updated to IOS 9.3 and activation server is not responding

Did not work via iTunes, downloading file for link above now!

SUCCESS

I connected to iTunes, let it run its course. It updated and rebooted ipad 2, got same error. Unplugged from computer and plugged back in and BAM all of my icons reappeared! Making back up now!

This is unbelievable.......I still can't get past the activation screen ...we are using the correct password and ID ...when I try the new update it takes me directly to activation screen as before ...I am losing my friggen mind at this point

Without sounding stupid, i downloaded the file but it is in the Safari download. what do i do next?

The solution by Larashley worked for me without any hitch. Just restore your iPAD to a version just before installing 9.3 when asked from where to restore your iPAD.

Thank You Larashley

Just in case you cannot find Larashley's solution here it is: and by the way it restored it to the updated 9.3 version and its working

I was at breaking point over a hour ago when I tried downloading an update via itunes that for some people works. After waiting over an hour for it to download it still didnt work! now words cant describe how ****** off I am. I will never ever update my ipad every again - assuming I can ever get it to work! this is what I tried to do, it may help someone else:

DFU mode to Restore

DFU mode is signified by having a completely black screen on the device.

Follow the seteps below:

1. Connect the iPad to your computer and launch iTunes
2. Turn the device OFF (hold down the power button at the top of the device)
3. Continue to hold down the HOME button until a message appears in iTunes telling you 'an iPad is in recovery mode has been detected'
4. Then follow simple instructions on iTunes on your computer.

Once it's recovered, you will notice that it's installed the ios 9.2.1 instead of ios 9.3

ONLY RESTORE IF YOU HAVE A BACKUP OR DONT CARE IF YOU LOOSE EVERYTHING

I DID NOT, THE NEW UPDATE WORKED FOR ME THIS MORNING, VIA ITUNES!

Open iTunes

connected iPad 2

iTunes downloaded new file, extracted and installed

iPad rebooted, followed setup GOT SAME ERROR ABOUT ACTIVATION, BUT

then I unplugged ipad, connected it back and bam all was there and IpAD WAS updated to 9.3.

hey my computer isnt picking up my ipad but my ipad shows that it is charging. Can you help me

I have tried all of those DFU mode options and it still takes me to activation screen and tells me my id and password are not correct when clearly it is the only one I use for this ipad ...I cannot get past activation screen for the life of me. Apple supposedly released a fix for this but the fix takes me right to activation screen and gives me same error ....I will never again buy an apple product and will now replace Iphones with better products as well as better tablet that isn't marketed by Apple. I am beyond the breaking point!!

It took a couple of tries, but this worked. It restored my iPad 2 with the 9.2.1 OS. All the apps I had as of my last backup were still there. I had to update all of them. But at least the iPad is working. Thank you for posting these instructions.

This would be great if the activation screen would recognize my id and password lol but it keeps telling me my id and password don't exist when they are the only codes we ever used for this ipad

iOS update to 9.3 finally completed.

Originally, I was going to just wait until Apple corrected the problem, but yesterday I decided to try a couple of the

"fixes" listed in this thread. I took my iPad out of Find My Phone and from iCloud. None of the fixed listed worked

for me.

So when Apple did have a fix (which is now listed at the bottom of the discussion thread page under Related Articles,

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206203), I had to do it in two steps. My latest backup was on iCloud but I

couldn't access it because there was no way to reconnect the iPad to iCloud before the iPad was restored.

Luckily, I did have an old backup (from Oct 2014) still in iTunes on my computer. So, first I restored my iPad through

iTunes and used the old backup.

Once my iPad was up and running (iOS 9.3 and backup from Oct 2014), I was reconnected to iCloud and I then

restored my latest iCloud backup (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201418).

I am very disappointed in Apple that this process was necessary. It seems odd that the very people (owners of older

iPads) they are hoping will buy the newest iPad Pro are the ones having such frustrations. Doesn't make good

business sense to me.

Was without my iPad 2 for a couple of days, even after chats with Apple. Your solution was the only successful fix. Can't thank you enough.

ATTENTION ALL ..................

Appears that, minus any fanfare from Apple, Apple has indeed issued a new iOS 9.3 build 13E236 as stated in a recent post. Here is what I did to get my

bricked iPad 2 back to functioning (NOTE I DID NOT HAVE TO RESORT TO A "RESTORE").

1) With my iPad connected to my MacBook Pro and iTunes 12.3.3.17 running I held both the Power and Home buttons until the screen showed the picture of a cable with the arrow pointing to the iTunes icon. This allowed iTunes to give me the option to "UPDATE" or "RESTORE" which I chose to "UPDATE."

2) The "UPDATE" downloaded. Don't get discouraged if your iPad 2 begins to boot halfway through the download. You can turn it off and then redo step one above when the download approaches 1.2 GB.

3) You will have the choice to UPDATE or RESTORE. Keep choosing the UPDATE when prompted. Don't be concerned if you see "iTunes is Restoring the iPad" and that the serial number shows n/a. The window will still say "iTunes is installing the Update" and it is doing just that.

4) After what may seem like a long time you should have a white screen with the prompt, "Slide to Update" showing. Do as instructed.

5) You will get the familiar "HELLO" screen that we've all come to know and hate followed by the Wi-Fi screen and finally that dreaded "Activation" screen.

6) Don't be discouraged if you get the "FAILURE" notice. Disconnect your iPad and then reconnect it. If all goes well you'll see your home screen flash

for a second and then you'll have the "enter your password for yourname@mac.com (me.com or icloud.com) account. Enter that and choose if you want/have iCloud Drive and that should do it. iTunes will then display your iPad Summary screen. YOUR DONE.

Again note: I did not loose any data. This gives you the option to UPDATE just the software or RESTORE TO FACTORY SETTINGS. Some have chosen to RESTORE TO FACTORY SETTINGS which to my knowledge was installing iOS 9.2.1 and then they would do another restore but this time from a previous backup. I did not have a recent backup (I do now) to go too.

Good luck to everyone.

Greune Guy

Thank you. It worked.