iPad 2 is bricked from iOS 9

My iOS 9 upgrade story...Ipad Air 2.

I upgraded several phones and 1 other iPad in in our family with no problems. When I upgraded my iPad Air 2, after the upgrade I got the black "connect to iTunes" screen. When I did, it said it was in recovery mode and needed to upgrade or restore. I selected both (many different times). Nothing happened. I would just get stuck on the same screen and I would do a hard reset.

Then I found a thread where you had to hold the home key down when connecting to iTunes to go into device recovery mode. I did that and was able to get it to go through the whole process of re-installing the iOS 9 upgrade. When this process finished, it stayed stuck on the white screen with the Apple Logo. I had to do a hard reset (hold home and power buttons) to get it to quit. I did this several times also. I even left it overnight, thinking it might take longer. Nope.

Next, I read on the internet how to downgrade to 8.4.1. So, I did that, and it worked!!! I was able to restore a backup and I was back in business. But, since I can never leave well enough alone, I tried the upgrade to iOS 9 again with the same results as above.

Then, I decided to try one more thing. I downgraded to 8.4.1 again, but this time I chose "set up as new iPad" rather than restoring my old backup. Then, I told it to upgrade to iOS 9 over the air (not from iTunes). Voila! That worked great, no problems. The drawback is that I now have a factory-reset iPad Air 2 running iOS 9. This is ok for me because I really don't keep anything important on it, so I am happy to start over and redownload the apps I need.

It seems that there was something in my configuration of apps, etc. on my iPad that prevented the initial upgrade process from completing. But, there was nothing wrong with the iPad itself. So, starting with a factory reset iOS 8.4.1 allowed me to upgrade with no problem to iOS 9.

I hope this helps other people. Good luck.

My Ipad air had the same exact issue went to the service centre twice and finally they gave in and advised i could collect my device in 3 to 5 working days. Before the upgrade to IOS 9, i had no issues with my ipad. i have a protective cover on my ipad and i only use it around the house. Apple should make it up to all the loyal users. The service centre in Singapore wheellock place never even apologise for the fault and said it was common with every firmware upgrade. WTH????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I no longer have a bricked iPad 2 after upgrading from IOS 6.1 to 9, but had to follow instructions for a DFU restore and setup as a new iPad. Any attempt to restore my backup from before the upgrade resulted in the ">Slide to Upgrade" issue. I tried several ways to restore it, but it always failed with the same issue. Guess I'll move on and continue to set up the iPad back to the way I like it. However, this experience has left a very bad impression of Apple on me and as a result, I will no longer buy Apple products or their stock. Our two iPhone 6+ will be the last iPhones that we buy too. I will vote with my wallet. Apparently it's the only option I have to protest Apple's lack of quality (for the money) and customer service. Yes, it's an insignificant gesture, but if everyone did it along with some bad press, Apple might finally get the message. No more IOS upgrades for me. Apple is not the only game in town.

No, no no - notcloudy - I was not an Apple beta tester - but several years ago I was for another firm altogether.

I have not been testing this - for sure if I had been testing iOS 9 and had issues like this I would surely have made myself a little unpopular and vociferous about my concerns!

gillybede wrote:

No, no no - notcloudy - I was not an Apple beta tester - but several years ago I was for another firm altogether.

I have not been testing this - for sure if I had been testing iOS 9 and had issues like this I would surely have made myself a little unpopular and vociferous about my concerns!

Sorry - your post didn't go into that detail.

I have been following this update for a relative who has an older IPAD (as in less than brand new) and had advised not doing the update at this time - response was "I wait - on IOS 8 -- waited until the 3 or 4 fix was out - and will do the same on this one"

Apple does need to get its head out of the sand - and support all of its customers - not just the ones who stand in line at every new product release.

ht_dude wrote:

IOS 9 is no longer beta AFAIK, it's what shows up as available in iTunes. I did NOT participate in any Beta program. This release was not ready for prime-time for older iPad 2. PERIOD.

Was responding to gillybede post. Truth is - if older IPADs were included in the beta test and those testers had problems they did not report to Apple - instead fixing them themselves then they should be excluded from any further beta testing program.

Obvious - Apple Alpha testers did not catch the issue - probably used all brand new IPADs, the Beta Testers either did not have older IPADS or didn't understand the point of being a beta testers -- and that means the Early Adopters (those who pull it down on day of release) and have problems are left feeing they did something wrong.

I Have same problem. iOS9 hung up while installing in iPad 2. Tried plugging into PC with current version of iTune. Only option given was Upgrade/Restore (note, this was one option not two). Upgrade of course failed--or I wouldn't be writing. Restore did nothing.

I Did succeed on upgrading on iPhone 4S and mini iPad 2.

Apple, I have 4 of your devices, and my family has at least seven. This is over $10,000 we have stand with you. Don't you think you owe us a quick explanation of what we need to do a program of your devices, and my family has at least seven. This is over $10,000 we have stand with you. Don't you think you OS a quick explanation of what we need to do when a program you offer your customers fails to install? And also totally disabling the device in the process. It is your callousness, Apple, about this latter problem that is so disquieting to me.

What do I need to do to either complete the installation of iOS 9 or restored to the old operating system so I can use my device?

Try out the newest update - works like a dream -install and then do a restore backup (pick your date - hopefully everyone did a backup) from iTunes - and you get your dear old ipad2 back to where you were a week ago!

Thank you - !

Soooo...The saga contiunes. I was feeling pretty smug about being able to rescue my iPad air 2 from being bricked after the 9.0 update(see above). When I saw the patch today for 9.0 .1, I thought "Yes,they (Apple) fixed it!"

So, I quickly installed the patch the iPad, Now it is bricked again! Only this time the only way to get it working is to downgrade to 8.4.1 and leave it there! The method I used last time to downgrade to 8.4.1 (factory restore), then upgrade to 9.1 did not work this time. As with the initial 9.0 upgrade, it goes all the way through the update/install process and when it restarts to the white Apple screen, it just hangs there indefinitely.

I may try to upgrade only to 9.0 and see if that works.

As before, I upgraded my iPhone 6 with no issues with both 9.0 and 9.0.1. But the iPad Air 2 is just not working out that way.

This is getting tedious...😠

I'm glad lots of the frustrated posters were able to overcome this iOS update.

But if I hear "just attach it to iTunes..." one more time I'm going to jump out of a window.

Myself ---and quite a few other posters I've seen on other threads--- never used iTunes. My iPad is a standalone device. I use it for work. There's nothing on my computers to back up to, and there's no way to get online to download anything via the internet.

Try to connect *now* to iTunes, you get stuck in a loop of the computer saying you must verify on the device, and the device showing the same "slide to upgrade" frozen screen. Far as I can tell, there's no solution using iTunes on a standalone iPad.

The longer this drags on with total silence from Apple, the less likely I am to ever buy another Apple product, I'll tell you that much.

The only option left to me to be able to use my iPad Air 2 is to downgrade to 8.4.1 and wait for them to fix this mess. This is really frustrating because I was able to upgrade to iOS 9.0 after a factory restore to 8.4.1 and then over-the air upgrade to 9.0. But, when I tried to upgrade to 9.0.1 it gets stuck on "connect to iTunes". Grrrrrrrr!

Very sorry to hear that Gawdzilla, can only write about what happens to me, so can't help but upset you.

If it were me - then I would be very angry too - also I would be making the appointment and trek to the apple store - maybe that is not convenient to you - to get it sorted - taking my bed with me and refusing to leave until it was done - all negotiated in the nicest possible way with sugar sweet syrup so that I achieve my objective!

Good luck and hope you get sorted out soon - it is not good that you have been left high and dry. (btw - so that means that you never backup your iPad either?)

@gillybede, sorry, I didn't mean to suggest you said anything wrong. My irritation is aimed squarely at Apple for releasing an iOS update that wrecked my iPad. On many threads (not just this one) that I've read for help, a lot of people just post a link to the Apple Support article explaining how to fix things using iTunes. Even though it's explained iTunes won't work for people in my position.

I know they're trying to help, again it's Apple that should be answering these questions...

No, never backed up the iPad. Just use it for work. But the good side of that is it can be wiped clean with a factory reset, if necessary, because there isn't anything personal or irreplaceable on it. I just need it to work again..

Thanks, to you and all the Apple users who pick up the slack and try to help.

***Update***

This is the third posting on this thread that I have made after my iPad air 2 was bricked from trying to update to iOS 9.0. After downgrading to 8.4.5 and doing a new install to 9.0, I was able to get it to work fine. When version 9.0.1 came out it was bricked again. I was able to downgrade back to 8.4.5 successfully. But, I was never able to successfully load 9.0.1.

I was able to successfully load the the public 9.1 beta 2. I had no problem with the installation and the iPad seems to be working perfectly. I just wanted to let anyone know who had the same problems as me.

This is exactly my problem as well. The iPad just keeps shutting itself off as it tries to upgrade. Then it freezes. I was thinking maybe it needs more memory - but that doesn't seem to be it. I can do a hard restart - but is that the only answer?