.

IPad Pro 12.9 (first generation) and Smart Keyboard. The Smart Keyboard has become nearly unusable due to constant stalling/having to reconnect. Apple, please dedicate some resources to fixing this serious problem.

I'm a old apple user, actually ownning 3 iMac 27, 1 ipad 2, 1 Ipad Pro, 1 Iphone 7 plus, 1 Iphone 8 plus, 1 apple watch, 1 Mac Book pro.

Now i've solved finally my problem with smart keyboard and ipad pro ios11.

With a new Microsoft Surface.

Today I contacted Apple Support and they’re sending me a replacement keyboard. However, the doubt between whether it is a hardware or software problem continues and I’m fairly sure that there are issues with BOTH, which will be confusing Apple in trying to work out a fix.

Why am I so sure? Well, after my contact with Apple Support this afternoon, I was thinking a bit more about something I told them ... which is, that I had noticed that the 3 contacts on the keyboard are not level, whereas the contact points on the iPad appear to be perfectly aligned/level. So that could be a manufacturing error which causes the problem ... although I have no way of knowing whether it is normal or not.

Anyway ... aside from that.

Normally I get my keyboard to work, by rocking the iPad forward, until it’s almost flat/parallel with the keyboard, then rocking it back into its normal position. Usually this works at first attempt and I can use the keyboard, although sometimes it can take several goes to get it to ‘stick’, so that it remains connected and the software keyboard is not visible.

This evening I had a thought ... what if the iPad just needs to be more vertical? So, I placed a 1cm high object underneath the ‘triangle’ at the back of the iPad. IOW, that part of the keyboard that is folded into a triangle. So now it is raised up about 1cm at the back. I have found that I can now move/slide the ensemble on my desk and the keyboard remains connected.

So this tells me that it is indeed, in my case, a hardware issue. I do think though, that there is perhaps a software issue too.

i‘ve been in contact with Apple Care multiple times regarding these issues, which have ocurred on 2 different iPads.

I’ve been sent a replacement keyboard and was instructed to update to 11.2.5, but the issue still persists. Seems to be software related, because after the 11.2.5 update, my “Logitech Keys To Go” keyboard which worked fine previously, is now having the same issue.

Old keyboard caused the “accesory not supported” random error message ( gen 2 iPad pro ) , as was hard used and some rust showing around each end purchased new one. New one did not work at all !!! Moved to logitec old case/keyboard worked fine , then tested gen 1 iPad pro on new keyboard worked .... back to gen 2 pro and by accident discovered a small horizonal nudge and presto it worked. Seems to have solved the issue , and gen 2 iPad now works.

Conclusion it is a hardware alighment issue ? Running 11.2.5

So I’m typing this on my replacement keyboard. It works!!!

OK ... early days, but so far I cannot get it to disconnect or otherwise loose its connection. I can slide the ensemble around on my desk and they stay connected. Previously they would disconnect almost instantly if they were moved around at all.

I note that the 3 pins (connectors) are pretty much perfectly parallel, unlike my faulty keyboard, where one of the pins at the side, was slightly lower than the others.

So it looks like there may well be two separate issues, software and hardware.

Well the solution lasted less than 24 hours - now its quite random - nudging works periodically then it doesn't .... very frustrating as currently out of US and no apple store remotely close to get help. Old gen 1 pad works but not the 2017 gen 2 .. both running 11.2.5

I hate having to use the Logitech case as so heavy , but ..

Best I can see is center pin on keyboard appears slightly below the left and right ones.

ian948,

Apple will send a replacement via courrier and you have to return the old one within 10 days, using the same box and enclosed courrier label. Support is Worldwide, so that should not be a problem. They will try to persuade you to go to an Apple Store, which is obviously preferable from both points of view, but in my case, an Apple store means half a day lost, as I live about 50 miles from the nearest. I used the Apple Support app, to chat with support. They will need your purchase ID/invoice number and/or serial number (hard to read, but it’s included on the Purchase Receipt).