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How to Update Your Apple Smart Keyboard

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If you’ve been having problems with your iPad Pro, it might be because of a bug with Apple’s Smart Keyboard. Fortunately, there’s already a fix! Here’s how to update your Apple Smart Keyboard.

Most mobile keyboards – heck, most keyboards in general – are pretty self-contained. You connect them, you press a button, a letter appears on the screen. If there’s a bug, you’ll probably have to take it back to the store. Unlike many mobile keyboards, Apple’s Smart Keyboard is a little more complicated; the keyboard and the iPad Pro talk to each other more than a tablet might with a standard Bluetooth keyboard.

ipad-pro-keyboard-shortcuts

Why would you want to update the Apple Smart Keyboard?

As a result, there’s a bigger chance for a bug to cause mayhem, but there’s also a better chance it can be easily fixed. Remember the Apple Smart Connector? Those three little dots on the side, where your Smart Keyboard connects? They also allow data to flow from the iPad to the keyboard, which means they can be used to update the software that lives on the keyboard.

Why would you want or need to update that software? It’s less about introducing new features and more about fixing bugs (and in the future, ensuring the keyboard remains compatible with newer iPad Pros). Recently, some iPad Pro users have been complaining about the iPad Pro waking up periodically, even when it’s not being used. I’ve noticed this issue on my own iPad, and wondered what was causing it.

Apple Smart KeyboardApparently, if you leave the iPad Pro in the Apple Smart Keyboard when you aren’t using it (and why wouldn’t you – it’s a good protector and a reasonably good stand), then an issue with the keyboard can cause your iPad Pro to keep waking up and turning on the screen. After a while, this can make your iPad drain its battery faster than it otherwise should.

How to update your Apple Smart Keyboard

Fortunately, updating the software on your keyboard is really very simple: it should work simply by taking it off and putting it back on.

Updating the software on an apple smart keyboardFirst, make sure your iPad is turned on and connected to the internet. Next, completely remove it from your iPad Pro – specifically, make sure the connection between the keyboard and the iPad’s Smart Connector is broken. Finally, wait five or ten seconds and re-connect the keyboard.

If an update is available, you’ll see a notification appear in the middle of your screen, informing you that an update for the keyboard is ready to install. Tap the button and you’ll see the notification change to a screen showing the percentage until completion; it shouldn’t take more than ten or fifteen seconds to complete.

When finished updating, the pop up simply disappears.

When finished updating, the pop-up simply disappears.

Unlike with iOS releases or point version updates, there are no software settings to check, so you’ll never know if there’s a keyboard update available. If you have some trouble with the above instructions, you are certain there’s an update available, try removing the Apple Smart Keyboard from your iPad Pro, turn your iPad Pro off completely (hold down the power button until the shutdown screen appears and slide your finger to turn it off), then turn it back on. Once you’re on the screen with all of your icons, and the iPad has reconnected to the internet, reconnect your keyboard cover and see if the pop-up appears.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Jenniferjdanforth

    02/25/2016 at 6:05 pm

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  2. ruthqureshi

    08/14/2016 at 11:39 pm

    your update is not working, it never comes.. it just say not compatible when it has been bought from apple

  3. Steve

    02/12/2017 at 1:05 am

    It never updates. I have put it off, removed the Keyboard and connected back, to no avail. Can I get the update patch from you?

  4. Stephen Bebber

    03/14/2017 at 12:03 pm

    Same hear! It’s not anything to do with updates!!! It’s just crap engineering period!

  5. Muhammad waris farooka

    04/24/2017 at 4:44 am

    No such update appears
    This accessory is not supported rather appears

    • Ruth

      04/24/2017 at 6:39 am

      well i got a replacement, as it was a genuine faulty under guarantee… contact apple direct if you are still in guarantee..

  6. Fredrik

    11/07/2018 at 4:49 am

    I contacted Apple and they said to contact the reseller and they sent it to Apple who found no issues and then I got it back and still, “this accessory is not supported” appears and it is impossible to write. I got to say, I am starting to really dislike Apple’s stance here, I am read about others with the same issue and that Apple has extended guarantee. But they themselves no nothing about it.

  7. R hartzell

    11/16/2018 at 10:31 pm

    I had to buy a magic key board and am left with a piece of crap that I keep on my iPad Pro because when I close it it protects shuts off the ipad as one piec not two.
    I have owned two desktop versions of macs, two MacBook pros and now an iPad Pro and am considering changing brands. they don’t issue a fix or update because then they cant sell you the latest and greatest that hasn’t been thought out properly and adds to the clutter that you have to carry around. It was only it of warranty when I was forced to buy something in its stead. A COMPANY THAT DOES NOT STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS IS A COMPANY THAT NO LONGER DESERVES YOUR BUSINESS.

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