Brydge Air MAX+ Rugged Keyboard for iPad Air & Pro 11"

Q: How do I turn on and pair my Air MAX+ or 10.9 MAX+?

Power on/off
1. Press the power key for one second — the LED flashes green to confirm the keyboard is on.
2. To turn off, hold the power key for three seconds until the LED flashes red.

Pair via Bluetooth
3. Hold the Bluetooth key for 3 seconds, the LED flashes blue.
4. On your iPad: Settings → Bluetooth → select your Brydge keyboard.
5. When paired, the blue LED turns off. Your keyboard and trackpad are now active.
Note: AssistiveTouch must be off for trackpad gestures to work. Go to: Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch → OFF

Q: How does Instant-On™ connectivity work?
With Bluetooth 5.0 and the latest firmware, the Air MAX+ and 10.9 MAX+ reconnect to your iPad almost instantly, reducing the lag you may have experienced with older Bluetooth keyboards.
Once paired, the keyboard stays connected for up to 4 hours before sleeping. To wake both devices, tap the trackpad or press any key.

Q: My keyboard isn't connecting, how do I fix pairing issues?
6. On your iPad, go to Settings → Bluetooth and remove the Brydge keyboard from the device list.
7. Turn the keyboard off.
8. Restart your iPad.
9. Turn the keyboard back on and re-pair via Bluetooth settings.

If the problem persists, reset your iPad network settings:
10. Go to Settings → General → Reset → Reset Network Settings.
11. Set up your Bluetooth pairings again.

Q: How do I open the emoji selector?
Use this keyboard shortcut anywhere you can type:
Ctrl + Cmd + Space
Or configure the Globe key:
12. Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Hardware Keyboard.
13. Enable Press Globe for Emoji.

Q: How do I charge my keyboard?
Your keyboard charges via USB-C. Connect any standard USB-C cable to the charging port and a power source.
Note: The USB-C port is for charging the keyboard only, it does not support passthrough charging to your iPad.
• A solid red LED indicates the keyboard is charging.
• The LED turns off when fully charged.
• Backlit keys are temporarily disabled below 15% battery to conserve power.
Battery life: up to 3 months at 2 hours use per day without backlight, or up to 40 hours with consistent backlight use.

Q: How do I check my keyboard's battery level?
14. Touch and hold an empty area of your Home Screen until icons wiggle.
15. Tap the + icon, search for Batteries, choose a size, and tap Add Widget.
The widget shows your keyboard's battery percentage alongside your iPad and other connected devices.

Q: My keyboard won't turn on or charge, what should I do?
Tip: A worn or faulty cable is the most common cause. Try this first.
16. Try a different USB-C cable and power adapter.
17. Leave the keyboard on charge for at least 30 minutes before pressing the power button again.
If the problem persists after trying a different cable, contact our support team.

Q: Can I turn off the trackpad while typing?
There is no dedicated hardware shortcut on the Air MAX+ or 10.9 MAX+ to toggle the trackpad. You can disable it through iPadOS settings:
18. Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch → ON
19. Tap Devices, select your Brydge keyboard, and toggle Trackpad OFF.
Repeat to re-enable.
Tip: Resting your palms slightly higher on the keyboard frame prevents accidental trackpad contact during long typing sessions.

Q: Does the keyboard have a hardware shortcut to toggle the trackpad?
No. The Air MAX+ and 10.9 MAX+ do not have a dedicated hardware shortcut to toggle the trackpad. The trackpad becomes active automatically when paired. Use iPadOS Settings to disable it — see the question above.
Note: The Fn + Space trackpad shortcut is exclusive to the MAX 11.0 and MAX 13.0 and is not available on these models.

Q: What trackpad gestures are supported?
• One finger tap - click and select
• Two finger tap - right-click / context menu
• Two finger swipe up/down - scroll up or down
• Two finger swipe left/right - scroll left or right
• Two finger swipe right - open Today View
• Two finger swipe down - open Search
• Three finger swipe left/right - switch between open apps
• Three finger swipe up (hold) - open App Switcher
• Pinch open/closed - zoom in or out
• One finger to bottom edge - go Home
• One finger to top right corner - open Control Centre
• Tap or key press - wake iPad and keyboard
Note: AssistiveTouch must be off for gestures to work. Go to: Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch → OFF

Q: How do I update my keyboard's firmware?
No update is needed. The Air MAX+ and 10.9 MAX+ come pre-equipped with the latest firmware, no app or software required.
Note: The Brydge Connect app is no longer available. It was used to update older Pro+ keyboards only and is not required for any current MAX+ product.

• Copy - Cmd + C
• Paste - Cmd + V
• Cut - Cmd + X
• Undo - Cmd + Z
• Underline - Cmd + U
• Italic - Cmd + I
• Home Screen - Cmd + H
• Switch App - Cmd + Tab
• Show Dock - Cmd + Option + D
• Search - Cmd + Space
• Emoji selector - Ctrl + Cmd + Space
• Switch language — Globe key
Note: The Air MAX+ and 10.9 MAX+ do not have the Fn + Space trackpad shortcut. That shortcut is exclusive to the MAX 11.0 and MAX 13.0.

The Air MAX+ fits iPad Air (4th & 5th Gen), iPad Air 11-inch (M2–M3), and iPad Pro 11-inch (1st–4th Gen). The 10.9 MAX+ fits iPad (10th Gen) and iPad (A16) 11th Gen.

With Bluetooth 5.0, the keyboard reconnects to your iPad almost instantly when you wake it similar to a Smart Connector keyboard experience.

There is no hardware shortcut, but you can disable it through iPadOS Settings Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch → Devices → Trackpad OFF.

Up to 3 months at 2 hours use per day without backlight, or up to 40 hours with consistent backlight use. Charges via USB-C.

The case is MIL-STD-810G certified tested to survive drops of up to 4 feet.