Delete key (Smart Keyboard) doesn’t work in Mail with iOS11

Have the exact same issue. It has periodically worked for a day or two after updating to iOS 11 but I cannot delete emails in the landscape email view with the delete key. The delete key works to delete text (ie its not broken). I have even tried using a regular Bluetooth keyboard to see if it makes a difference and it does not. It’s not just the Smart Keyboard. It’s frustrating to say the least.

Badgerboy1944, I agree... I meant to say that the hard reset was a temporary fix that lasted for a brief amount of time, and then fail again. It’s a very annoying problem especially since I generate a lot of emails and use the Smart Keyboard exclusively with shortcut commands. Hope Apple is actually reading these notices, and DO SOMETHING TO FIX IT!!!

If you conduct an email search — in the left hand search box for any word you don’t even need to complete it — then the delete key on the smartkeyboard will delete emails again. I’m not sure why this works, but it works.

Everyone, I just tried @djc07’s workaround and Shazam!

I opened mai. Delete didn’t work.

I opened Search (left column over folders)

I entered some random text, deleted it (not sure if I could’ve just (X)-Cleared it (for A-B Testing purposes)

Canceled the Search.

DELETE Key worked.

Excellent find! Very helpful.

@Apple - the DELETE key function in mail is still broken as of iOS 11.

Before that, I could open mail. I would have to manually delete the first email. [DELETE key wouldn’t work immediately]

DELETE key worked from 2nd email forward.

This is not a HARDWARE issue. It is a SOFTWARE Issue.

Woodiah, as far as I'm concerned, you'd assume correctly. The problem still exists and the temporary solution discussed in this thread seems to be the only workaround. Apple doesn't seem to be in any hurry to fix it, or they haven't received enough complaints to make it a priority. I'm also dealing with the bloody dock disappearing that other users have complained about (iPad dock keeps disappearing). Both of these issues are truly annoying and I can't believe Apple hasn't addressed them.

This (annoying) work around has worked for me.

• Close Mac mail completely (swipe up)
• Disconnect keyboard
• Put iPad to sleep
• Wake
• Connect keyboard
• Open Mac Mail

Then the delete key seems to work. I've done this twice and it works, but it's a small sample size.

I have this identical problem also. In addition, my arrow icon in the top right corner of the screen works on-again/off-again. Some times I can delete; sometimes not. Sometimes I can “reply all,” sometimes not. Sometimes “delete” asks infor for “forward.” Strange. Very frustrating.

I had this same very frustrating problem, too: Delete key in the mail.app does not delete emails but works for everything else. Sometimes just disconnecting and reinstalling the (Smart) keyboard worked but that stopped working as well. So far I’ve found that a hard reset seems to do the trick. I just hope that Apple addresses this matter and fixes it with the next update.

Gort1, thank you. I have tried both, but the fix, when it works, is not permanent—the problem shows up again after a few hours or a day. The blue dot by a new email seems to disappear before the delete button can be pushed and, when that happens, the delete button will not work. Apple needs to do a general fix.

I have the same problem ever since 11.1.1 on ipad air 2. Cannot delete emails with the delete button on wireless Zagg bluetooth keyboard. Every other delete function works fine...just with mail app is the problem. Spoke with ap ple tech support...they don't have a clue what I'm talking about...just the stock answer to contact third party

Glad to see I'm not the only one with this problem...even with Apples own keyboard it doesn't work.

It's obviously not Zagg's problem...it's Apple....just fix it!!

Gort1, thank you. I have tried both, but the fix, when it works, is not permanent—the problem shows up again after a few hours or a day. The blue dot by a new email seems to disappear before the delete button can be pushed and, when that happens, the delete button will not work. Apple needs to do a general fix.

I am only replying to add my voice to this list of concerns over this issue. I am ready to take the Smart Keyboard back to the Apple Store and tell them to fix it, but it sounds like this is a software/OS issue, not a hardware issue.

FSHTANK, thanks for the comment. The problem is either a hardware (Smart Keyboard) defect or a software glitch. My "delete” has been working for two days when trying to delete mail, but I have no confidence that will continue as the problem is intermittant. In either case, it is an Apple problem to recognize and cure. One commenter said that he called Apple and the technicians didn't know what he was talking about, In fact, this problem has been around for a while and there is a lot of discussion on the Web. To me, it is clearly an iOS 11 issue that Apple needs to cure. Thanks for adding your voice.

12.9 iPad Pro User with Smat Keyboard running IOS 11.1.2. Delete key worked in mail for a couple days and then stoped. I also have a major issue where my smart keyboard keeps turning on and off my iPad leaving my iPad dead when I go to use it. Apple Store support has been amazing. They have a replaced the keyboard once and the iPad twice. Last replacement I’ve reinstalled everything new– NOT from back up. I’m about to loose my mind that this continues to happen. Apple sells the iPad Pro as a “replacement“ to a laptop and I’m trying to follow this direction. Please fix the delete key issue and Smart Keyboard connection issues.

Thanks for the heads-up. My iPad Pro was problem freee for about a week and now it is touch-and-go again. Very frustrating. Multiple restarts, separating the iPad from the Smart Keyboard finally got it working again.