iPadOS 15 and Magic Keyboard. Anybody with power problems?

[gusnyc]

Hi!

I’ve been having an issue with the last two betas of iPadOS. When I connect the power cable to the Magic Keyboard, the link between the iPad and keyboard breaks constantly. I can hear the sound of the power connecting over and over again. It happens very quickly. Of course it doesn‘t happen when I plug the USB cable directly to the iPad.

I don’t know if that is a problem with iPadOS or if it is a hardware problem with the keyboard. Is anybody experiencing this?

 

[steve62388]

I wonder if this is related to a problem I have started experiencing?

I have an external USB-C SSD that constantly drops and reconnects in Files. If there is some sort of power delivery issue then it would behave like that. I can't narrow down exactly when it started to occur (I don't use the drive all the time), but it would be around the last couple of betas.

I can't find any problem with the drive itself, under macOS 11.5.2 it operates fine. Disk Utility does not report any problems.

Right now I'm considering my only option is to sit tight and see if it fixes itself. If it hasn't by the release of iPadOS 15 I'll start delving into some deeper problem solving. Let me know if and when you see a resolution.

 

[dcmaccam]

Maybe your SSD is drawing too much current? Maybe borderline hence the drop and re-connect. You could check the spec. of the SSD.

 

[steve62388]

Maybe your SSD is drawing too much current? Maybe borderline hence the drop and re-connect. You could check the spec. of the SSD.

It was working until recently. It's a Sandisk Extreme Portable 500GB.

 

[dcmaccam]

I just thought that the power draw from the drive may be marginal. Causing it to work sometimes. Maybe something in this release is just tipping it over the edge. Are you able to try another drive?

 

[Ansath]

Hi!

I’ve been having an issue with the last two betas of iPadOS. When I connect the power cable to the Magic Keyboard, the link between the iPad and keyboard breaks constantly. I can hear the sound of the power connecting over and over again. It happens very quickly. Of course it doesn‘t happen when I plug the USB cable directly to the iPad.

I don’t know if that is a problem with iPadOS or if it is a hardware problem with the keyboard. Is anybody experiencing this?

Not having that issue here.

Have you ensures the connector is clean? Could be some dirt/dust in the way

 

[steve62388]

I just thought that the power draw from the drive may be marginal. Causing it to work sometimes. Maybe something in this release is just tipping it over the edge. Are you able to try another drive?

Unfortunately not another SSD, just a spinning hunk of rust. Although you have just made me think… I have a USB key somewhere I can dig up. Will post back with what I find.

EDIT: So the USB key works fine. Either my SSD has entered some sort of weird failure state (working on macOS but not iPadOS), or there is something up with the Beta.

 

[steve62388]

My SSD worked today.

It was pretty full (450GB/500GB). I cleared off about 120GB worth of APFS snapshots, another 80GB of files, and emptied the trash. I have no idea if this was the trigger to get it working or it’s a coincidence and something else is going on. But I’m leaning towards some sort of problem with iPadOS Files and snapshots or full disks, because it’s never been a particularly reliable app.

 

[MTShipp]

I have this same issue. Magic keyboard to iPad Pro 2021. If I plug into the iPad directly, it will charge. But to the MK it will charge a while, then stop, then start. I can hear the beeps each time. By morning, It is between 70%-80%. Only since beta 7 did this start.