Smart Keyboard not working since ios11.

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’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.

Well the solution lasted less than 24 hours - now its quite random - nudging works periodically then it doesn't .... very frustrating as currently out of US and no apple store remotely close to get help. Old gen 1 pad works but not the 2017 gen 2 .. both running 11.2.5

I hate having to use the Logitech case as so heavy , but ..

Best I can see is center pin on keyboard appears slightly below the left and right ones.

I agree on the frustration level. The fact that any bluetooth keyboard has issues, points to a software issue.

I'm still in contact with Apple Suport on this, and have linked them to this thread. I do hope every single person affected in this thread, opens up a ticket with Apple on it. They really need to get this resolved.

“ I don't get why puling it forward gets it up and running?”

It completely disconnects all 3 pins from the keyboard/iPad. Rocking back, reconnects them. Same as lifting it up to disconnect ... just a little easier due to the magnets.

I'm using a new Smart keyboard (my second replacement). The connector pins are fine. The three contact points on the iPad Pro itself have dark spots on them. I'm going to try cleaning them with an appropriate solution to see if that changes the behavior.

That never works for me. I have to hold the mag strip down and rapidly connect and disconnect the iPad to the keyboard about 20 times and then when I see the on screen keyboard slide down I try command tab and it works most of the time. Sometimes it gets stuck on the switching apps and needs another reboot. It’s a mess really. I hope ios 12 fixes this issue because iOS 11 is a mess.

I called Support over this issue and they are sending out a replacement keyboard even though mine is older and not under warranty. They have not asked for the old keyboard back. The iPad Pro is under warranty. I’ll post an update whe I get the keyboard tomorrow.

After 4 keyboards i found that trick to work also...BUT i had to do that at EVERY COFFEE SHOP I WENT TO...over and through all the steps As nothing else worked...until i upgraded to 11.3 and now it’s working fine. I had my rep working with developers as they knew about this WiFi issue, the switching back and forth. Even my phone / maps seems to stall with apps after i leave WiFi in a coffee shop, so it must be the shift in WiFi to not...but you’re saying you did the recent upgrade last month and still have an issue?