Resolving an issue in iOS 8.0 which makes Bluetooth keyboard not working

By June, 23 September, 2014

Forum
iOS and iPadOS
If your Bluetooth keyboard doesn't work with VoiceOver except just a few functions in iOS 8.0, try the following steps to resolve the issue. Once the problem disappears, it doesn't appear again unless you change the iPhone language in Settings, General, Language & Region. To make the problem disappear from your iPhone, follow these steps: 1. If you use just one software keyboard, temporarily add an arbitrary one in Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards, Add New Keyboard. 2. Open the Notes app. 3. Create a new note. 4. Press the left arrow key and the right arrow key simultaneously to turn off the quick navigation option. 5. Hold down the command key and press the space key several times to cycle through the list of software keyboards. 6. Press the left arrow key and the right arrow key simultaneously to turn on the quick navigation option. 7. Now your Bluetooth keyboard should work fine except other iOS bugs. 8. You may delete the software keyboard temporarily added at Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards. This is a copy of the email sent to RiVO customers to resolve the issue (http://goo.gl/GiBvWy) since it should also resolve the problem for other Bluetooth keyboards as well. Thanks. Ein RiVO: mobience.com/rivo Twitter: twitter.com/mobience Facebook: facebook.com/mobience

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Comments

By dvdmth on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 19:50

This appears to resolve a lot of the VoiceOver commands that broke when upgrading to iOS 8, including all commands involving the Control + Option keys. It also fixed the Caps Lock On bug.

However, there are still some issues that remain, even after doing this. Pressing Shift + Arrow still doesn't work for selecting text, and Option + Up arrow does not work for moving to the previous paragraph, though oddly Option + Down Arrow now works. Also, my iPad gets stuck when I try to switch between apps with Command + Tab, but that may not be related.

I am no longer having VoiceOver turn itself off and back on while using my Bluetooth keyboard, but that issue has been intermittent, so I can't say for sure if the problem is resolved. I also do not appear to be getting duplicate keys while typing, unless a key got duplicated while I was typing this and I didn't notice.

Assuming nothing else comes up, I think this makes my Bluetooth keyboard usable again. For me this was the biggest problem with iOS 8, and all other issues I had to deal with were small annoyances, so if indeed this fix holds up, I will be very happy.

By June on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 19:50

iOS 8.0.2 didn't resolve the issue. We have verified that the issue is caused by the same problem as in iOS 8.0, and can be resolved in the same way.

By Fariba on Friday, October 24, 2014 - 19:50

Thank you very much for helping me regarding my bluetooth keyboard problem. Now I'm waiting for a sighted person to come and do all the things you've advised me to do. As I have no sight therefore I wouldn't be confident enough to do it by myself. I shall let you know if it worked. Once more thank you for your help.

By Toonhead on Friday, October 24, 2014 - 19:50

If you're a beginning iOS user I know this task looks a bit daunting. Just know at some point it is possible to fix it independently, so the process can be done without sighted help. But I understand how it feels if you aren't confident. Just practice and you'll find that you're doing more stuff on your iDevice than you ever thought possible.

By David Truong on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 19:50

Hey there,

I did the steps outlined above and still have problems typing text in IOS8 latest version! The keyboard insists on typing double letters and the when you do a space it is not recognised etc. I of course have put the rivo into the typing mode and have nav off etc. These are only some of the problems encountered with Bluetooth keyboards and IOS8.

By Shaktikumar on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 19:50

How to open a notes app while performing all these steps? Which key is called a command key? Please answer my queries so that I can perform all these steps.

By June on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 19:50

Hi,

First of all, I'm sorry not to mention here that the issue has been resolved since iOS 8.1. The issue was very serious at iOS 8.0 for all the Bluetooth keyboards, but if you updated the iOS in your iPhone, which is 8.1.3 as of today, you don't need to follow the steps above.

This doesn't mean, however, that iOS 8.1.3 is free of problems. There are still problems, especially with Bluetooth keyboards, but fortunately most of which are considered minor ones, and they are believed to be addressed by Apple sooner or later.

Ein