15 Best Ways to Fix iPad Keyboard Not Working.
Are you having trouble using the on-screen keyboard on your iPad? Or is your Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard, or third-party external keyboard not working with iPadOS?
This guide will help you fix screen and external keyboard issues on iPad. Most of the troubleshooting tips below apply to iPhone as well.
How to Fix Onscreen Keyboard Not Working on iPad
If the On-Screen Keyboard for your iPad is not showing, freezing, or crashing, try the fixes below. Skip anything that doesn’t fit.
Disable External Keyboard
If you have connected an external keyboard to your iPad, the on-screen keyboard will not appear until you manually activate it. Simply tap the Keyboard icon in the right corner of your iPad screen and select Show Keyboard to open the on-screen keyboard.
If you want to always use the on-screen keyboard, turn off the external keyboard (if it has a physical on/off switch), turn off Bluetooth on iPad via Control Center, or remove the keyboard as a Bluetooth device by going to Settings > Bluetooth.< /p>
Activate Third-Party Keyboard
If you install a third-party on-screen keyboard (like Gboard, SwiftKey, or Grammarly) on your iPad, it won’t show up in your keyboard list until you activate it.
To do this, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard and select your keyboard under Third Party Keyboards. Then select a keyboard from the list of active keyboards and click “Allow Full Control”.
You can then press and hold the globe icon at the bottom left of the standard iPad keyboard whenever you want to switch between active keyboards.
Force-Quit App & Retry
iPad on-screen keyboard not showing only in a certain app? If this is the case, force quitting the app can help fix any minor glitches related to the software.
To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-tap the Home button) to bring up the app switcher. Then drag the application card (for example, Safari) up and off the screen. After that, restart the app from the Home Screen, Dock, or App Library.
Restart or Force-Restart iPad
Restarting your iPad can also fix a buggy keyboard. Just go to Settings > General > Power Off to turn off your iPad. Then wait 30 seconds and hold the side button to reload it.
If trying to open the On-Screen Keyboard also causes your iPad to freeze, try force restarting it.
iPad without a Home button
Quickly press the volume up and down keys one after the other. Then immediately press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
iPad with Home button
Press and hold the Home and Power buttons at the same time until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Update Apps
If problems with the on-screen keyboard persist, try updating apps on your iPad. To do this, press and hold the App Store icon on the home screen and select Updates. Then click Update All.
Update Your iPad
Glitchy system software is another reason that prevents the iPad on-screen keyboard from functioning properly. To fix this, apply any pending iOS or iPadOS updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Check Keyboard Settings
Check your iPad’s on-screen keyboard settings to make sure they’re set up to suit your preferences. For example, if the Slide to Type function does not work on a floating keyboard, it is recommended to check if the corresponding option is active.
To do this, open the Settings app and go to General > Keyboard. You’ll find a list of keyboard settings under All Keyboards, Emoji, and Language. For third-party keyboards, check the additional configuration options in the respective apps.
Remove Third-Party Keyboards
If a third-party on-screen keyboard is causing crashes or other issues, try updating it through the App Store. If that doesn’t help, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Then swipe left on the keyboard and tap Delete to deactivate it.
If you want to keep using the keyboard, wait until a new update is available that fixes the problem, or contact its developer to speed up the process. Check the keyboard page on the App Store for relevant contact information.
How to Fix External Keyboard Not Working on iPad
If the Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, or a third-party external keyboard can’t connect to iPad or doesn’t work properly, try the fixes below to fix the problem.
Check for Compatibility
Your Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard, or Smart Folio Keyboard may not be compatible with your iPad, iPad Air, or iPad Pro model. For example, the first generation 12.9″ Magic Keyboard is not compatible with iPad Pro (2021).
Visit the Apple Keyboards for iPad page or do a quick check on the web for compatibility information. If you are using a third party keyboard, check the manufacturer’s website.
In addition, your keyboard may require the latest version of iPadOS to function properly. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to update your iPad to the latest version.
Clean the Smart Connector
If you’re using a Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard, or Smart Folio Keyboard, your iPad uses a Smart Connector (which looks like a set of three metal pins on the side or back) to connect. Try wiping it with a soft, dry cloth and see if there’s a difference.
Check Keyboard Settings
If certain keys or functions don’t work on an external keyboard, be sure to go to General > Keyboard > Hardware Keyboard to check and change how it works.
For example, if a certain modifier key doesn’t work, click “Modifier Keys” to check the key bindings again.
Turn Keyboard Off & On
If your external keyboard has an on/off switch (such as Magic Keyboard for Mac), restart your keyboard. This often fixes occasional issues preventing the iPad from connecting.
Recharge Keyboard
Your keyboard may just have run out of battery. Connect it to a power source (or replace the batteries with a new pair) and try connecting it to your iPad again.
Disconnect and Reconnect Keyboard
If you are using a Bluetooth keyboard, you may be able to resolve Bluetooth cache corruption issues by disconnecting and reconnecting it to your iPad.
To do this, open “Settings” and click “Bluetooth”. Then tap the Info icon next to the keyboard and select the Forget this device option. After that, reconnect the keyboard to iPad.
Note. If you’re using multiple keyboards, it’s a good idea to disable any keyboards other than the one you’re currently using.
Restore iPad Settings
Corrupted network settings are another reason that causes connection issues between the keyboard and iPad. You can try resetting them by going to Settings > General > Move or Reset iPad > Reset and tap Reset Network Settings.
If that doesn’t help, use the Reset All Settings option to restore all iPad settings to factory defaults. However, before that, you can create an iTunes or iCloud backup.
If you’re still having problems, the problem is probably with the keyboard itself. Try contacting Apple Support, or take your Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard to your nearest Apple Store. If the problem occurs with a third-party external keyboard, contact the manufacturer for a replacement.
15 Best Ways to Fix iPad Keyboard Not Working
15 Best Ways to Fix iPad Keyboard Not Working