IngRafa
Level 1 (13 points)
Windows Software

Q: ios 9.3 / iPad2

Good morning.

My iPad2 updated on the night of March-22nd, and in the morning it could not activate.

The message says: "Your iPad could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Try connecting your iPad to iTunes to activate it, or try again in a few minutes. If this problem persists, contact Apple Support at apple.com/uk/support".

I waited a few minutes, and tried again, then waited a few hours... the same.

Then went to an Apple store, and they lied to me saying that it was true, that after the release of the upgrade the servers were too busy, and that was the only problem.

Then I searched the forums, and found suggestions about connecting to iTunes. They did not work.

The rest of March-23rd was a repetition of the same procedure, with the same "Your iPad could not be activated" result.

On March 24th, after trying again, I called apple support. A machine asked for the serial number of the device and several other questions. Then put me on wait for several minutes, and later just closed the call (probably after checking that my problem was the iPad2, and knowing they don't have a valid answer).

It would be nice to have an answer from Apple.

All the answers I see in every forum are from other iPad users. Not a single word from Apple.

Regards.

Rafael.

iPad 2, iOS 9.3, Your iPad could not be activated

Posted on Mar 24, 2016 1:52 AM

by IngRafa,Solvedanswer
IngRafa IngRafa
Level 1 (13 points)
Windows Software
A:

Finally. It is working.

Here is the procedure, in case someone is stuck like I was.

 

After trying every option with my own computer, I decided to try a computer that my iPad has never seen before.

I found a Toshiba-Windows7.

Installed iTunes latest version.

Connected the iPad, and use the recovery procedure suggested by D.Cohen (If you can’t activate your iPad 2 (GSM model) after you update to iOS 9.3 - Apple Support)
This procedure have failed every time, while conected to my own computer. Probably Apple just patched the software, and kept the same number, so iTunes checked and used the one it downloaded before, and not downloaded the new one.

Then just follow the instructions on the screen (some in the iPad, some in iTunes).
The iPad ended like new.

Then I connected the ipad to my own computer, restored a backup, and is working.

 

This is by far the worst service I have ever got.

It easily  beats the now number two in the list: Blackberry, with it's blockout several years ago. In that time, Blackberry at least acknoledged the problem and no was 3 days without service.

Posted on Mar 26, 2016 4:59 PM

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IngRafa

Q: ios 9.3 / iPad2

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by D.Cohen,Helpful

    D.Cohen D.Cohen Mar 26, 2016 5:01 PM in response to IngRafa
    Level 6 (8,424 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 26, 2016 5:01 PM in response to IngRafa

    All the answers I see in every forum are from other iPad users. Not a single word from Apple.

    That's because it's a forum for Apple users, not for Apple tech support team.

     

    Have you tried the recovery mode?

     

    Turn your device off, then plug it to your computer with the home button pressed. Keep the Home button pressed until you see the iTunes logo on the screen of your device. After that on your computer you should see the iTunes window saying your device needs to be restored to factory settings. Click on the restore button.

    You'll find additional info here:

    If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

    If you can't activate your iPhone - Apple Support

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Mar 24, 2016 3:00 AM in response to IngRafa
    Level 6 (14,017 points)
    iPad
    Mar 24, 2016 3:00 AM in response to IngRafa

    This is a known problem/glitch.

    Apple, I believe, has acknowledge this issue with activation server difficulties with certain iPad models and have stated that they are working on this issue and that it will be resolved as soon as possible.

    Hopefully sooner.

  • by IngRafa,

    IngRafa IngRafa Mar 24, 2016 3:56 AM in response to D.Cohen
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Windows Software
    Mar 24, 2016 3:56 AM in response to D.Cohen

    Thank you very much for your help.

    Apple tech support team just hanged the phone after leaving me waiting for a long time.

    I am looking for a sincere answer from Apple. All I have until now are just lies, silence and music (casually included Mark Johns' "Imposter").

    Since they don't take my calls, I have tried here.

    I know they monitor this forums. And they know I am not the only one with this issue.

    It would be nice to have an answer from Apple.

    Regards.
    Rafael

  • by IngRafa,

    IngRafa IngRafa Mar 24, 2016 4:21 AM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Windows Software
    Mar 24, 2016 4:21 AM in response to MichelPM

    Thank you MichelPM.

    If this was a known issue, Apple should have stopped the software update request for this devices.
    I have not found a single word from Apple about this issue. (Both accepting or denying it).

    Only users are complaining (if we are suffering it) or trying  to help.

    In this case I have found no single true word from Apple.

    They have only said (through software) that "the activation server is temporarily unavailable", but the Activation servers are not unavailable. All other devices are quickly activated without problems.

    Regards.

    Rafael.

  • by IngRafa,

    IngRafa IngRafa Mar 25, 2016 9:56 AM in response to IngRafa
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Windows Software
    Mar 25, 2016 9:56 AM in response to IngRafa

    After the second day, I still find no solution.
    I have tried everything I found.
    Every "Restore", "Reset", "Update" option, with or without iTunes.

    Some hope came with iTunes saying "Recovery mode", but ended in "Error 3194", that I understand is just another name for the "activation server is temporarily unavailable".

    It has been fun reading MichelPM answering everybody that this is a known issue, but not helping at all.

    In the meantime, just waiting, and thank God I don't really need this device for work.
    This is not really how we used to feel with the former Apple Inc.

  • by D.Cohen,Helpful

    D.Cohen D.Cohen Mar 26, 2016 5:01 PM in response to IngRafa
    Level 6 (8,424 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 26, 2016 5:01 PM in response to IngRafa

    Looks like now there's a solution:

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

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Mar 25, 2016 1:15 PM in response to IngRafa
    Level 6 (14,017 points)
    iPad
    Mar 25, 2016 1:15 PM in response to IngRafa

    FYI,

    There were two statements released by Apple

    Here was their second statement about the initial issue.

     

    Apple news statement posted, unbelievably, ELSEWHERE other than on Apple's own website/community tech forums.

    Apparently Apple has now halted iOS 9.3 updates due to growing Activation Server Lock issues.

     

    http://www.imore.com/apple-working-ios-93-fix-older-iphone-ipad

     

    Just because you couldn't find or see these Apple postings doesn't mean they didn't exist.


    D. Cohen has posted Apple's latest solution to the Activation Lock issue.


    Apple hasn't been very forthcoming about the issue on the Apple website and has kept these anouncements and links to possible solutions on lesser accessed third party Apple related websites to keep the issue from getting major attention.

  • by IngRafa,

    IngRafa IngRafa Mar 25, 2016 5:38 PM in response to IngRafa
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Windows Software
    Mar 25, 2016 5:38 PM in response to IngRafa

    I have already followed Apple's procedure suggested in the post by D.Cohen (thanks), including the final "If you still need help, contact Apple Support.". All ends in the 3194 Error or the "activation server is temporarily unavailable", and I am still stuck with my bricked iPad.

  • by IngRafa,

    IngRafa IngRafa Mar 25, 2016 5:39 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Windows Software
    Mar 25, 2016 5:39 PM in response to MichelPM

    Please MichelPM. A comment in a 3rd party website saying "an Apple spokesperson told iMore" on March 24th, is not a statement posted by Apple. That cannot be considered support in any way. And it does not make an issue posted on March 23rd a "known issue". Trying that the issue does not get major attention does not help users. It is known as the ostrich method.

  • by IngRafa,Solvedanswer

    IngRafa IngRafa Mar 26, 2016 4:59 PM in response to IngRafa
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Windows Software
    Mar 26, 2016 4:59 PM in response to IngRafa

    Finally. It is working.

    Here is the procedure, in case someone is stuck like I was.

     

    After trying every option with my own computer, I decided to try a computer that my iPad has never seen before.

    I found a Toshiba-Windows7.

    Installed iTunes latest version.

    Connected the iPad, and use the recovery procedure suggested by D.Cohen (If you can’t activate your iPad 2 (GSM model) after you update to iOS 9.3 - Apple Support)
    This procedure have failed every time, while conected to my own computer. Probably Apple just patched the software, and kept the same number, so iTunes checked and used the one it downloaded before, and not downloaded the new one.

    Then just follow the instructions on the screen (some in the iPad, some in iTunes).
    The iPad ended like new.

    Then I connected the ipad to my own computer, restored a backup, and is working.

     

    This is by far the worst service I have ever got.

    It easily  beats the now number two in the list: Blackberry, with it's blockout several years ago. In that time, Blackberry at least acknoledged the problem and nobody was 3 days without service.