Someone in my Destiny community asked whether the USB-C port on the Magic Keyboard for iPad can pass data, or if it’s just for charging. I decided to look it up.
Apple’s support document makes it clear that, unfortunately, the port only does power (check the ‘Charge your iPad’ section, pictured here). But then check the section I highlighted, emphasis mine:
Never connect one end of a USB-C cable to the USB-C port on your iPad and the other end to the USB-C port on your Magic Keyboard
Never!
I need to know what happens! Is Apple hiding the secret to infinite power in broad daylight??
Seems like a poor design decision. The portables can be charged from either MagSafe or USB-C. You would think this would use similar circuitry where one power input would be ignored while the other was connected.
Seems like a complicated situation. They’re technically two separate devices, one port (iPad) can send power in and out, the other can only send it in (Magic Keyboard). This warning is specifically about connecting a single USB-C cable between the two, which I imagine can create an undesirable loop of power or miscommunication or whatever.