Smart Keyboard not working since ios11.

Yes—and I should have mentioned that I do not have the problems others refer to about a pop-up telling me my keyboard isn’t recognized. Definitely two different issues causing similar problems. Thanks!

Wow! Yes!! At Starbucks right now after work, and tried a couple of the other possible solutions in this thread, such as having the iPad in airplane mode first, and a few others. None worked, but the cmd+tab thing did! I was trying to reply to this thread, cmd+tabbed to another app (doesn’t seem to matter which), then back to this app (Safari in this case) and the keyboard worked perfectly again. No reboot necessary. Thank you!!!!

For what it's worth - I have a Zagg Slim Book keyboard that has worked great until iOS 11 - and it demonstrates the exact same symptoms as the Apple keyboard. Works great until I have to log into Wifi at work, then unresponsive. I've been doing a reboot but will try the close the case method and the airplane mode methods and report back.

Since it appears to be any external keyboard it is clearly a software, not a hardware, issue and as of today has not been fixed in any updates (was hoping .1 would fix it but no dice).

Hi,

My iPad Pro 10.5 is about 1.5 months old. I‘m not happy with the “Ctrl-Alt-Delete“ solution. My ipad obviously recognizes my Smart Keyboard because the on screen keyboard doesn’t show up. I know that there are workarounds but I expect more from my $1000 tablet. I’m a PC guy but I installed 4 OS’es on my Macbook Pro and made all my Windows programs work. Just frustrated.

Hello everybody

I was tired of waiting for apple to cater to our not so smart smart keyboard problem. Almost all of the smart keyboards fail after a year of usage. I found out that it had nothing to do with the ipad 9.7 pro hardware or the iOS they run. It is just a bad design by apple.

I finally gave up and carefully pealed away the felt cloth covering the inner side of the flexable part of the keyboard. The connection from the smart connector to the keyboard is made by silkscreened conductive paint painted on very strong parashoot cloth. The thick painted conductive strips are probably for power connection and the thin strip is for data. The thin data strip on mine had gone bad and was not conducting after the first bend. I taped the bad strip with some conductive shielding tape and the keyboard started connecting and working flawlessly. Now I have a very ugly but working smart keyboard which APPLE did nothing to fix. It is definetly a design flaw on an expensive piece of PRO accessory. I am very disappointed with apple for the very first time. Apple should have replaced them but they refused to do so for me. I am uploading a fix video on UTUBE right now. Be very gentle if you also decide to peal away the felt material off of your keyboad and fix the conductive cloth strips. I would advise you to be demanding at your local APPLE store first. I hope they decide to treat you better than they treated me.

I wish you best of luck,

Regards Ulgen C.

I do not think it is a software problem. After I fixed the keyboard as shown on the youtube video named “fix apple smart keyboard ulgen” the problem disappeared. When the narrow conductive strip starts going bad first the data signal starts getting weak and shows a pop up saying the device is not supported intemittently. When you are in an electronically noisy environment such as a hotspot, the RF noise makes the situation even worse than it would be at home or office.

Apple really needs to acknowledge this design problem.

They have sat on their ears for too long.

I am running iOS 11 on a 9.7 inch iPad Pro with no problems since the fix, but my keyboard is ugly as **** now.

I'm experiencing this as well on my 10.5" ipad pro and smart keyboard.

However, my problem is slightly different.

I'm seeing this issue on my home wifi. Just out of the blue, the keyboard will stop responding, even cntl+tab doesn't work. I have to reboot my ipad by holding down the power + home key to bring it back. This is happening a couple times a day now.

Hoping something will be done soon to fix this. It's starting to get very annoying.

Thanks!

I have this problem as well. My iPad Pro is about 20 months old as is the keyboard. No problems until the last month or so, then failing to connect, not being recognised etc. I contacted Apple support and was eventually told to go to my dealer - which I did and to be fair they gave me a new keyboard with no quibbles.

Only problem is that although the new keyboard is recognised, it is very unstable in that it keeps disconnecting then reconnecting. Detaching and re-attaching the keyboard seems to work, but nothing completely solves the problem. in addition when the iPad is in my bag it will go into a cycle of disconnectign and reconnecting (I realised this when I could here the “chime” noise you get when you plug in the power source going off over and over again - and this is draining the iPad battery.

It’s by far the most inconvenient problem I have ever had with an Apple product and I will going back to the dealer this week.

Unless and until there is a proper solution for this I would really urge people considering buying a smart keyboard to think again - the product is not fit for purpose. Unless you want a really expensive iPad stand that drains your battery of course....

I have the same problem on my 97." iPad Pro. The Apple keyboard was working fine and started giving problems after upgrade to iOS 11. It connects erratically to the iPad when I am on tour. It also switches my iPad ON while in my bag and this drains battery and for some reason heats up the iPad. I am sick and tired of it and all solutions given so far are temporary. I have ordered a Bluetooth keyboard and hope it will solve my problem.

Apple - please note that a number users are having this keyboard problems and it is about time you people do something about it.

I have the same problem, after updating my ipad pro the keyboard is not connection anymore.

Really frustrating. My Ipad is new and I am testing to see if it is worth it. Now I see the amount of people that have problems with the keyboard, What should I do? Already tried all the steps mentioned. Should I get replacement? Got al 2 weeks ago. (ipadpro, i pencil, smart keyboard)

I picked up my replacement Smart Keyboard a few hours ago. Have tried disconnecting keyboard from iPad while it was in “type” orientation; turned off iPad; Restarted the iPad; reattached the keyboard and restarted the iPad.

The problem persists: the keyboard is recognize, the first time I touch any key on the Smart Keyboard the on-screen Keyboard appears and the Smart Keyboard becomes inactive.

I’ll try to reach Apple again.....or I’ll have to go back to the store. VERY DISAPPOINTED in Apple.

My smart key board has been replaced and my ipad pro is barely two weeks old. Keyboard does not work with public WIFI with splash screen. I do not know if it will work with cellular service yet. I am very disappointed. I bought the ipad pro to use as a tablet-like laptop but now I have to make a choice between using the keyboard or using WIFI and having email/internet functionality. Apple should address this software bug as soon as possible.

I had this problem with a prior iPad Pro and keyboard, searched all the boards, read all the strings. The only fix was a new keyboard (Apple did replace it). I’m now having the same problem with the replacement and it’s the exact same pattern. Starts off erring only occasionally, becomes more frequent until its eventually unusable. It’s definately an issue w/ the keyboard. Unfortunately I’m getting ready to call Apple to replace this one...I hope they do.

I have a new iPad Pro 10.5 and Smart Keyboard bought at the end of October, all was well to start but I’m getting same keyboard problems - had to reboot to type this.

I find switching apps can cause the issue - so, for example, working in Mail then switch over to Pages or Numbers and I have to revert to on screen keyboard or reboot. Doesn’t happen all the time but often enough to be very frustrating, especially if in a meeting like last week where I had to reboot three times!

Is this a common problem?

The problem is rampant. I have 2 bad keyboards. I have just switched to the Logitech. Apple refuses to acknowledge or fix it. I say refuses because they know about it and have basically scripted responses to those of us trying to talk to them about it. Since its less than one year, they will replace it. However, the new keyboards (you already have one) are malfunctioning as well. Hence, I would ask for your money back and go with a different manufacturer. Logitech has been working great for me. Its a little bigger..... but that works for me and the keyboard has great options for volume control, TV, lighted keyboard, and screen brightness controls as well. I wish I bought it in the first place.