Does Victron Connect work with an iPad?
Hi GIM,
Yes, it does. According to the manual, section 4.4:
"VictronConnect works on the following iPhones and iPads running iOS 14 / iPadOS or higher:
- iPhone 6S and later
- iPhone SE from 1st generation and later
- iPad mini 5 and later
- iPad 6 and later
- iPad Air 3 and later
- 10,5" iPad Pro 1 and later
- 112,9" iPad Pro 2 and later
- iPod Touch 7 and later"
Many thanks for your speedy reply.
So now the question is, why isn’t it working?
I have it working perfectly on my Windows laptop.
I use a MK2 cable but I’m not getting any response when I connect to the iPad.
Regards.
Gordon Marriott
Hi Gordon,
That is because VictronConnect does not work with a MK2.
Check the limitations on:
https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/VictronConnect_configuration_guide_for_VE.Bus_products/en/limitations.html
From section 3.3:
An MK3-USB is required to change settings and perform firmware updates and settings. And, as that requires a USB port, it is not possible to change inverter/charger configuration or perform firmware updates on a Apple iPad or iPhone.
VictronConnect does not work with the MK2-USB.
1 Like
Hi Mauricio.
Thanks once again for your reply.
As mentioned, I use Victron Connect on my Windows laptop with a MK2 cable and that works. I use it to update settings and software.
Or are you saying that MK2 does not work with IOS?
Gordon Marriott
That is what the documentation linked confirms.
It is an IOS Victron Connect limitation.
Thanks LX.
So if I buy a MK3 connection it will work with an iPad?
Gordon Marriott
No. Not possible.
The problem is the usb permissions connection… apple wont allow it.
It is explained in the link in mpalavecino’s answer.
A similar peeve for windows users where the bluettoth doesn’t work because windows…
IMO the manual is not that clear about that.
The way I understand it is that it’s not possible with iPad/iPhone because they don’t have USB but the newer devices have USB-C and there is a MK3 version with USB-C.
As far as I know it works with Mac so it’s not an apple problem?!
I could be wrong, I tried finding an old thread where i thought i had read, where it wasn’t working even with an OTG adaptor in an iphone/pad.
Unfortunately, Apple iPhone/iPad doesn't support USB OTG.
And an actual user experience.
My reasoning is probably wrong
But with a native USB-C port OTG isn’t necessary.
I don’t use Apple, only Windows and Android. So I can’t test it myself.
I asked the devs to make that more clear in the manual.
Hi Matthias.
I tend to agree with you. My laptop only has USB-C ports and I connected the MK2 to it by using a HUB with both types of USB ports.
So I was thinking if I bought a MK3, I should be able to do the same.
Thanks for your comments.
Gordon Marriott
One of our employees here has a newer iPhone with the USB-C port and it does not work with the MK3-USB. Even when OTG is enabled on the phone, it still won’t permit the necessary throughput, no idea why… so definitely wouldn’t count on it. Apple is weird about stuff.
Editing to add: included in the “weird about stuff” category is the fact that iPhone and iPad and Apple laptop/desktop all use different OS’s - similar, but different.
It will work on an Apple laptop or desktop. It will most likely not work on an iPad, and almost certainly not work on an iPhone.
What is OTG?
Gordon Marriott
Ok.
Thanks for everyone’s comments.
Sounds like Victron need to talk with Apple!
Gordon Marriott
OTG, or On-The-Go, is a USB standard that allows a device to act as a host and connect to other USB devices.
Victron’s not the issue - Apple and Windows do what they want, and we try to adapt as possible.
Get yourself a cheap Android tablet, problem solved.
I got feedback from Victron:
Connecting generic hardware is still not allowed by Apple. The hardware needs to be certified by Apple and must include an Apple authentication chip.
We will check the manual and make sure it clearly states that MK3/VE.Direct does not work on iOS.
This limitation only applies to iOS, with MacOS it should work.
I don’t think Victron will include such a chip to the MK3/VE.direct and get it certified by Apple.
This is why i will never, never, never buy or use any apple products.
This philosophie started with apple 2, where it was not possible to directly connect a second printer.