Larashley

Q: updated to IOS 9.3 and activation server is not responding how can i go back to my previous version?

Here are the methods I have tried, after my iPad2 updated to IOS 9.3 and can't be activated.

 

1 - Tried to connect to iTunes on my laptop (latest version), failed.

2 - Tried to remove iPad2 from iCloud.com, and restart my iPad2 to get activated, failed

3 - Tried to reboot the iPad2 a few times, failed.

 

So now I would like to just go back to my previous verison. How do i do that?

iPad

Posted on Mar 22, 2016 1:58 AM

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Q: updated to IOS 9.3 and activation server is not responding how can i go back to my previous version?

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  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Mar 22, 2016 2:30 AM in response to Larashley
    Level 10 (95,986 points)
    iPad
    Mar 22, 2016 2:30 AM in response to Larashley

    This may only work for a short period of time, if it will even work at all. I have never done this, but a Google search brought it up right away.

    https://www.gottabemobile.com/2016/03/21/how-to-downgrade-from-ios-9-3-to-ios-9- 2-1/

  • by Larashley,

    Larashley Larashley Mar 22, 2016 3:07 AM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 3:07 AM in response to Demo

    thanks, Ive gone thru all the google suggestions but the difference with this problem is that as per my post I cant use my ipad at all anywhere (either physically or via itunes) so I cant back it up, i cant download anything to it. i cant do anything except turn it on and then i get the activation error message.

  • by jwmesser,

    jwmesser jwmesser Mar 22, 2016 9:11 AM in response to Larashley
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 9:11 AM in response to Larashley
  • by KH76,

    KH76 KH76 Mar 22, 2016 10:32 AM in response to jwmesser
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 10:32 AM in response to jwmesser

    Ok, so this has driven me mad since yesterday too (again ipad2) - and i had tried the suggestions outlined above and similar ones on other related threads with no success.

    However the link above in jwmesser post has finally worked for me! I had tried this before (as another post somewhere had the same link) and on the first go i opted to Update - but that just took me through the whole install cycle again to end up with the same problem and unable to activate the iPad. so on 2nd attempt i instead opted to Restore. After i selected the backup file to restore from, the following message said it would Restore and Update - so i went with it and although eventually success!! Yes a pain that I'm now waiting for all the apps, content etc to synch, but at least i have a functioning iPad again.

     

    More painful that it needed to be but at least the good folk on here are able to help each other out where Apple seem to struggle!

     

    I know solutions don't always seem to work for everyone, but give the above a shot and hopefully this will work for you too.

  • by BelgianGuy,

    BelgianGuy BelgianGuy Mar 22, 2016 1:02 PM in response to Larashley
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 1:02 PM in response to Larashley

    Same here, iPad 2 that's stuck at activation after upgrade to 9.3.

     

    “the activation server is temporarily unavailable” for several (>10) retries in a time range of several hours. Rebooting the iPad doesn't help, updating via usb cable and iTunes doesn't help either. Still stuck at the activation stage. I can ping the device, though. Wifi seems to work… My other devices' internet connection works fine.

  • by dlero,

    dlero dlero Mar 22, 2016 3:04 PM in response to BelgianGuy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 3:04 PM in response to BelgianGuy

    I updated two IPhones with no issue....IPAD is still unable to activate.  Tried the work around above with same result...activation is not working

  • by Larashley,

    Larashley Larashley Mar 22, 2016 3:33 PM in response to jwmesser
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 3:33 PM in response to jwmesser

    I And 100's of others on this forum have tried all  and more.

  • by Larashley,

    Larashley Larashley Mar 22, 2016 3:42 PM in response to KH76
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 3:42 PM in response to KH76

    The problem with that "solution" is its not a solution. That is just merely factory resetting it and then restoring a backup. I decided to do that hours ago because I can't wait for Apple to fix this but there are A LOT of people that don't want to restore a months old back up (luckily mine was only backed up a day ago)

  • by The Spoon,

    The Spoon The Spoon Mar 22, 2016 5:13 PM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 5:13 PM in response to Demo

    So we need to use a 3rd party app to get us past this problem?  It seems to me that iPad2 users got sunsetted.

  • by The Spoon,

    The Spoon The Spoon Mar 22, 2016 5:16 PM in response to Larashley
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 5:16 PM in response to Larashley

    and it did not work for me at all... anyone heard anything from Apple.. I heard this was an issue in every beta and then an issue in final release.. seems to me that it isn't a glitch.. its working as intended..

  • by jwmesser,

    jwmesser jwmesser Mar 22, 2016 7:51 PM in response to The Spoon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 7:51 PM in response to The Spoon

    I used the restore mode function to restore my backup and update to 9.3 all in one step.  If the instructions I posted earlier didn't work, try following the instructions in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkVr5CxFiFM.  NOTE: The video shows the old iTunes logo so you that will be different.  Also, I ONLY followed his instructions up to the point where the iTunes logo showed up (~1:07).  I then was prompted by iTunes to Restore and Update my iPad2 so I let iTunes take over.  iTunes prompted me to select which device and backup to restore and then it performed the restore and upgraded my device to 9.3.  Its working perfectly fine now.

     

    Also, FWIW, I did follow others suggestion to go into iCloud under "Find iPhone", clicked on my name in the upper right corner, clicked on iCloud Settings, clicked on my iPad2 name, then in the window that popped up I clicked on the x in the circle next to the iPad and that removed it.   I don't know that removing it helped, but it definitely didn't hurt.

  • by Larashley,

    Larashley Larashley Mar 22, 2016 11:02 PM in response to The Spoon
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 11:02 PM in response to The Spoon

    Ive heard from Apple, you can too if you have Twitter @applesupport responded to me immediately but they were of no help In terms of providing a solution. They were keen to keep me quite though because I was firing off tweets using #ios93 and responding to people's tweets and tagging @applesupport. I tweeted the piles of threads on here about it and some of the comments so they couldnt pretend I was just a random nutjob because i only saw one other person who tweet about this particular issue

  • by Larashley,

    Larashley Larashley Mar 22, 2016 11:11 PM in response to jwmesser
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Mar 22, 2016 11:11 PM in response to jwmesser

    As I said "

    The problem with that "solution" is its not a solution. That is just merely factory resetting it and then restoring a backup. I decided to do that hours ago because I can't wait for Apple to fix this but there are A LOT of people that don't want to restore a months old back up (luckily mine was only backed up a day ago)

    So it's not that it doesn't work it's not a solution suitable for most people.

     

  • by brenden dv,

    brenden dv brenden dv Mar 25, 2016 7:48 AM in response to Larashley
    Community Specialists
    Mar 25, 2016 7:48 AM in response to Larashley

    Hi Larashley,

     

    Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities! I understand that you have been having issues activating your iPad 2 after a recent update to iOS 9.3. If that is the case, you may find the information and steps outlined in the following article helpful:

     

    If you can’t activate your iPad 2 (GSM model) after you update to iOS 9.3 - Apple Support

     

    Regards

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