Smart Keyboard not working since ios11.

I have this issue as well.

Brand new iPad Pro 12.9. Brand new Smart (not so Smart) Keyboard.

It may be a software issue, but it could coincidentally be a hardware issue too.

I have found that ‘rocking’ the iPad itself, whilst it’s sitting in the keyboard, will sometimes make the keyboard come and go (the software keyboard appears/disappears). If the Smart Keyboard is not recognised and gentle rocking doesn’t work, I’ve found that lifting it away, at one corner, from the magnet ‘grip’ will make it return when the magnets slam back together. Sometimes it seems that the keyboard needs to be on a flat surface, other times not. This all suggests to me that there is something going on with the connectors. As I say, maybe it’s a combination of software and hardware issues.

So far ... with an absolute ‘top-of-the-line‘ specked out iPad Pro 12.9, Apple have failed spectacularly on the ‘out of box’ experience: 2 hours with Apple support trying to get my Messages to sync from an iPhone backup and to date about 6 or 7 hours spent trying to fix it myself (and failing) I’m getting ready to go up the next level of support and to spend more *unpaid* time trying to fix what should ‘just work’. Does anyone believe in resurrection? Any idea how we can get Steve Jobs back on board? And now of course, this issue with the keyboard (which I really like apart from this connection problem ... and the noise that the space bar makes).

Ho hum.

I just got a 12.9 iPad Pro and the Smart Keyboard for Christmas and was confounded by how the keyboard wouldn’t “register” each time I went to use it. Tried restarting with and without the keyboard in place, turning WiFi on and off, nothing would work for long. Saw this video on YouTube and it seems to have done the trick: iPad Pro 12.9" Smart Keyboard Fix - YouTube. Basically, scooch the keyboard a little and voila. Hope this helps someone.

HI gee-eff-ess,

thanks for the advice....the ‘tilt off of the magnet method worked .... for now.

Just got a new 12.9 iPad Pro gen 2 to replace my gen 1 which only had 128 gig memory. Had a smartkeyboard with the first gen IPP, but it stopped working before apple announced the extension of the warranty on the original smartkeyboard last spring. So I purchased the Logitech IPP smartkeyboard last year. I tried it on the new IPP and it worked immediately. Then, I reconnected the new apple smartkeyboard and it worked. But then when I went back to it later, it stopped again. This time, it would respond to removing and reconnecting ,but today, even that failed. So,

I did what you said (tilt and reconnect) and that worked. I think it is a software issue, since simply shutting the iPad off and letting it sit and then restarting it seems to cause problems....if it were a connection issue, it should work if we don’t move the ipad. Either way, it *****.

I hope they acknowledge and fix. I’m tempted to go to apple Store, but I’ve only heard one or 2 people on this forum say that worked.

Hi. I had the same problem with my keyboard. I got mine to work with rebooting with the keyboard in the TYPE position - not folded or anything.

Best Christian

The same has been happening to me since upgrading to iOS11. I do hope they solve this because its barely 3:30pm here and ive had to reboot 3 times already. But it helps to reboot the ipad.

I had the same problem. you should try this: go to settings_bluetooth_select your keyboard_ and then press forget this device.

hold the power and home buttons for 10-15 secs until the apple logo appears

once it is turned back on try to pair your keyboard to your ipad like the first time you used it.

have a good day! 🙂

Revised edition of what? I'm on my third keyboard. The problem occurs when I first open the iPad to use the Smart Keyboard. Lately rocking the iPad Pro forward and backward makes the virtual keyboard disappear the the Smart Keyboard starts working. Once in a while that does not work so I disconnect, reconnect, rock forward, rock back. That usually takes care of it for the remaining time. I'm not going back to iOS 10. I'm currently running iOS 11.2.2. Apple needs to fix it and going back to iOS 10 is NOT a fix. And as for letting Apple know our feelings and thoughts, that is what this discussion site is for. They should be reading it. I've also reported the issue to the Apple Feedback site. And I suggested they read this discussion thread which is now up to 12 pages long.

I've already called Apple and had my keyboard replaced. It didn't fix the issue. I'm having the issue where connecting to public WiFi that uses a splash screen causes the keyboard to stop working. Sometimes doing a cmd t on right before the screen comes up will allow it to keep working, but that's hit or miss and most of the time only a full reboot of the iPad fixes it. I've had the issue on 2 different iPads and 2 different Smart Keyboards, and after 11.2.5, the same thing started happening with a Bluetooth Logitech Keys To Go keyboard as well.

I experience this same issue on low or public WiFi connections. Rebooting iPad fixes the problem, until the I lock the iPad. No issue when WiFi is off, or on a secured network. Happy to know that I don’t need to replace my keyboard. Hoping Apple comes up with solution quickly.

Sorry, guess that wasn't clear.

When you hit the command key and then the space bar, a new window or option pops up. Just cancel that (close the window or whatever) and that should free up your whackadoodle keyboard.

I think most of us have been to the store. It’s great your keyboard is fixed. I had 4 keyboards and 2 ipads later, and then the ‘command/spacebar” thing helped a ton....but now after upgrading to 11.2 i’m all fixed, halleluyah!

Hmmm.... and then again. It only worked this one time. I'm back to same old behaviour. Tried full restore. Not better. At Apple repair shop now.

/Christian

Yes, me too. Despite rebooting it is not recognise.

Having same problem. Since ios11 keyboard intermittently having connection issues. It only works if I do a complete reboot, not just shut down and restart. But it doesn’t last.