Q: updated to IOS 9.3 and activation server is not responding

Finally restore the iPad 2 to factory settings and restore my backup. thanks to all for the help!!! :-)

iPad 2 / IOS 9.3 - I tried all suggested fixes except factory reset - none worked. I am a bit hesitant to reset since my backup is some weeks old and probably a better solution comes up the next days.

I expected a virus which might have forced me to do a factory reset but I never expected an IOS update. Another evidence of Apple's decreasing software quality. Obviously their QA dept. ran out of older devices.

I have the same issue, would not activate, connected to iTunes, it could not verify the iPad and just had a link to find a local apple store. Went in today and there was another person at the genius bar with the same problem. They had tried a restore, same problem. Only suggestion we got was to wait a couple of days to see if an update is released to fix it.

Latest is that I'm trying a restore at home, and iTunes just cannot connect to the servers to get a download, but this could be due to the high volume of traffic, the OSx download is 1.5Gb and it is taking a long time on the mac. Will retry at a less busy time.

Today I finale resolve my problem. Just restore to the factory settings. After that restoring some apps: done.

See my earlier response how to do the reset

I have an iPad 2 (wifi with 3G) and have been having the same problem. Unlinking it from Find My iPhone app did not help. Maybe that works for a different model than mine. I did contact support. They were very nice. I told them about the problems I was having (server unavailable and iTunes not able to verify iPad) and also that I had seen many others in this Support Community that were having the same problems. After several things were checked into, I was told that this problem has had a rush put on it and that it has been sent to the engineers. I was also told that it could take up to 24-48 hours to resolve.

Thanks for the update. If the problem is on Apple's end all people can do is be patient. Thanks again.

same...  but also i uninstalled Itunes and reinstalled it as well as your list,  this is really stressing me out.   I use my Pad for work

Join the ever-growing club.  Apple should be very ashamed.... a corporation that doesn't pay tax and screws their customers.... lovely.

Same problem for me, really frustrating. First ever fail for me to update my device. Hope to see a fix sooooon. Shame apple!!

The DFU solution I posted above will bring your iPad from 9.3 back to its previous version not factory settings. It works for some people although it didn't for me. I had to do a complete factory reset.

Having the same issue:  When iTunes starts to update, it completes and reboots the ipad then tells me "ITunes was unable to verify your device", please disconnect and reconnect.  Once I do, the same happens, "your ipad could not be activated"!

It does show up under iTunes though.

I installed a fresh copy of iTunes so there are no backups, I do not want to try restore in case they fix this.

Larashly solved the problem by following these steps.

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.

     As part of the restore it did update to iOS 9.3 and is now restoring my Apps.

Larashly and possibly others solved the problem. I was on with Apple Support today for over 30 minutes and did not solve it.  They were looking for a solution.

Yea, I did it 3 times and the same results, no go!

After trying everything else I found to try (at least 3 times), I followed the same

procedure as you and my iPad 2 (3G) updated to 9.3 and is now restoring apps

from my most recent backup. 

Thanks for the assistance!

So you did a restore and not update?  I am trying not to do that since I would like to maintain what I have if possible, no backup exists!

On mine, once it completes the update, it reboots and I sign on and tell it to connect to my wireless network.  Then I get the server unavailable error!

Darn!