Smart Keyboard not working since ios11.

I used the Apple online chat support and the support person suggested I wait for a software update and also sent me a document on how to clean the connectors. When I asked about software issues He said, “Yes we expect it to be resolved in a future update, however its not affecting the performance of the keyboard is it? As I’d treat that as a separate issue to troubleshoot. And as for going back to iOS 10, at this point its not possible.” This is the first I’ve heard that they know that its a software issue. I was trying to explain that yes the keyboard works fine when I can get it to connect to the iPad but that the “accessory not supported“ pop-up occurs daily and is difficult to get around and that this never occurred for me in iOS 10. He wasn’t on the same page and kept trying to guide to towrdas the connectors being dirty even though he admitted it was going to be resolved in a future shoforward update and even said I should wait for that.

The same thing happended to me, so I took my iPad Pro and keyboard to my local Apple store. While initially reluctant, they replaced my keyboard on the spot, even though my ipad was no longer covered by AppleCare. Unfortunately, my new keyboard still has intermittant problems, albeit less frequent (25% vs 90% disconnect).

I'm wondering is there is some corrosion or build-up on the magnets of the iPad Pro itself since the problem persists even with a new replacement Smart keyboard. If that's the case, the next question is, "What's the best method to remove the corrosion or build-up?"

This is exactly what I'm seeing. On some, not all, WiFi networks, connecting to the network will cause the keyboard strokes to no longer be recognized. Solution is to hard reboot (turn off and back on) and reconnect to the WiFi. Sometimes even that doesn't work and I need to reboot with the smart connector detached from the keyboard, connect to WiFi, and then attach to the keyboard. It's been going on for some time, but since it works OK at my home WiFi and for some of our connections at work, I've not pursued it further. But it is REALLY annoying.

They had me power down and resign in after powering back up but i found that i had to sign in BEFORE powering down...the steps i mentioned and so this has worked for the past 7 weeks faithfully, albeit a pain in the a__. I hope you find out what works. Their programmers are on it but nothing satisfactory to the masses. I would still call them direct and get a tech person to KEEP working with you because they all seemed to say that they've not heard much problems.

I FOUND ANOTHER KEY...the guys at apple genius were playing on my 4th keyboard and found that it works AFTER i hit “command“ and then space bar, bringing up some page i forgot what they called it, and i tried to type and still couldn’t but when i hit CANCEL and then tried to type on pages, it worked. Spread it to others and see if it helps. Mine has been working like this for several days, which is shorter than having to shut down a bunch. Its’ not going to help the issues of a connection not being right at the magnet port.

This is a problem with our organization as well since IOS 11 on iPad pro 9.7. This happens with the Logitech smart keyboards too. They are connected via the clean smart connectors. We are a buisness so when it happens I have plenty of iPads and Logitech smart keyboards to try. Its never the keyboard. Same iPad with the issue on multiple keyboards experience the same issue. Only the screen lock and home buttons at the top of the keyboard work, nothing else. Powering off the iPad and then powering it back on resolves the issue for an unknown amount of time.

Hopefully apple bots read these types of threads and use them as input. I think they were going to focus more on reliability in the next few IOS releases instead of features. I hope thats true because the last few IOS releases have been a dozy, especially for our fleet of iPhones.

Yes, I have similar situation. My Smart Keyboard is always needed to disconnect and connect again, after boot the IPad, then it works.

It’s very annoying problem indeed.

Hope Apple can solve it as soon as possible.

This all started with iOS 11 for me on my 9.7" iPad Pro. I'm having to restart it every day to get the keyboard to work. The keyboard is being detected as it doesn't throw up the on-screen keyboard when I want to type. It's just that the keys don't work until I restart the iPad in place (i.e. not changing anything physically on the keyboard and iPad).

I have the same issue as well. The keyboard is obviously detected because the screen keyboard disappears and reappears when I take the external keyboard off. If I reboot,the external keyboard works but is not working the next time I open up my iPad even though it is apparently registering because it forces the screen keyboard to disappear. I think you need a software fix. I have had no keyboard problems prior to iOS 11.

I have found wifi connection to be a problem too, although I don’t understand why, with a hard connection to the ipad. Mine stops working when I am on a public network like the library or airport. Apple just told me it is because of an unstable or weak wifi connection, no solution offered. Restarting in those circumstances only helps for a short while...

It is iOS 11, not a physical problem. Rebooting the iPad brings the keyboard back online, but I am getting sick of having to reboot my iPad every time I want to use my keyboard or use cellular data. Since I have to reboot for both of these scenarios, I find myself needing to reboot it every time I use it.

The keyboard issue started with iOS 11.0.0, same in 11.0.1. Went away in 11.0.2, and came back with 11.0.3.

You have software issues, we do not have hardware issues.

I am having the same problem. I have never had the issue prior to ios11 install. When connected to the smart keyboard my iPad flickers with the battery icon intermittently black and then green as if the ipad is charging even though it is not plugged in. When I try to use notes or email the keyboard is not recognized at all. When I disconnect the smart keyboard the iPad works just fine. No wifi issues or other red herrings. I have done a hard reset, a restore of the ipad, and a reboot in the type position. None of it works. This is clearly an iOS 11 issue. Looking forward to an Apple solution.

It must be a known error, I’ve bought two smart keyboards now, both worked a while, then failed. So it looks to be clearly a hardware problem inherent to the keyboard design or manufacture. Hence should be a warranty replacement I’d have thought.