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

Wow... Just spent about 30-minutes with Apple Support talking about this issue, and the tech felt it was a Smart keyboard hardware problem. I pointed her to this discussion and she felt it could be a software issue and offered this "solution":

"To know if this is software, you can back up the iPad, and restore it as new (thats restore it to factory settings with iTunes, and then set it up without a backup). Then you can add your mail account, and test it with the keyboard. If the issue persists then its going to need more investigation and we would need to reach out to a further source after trying these steps.

I pointed out that given the other complaints here, the evidence pointed at iOS 11 as the potential problem, but she insisted on doing the restore, etc. I really don't want to do that, so if there's anyone else who wants to try, or has tried, please do and post the results.

OMG don't waste your time. I've already been down this road and it didn't work. Apple has replace my keyboard and the iPad twice now. Last time replacing iPad I installed all the apps from from iTunes and not from back. Lot of work and waste of time. Problem still exists.

Allprint175, much thanks... I figured as much, and it's why I really didn't want to go down that road. Frankly, I'm hoping more and more iPad users call Apple Support to voice their complaints on this issue to get it fixed. So frustrating!

This is really crappy for Apple—to not even acknowledge the problem and to suggest a complicated "fix” without being able to represent that it will work. It is obvious that this is a widespread problem that is not a hardware (Smart Keyboard) defect. My iPad went through a meltdown again over the weekend when the zoom function didn't work nor the reply/reply all arrow. All problems arose after iOS 11 was issued. Multiple resets termporarily solve the problem, but it/they come back.

Just to add in here. I have the exact same issues as you all but I’m using a 1st generation Apple Bluetooth keyboard with iPad Pro 12.9 2017.

This suggests it’s not hardware or at least not isolated to the Apple Smart Keyboard.

Same here! Unboxed my brand new iPad Pro 10.5 yesterday, followed by iOS upgrade to latest and the delete key on Mail.app is still not working. Most part of us bought iPad Pro for Smart Keyboard and shortcuts options. This is not about this shortcut not working properly on 3rd party applications, its about Apple native email client, as documented on the help text that appears when we long-press command key on Mail.app.

C’mon Apple, you are better than this.

ANx

Anxanywhere, the problem is random. If I reset my iPad enough times, the key will work for a period of time—then poof. I also have periods when the “reply arrow” doesn’t work (or the trash can icon), but a reset seems to resolve that. It’s highly frustrating and not very “apple.” They should get iOS 11 fixed.

Digitalsr2 and all others that have replied.... i am in the same boat. I actually purchased a new Smart Keyboard due to my last one and the case breaking. I have had this issue for a bit and everything you all have recommended i have tried. When I first purchased my iPad Pro 12.9 i had this issue and did a hard reset of the iPad and everything started working... I have tried everything and nothing has helped. I REALLY HOPE APPLE OPENS THEIR EYES AND ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE!!!!

Welinnjr and all...

This problem won't be addressed or fixed by Apple anytime soon if they don't know about it, that is, assuming they're not reading the complaints in this thread concerning the Smart Keyboard. Please be sure to contact Apple Support, let them know about the keyboard delete problem, and point them to this Apple Community thread to prove that it's happening consistently to other people. For me, contacting Apple Support was frustrating, but at least I made them aware of what we're complaining about here and that the problem wasn't limited to me. Let Apple know, folks, and maybe they'll fix this frustrating issue sooner rather than later!

fshtank...

Glad you did that... My point is the more people who contact Apple Support directly regarding this problem, then, hopefully, the sooner they’ll come up with a solution. It’s disheartening to see more and more people complaining about the Smart keyboard delete key issue here; they also need to go to Apple Support directly to voice their complaints, point them to this thread, and get them to work on a fix.

Baffling that they haven’t fixed this yet. Must we assume nobody at Apple uses the Smart Keyboard with their iPad Pro?

As others have mentioned, I don’t think the keyboard itself is at fault, as the Delete key works fine in AirMail etc.

This is has been around for at least 2 years now that I know of.

Strangely, just a half hour ago the delete key on my Bluetooth first gen apple keyboard in IOS mail started to work again!

Using the up and down arrows on the keyboard to select different emails and then hitting delete just worked but the app crashed a couple of times while using the arrows. Finally I force quit the app and relaunched and now it doesn’t crash using arrow keys and the delete key still works.

If it changes I will update again.

Kind regards

All...

Maybe I’m speaking too soon (and with a ton of wishful thinking), but ever since I updated to iOS 11.2.1, I haven’t had a delete key failure in the mail.app! Deleting an entire email, and all other delete functions, seems to work just fine. I’ve been putting the Smart Keyboard through its paces, removed and reinstalled, reset the iPad Pro, etc., and have been using the mail.app like crazy, and so far so good! Anyone else experiencing the same thing after the release of 11.2.1?

Ugh, well, I guess I did speak too soon... My delete key failed; it no longer deletes entire emails in the mail.app (but it works doing everything else). Oh well. COME ON APPLE; IF YOU’RE ACTUALLY READING THESE POSTS, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!

So, further to my post from a couple of days ago saying the Apple Bluetooth keyboard suddenly started to delete properly in IOS mail.

Fshtank, you were right it did stop working again but after doing the 11.2.1 update it’s started working again since yesterday.

Fingers crossed it keeps working.

PN