Updated tablet to 4.3, now external keyboard doesn't work HELP

[Lauranar]

So after updating my Nexus 7 to 4.3 my external keyboard (Zagg Flex) stopped working. When I pair it via Bluetooth, it says that the device is connected to the tablet but the QWERTY does not work! I've been to other forums and apparently this is happening to a lot of people with different keyboard brands/ android devices. Is there a way to fix this problem? Can I go back to 4.2.2? If so, how do I do that? I am not very tech-savvy and my Nexus 7 is not rooted (nor do I know how to do that...)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! That sounds really frustrating. You're right, there are a number of posts and articles about 4.3 causing problems with BT keyboards. The only thing I can suggest at this time (at least, until there is hopefully a patch that comes out to fix the problem) is to see what happens if you completely delete or forget the keyboard from your Bluetooth list on the Nexus 7, then reconnect and see if that helps. Probably won't, but it's worth a try.

Downgrading back to 4.2.2 does require rooting, installation of a custom recovery, and flashing a 4.2.2 ROM. I'm sure there are instructions on the web on how to do that, but it is more advanced.

 

[Lauranar]

Thank you B. Diddy, I did try to delete the keyboard from my Bluetooth list but the problem was not fix. And since I have no idea how to root my device I guess I gonna have to wait for them to fix the issue....

 

[Golfdriver97]

Thank you B. Diddy, I did try to delete the keyboard from my Bluetooth list but the problem was not fix. And since I have no idea how to root my device I guess I gonna have to wait for them to fix the issue....

Anyway you can possibly clear cache in recovery to see if that helps?

From an Illusion S3

 

[B. Diddy]

Yep, good idea, Golfdriver97! Here's the procedure for wiping the system cache partition, which will NOT cause loss of any important data:

1. If your tablet is on, power it off.
2. Press and hold Power until the device powers on, then immediately press and hold Volume Down (while still pressing Power). You will see the word Start with an arrow drawn around it.
3. Press Volume Down twice to designate Recovery mode.
4. Press Power to restart into Recovery mode. You will see an image of an Android robot with a red exclamation mark.
5. While holding down Power, press Volume Up. The Recovery Menu should now appear.
6. Use the Volume buttons to highlight "Wipe Cache Partition," and press the Power button to execute.
7. When that's done, highlight "Reboot System Now" and press the Power button.

 

[Lauranar]

Anyway you can possibly clear cache in recovery to see if that helps?

From an Illusion S3

Did that and still doesn't work :/

 

[B. Diddy]

If the cache partition wipe didn't work, then this probably won't work, but still worth trying--Settings/Apps/All, select Bluetooth Share, and Clear Data.

 

[Lauranar]

Yep, good idea, Golfdriver97! Here's the procedure for wiping the system cache partition, which will NOT cause loss of any important data:

1. If your tablet is on, power it off.
2. Press and hold Power until the device powers on, then immediately press and hold Volume Down (while still pressing Power). You will see the word Start with an arrow drawn around it.
3. Press Volume Down twice to designate Recovery mode.
4. Press Power to restart into Recovery mode. You will see an image of an Android robot with a red exclamation mark.
5. While holding down Power, press Volume Up. The Recovery Menu should now appear.
6. Use the Volume buttons to highlight "Wipe Cache Partition," and press the Power button to execute.
7. When that's done, highlight "Reboot System Now" and press the Power button.

OMG... Just so you get an idea of how terrible I am at this, my battery went from 78% to 57% because I had to try THAT many times until I managed to get to step 7 lol But anyway, at first I thought that what Golfdriver97 meant was to go to settings>storage>cached data>press ok ... But clearly what he meant was to do what you described, so after doing that I tried pairing the keyboard but still no luck!

And clearing Bluetooth Share data didn't work either

Thanks tho! Now I know how to clear cache in recovery!

 

[B. Diddy]

Dangit! I guess you probably have to wait until the Google mothership patches this problem.

 

[sparksd]

Google "android 4.3 zagg keyboard" - 4.3 broke compatibility with a number of Bluetooth keyboards --

PSA: Android 4.3 Breaks Compatibility With Many Bluetooth Keyboards

 

[Anonne]

There is a fix that you can do manually but it requires that the device be rooted. Someone made an app that will do it, but again, you need the device to be rooted.

xda-developers - View Single Post - [Q] Android 4.3 and Bluetooth Keyboard Problem

 

[sonja77]

Anybody know if/when Google will fix that problem?
I'm not tech savvy enough to root my Nexus and I don't have time right now to sit down and learn how to do it.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Anonne]

So far what I have seen by perusing xda is that there is a fix but no date as to when it will be deployed. I take it that the update they pushed out recently didn't fix the issue, so I haven't bothered to install it and re-do the root. Rooting it is actually pretty easy and doesn't take too long.

This post actually explains in detail what needs to be done:
xda-developers - View Single Post - [Q] Android 4.3 and Bluetooth Keyboard Problem

NRT is Nexus Root Toolkit.

Nexus 7 ROOT - How to Root Nexus 7! (Android 4.3/4.2.1/4.2.2) - YouTube - video tutorial.