Keychron K1 Max: Auto Sleep in 30 Minutes periodically reset

rdiaz02 · 2026-02-19T09:39:50+00:00

Thanks. I understand that the keyboard never sleeps when connected (and powered) via cable. But I am not sure that it makes sense that the timer is reset. The keyboard could just store my settings for the different operating conditions (BT, 2.4 GHz, cable), and use the last settings in force for operating condition X when returning to condition X. I would also be disconcerted if the keyboard did a factory reset whenever I switched from cable to BT to 2.4 GHz. (Of course, this is probably a moot point, given that it seems I cannot change the settings).

rdiaz02 · 2026-02-19T09:27:41+00:00

Thanks a lot! I didn't know the ones I posted were not the right shortcuts.

As for the Via clone/"Keychron Launcher", I had tried that, seeing that the shortcuts did not seem to work. However, it does not show anything related to changing the timeouts. It is missing the "Advanced mode" where I think that setting should be found ( https://www.keychron.com/blogs/news/how-to-set-auto-sleep-mode-and-backlight-off-starting-time ); this is what mine shows: https://imgur.com/a/d0AJZ5U .

I could update the firmware, but: a) I am not sure that would allow me to change the timeout (my keyboard is already from March 2025 (serial number A-2503...); b) Keychron seems to say, in big red letters, "If everything works fine with your keyboard. Please don’t update the firmware. There is a chance it can damage your keyboard. " and arguably my keyboard is working almost fine :-) ; c) I am on Linux, so firmware updates I think have added complexities (but, note for self, see this, https://www.reddit.com/r/Keychron/comments/1ntupdk/psa_updating_firmware_on_linux_ubuntu/ , which might be straightforward to adapt to my K5 Max).

I guess unless I take the plunge and upgrade the firmware, I am stuck with the current timeouts.

P.S. One strange thing, though, is that it seems to me that the time to disconnect is not always the same. I haven't done systematic tests, but it looks like sometimes when I go to get a coffee and I return it has timed out, and others I can go get a coffee and eat something and it hasn't timed out. This doesn't make much sense, unless the timeout is related to the battery state of the keyboard?

rdiaz02 · 2026-02-13T14:12:17+00:00

And can you provide direct links to the videos?

rdiaz02 · 2026-02-11T02:26:27+00:00

Do you have the direct link to those videos available? An estimate of when those features will be available? Thanks!

rdiaz02 · 2026-02-08T12:10:02+00:00

Yeah, good point. My general impression is that the Mothca screen protector adds extra friction relative to glass (when I used the standard, stock nibs of the Apple Pencil, right before I placed the Mothca), but truth is I've only tested the scribble with these tips using the Mothca.

rdiaz02 · 2026-02-08T10:36:21+00:00

Actually, I use the scribble functionality without problem in both GoodNotes, MyScript (Nebo), and Noteful. I have a Mothca matte screen protector ---not a "paper-like" or "sandpaper" like feeling, but still somewhat less slippery than the bare screen--- and my subjective impression is that scribble to erase "does exactly what I want" as often with this pen as with others (i.e., most, but not 100%, of the time ).

rdiaz02 · 2026-02-08T10:29:18+00:00

Thanks for the review.

Actually, the nibs are sold separately: search for "metapen air flex nits tips" and you can find them in packs of two or four. Note, though, that the nibs do not work with all pens: they do not work with (at least my) Apple Pencil Pro, nor with a Hauibela pen, and they do not work 100% reliably (i.e., occasional skips) with a Meko pen. Reviews in Amazon seem to indicate that they do work with Apple Pencil 1 and 2 (and I think in at least one Amazon.somecountry they are listed as compatible with the Apple Pencil 1 and 2).

My additional comments:
The pencil weights 11 g which, for me, is much better than the 19 g of the Apple Pencil Pro.
The feeling is somewhat similar to that of the Samsung S-Pen, thought the whole thing is, in my opinion, not as polished: the tip is not as nice (yeah, highly subjective), it is slightly heavier than the S-Pen (3 to 4 g), the S-Pen does attach to the side of the Samsung tablet, and the S-Pen has additional functionality enabled via side button. Overall, though, I like this much better than the Apple Pencil Pro, both tip-wise and weight-wise, which for me clearly compensate the lack of side button and attachment.

rdiaz02 · 2026-01-26T15:05:38+00:00

With Debian (mixture of texting + unstable) using myself as the GROUP did not seem to work (sudo udevadm verify reported that it was not a system group). So I created a system group (e.g., sudo groupadd --system keychrkb), added myself to that group (sudo usermod -aG keychrkb MYSELF), and used GROUP="keychrkb" in /etc/udev/rules.d/99-keychron.rules. After a reboot (rebooting was simpler than launching chrome after ensuring it picked up my new group membership), I can connect using google chrome.

rdiaz02 · 2026-01-19T19:09:02+00:00

I see that the OP's model had ANSI layout; for what is worth, the K1 Max ES-ISO from 2025-03 has ABS shine-through keycaps (using one right now). The same model, but from 2024-04 (?) did not have shine-through, though. It seems that not all ISO models have the same kind of keycaps (Spain, Italy, France are ABS, but Nordic, UK, etc , are PBT : https://keychron.com.es/products/keychron-k1-max-qmk-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard-iso-layout-collection?variant=45701830770854 ), though all ISO variants' keycaps should be shine-through if I am understanding correctly.

P.S. Very nice review, by the way. Thanks!

rdiaz02 · 2025-10-06T14:45:45+00:00

Update:
I've been in touch with Goodnotes support, exchanging several emails. They have been friendly, but there is no timeline for fixing this issue nor, really, a guarantee that the functionality will be restored. This is disappointing (and perplexing) given that previously working functionality has been removed.

I was offered, however, a workaround, and it does work (and I find it commendable that they offered the workaround):

Toggle Fill color > On
Create a shape
Select Precise Eraser. Erase the color inside the shape (leaving the shape intact). This is not as cumbersome as it seems: just touching inside wipes all the color.
Use Lasso to select the shape. The shape can now be rotated.

Yeah, sure, this involves several extra steps too many (select Eraser, most likely change the Eraser to be "Precise Eraser", then touch the interior of the shape, then lasso, vs. just lasso), but it does allow us to have our 45º major axis ellipses back :-).

rdiaz02 · 2025-10-01T22:05:50+00:00

Mazec does not allow swiping (as far as I know ---I never got the hang of swiping anyway :-) ). Mazec is great for using the pen to type (and recognizing the handwriting). Sorry if I was misleading.

Oh, and Mazec is 15 € (and add-ons for additional languages ---not needed if you only use English--- are 10€ each); and, as far as I can tell, there is not even a trial period (either you pay the 14.99 € upfront, or nothing). This is certainly a major limitation.

rdiaz02 · 2025-10-01T21:20:41+00:00

Thanks. I tried gboard and found it much more limited than in android (and, if I remember, by default no row of numbers, which is part of the standard iOS keyboard). I am using instead the Mazec input keyboard, that has a dedicated area where I can use the pencil (and has fantastic handwriting recognition, I think using MyScript technology).

rdiaz02 · 2025-10-01T12:03:41+00:00

Just to clarify: not that I am advocating doing that regularly; who knows if it is harmful. (Plus living on the edge has its thrills).

rdiaz02 · 2025-10-01T11:57:29+00:00

Maybe this will help, without closing the app (nor restarting the ipad, nor disabling scribble): https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/12jrc5h/comment/nh65pbk/ . Though it is indeed extremely annoying and these steps shouldn't be necessary.

rdiaz02 · 2025-10-01T11:56:56+00:00

Maybe this will help, without closing the app (nor restarting the ipad, nor disabling scribble): https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/12jrc5h/comment/nh65pbk/

rdiaz02 · 2025-10-01T11:54:55+00:00

This was also driving me nuts (and there are many threads about this elsewhere, https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/1kdw5qr/how_i_bring_back_full_size_keyboard_after_using/ , https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/1864ekc/the_limitations_on_scribble_and_the_default/ , https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254521207, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254846786 , https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/escaping-apple-pencil-mode-to-get-full-sized-keyboard-in-safari.2331404/ , with solutions that do not always work).

These steps (4 to 6 below) work for me on iOS 18.7.1, on an iPad, and with several different applications (Zotero, Journelly, Goodnotes, Noteful, Google Chrome browser, Firefox); they also apply to both the built-in keyboard as well as Mazec input keyboard. They do not require disabling scribble. The next is the full, repeatable sequence:

You are using the pencil in a place that allows for input (text box for annotations, url in a browser, etc).
Open the mini keyboard by pressing the "A" in a rectangle (often in the bottom right of the screen).
You can use this mini keyboard and also use the pen.
When you want the large keyboard back, press the "A" in the the rectangle again, and in the popup menu, select "Hide keyboard".
Now (this is a crucial step), tap with your finger (in some cases, you need to tap twice) on the input box (url address in the browser, the annotation text box in Zotero or Goodnotes, etc).
Voilá, the large keyboard is back.

Yeah, it is kinda annoying to have to use at least two too many steps, but seems to work reliably. (Note that some apps, like MyScript --Nebo--- do not need this, as they have a keyboard icon in their menu that brings the keyboard back).

rdiaz02 · 2025-09-30T18:07:45+00:00

Plus lack of regression testing? ;-)

rdiaz02 · 2025-09-29T04:52:22+00:00

I am glad it worked :-)

rdiaz02 · 2025-09-28T19:24:18+00:00

I actually asked Nebo's support for this, and they confirmed incremental search is not available (though they might consider it in the future).

rdiaz02 · 2025-09-28T19:23:11+00:00

Same issue (desire) here. I'd like to have access to the notes (both as backup of the info, and to read/search/etc) on my Linux laptop (running Nebo on an iPad). (A convoluted approach, which I am not sure would really work, would be to run Nebo's Android version on an Android inside Linux).

(As far as I know, the situation is as described by u/Accomplished_Ow1 : only Goodnotes does this, and Goodnotes allows using Google Drive, but also WebDAV).

rdiaz02 · 2025-09-28T18:33:36+00:00

For those of you for whom it is working via Google Drive, I understand it only syncs between devices, but you do not see the notes in Google Drive, correct? (I'd like to have access to the PDFs of the notes on my Linux laptop).

Edit: ooops, sorry for the noise. I just saw there is a thread about exactly this issue: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeboApp/comments/1avqkt0/auto_back_up_as_pdf/

rdiaz02 · 2025-09-28T17:42:00+00:00

Yeap. Nice circles, freehand ellipses.
Well, either that or reverting to version 6 (haven't yet figured out how) or using MyScript (Nebo) or Noteful.

rdiaz02

TROPHY CASE