Smart Keyboard not working since ios11.

the first thing I did was to clean the contacts - no help.

The local Apple Store replaced my Smart Keyboard with a brand new one.

I don't get the "not supported" message and more, but the connect/disconnect cycle continues, together with the "chiming" noise and the iPad heating up and the battery draining - so no better at all, and I now leave the iPad disconnected from the keyboard most of the time - it's now just a very expensive screen protecter that drains my battery. Certainly the crappiest piece of technology I have ever had.

What makes it worse is that I was told categorically on chat support that Apple had extended the warranty on the Smart Keyboard to 2 years, and mine was within this timescale. However the guy who dealt with me at the store told me he was replacing it as a "special service" - effectively a favour. In addition the new keyboard, as a replacement, only has a warranty of 3 months. I think this is deceitful, to say the least.

I have purchased Apple products since the first iPod model, but this experience together with the pricing of iPhone x has Brough me to the point of researching alternatives for my laptop, phone and iPad. Well done Apple.

Same problem... rarely works. Suggested fix - reboot!?? When did this become an acceptible fix? Reboot a device every time I change accessories? The positioning is way too fussy. I’ve had it go to sleep with keyboard working, not change postition, and on wake keyboard does not work. Now I’m finding if I use the right or left arrow to move through text it scrolls the screen. UIKEYINPUTUPARROW” - THat is what I get with the up arrow. Literally. I push the up arrow and in goes that text. Looks, nice, feels nice, but does not work.

Ok so I have read a lot of replies to this issue. I bought a brand new 12.9 iPad Pro second generation for my wife and I along with 2 Smart Cover Apple Keyboards. Ever since update 11.1.2 my Smart Cover Keyboard not not work at all. When I connect it the on screen keyboard still shows. When I tried my keyboard on my wife iPad it also didn't work. So I called Apple and we figured its a hardware issue with the keyboard. Easy fix right? NOPE. Juts went and exchanged the keyboard at the Apple store. Tried the new one and it also doesn't work. Issue must be my iPad right? NOPE. I use my wife keyboard on mine and it works just fine. I am now doing a complete wipe on the iPad then restoring it and will see what happens. I have no idea what else to try. Didn't have this issue before the update.

If this is indeed an update issue, I sure wish Apple will say so, that way I can just wait for the update and not waste so much time.

I am not sure why I keep hearing the issue is because of wifi. That makes absolutely no sense. So what about the ones here that bought an iPad Pro LTE. I use to use mine just fine from the car with the Smart Cover Keyboard with no issues. So now what? Is Apple saying these Keyboards NOW can only be used with wifi?

I am calling BS on this one. I am on my second erase / restore to try and get this thing to work now.

Brand new iPad Pro 12.9", just got the keyboard yesterday and already having this issue as I did with the iPad Pro 9.7" i just gave my wife. Constant reloading of iOS whatever, rebooting and resetting is ridiculous. Apple, fix the issue!!! If I wanted to spend my time performing tech support I'd get a job in the field.

Same problem. Had one keyboard replaced. Now the replacement keyboard is starting to act up too. On screen keyboard disappears, the hardware is recorgnized. Toggling airplane mode made no difference. Rebooting helped until I reconnected to the Starbucks Wifi, then it stopped working again. The same keyboard works when attached to another ipad that is not on Wifi. Connecting to Wifi on the second iPad causes the keyboard to no longer work.

Easy fix. Use a pencil eraser to rub the contact points on the keyboard and the bottom of the iPad. Wipe them clean with a soft clean cloth. The contacts get dirty and loose connection.

Worked for me.🙂

It is frickin annoying and only started happening when I upgraded to iOS 11. Now that we are on iOS 11.... what 5? I am finding that he keyboard doesn’t work on some apps and websites. I can still use any apple app with the keyboard, I can still use Safari with the keyboard but it doens’t always work on something like Wayfair or text messages from non iPhones. But I have gen 1 of iPad pro and it’s a good reason to upgrade my device.

I think we are so used to technology moving at a fast speed and we have to understand that the whole world of technology does not move and/or upgrade at the same rate for ALL the devices in the world. Make it a game, everytime you get the error message eat a snickers bar. LOL

I find that disconnecting the keyboard, reconnecting and then holding command - tab gets it to work. Some times two or three tries. Then if it still won’t work I restart the iPad and try connecting the keyboard.

I am sick and tired of taking shortcuts which some times work and at others don't. It is very frustrating specially when you are at customer location. I have a 9.7" iPad Pro. Folks, I have bought a Logitech Create keyboard (backlit) and it is working superbly at all locations. Bye Bye Apple keyboard. What a waste of money. They just don't bother. Even the latest 11.2 iOS update has not addressed this issue.

I have same issue since recent day, it was good previously. It just suddenly not detectable on any position, include typing position or reopen the cover(Smart Keyboard). Have to turn power off and restart iPad, cannot be fixed in general setting

good to know other keyboards seem OK - I've been thinking of moving to Logitech. One thing for sure, I will never, ever buy another Apple Smart Keyboard (or similar).

To be honest, I'm doubtful I will be buying another iPad at all - I've had one ever since they were launched, but this feels like the death knell to me...

I am having the same issue, and I use a logitech smart keyboard so the problem is with the OS. So switching will likely not solve the issue, since other users on the forum are having troubles with the apple smart keyboard. Ugh! Apple, APPLE, really??!! Do I not give you enough of my money? One of the value propositions of your brand to explan your expensive prices is that your product has superb user experience. Does it sound like you’ve fulfilled your end of the bargain here?? Everytime you guys update the ios, something happens. Last time it was the apple watch now it’s my ipad. At some point its not going to be worth it.

I have also had the problem with the Smart Keyboard not working when I log in to my iPad Pro since upgrading to iOS 11. I found that booting with the smart keyboard in place is the first step required. Then start to shut down the iPad using the on-off switch. However, when prompted with the “slide to power off” query, hit “cancel” and then the Smart Keyboard will work.

Just confirming that I am getting the cant recognise accessories error message but also experience very erratic keystroke behaviour, like i start typing and first three or four letters appear and then nothing... then after a few seconds the rest of the letters seem to race across the screen... have the original 12.9 iPad and keyboard no issues before updating to IOS11.