Your iPad Smart Keyboard (or Smart Keyboard Folio) is not working? It suddenly stopped working, an error message appear on the screen saying “This accessory is not supported by this device.” In this article, we are explaining why you’re seeing this alert message and further what you can do to fix the problem. Do not worry you are not alone. Many iPad Pro users are reporting this problem. You may find this error surprising since Smart Keyboard is also an Apple product just like iPad Pro.
Why is your iPad Pro showing this keyboard error message?
There can be various reasons:
- This error message usually occurs because the accessory you are using isn’t MFi certified. However, this is not true for this problem. Your Lightning Cable may produce a similar error if it is not MFI certified.
- Your iPad Pro iOS software is somehow malfunctioning
- It is highly likely that your iPad Pro is unable to detect your Smart Smart Keyboard Folio or Smart Keyboard.
- Your keyboard may be damaged.
See: AirPods no sound?
Fix iPad Pro Keyboard Problem
Steps below will help you resolve this:
- Please ensure that your iPad Pro has the latest version of the iOS software. You can check this easily by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Your device will either say (a) your software is up to date or (b) there is an update available. If there is an update available, follow the instructions to download and install the update.
- Do these in this order:
- Remove your keyboard.
- Restart your iPad Pro. You can turn off your iPad Pro by going to Settings > General> Shut Down. Then turn on your device.
- Reconnect your keyboard.
- Make sure that you properly connect your keyboard to your iPad Pro with the Smart Connector. Make sure that nothing is covering (dirt, debris, lint, plastic, paper etc) connection pins. Check your connections. These things can prevent your iPad Pro from making a connection to your keyboard. Try gently cleaning the Smart Connector pins and contacts. You can try blowing air directly into your connectors to remove debris.
- Reset your iPad Pro. This is also called force restart. Do not worry, you will not lose any content. You need to follow different steps. Here is how:
- If your iPad does not have a Home button:
- Press and and then release the Volume Up button.
- Now press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Power button until your iPad restarts.
- If your iPad has a Home button:
- Press and hold the Home and the Top buttons together until the Apple logo appears. Then release the buttons.
- If your iPad does not have a Home button:
If nothing above helps you, you may want to contact Apple or make a Genius Bar appointment. If you re soo disappointed, you can also send feedback to Apple. You should definately contact Apple if your device is still under warranty. However, Apple has other warranty programs (e.g., Quality Program, Repair Program etc), even if your device is out of warranty. Regarding keyboards, Apple is servicing the iPad Pro Smart Keyboard for up to three years.
See also: iPad not charging?
SOLVED for me!!! i have struggled with this issue for 6 months now. My keyboard would work off and on. I cleaned and cleaned again. I called Apple support which was no help at all. I have a 2nd gen 2017 version iPad Pro 12.9 with the Smart Keyboard. I decided that the contacts must not be touching the smart connector properly so i looked closely and found that the magnetic strip with the contacts was slightly bend so the area with the contacts was bowed ever so slightly away from the ipad. I very carefully bent it so it was straight again and immediately it all worked again.
Thanks Patrick
Bend it, cleaned it, and hey presto it is working again. Will see when it stops if we can repeat the treatment.
It worked for me too. Thanks a lot! You saved me from a lot fustration!
Holy moly, thanks Patrick! This has been bugging me for so many months, and now it’s fixed!
Thank U I did the same and it worked. Can’t believe i was struggling for so long gosh
Thank u so much once again
Brilliant! It worked for me too, thank you!!
Thank you Patrick! I was about to head to Apple Service Center when I saw this post. Worked like a charm. Thanks for saring this and help many others like me.
Gracias, vivo en Bolivia y acá no hay soporte técnico. I Washington abortó toda die. Thank u.
I wanted to leave a comment because I am ecstatic. Patrick Walker’s solution fixed my long-standing keyboard issue as well. I tried everything and was going to make an appointment at the Apple Store before coming across this article and Patrick Walker’s suggestion that maybe the magnetic strip had become bent.
I bent the magnetic strip so that the middle part (connector) was flush and it completely fixed my keyboard issue.
The simplest solution – Occam’s Razor for the win!
Thank you Patrick Walker!
Michael
Daring to bend the connector strip so as to “push the middle pin” towards the connectors seemed to solve the issue. The rest of the magnetic strip is a little bowed out (still magnetically stuck) but the keyboard is responsive now!
Thanks for the tip PW & MC.
Simplest solution works!! Bent the connector strip until the contacts were mating properly.
Unfortunately, this did not work for me. Have tried a few other fixes, too, and nothing has worked. I will see an Apple Genius person when I am next in a city that has one.
Thank you for posting this fix, it was hopeful to try!!
I solved problem with smart keyboard. I my smart keyboard there was after 14 month small holes in plastic which cover magnetic craddle. Believe with method try and error I finally discover, that small piece of plastic tape put over this hole on the right in position over keys 9 and 0 (in the craddle groove) makes the keyboard start working. There was probably short circuit because of connection between ipad case and punctured plastic cover of signal lead which makes this happen.
This worked for me. I placed a thin strip of electrical tape on top of the part of the magnetic strip that were worn out and showing bits of metal coming through. Maybe because it wasn’t insulated properly it was malfunctioning. Thanks Jarda!
Same for me!! Thanks ever so much, I would have never dared to bend it ever so slightly for fear or damaging anything but as you all suggested it, it worked! . Thank you so much!
Thanks for the advice. However I tried all of those things, even bending it slightly, to no success. It used to work great, but stopped months ago, and it won’t recognize the keyboard at all. Very frustrating. I’ll take it in for a Genius appointment.
+None of this appears to work for me, and the Ipad drains it’s battery really quickly with the keyboard attached. Much more since the last software update 12.3.1. Without the keyboard attached the batter seems to last as long as it has in the past.
Any ideas?
I’ve tried all the suggestions. I called Apple months ago and have gotten the run around. Apple doesn’t care. They just want me to buy another board. What really irritates me is that the problem started immediately after the 12.2 update that wasn’t authorized. My auto update has always been off, yet Apple pushed it through. Most updates are designed to take up space that can’t be retrieved and to stop certain apps from working. I’ve yet to read up on an update that necessary.
Since the rest my board is totally useless.
I understand your frustration too, Bonnie. Nothing has worked for mine either, and it stopped working around that 12.2 update as well. It started connecting on and off one day and now it wont connect at all. Which is very frustrating considering I spent $160 for this keyboard and only got a year’s use out of it before it started messing up!
This worked for my like a charm!
I’ve tried every possible solution…
Just bend the connectors a little bit towards the iPad connectors, and now it works every single time. So no more connection errors! 🙂
Thank you! 😀
(I almost bought a new smart keyboard)