Smart Keyboard not working since ios11.

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.

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 just recently went to the apple store, and they exchanged the keyboard. We couldn’t duplicate the problem at the store. We did try a different keyboard. They said they will exchange it but didn’t have any. However, I solved that, because there were a stack of boxed keyboards behind where we were standing, and they gave me one. But....when I got home, ..it again, lost contact between the keyboard and iPad Pro. I think you are correct in regards to a software issue, and I kept hoping as the new updates came in, that this would fix it. I think it’s a relational problem, either with the “WiFi” switching, or possibly the ”sleep function” of the hardware, and the way the software is responding to the hardware changes, i.e. sleep mode, or WiFi switching...it erroneously throws the keyboard offline, when either are interrupted, and not recognizing that glitch, fails to re-engage the keyboard.

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.

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.

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.

I am an iPad developer with 7 years experience.

I have both the first 12.9” iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard and the first 9.7” iPad Pro with smart keyboard

Both keyboards stopped working with iOS 11

I will complain to Apple, this is clearly a problem in iOS 11, the silence from Apple suggests they know about the problem but don’t know how to fix it.

I will also report the issue to their developer bug tracking database.

I’ve had this problem constantly since the 11.1 beta and I reported it in the beta program several times. It was intermittent before that. Now my keyboard works for a while and then either disappears or becomes an unsupported device. Removing and reattaching occaisionally fixes it. Rebooting always fixes it, but rebooting 5-8 times a day is very unproductive.

I’ve done this too and it works...SOMETIMES.

Apple is aware of the the issue. For me it starts when i log into another WiFi. Intermittantly, nothing works 100% to restore it. I have apple techs working on it and they say they know about it, looking for consistencies still with how and why this happens (on my 4th keyboard and 2nd iPad). SO do what works then do something else but make your voice known with them so you can get on that list to be fixed or get new revised edition.

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‘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.