Magic Keyboard won’t type on iPad Pro unless I reboot

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Level 1

11 points

Magic Keyboard won’t type on iPad Pro unless I reboot

Hey all,

I’m using a practically brand new iPad Pro 12.9” 2nd gen (bought at the Apple Store four days ago), running iOS11.2.2.

I’m also using a Magic Keyboard (NOT a Smart Keyboard) connected to the iPad via bluetooth. This is one of the newer Magic Keyboards that has a lightening port charger (and this one doesn’t have the number pad).

Here’s my problem: Sometimes I’ll open the iPad, turn on the keyboard, and ensure that it’s listed as a connected device in Bluetooth settings... yet the keyboard won’t type.

Focusing on a text field in ANY app will cause the on-screen keyboard to disappear - indicating that the Magic Keyboard is connected - but the keyboard can’t input anything at all.

This seems to only happen in the morning after the iPad has been on the charger at night. In the case that I do some work with the iPad and keyboard during the day, turn the keyboard off, and then come back and do more work later, things work fine. It seems like it’s only the long stretch of time (overnight) that causes this problem.

Once this happens, the only way to make the keyboard work is to reboot the iPad.

I’ve also tried:

- Making sure the Keyboard is fully charged (it is)

- Turning the keyboard off and on again

- Turning the iPad’s Bluetooth on and off again

- Turning the keyboard off, turning Bluetooth on and off again, THEN turning the keyboard on again

None of these attempts have worked - only a reboot will do the trick. I also can’t seem to find anyone else having this problem.

Does anyone have any insight into this?

Thanks!

iPad Pro Wi-Fi + Cellular, iOS 11.2.2

Posted on Jan 27, 2018 9:16 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Goose15

Level 1

10 points

Mar 15, 2018 11:47 AM in response to xavier283

That worked!!! It’s been driving me crazy. Thanks!

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Answer 2

Electrickeye Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 9, 2018 12:22 PM in response to MrMattAnderson

Here’s an update:

I purchased a Logitech K811 Bluetooth keyboard to see if the keyboard was the issue. It’s not - the same problem affects this keyboard. (I will note that the typing experience on this keyboard is, IMO, far superior to the magic keyboard. So the purchase wasn’t totally a waste).

However, I‘be learned that it’s not a certain amount of time that causes the issue. About 30 minutes ago, I powered on the Logitech keyboard and connected it to the iPad just fine. It typed without a problem.

I then walked to Starbucks, connected to their WiFi network (which brings up one of those authentication screens that requires you to hit a button on a web page to connect), and then tried to reconnect the bluetooth keyboard. That recreated the problem.

I tried turning off WiFi, turning off bluetooth, then powering off the keyboard. I then turned bluetooth back on and tried to reconnect the keyboard with wifi remaining off - no dice, the problem still persisted. Again, only a total reboot fixed the issue.

My next step, when I get a chance, will be to test with my IPad mini gen 4 to see if these steps recreate the problem. If they do, I’ll know it’s likely a problem with iOS11 and its interaction with WiFi - possibly specifically with networks that required conneting with a web page like those at Starbucks. If not, then I’ll know it’s a problem specific to the iPad Pro.

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Answer 3

Electrickeye Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 11, 2018 10:07 AM in response to Electrickeye

Update 2: I’ve learned that the specific moment the keyboard loses functionality is after hitting “Done” to dismiss the dialogue that comes up when connecting to a network such as Starbucks WiFi.

While connecting - and even after successfully connected, the keyboard works. On Starbucks WiFi, the Starbucks homepage is displayed after you connected. I could type in the search box on that page just fine. It’s only after hitting the “Done” button (which is an iOS button, not a part of that web page) that the keyboard is no longer able to type.

I wonder if the keyboard is somehow getting “stuck” in that dismissed dialogue...

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Answer 4

Electrickeye Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 13, 2018 5:35 AM in response to Electrickeye

Update 3: Tried connecting to the Starbucks network before connecting the keyboard, with bluetooth turned off on the iPad. After connecting, I turned bluetooth back on and connected the keyboard.

Same problem.

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Answer 5

Mar 6, 2018 12:20 AM in response to Electrickeye

Hi,

Agreed, this is not a fix, more of a quick way to avoid a reboot, but I have found that following these steps usually works for me (albeit with one small caveat that I will point out later):

1- Make sure the Magic Keyboard is correctly recognised by the iPad by hitting the CAPS LOCK key. If the LED is turning on you are good to go

2- Bring up the App Switcher (is that the correct name?) by pressign the CMD+Tab keys. It will show all the open apps, exactly like on a Mac.

3- Try typing. It usually does the trick for me

However one issue I have come across is that in a few apps, the keyboard layout is stuck to QWERTY, while my keyboard is usually a French AZERTY one...

Assuming Apple will fix this issue at some point, but I am not holding my breath on this, given their track record in fixing issues with so few occurences (probably because we are so few people using a Magic Keyboard with our iPads)

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Answer 6

Mar 26, 2018 11:41 AM in response to Goose15

Hey there,

Just to confirm Electrickeye’s thoughts: I too experienced the same today. I went to a conference and took my ipad. I typed one sentence, everything fine. Then I decided to connect to the wi-fi. It was one of those pages authentification wi-fi as Electrickeye described. Once I pressed done and was connected, the keyboard would not type anymore (though still most definitely connected).

p.s. I am usually a lurker, but the lucid, persistent and eloquent attempt at explaining, troubleshooting the problem and sharing the results in a cool, objective scientific method by Electrickeye convinced me to come out from the shadows.

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Answer 7

Feb 9, 2018 8:03 AM in response to Electrickeye

I have the same issue. It seems to happen when WiFi is reconnected after a long pause. I’m assuming Apple is aware of the issue.

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Answer 8

englemt

Level 1

4 points

Feb 25, 2018 7:24 AM in response to Electrickeye

I’ve been wrestling with this for months. Had the keyboard relaplaced but obviously it’s not the keyboard. Please let me know if you find a fix.

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Magic Keyboard won’t type on iPad Pro unless I reboot

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