Q: Cannot Activate iPad IOS 9.3

It's really long process you described.

In my way, I spent two attempts of Recovery Mode by ITunes before did it. But ITunes uploaded ios 9.2.1 instead of ios 9.3.

At last,

new 9.3 build available via iTunes brought my iPad 2 back to life.

Connect iPad to iTunes, force it into recovery mode, search find and load updated 9.3 build via iTunes (1.3 GB), update iPad via iTunes - done.

Remove SIM before update. In case download takes to long - bring back iPad into recovery mode.

No data loss - repeat NO data loss!

happy to have it back

hope you folks get yours back soon!

I can confirm that this is working without losing ANY!!!

Just follow

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

I believe you guys that there are methods to Recover without loosing data. But it too late for me. I lost my history and got onlt iOS 9.2.1 my last version before wrong update to ios 9.3. Actually, I do not see reason now to up to date iOS 9.3 for ipad2.

Thanks.

mine is 3G+wifi too

It appears that the iPad2 3G+WiFi was not the only device involved, but I'm sure this specific type did play a major role. I hope you meanwhile have found a solution, because it looks like the most of us did.

This worked!  Thank you.

My iPad2 is 64Gb, 3g model.

First downloaded the 1.3Gb update.

Then iPad2 into DFU mode.

Ran update.

Activation started and did NOT start iCloud.

Process ran through and now all good.

Total process took about 45min to download and 30-40min to install.

Then activation took another 10 minutes.

Looks like you guys with iPad2 3G models are lucky. I still cannot activate my iPad2 wifi (tried with latest 13E237 few mins ago). My 100% correct Apple ID still cannot be used to activate my iPad2 (the first and only Apple ID I ever used since I bought my iPad). I wonder will there ever be any update that will put my iPad back to life.

Maybe at this stage you should try taking your iPad 2 into an Apple to to let the Apple Geniuses sort out your issues.

Some users who decided to try this course of action reported success at getting their iPad 2 models back to working order.

i contacted Apple and the first technician said that they were working on the issue and it may take a few weeks and that they would call back. I called Apple again I spoke to a technician who knew what he wants doing. I had to reset my iPad to factory setting and then install iOS 9. Thanks for everyone who responded.

Good thinking MichelPM. But actually it turned out to be my bad. I woke up this morning at 05:00h and I recalled that I actually changed the Apple ID for this iPad2 :-) . And email was very similar to the previous one so d******@.. was looking the same. I struggled 3 days with this issue, and it was me all the time. Tststs. So, all good.

ipad 3 gsm, activation error, iso 9.3, update firmware: 13E237 (Release 28 March)

For me, it was just a matter of turning off my virus software (in this case forticlient) and everything worked. Spent hours trying everything but this was the only thing that got it working.

Oh my GOD,

my IPAD could not activated after upgrade to 9,3, Many way i tried as guidance above..but still same.

From restore till update using itunes...nothing solve still getting "could not activated"...

i disappointed with apple, get back my IPAD soon.

Oh my GOD,

my IPAD could not activated after upgrade to 9,3, Many way i tried as guidance above..but still same.

i follow the instruction to update/restore from itunes, and at the end of process downloading appear like below.

Seems like not completed when downloading and i tried many time still same.

Let you know that my internet connection stable and never appear RTO( Request Time out) can see at below command prompt

i disappointed with apple, get back my IPAD soon.