Q: updated to IOS 9.3 and activation server is not responding

I fixed my problem using this site and followed the steps. Good luck.

http://www.imore.com/how-to-iphone-ipad-dfu-mode

same issue with me yet my Laptop(which is new, i never synced iPad yet, doesnt recognize device) too late as my iPad is bricked now, last Resort to visit apple store which my latop says when i try to sync ipad

I fixed my problem using this site and followed the steps. Good luck.

http://www.imore.com/how-to-iphone-ipad-dfu-mode

PierreJ

You said to unlink to Icloud, but I can't get past the activation page.  I don't know how to get to settings when it won't start up!

On the phone now, they confirm they know and that engineers are working on a fix for the problems seen with this update on the ipad 2.  More when I get off hold!

OK I was on the phone with a Sr. Tech Advisor, they are aware of the issue on limited ipad 2's.  Engineers are working on the issue, it is a problem on their end.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BACK UP WAIT!  If it does not matter, you can do the full restore and get back to normal.  She has my information and will email when a fix is available, or as she said, I will probably find it online before she does!

Thats it!

Yes.

Apple has acknowledge this issue with activation server difficulties with certain iPad models and have stated that they are working on this issue and that it will be resolved as soon as possible.

After i lost my whole day whith this it worked!! Had to delete everything but oh well... Put it in recovery mode and conect to itunes then follow these steps  http://apple.co/1pperyK

  dffdfrt

Problem isn't fixed, but fixed for you

I have tried everything including a complete restore and I still cannot get my wife's ipad activated ....I cannot believe that they allowed this to happen. Complete incompetence!! Either they figure out a way to fix this or plan to replace a few million ipads!!

I ran into this problem on my iPad 2.  I just did an OTA update to iOS 9.3 today and it couldn't connect to the activation server.  I then connected to iTunes and it told me it couldn't verify my iPad and I needed to go to the Apple Store.

I had 2-step authentication on, so I turned it off and then removed my iPad from my iCloud account.  I then did a recovery restore and iTunes download 9.2.1 and installed that instead of iOS 9.3, so it looks like Apple may have rolled back to iOS 9.2.1 for the iPad 2.

Currently I'm try an iCloud Backup which isn't downloading.at all.

I got the same problem yesterday , and try to fix it, and contact apple support.  There is no right solution from apple support till now.

I try to use DFU (Default Firmware Update), and select "update & backup?" .   The meaning is something will be lost from the current ipad.

After done, my iPad is updated to ver: 9.3, and all data lost.

Then go backup with the latest backup data .  

After backup finish, there are some apps need to update the latest one from App store notice.

There is Apple ID request popup, and ignore it, and then activate request popup, iPad is locked again around 20~30 mins.

Do the above process as DFU again, and iPad is locked again around 30 mins.

I try to remove some old APP (around 70 apps)  from PC.

Do the above process as DFU again, now my iPad is alive without activate request popup.    Alive 9 hours.

It seems Apple server verify app with auth failure issue.

After 2 (two) days of 'trial & error', I finally succeeded to restore my iPad2 to iOS 9.2.1. And fortunately I had a backup in iTunes.

I could not understand why Apple (the big company) released an update full of problems. Almost the great majority of iPad 2 owners had problems after installing this update. I think Apple has to check and double check any update to see if it functions in all their machines, the new and the old ones. If they were not sure this update would work with iPad 2, they had the obligation to put a Warning to all owners about this in the Apple Home Page. I use Apple computers since the 80's, I began with an Apple II, I had all the Macintoshes, etc, and I never had seem a huge problem like this. And they have to stop this 9.3 update till they find a solution, because the Apple owners do not deserve this.

IIt's NOT an overloaded update server problem. This is a poor QA problem. Device is bricked. It insists on contacting the "activation server" then reports it cannot Connect. Connect to iTunes? Really? What if it's your main device?

Don't give advice when you have no f-ing idea what you're talking about.