updated to IOS 9.3 and activation server is not responding

After 15, **** maybe 25, attempts, at your instructions I still have the activation screen that wont accept my id and password ...about to throw the ipad through the window and into the dumpster at this point. The id and password is the only one we ever used for this ipad ....The new build and update still takes me to activation screen and wont allow me to install it. I am seriously going to have to commit myself somewhere for some serious counseling ...I have never encountered so much BS in all my life but then again I'm 51 years old so I guess there is some more time for me to encounter BS such as this in the time I have left. I have tried every instruction out there and I am still unsuccessful ...kind of makes me feel so inferior and I considered myself tech savoy. This is groundbreaking for me ...I'M NOT AS SAVOY AS I THOUGHT!! Oh well off to try something else before committing the act of destroying said IPAD.

I updated to ios 9.3 today 3/25, everything went fine until I tried to activate. The it tells me my wifi password is wrong, and if I try to use cellular it says the server is unavailable. But when I try to use itunes to activate, I get "Itunes cannot connect to this iphone, unknown error 0xE8000015" Updated itunes to latest version, still nothing. Spoke to apple support, they had me put phone in recovery mode and connect to itunes. That downloaded the update again, but still won't activate or recognize phone. It's an iphone 6

Siraulu,

Sorry to hear that you're still having problems. My issue with the new iOS 9.3 was the "Activation" screen and response "Your iPad could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable." I never experienced the password problem you are having. The solution to your problem might be to choose the "Restore to Factory" option. Unfortunately that will erase all data on your iPad which is bad if you don't have a backup to go too when you're done.

Did you get to screen with the USB cable pointing to the iTunes icon in my step 1?

yes I got the cable screen...also I did try the restore and I get the same issue. Guess I could try the restore a 9th time

Hi Greune Guy.

THANKS!! :-)

I followed your instructions, and now I Again have a working iPad2 - and yes, now also with a brand new backup!!

KiBec

I Feel your pain, I was in the same boat as you Sirsulu. I have had to set my iPad up as a new iPad as my first attempt at restoring failed when I named my iPad the same name as before and within an hour the new restore had a screen pop up for the activation process and I was back to square one.

THe the second time however I decided to set up with a new iPad name as this I knew would not appear in the iCloud server and bingo the fresh install of the 9.3 has worked. I have even been able to reinstall all my apps although I have lost some content in apps I still have my music (in iTunes) and my videos and pictures as I did managed to grab these using my laptop before.

I Have actually been lured into a false state of security by Apple as I always made back ups religiously until last year because I have never had an issue until now. Today I purchased further software to back up my devices, apps and all besides iTunes.

its also taught me a few things about apps that you can't back up to game clouds or localised back ups, like magazine apps, I have some now that I can never get the content back as it just doesn't exist on servers to download. I have one that I have been in contacr with the app developers and iTunes only to be told sorry sir that's £80 you wont ever see again.

when I did mine I connected it to a freshly installed iTunes, opened iTunes, plugged in the pad, held the power and the home and waited for it to go off and kept hold of the buttons til the logo came up on the pad, it then went into restore mode, I then restored it and new iPad set up.

How did you do this ? I mean set it up as a new Ipad and use a new name? I don't care about losing anything because I have already lost it ...Just wish to get the Ipad working again

Siraulu,

When i chose UPDATE, it took over 35 minutes to download 1.34GB of the update. My iPad went into it's own startup screen all on it's own. When it got to the dreaded Activation screen I turned it off and kept monitoring the download progress (little arrowed circle in the upper right of the iTunes screen). When that got to 1.1 - 1.2 GB I repeated step 1 to get that screen. Again, I chose the UPDATE option.

In my step 6) when I disconnected my iPad I turned it off. Then when I reconnected it to my MacBook Pro and iTunes it came on on it's own. That is when I got the flash of my home screen and the prompt to enter my @mac.com password.

Hang in there. I'm 64 and thought I wouldn't have the patience to resolve this.

Greune Guy

OPen up iTunes on your pC, with the device already connected, wait until iTunes recognises your connected and press the home and power button until the screen goes black, keep hold watching the iTunes on your PCs, it should say iPad is in restore mode, you need to let it go through the process, once this has been done you will be asked if you want to restore (if you have a back up) I did not ...or set up as a new iPad, I chose that. It took me a few tries But at least the pad is usable.

Bluejayway,

That is "Recovery Mode" and will erase all data. The option I've shown is for those of us that don't have a recent backup to restore too and don't want to loose our "stuff." I'm not sure but did that "Recovery Mode" you did install iOS 9.2.1?

Also, for me, my iTunes would not recognize my iPad 2 when connected. It's my knowledge that the DFU mode has a black screen and is reached when you hold the Power and Home buttons for 10 seconds and then release the Power button. For me that gave a window that said "iTunes has detected an iPad in Recovery Mode" do you want to continue. That option will erase the iPad completely and was not for me.

Greune Guy

I have done this maybe 10 times now and I never see a screen asking if I want to set up as a new Ipad ...all I get is restore or update ...I mean ...am I missing something here lol

Siraulu,

You are there!!!!!! Just choose the UPDATE option. iTunes will then give you some steps, again choose UPDATE. You will have a screen that says the Update is downloading. There is an arrowed wheel or something in the upper right corner of iTunes window. Click that and follow the progress of the down load.

Greune Guy

hahahahaha I have done that so many times my fingers are now blistered I still only get activation screen after update I get nothing like set up as new ipad /...I will gladly lose everything just to get it working ...I mean I have already lost my mind so a few apps and programs won't bother me a bit

Siraulu,

Once you have downloaded the Update, gotten the "Slide to Update" screen and done that, as I said, you will probably get the dreaded Activation screen...

failed due to activation server temporarily unavailable.....

Power your iPad off. Disconnect it from your computer, wait a couple of minutes then, with iTunes running reconnect your iPad to your computer.

I got to see a flash of my home screen, which I haven't seen since Monday, and then the prompt to enter my @mac.com (@me.com or @icloud.com) password and whala, my iPad came back to me.

I can confirm it works without losing ANY on my iPad 2 3g!!

Just follow

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