Q: New IOS 9.3 fails to activate on ipad 2

This is a known problem/glitch.

Apple has, officially, acknowledged and recognized 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.

It is affecting mostly iPad 2 models, but iPad 3, 4 and 1st gen. iPad Minis are being affected from this, as well.

There are some workaround solutions, but, unfortunately, these do not work for every iDevice affected.

This is clearly an Apple problem/issue that they time to sort out and solve.

Latest Apple news 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.

Apple halts iOS 9.3 updates for older iDevices due to growing Activation Server Lock issues.

Read here:

If you can't activate your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch after installing iOS 9.3 - Apple Support

I´ve tried everything what is written in the www but unfortunately nothing is useful to me. The ipad 2 is still not connectable to itunes nor completing the installation of ios 9.3. It yells since the beginning can´t connect to the server and yes I know all my passwords .

Hopefully someone can help me

Edit: itunes shows my ipad2 but a recovery or new installation of ios is not possible although I´m logged in itunes

HI,

SInce I upgraded my wife's work iPad 2 with the latest iOS 9.3 all it does is lockup and the touch screen is not responsive most of the time, can anyone please help?

HI,

SInce I upgraded my wife's work iPad 2 with the latest iOS 9.3 all it does is lockup and the touch screen is not responsive most of the time, can anyone please help?

How did you perform the update?

Did you backup the iPad, first, before updating?

So this really is a bug. Thank you! I just updated to 9.3.1 last night and ran into this problem earlier today. Glad to see this is merely a software bug and Apple's working to fix it.

This WAS a bug almost 2 months, ago.

The latest iOS 9.3.1 was supposed to fix this issue.

This is not an issue for many older iPad users any longer, since March.

If you are having this issue, now, I believe, this is no fix for this in the works coming as iOS 9.3.1 WAS the fix.

I'll ask you the same questions I asked the previous Poster.

How did you update?

Did you make a backup of your iPad, first, before updating?

I didn't back up my iPad when I updated. I thought it wouldn't really matter since I was also planning to wipe the device and start over.

The update ran fine. Setup went smoothly, etc etc, and it went to the homescreen. All was well, so I turned it off.

The next day, I turned it on, and the setup screen came up again. Okay, weird, but I continue with it. Got through the Hello screen, enter my passcode, set up Wi-Fi, and then it asks for activation. I enter my Apple ID and password, and an error shows up:

"[email] cannot be used to unlock this iPad"

And then there was this: "This iPad is linked to an Apple ID. Enter the Apple ID and password that were used to set up this iPad. (x●●●●●@me.com)"

To clear up some questions from the get-go:

1. The device is an iPad 3, bought from an authorised Apple retailer back in China years ago while I still lived there at the time. It was a brand-new unit, everything was in the right place. The iPad ran iOS 6 from the get-go and was updated ever since.
2. I have used this iPad for years. I have updated it to iOS 7, 8, and 9 without any hitches. I have only experienced this problem literally only today after an update to 9.3.1.
3. I have not encountered any activation lock errors for the whole time I used the iPad until the 9.3.1 update. The iPad was set up by me, with my own Apple ID which is not x*****@me.com. If it was my ID, it would be r******@gmail.com.

Please, never post personal info on a public website/forum.

Obviously, the update did NOT go well because you are, now, having issues.

My question was how did you update?

Via WifI OR through iTunes on a computer?

Backng up and updatng through iTunes is ALWAYS the preferred and better procedure for doing iOS upgrades/updates than upgrading/updating over WiFi.

Over the Air, WiFi updates are simply not as reliable a procedure/process as using the computer/iTunes procedures.

Why would you upgrade/update your iPad only to wipe it when you are done?

I don't understand.

You do not have any important data on your iPad you wished to save?

If you have any data you want or need to save, backup your iPad to iTunes on your computer, if it still has data on it.

Disconnect your iPad from the computer, reset and erase your iPad and set up as a new iPad, and if possible, do the whole setup over WiFi, first.

If you have any saved data on iTunes, connect up your iPad, cancel the sync and then do a restore from backup and let your iPad restore itself.

Then test.

If still issues, your only choice is to bring your iPad back to your authorised reseller and have them sort out your iPad issue.

Good Luck to you!

I Updated it via wifi, and no I didn't back it up before I did the update

Do you have a computer with iTunes on it?

Yes but it's been a while since I backed it up.