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iPad stuck in infinite reboot loop after iOS9 update

Hi,


after updating my iPad2 to iOS9 it is now stuck in an infinite reboot loop. Tried all tricks and tipps I could find on the internet. Every time I attach it to my laptop iTunes tells me that there is a problem with the iPad and starts a new update. But at the end of the update process everytime the same result: infinite reboot loop. And I definitely do not want to restore it to factory settings.


Apple, please help. More and more people are complaining about this issue here!


Greetings,

joww

iPad 2, iOS 8.4.1

Posted on Sep 17, 2015 11:28 PM

Reply
32 replies

Sep 23, 2015 4:22 PM in response to mikifre

I don't think so.

This is something Apple tech in any of the Apple stores should be doing when these sort of things happen, and it's happening more often after Jobs. Apple is a closed system (unlike a Windows PC) and they should have the infrastructure to help users like us who buy umpteen devices from them.

Just think about it. How difficult is it for Apple to create a software that copies all pics, videos, notes and other user data from the flash storage on dead machine? Unfortunately they don't. I asked one Apple store and they suggested third party data recovery, which is going to cost $500+.


I think you should just wait till they release the next version and hope Apple has the sense to look into these forums and include a fix. That's what I'm planning to do. Not many users have this issue. Even if they had it, most of them had the backup or they don't care about the data. The chance that Apple is going to spend time for you and I is close to zero.

Sep 23, 2015 4:53 PM in response to jontasson

Hi all,

Not to sound repetitive, but please check out the links posted in the answer to the main question and my comment above. First off, Apple generally never chimes in here, so it's just users helping users.


I finally got mine to work again. Was honestly scared I bricked it. My iPad2 was jailbroken, so I have a basic competency in tinkering with it. I don't get crazy into editing code, but if it's downloading and following a procedure, I can do that.

I was upgrading from iOS 7x, and attempting to upgrade to iOS 9. That's a fail. Keep it on iOS 8 for now. You can't use iOS 8.4.0 as Apple has stopped signing those certificates, so 8.4.1 is the most you can easily downgrade to. Do it.

Download the iOS 8.4.1 firmware.

Do the "Force Restore" on the device (home button & power til restart, then release power button while still holding down home).

Plug in the device with iTunes open. When it prompts to update/restore, hold down the SHIFT button when you select Restore, and it should prompt you to select the firmware file you downloaded above. Be patient, do not unplug, let it happen. Mine eventually worked - viola


This is also assuming you've done a few basic things:
- Your iTunes is updated.

- I rebooted my computer to start fresh.

- Turned off anything that seems like it might interfere based on all other comments, such as "Find My iPhone", turn off the keycode password, turn off location services. (If you didn't do it before, neither did I. When I 'blanked' my iPad and set up as new, I went in and made sure to do all those things^).
- You backed up your device prior to the update. Hopefully you also duplicated the "Backup" file outside of the default location (I do that for insurance, in case iTunes overwrites the backup file you're trying to restore from).


Best of luck all,

Shannon



(Here's my previous comment:)

With 1 modification for me: Mine was still stuck in the loop, even when trying to Update or Restore from a downloaded iOS 8.4.1 firmware file. The trick was when you do the "force restore" from the iPad and go through the prompts connected to iTunes, when the option to "Set up as new iPad" or "Restore from ___ copy", you must first set up as new, and let it finish the process. THEN - restore from the saved point. That combo kicked me out of the endless 'updating - you're almost complete" loop.

Agree with the main point also, from everything I've read elsewhere it's specifically an issue from an older iOS (6 or 7) and jumping to iOS 9.

Sep 23, 2015 7:19 PM in response to Lowie.vdh

@Lowie.vdh and @jontasson

I am not very knowledgeable about iMac. I did the DFU/Recovery mode on my windows 10.

I think the issue with both of you is that you are not able to get to ipad fall into that mode.

I had the ipad (ipad 3 cdma) connected to my PC while it was showing the 1/3rd status bar. While it remained connected, I pressed the power and home button to reboot and after it rebooted I took my hands off the power button still holding the home button. I had to try many times until it put me in the appropriate mode. You'll know when it falls into the mode coz itunes will say so.

Another thing to note is that DFU mode and recovery mode are different. Articles in the internet says if you see the picture of the cable and itunes logo on your ipad it's Recovery mode and not DFU. DFU is a black screen.


The "DFU" mode (blank screen) actually didn't help me because it didn't show me the update option. That button was grayed out on iTunes and only 'restore' was enabled. This is the option harpreet chose since he just wanted to restore and not update. I had data that I can't loose and I am not restoring it. If restore is your choice, just take it to the apple store and let them spend the time on it.

joww and I apparently got in to the recovery mode (ipad showing cable and itunes logo). In this mode, both update and restore buttons are enabled on iTunes and then you Shift Click to choose the file.

If iTunes tells you to confirm on your ipad like you mentioned, it means it didn't fall into the either of the modes. You need to try again until iTunes tells you that it has fallen into these effing modes.

Sep 25, 2015 2:59 PM in response to fukeorama

Thanks! 9.0.1 works for me as well. No data, pics or apps lost, and it reboots flawlessly.

Using the steps you described, iTunes detected 9.0, offered the 9.0.1 upgrade, downloaded and installed it on my IPad 3 Wifi. Just be sure your battery is fully charged when you start as the download (1.5GB) and update take some time to complete.

Sep 29, 2015 1:27 PM in response to Rico61

Watch out though that 9.0.1 has a serious security flaw because of an opening with Siri's new overreach into all your data. While it's inevitable, it's still a big exploit. Anyone can easily get in to your phone and bypass the password.


I'm sticking with 8.4.1 personally until more kinks are worked out, and while it's still being signed. Cheers.

Sep 30, 2015 9:25 PM in response to joww

I am seriously stuck. I upgraded to iOS9 from some version of iOS8. While booting, my iPad I get the logo and the progress bar (1/4th) and then it reboots. The issue is, the battery does not hold the charge as it gets sucked up in the reboot process, so i cannot even connect to PC to iTunes to attempt a restore. The charge thru USB is too feeble to handle the battery needs. Any ideas?

Oct 4, 2015 4:09 PM in response to gooti

@gooti - try plugging it in to a regular outlet first and let it charge up for a couple hours, then try the reboot. You don't want it powering off mid-restore/update, that'll stop any working plan no matter what! Mine had a similar issue... it didn't charge while plugged in, but being plugged in at least it didn't drain, it slowly lost 1% every 10-15 min, so it was enough time with a full charge to make it through the reboot cycle.


I've stayed on 8.4.1 and been happy with it. Gonna wait until the message boards for iOS 9.x are all clear, still too buggy!

Oct 8, 2015 11:01 PM in response to mikifre

I regret updating my iPad 2 to the lates OS 9.02. At first, my iPad was acting wired and running slow. It kept freezing up and I get very frustrated. One day, I turned it off after updsting it to 9.02. Few days after, when I turned it on, it gets stuck on the apple logo. I will cut to the chase on how to fix it without losing your data. open your iTunes from your pic. Make sure you have the latest iTunes and then connect you iPad to your computer or laptop. If you have a password on your iPad, you're in bad luck but there is a solution for that. If iTunes could not detect or connect your iPad to your pc or laptop, turn the iPad 2 off. Press and hold the power and the home button. Continue pressing the home button but release the power button. Release the home button once you see the itunes sync logo. Click on on update to download the latest OS and dollow the direction from your screen. If your iPad 2 is not able to get an update because the data was corrupted, your only solution is to restore the iPad but it will completely wiped off your data. If you backed up your iPad from your iCloud account, you should be able to restore it from backup. Otherwise, you're in bad luck and you can restore it to factory settings But you will lose all your data.

iPad stuck in infinite reboot loop after iOS9 update

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