iPad Pro Pogo pins cause virtual keyboard to disappear.

[romanof]

Ipad Pro 13" 1tb.
I have developed a weird problem that a total reset and reload (twice) does not fix.
My iPad is on a magnetic arm (usually) that has the normal pogo pins for recharging.
It has been working since June of 24. It has the latest updates. Since I use it for mostly podcasts and surfing, it has no far out apps. In fact, it has very few downloaded apps.

If I have the virtual keyboard up and am holding the ipad it works fine. Plug it into the mag mount and the keyboard instantly disappears. Pull it loose and back comes the keyboard.

Plugging in the USB C charge cable directly to the iPad still allows for the keyboard to appear.

Simple troubleshooting routine.
Unhook power from the mount, no change.
Pull iPad off of mount, keyboard appears.
Put it back on, keyboard disappears.
Put masking tape over the pogo pins and mount, keyboard does not disappear.

Problem found! Nothing to do with the magnet. Pogo pin activation makes keyboard disappear.

But, searching for pogo pins causes keyboard to disappear gets zero replies of any use.
Apple support instantly says get another mag mount. Goodbye.
I can find no switch in the iPadOS to affect this problem.

So...

Any suggestions anybody?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

🤔 Since the only Apple products that provide power through those pins, are actual keyboards... sounds like this might just be "how it's designed." Submit feedback, I guess - apple.com/feedback

 

[romanof]

🤔 Since the only Apple products that provide power through those pins, are actual keyboards... sounds like this might just be "how it's designed." Submit feedback, I guess - apple.com/feedback

The problem with that theory is that it worked fine in the same configuration for over a year.

 

[kyc]

That's the issue with accessories that reverse engineered the pins to provide power and also Apple for not officially opening it up for third party accessories. I use one of these stands as well and iPadOS a few versions ago used to show a keyboard button when connected to a keyboard so you can show/hide the onscreen keyboard anytime.

The new workaround is to enable Accessibility > Touch > Assistive Touch > Show Onscreen Keyboard. It works only when AssistiveTouch is enabled, so I have a shortcut automation that toggles Assistive Touch when my iPad is connected to or disconnected from power. I also find that the keyboard will still show if you disable AssistiveTouch immediately after, so in my shortcut I enable Assistive Touch, add a one second delay and then disable Assistive Touch.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

The problem with that theory is that it worked fine in the same configuration for over a year.

And now it doesn't ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If it's not "Made for iPad" certified, that's the risk the manufacturer (and you) run, by reverse-engineering the system without Apple's involvement. Apple tweaks something in an update, and suddenly it doesn't work the same way it has "for over a year."

The solution is through the manufacturer of the stand, or, feedback to Apple and MAYBE they'll update it.

 

[romanof]

Nah. The solution is to dump the iPad. I have plenty of other solutions to bypass that problem. And IMO, iPadOS is still not fully baked as yet - that isn't the only glitch that I have found, and a couple are really showstoppers. I can wait.

 

[rappr]

I was always suspicious of these chargers and stands using the Smart Connector when I was pretty sure Apple hadn’t opened it up to anyone besides Logitech. I can see my suspicion was warranted.