How to Fix the iPad Pro keyboard - 4 fixes! Working Proof!
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- Опубликовано: 7 апр 2020
- The iPad pro smart keyboard is great until it stops working or intermittently connects, giving “accessory not supported” messages. In this video I show what’s is causing this and how to fix it. Conductive tracks inside the cover become high resistance, leading to corrupted data and that pop up message, or they break completely stopping it working. This text is now being typed on my iPad Pro keyboard proving that it is possible to fix it! It is a great keyboard when it is working. So much better than those really cheap Bluetooth ones on eBay.
It is a half hour video showing why and where it has failed, a temporary fix, a better fix for the tracks in the cover, fixing the connection pins and fixing breaks between the 3 pins and the tracks. It doesn't take too long to do but needs a bit of perseverance, a soldering iron, a knife and some copper tape. See buying links below for these. All quite cheap compared to a new iPad pro smart keyboard.
The copper foil with conductive adhesive can be bought here:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3c0wZNZ
Amazon USA & other countries: amzn.to/2JKRXVc
Soldering iron kit and other tools:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/2XkiiBi
Amazon USA & others: amzn.to/2RkHpjw
Multimeter, for measuring resistance:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/2RkHCTQ
Amazon USA & others: amzn.to/3c26Bn3
Also on ebay for the above, e.g. soldering kit:
eBay UK: ebay.us/5rNt7Z
eBay USA: ebay.us/qHSpwM
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eBay UK: ebay.us/cE1BHK
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3aikbl8
Amazon USA & others: amzn.to/3cdwjpD
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This is the best “how to fix” video I’ve seen online. I’m not being hyperbolic. The mastery of pinning down a difficult problem and showing a full and elegant solution done well, is just art.
Thank you.
👱🏽♀️Thanks!
That seems like a lot of work but I guess that’s the only solution since Apple won’t stand by their product. I wrote a letter to their headquarters. They don’t care.
I spent for that shit so much money and it doesn't work
@@LinoCrafts same here - and they even said no-one else had reported a similar problem. I suggested they Google ‘iPad Pro Smart Keyboard not working’ while I was talking with them ….can’t think why they didn’t take up the suggestion!
This shouldn't happen to an accessory this expensive.
Yes and yes!!! Absolutely!!!
Yea
True
I have the same problem and I totally agree. Last time I bought any Apple stuff, the keyboard was pretty bad even when it worked. €15 would be a fair price
Premium price for a substandard product, we are the idiots for paying for this junk...
One other solution that works for my Ipad pro smart folio keyboard is to run a strong magnet in the center of the cover. My keyboard never works even after endless folding attempts in multiple positions. But if i do multiple runs of a magnet on the center of the keyboard cover which is magnetic, it immediately starts working. Please like my comment so that others can see and hope it saves them some headache.
Thanks, it work
I tried this before but after awhile the method stopped working
@@iantosh4898 you can buy any strong magnet like a neodymium magnet
@@Pigeion agree. Happened to me too. I threw the cover out now. Its just not worth it. I will buy a bluetooth keyboard which can be attached to the ipad
recca9800 yeah! I already got a Logitech keys to go with is really good Keyboard
19 seconds in to your video and it is fixed!! Command-Tab did the trick. Thank you so much. You are my hero of the day!!!
Wow! I just followed your tutorial and i am so happy that my keyboard is back to normal! Thank you so much!!!
Great to read that! Well done. Thanks.
Perfect! Thank you so much. Typing this on my keyboard for the first time in months. This was the second replacement keyboard that Apple gave me ... all with the same issue after 6 months, now out of warranty and with Apple Support providing such diabolical, rude and shambolic support that I’ll never spend another penny with them.
Thanks.
Thank you! I used the copper tape and double-sided tape and it is working wonderfully. All the best and thank your for posting this. I just sent some money in appreciation.
Glad it helped! thanks
anyone know how to pull the middle connector to level the other outer 2 pins? Without solder
When i tapped on this video, my keyboard instantly worked again
Same
I promise that just happened to me OMG i promise
yea how
@@pumpandskid7577 it was scared of surgery
Thanks a lot for the video. I’ve just mend my keyboard with your indications. In my case there was only one pin wrong, so I managed to repair it in a easier way: just a bit of adhesive aluminium foil to connect the right pin with the center stripe. The aluminium foil is over the pin. Since only one pin is mended in this way, there’s no shock circuit risk. If there’s more than one pin to mend, you can use the same method as me using nail varnish to insulate the connections from themselves and from the ipad.
PD: The pin out for my iPad Pro 12.5 Spanish keyboard is as follows:
- left pin right stripe;
- center pin left stripe
- right pin center stripe
Regards.
Brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and troubleshooting skills!
Thanks!
What an amazing video and so well demonstrated and explained. This fix worked for me, when all the Apple support, remained completely clueless about how to rectify this problem. Their keyboards should have been withdrawn from sales and the design amended, which is a shame as the keyboard is otherwise very compact.
Thanks. Well done for fixing it.
So my problem is that there is absolutely no continuity anywhere from the Center foil strip to the Center pin. The Center pin is not corroded or low. Is there any video on how to go into the thin strip that has the pins located into it?
Thank you so much for uploading this, i found a broken apple keyboard in the bin and took it hoping it would work for my ipad, i was sad to see it not being detected but after doing the most reliable method of soldering wires to the contacts which worked perfectly!!! Such a expensive keyboard fixed for free, its crazy
Cheers. Nice one. A good bit of recycling.
Thank you sir, it works like wonder. This worked perfectly for me. I don’t see any corrosion in my case, so i used the aluminium adhesive tape. Thank you once again that you save me a few hundred bucks, i was about to grab a new one.
Good to read, thanks for the feedback.
Great! I repaired my keyboard thanks to you. Your video is the most useful on this topic on the internet 🤩
Thank you
Thanks for the video,it’s very helpful ,mine stopped working after i wiped it with wet tissue and sprayed with disinfectants,your video made me realise that it could’ve been conductive problem due to the water seepage into the conductive panel .After i blowed dry it ,it came back in good working order.
Great to hear!
Hats off to you, I wouldn’t have known where to start.. love it!
Thanks
Thank you! Using my keyboard right now cos it works. Helpful video :)
Great! Cheers,
Beautiful DIY how-to. In-depth and easy to follow. Tearing down such a device I find daunting but you made it seem possible to anyone. Very Impressed. I've just ordered tape and all needed to do this. Thanks, cheers!
Thank you, good luck.
Worked excellent for my keyboard! Thanks for a great video that ended up saving me some money, at least for some time.
Great, well done.
Awesome, Thanks! I was looking at buying a new one, but i use it infrequently, so this is perfect.
oh well. I pulled it back and had no corrosion and had good connection from pins all the way into the back of the keyboard. Not sure what the problem is but at this point, ill spend the $50 and get a used one :/
Do you think the pins are making good contact with the ipad?
Many thanks, I have soldered the middle pin and now it works perfectly!
Glad it helped
I was able to bridge the bad trace just by bridging it with aluminum duct tape. Easy peasy. Thanks.
Well done.
Same problem. Available BT keyboards are crap or don’t support my favorite layout. I have used an aluminum tape and a double sided tape. My work is not so perfect, and still have some minor connection issues, but now, I can type this text with this fixed keyboard! So thanks for this guide! ;)
Well done!
I have tried two keyboards and neither work. Is there a way to test the smart connector on the iPad itself and see if that is working properly?
This worked when all other solutions failed! Thank you!!
Great, well done.
Before opening the thing I've tried heating the flexible rubber band with a hairdryer and pressing it gently on all its way with an old rubber phone case several times (carefully because plastic may meltdown) and it worked for me at the moment.
No harm in trying quicker (all be it temporary) fixes before this procedure. Thanks for your comments.
Messing with my connectors for my 11” seem to bring it back for a day or so but I probably need to sell it and tell the future buyer the deal. I’d prefer to mount it next to a Monitor and use the Apple Magic Keyboard and Mouse I guess though traveling would be harder (I’m not on a plane for a while...)
Thank you so much.. will check if that's the case for my one too
Cheers. Good luck and patience!
You, Sir, are amazing. I’ve had two of these fail on me, and until this video I had no idea how to fix them. Today I ripped one open like you have here and used foil to make it work again. Absolutely fantastic. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback. Well done.
Excellent Video. I tried to get my keyboard repaired from Apple service centre but they refused to do the repair job instead they suggested to buy new one at hefty price. Even I checked with other private repair shops in Mumbai but didn’t get any positive response. Then saw this video and tried to repair myself. I am happy to share that I could repair my Smart Keyboard with the help of this video. Thank you so much for sharing this video.
Great! Well done!
Please your profile picture- i love it
This worked just like he showed. I was able to do it myself! I used 3M spray adhesive to re-attach the felt that was stripped away. Everything if working great! Thank you!
Great, well done.
It worked, thank you for the tutorial!
Great, well done!
This is exactly the issue I am having thank you 🙏🏻
Cheers.
Absolutely insane tutorial. I did mine yesterday. Still working. Thank you very much
Thanks, Glad it helped.
Awesome instructions. I’ve been looking for months. I refused to buy a new one. Ordering my supplies now!
Thanks. Good luck.
Thank you very much for explaining thids problem,. What i did in my ipad keyboard is press the folding part with a pen. It works ! All these months omg!!!!
Great 👍
Mine needs the ‘wire’ fix for the middle pin so it’s going in the bin. Probably the most disappointing apple accessory I’ve bought in many years.
What cant you fix it? The video shows how i did it in 15min with few drops of glue and some aluminium foil. Works for years since
@@kobalov1 I’m pleased the simple fix worked for you but as I said in my post, mine needs the ‘wire fix ‘. There is no continuity between on of the connection pins and the flexible tracks. I spent good money on a stylish keyboard and have no interest what will look shabby with a visible wire and likely will not be a lasting fix anyhow.
@@quasijones ah im a bad reader sorry
I totally agree. Apple should make good of all this. It wasn’t cheap to buy some very disappointed and I wrote a letter to them. But I’m sure they don’t care
I’ve been trying to separate the layer for about 1 hour and I can’t it comes with a part of fabric with the lather layer
I used method nº2 and it worked perfectly! Thank you so much!!
Great, well done.
I tried the video solution. I found that it is easy to peel off the rubber cover where it is green under it due to a substance that seems product of corrosion, but not as easy at other sections.
I tried to clean the green parts, and test, without results. At some point, I noticed that the problem seemed to be a break between the pins and the conductive lines, so I tried to peel of the rubber near the pins with a small screwdriver. Suddenly, the keyboard started to work, and I am writing this using it.
Will it last? I don’t know.
What I do know is that I won’t buy Apple accessories again if I can avoid it. This is my second ThinkPad keyboard, and I had to buy a second keyboard for a Mac, because the first just stopped working. My Magic Mouse has aluminum foil because otherwise doesn’t work.
Apple develop great devices, but not good accessories.
Thanks, just what I was looking for, I will surely try the copper strip trick, foil worked...
Cheers. Thanks for posting.
I scratched the green stuff and it started working right away! You’ve done it pal. Thanks
Well done.
Hello, just followed your directions and temporary uses aluminum foil, this works. Thanks so much
Great. Well done.
Thank you so much I was about to buy one again until I saw your video you save me money .
Cheers
Thx for the video! It helped me fix my keyboard. I did one additional step before adding the aluminum tape: I cleaned the green gunk from the original tape with some isopropyl alcohol.
Cheers and thanks for your input.
Had mine for two years and it has started to go. I wont be buying another one as this product has been designed poorly with a high price and short shelf life.
Just fix it bro.
Agreed, mine died 13 months after getting it! Very frustrating
Thanks for this video!! Today fix mi iPad Pro keyboard exactly like you video, write now in my keyboard!!!
Cheers. Well done
Great video! Thank you so much, I’ve been learning how to fix my apple products myself in the last years. I have a question, I have the Smart Keyboard new model with the pins on the bottom instead the side, do you think I can try the same process?
Thanks. I am not sure where the weak spot would be on that model, but if it has failed completely then there is little to loose by trying.
No idea how to explain this but my keyboard stopped working ages ago and I stopped using it because it drained my iPad battery to just be attached. I recently started using it again but got frustrated over the battery draining so I decided to slap some superglue over the exposed metal parts thinking it might stop the connection. It’s completely fixed and have had no on and off issues yet.
thanks bro, it works!
Cheers, well done
Thank you for an excellent guide! I just fixed my smart keyboard based on this. However, I still couldn't get a connection after the foil fix. I noticed that the rubber lining on the short magnetic edge on each side of the three connection sockets was very worn on my item - so I cut some very thin strips of insulation tape and lined both edges, and everything came back to life again! Once again, great guide!
Cheers. Great that you perseverance.
Just essentially destroyed my keyboard ripping it apart without any real expectation that this would work, especially as mine is a slightly newer model but thought “well it doesn’t work so who cares if I destroy it?!” But to my amazement, it worked! Speechless. Thanks!!
Well done!
is yours the one that came out later with the pins on the side?
THANK YOU! Thru the years I have purchased several of these keyboards. I love them - when they work - but they always end up failing! Can’t wait to tear mine apart!
Agreed, they are good when working. Good luck. I have moved onto the magic keyboard now with the newer ipad pro. They are also very good.
I’ve just tried it and my keyboard is working 😍😍😍 thank u 🙏🏻
Great to hear!
I immediately try to repair my keyboard. Greetings and thanks from Colombia
Greetings.
Thak you for youre sharing this clip
Cheers
The best one! Solved my problem!
Good to know!
Would the tape used for dryer ventilation work in this case? It’s a thin, but very sticky tape. I was thinking of folding it over to make it into a double sided tape. That way the plain material side can be stuck back onto the conductive tape side.
Is it conductive tape with a low electrical resistance? If your not sure measure it with a multimeter.
It worked! Thanks mate!
Cheers
A lot of my friend like 10 of them, their keyboard (iPad Pro 9.7) stopped working after a year of purchase (exactly a month after the warranty is out) and Apple won’t do anything.
Ohhh thanks a lot you video was very helpful to me, the problem was under poliuretano layer near to the three pins.
Glad it helped!
Amazing your the best I’m subbed
Thanks!
I am now onto my 3rd keyboard since I purchased my iPad Pro, apple replaced the last one and this time when I conatacted apple then arranged to have it looked at I was told wear and tear, no further replacement as they have done their bit???? When I asked about are they making a change to the keyboard to stop this from happening there was not a lot of concern???I feel that they should be looking at the design and fixing it??
They should, but there is also the magic keyboard which is better and probably long lasting as it doesn't bend back on itself.
Thank you so much for your video, I fixed mine successfully with aluminum foil. Although the green part doesn’t seem worn out yet.
Glad it helped you fix it.
I was able to get narrow copper tape and cut the end to a gradual tip. After testing for resistance and finding the middle pin was very high from the pin to the strip, I maneuvered the tip of copper tape to the middle pin. I got it under the rubber opening around the pin then formed it under the bend and to the corresponding strip on the Smart Keyboard. Then voila! Keyboard works again. Thank you for your helpful video.
Great, well done. Good feedback.
Thank you so muchhhhh for sharing this valuable video. My dad watched it and helped fixed the keyboard following your advice ❤️. Finally my Smart Keyboard is now working perfectly again, after letting it be just a Smart Cover for the past two years! You helped me save lots of $$. Truly grateful for the detailed advice :)))
PS. Mine has to go with the wired option (and my dad hid it inside the tube so it’s not so visible) since two of the connectors lost connection with the keyboard.
Great and well done to you and your Dad. Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you good sir. You are awesome!
Happy to help!
Finally someone figured out how to fix this thing, all I get when asking an Apple technician is, “It is unrepairable“. I loved the keyboard, but from a moment, it just stopped working. Thanks for the video and your courage, they were really helpful, BTW it might just work for the Microsoft surface keyboard too.
Thanks, yes it might work for the microsoft keyboard I would imagine. I am sure similar principles are used elsewhere.
Great job and I learned a lot from u genius
You are too kind. Thanks.
Any idea to get rid of a short circuit between the left and right pin? Or ist it normal to have 0 ohms there?
That is not normal. Seems unusual. You could try deliberately breaking the ribbon strip in the middle somewhere to try and isolate where the short is. Keyboard end or pin end. Then try and isolate more from there.
You are so genius. Thank you sir!
Cheers!
@@comeinhandynow I tried with conductive thread, without iron and wire, conductive tape.
How opportune your thorough video is because my keyboard exhibited the same error message and died the other day. Plenty of time on my hands with the coronavirus stay-at-home orders, so I will give your recommendations a try after I receive an order of copper adhesive tape.
Good luck and patience.
I’m experiencing this problem again,my first keyboard apple took it and give me a new one,soon hopefully they do the same lol
Wow, that’s quite a deep dive! Thank you, man. I guess there’s no easy solution for my Smart Keyboard. It’s a shame Apple made them so unreliable.
Thanks. I do have some sympathies for the Apple designers. It’s a tricky job making flexible joints with wires and if I’m honest I did tend to use and abuse my keyboard/cover a fair bit, sometimes using it to hang the ipad over the exercise bike screen!
I didn’t abuse my cover at all. In fact, I bought a new different brand cover for about $30 and it’s great! The company even responded to me when I had a question about getting it to fit snug. Apple doesn’t give a crap about you. I’ve written 2 letters to them and NO response at all. Their customer service sucks!
@@lorrainecoffey8743 can you give us a link or the name plz? i'm searching for a good substitute
Thanks for the tip, but how do I get the wooly part back on and not flopping and showing the gold parts?
See time 17:05 in video - double sided adhesive tape = carpet tape.
It's funny mine just started acting up this month as well....what a coincidence.....
Would you be able to come up with a rough schematic of the keyboard and where we should be testing for faults? LMK
I think it’s common after 2-3 years of a lot of use. No schematic needed to fix it. It is just the connection from the pins to the keyboard via flexible strips. The connection breaks due to all that flexing. That is the bit that needs fixing.
@@comeinhandynow Good news I got it! USed a piece of aluminum foil to confirm that one of the pins was a bit too short. Oddly the midget pin perked up after that and behaved.
Thank you so much for your reply tho :)
great video. Have ipad pro 2nd gen 12.9...on my 2nd keyboard and getting these same issues again...but now I don't think they make the keyboard. This video was very helpful in understanding the problem...we'll see if i can replicate the fixes.
Thanks. Good luck with yours.
Very good sleuthing. I have the problem and will get on this.
Good luck. It seems that the apple ‘magic keyboard’ is better to bear in mind on future upgrades.
@@comeinhandynow Unfortunately, that wasn’t the problem. It’s the center pin and no amount or direction of depressing gets it to work. The spring and pin seem to be in good condition. I even tried to drip some alcohol in to loosen any corrosion that might be in there. No luck. It looks like there are reasonably priced Bluetooth options available. It was a good effort anyway.
Great and super detailed video! Have the same issue. Your upper layer (the felt one) peeled off neatly, which didn't happen with mine. Did you prep it in any way before pulling it off? Thanks.
Thanks. No not prepped but it is a very tough pull off. Once you get it started it gets easier.
I'm glad I paid $20 for a bad one. I'm going to try this fix now. This is an awesome video. Thanks
Thanks. Good luck.
Thank you scraping those 3 knobs works.
I can understand this corrosion to conductive fabric is due to exposure to moisture... like a spillage of some sorts.
I still wonder what the issue is with keyboards that does not have corrosion due to water damage.
One possible reason is that the iPad is supposed to engage the smart keyboard only in the typing position. This is enabled through a combination of sensors on the keyboard itself and magnets from the ipad. Once the keyboard is folded back to “Entertainment mode” it should automatically prompt on-screen keyboard.
I don’t know if there is a point of failure in this mechanism.
I think it is very common, so not so related to the look of corrosion.
I was wondering about the level conductivity through the adhesive side of the copper tape, as you originally had it. Do you think that could be why the wires were needed?
No the adhesive is a conductive type on the tape I bought. This can be tested with a multimeter.
I found that if you peel the other end where it folds and do the the same method it works as well as the other end
I have a problem too but my keys-board is Logitech same keys no response
Thank you so much.
Hello this working.
Great! Cheers.
As of watching this...have had 2 of these fail and my wife's keyboard case is also on its way out... soon will be 3. While I appreciate that a solution exists....this seems like way too much trouble to attempt. Does anyone know if newer Ipad keyboards have the same failure rates?
I have the apple magic keyboard, the one where the ipad pro floats above the keyboard and it does seem better designed as the joint flexes a lot less. So far it is still working well.
How did you do to separate the layer of lather with out removing the layer of fabric that comes with the lather one or do I have to separate them both?
It hard to advise remotely. You need to see what to remove in order to see the tracks, use the video for guidance and give it a go.
Wait... what does command tab do? It worked for me... I hope it does not break for real though.
thank u im being looking for this
Cheers. I hope you get yours working again.
it work for me ,thank you so much.
Great!
Thank you!!!
Cheers
I watched your video and then immediately my keyboard came back to life !!! I didn’t do anymore than watch your video so thanks for the intervention 😂😂
Lol. It was scared about being ripped so decided to work!
@@comeinhandynow exactly what I was thinking 😂😂😂
This has just started happening to mine in the last 2 months I’ve had it about 2 years
Same..my keyboard stopped working and is wearing out... i kept it properly and ddont know why it stopped :(
Me since 3 days but I’ve had it for 9 months
I cleaned all my points with acetate and it started working but for how long is the question? I have only had my Smart Keyboard for 2 weeks. I threw the other one out because of this reason, but it is at least 3 years old.
It could have just beeen some muck on the contacts causing your connection problem, but see how it goes and return it if it is a regular problem.
1. Temporary Fix 6:22 - 11:50
2. Better Fix with Copper Tape 12:44 - 19:04
3. Checking & Fixing 3-Pins 19:04 - 20:20
4. Fixing Pin End with Wires 20:52 - 30:05
5. Proof of Fix 29:15
Do you know any good Bluetooth keyboard resets?
Dear friend, thank you very much for the frank review of the problem! I was about to throw my ipad pro keyboard away but will now try to fix it using you method. As we say it in Russia (about people who can fix things) your hands come out of a proper place! :)
Thanks, good luck.
The fix is great and easy to follow and apply. Sally it didn't work on my keyboard ... 😣
Thanks. That's a shame. Did you measure the resistance from each of the 3 pins to a piece of track very near to the keyboard end? and was it a low resistance? Also check for any shorts between pins.