My iPad 2 failed to activate after installing 9.03. Say...failed to activate because the activation server is temporarily unavailalble. I have been trying to 'activate' for four days now...went to an Apple store 'Genius' bar and still no fix.

Question

My iPad 2 failed to activate after installing 9.03. Say...failed to activate because the activation server is temporarily unavailalble. I have been trying to 'activate' for four days now...went to an Apple store 'Genius' bar and still no fix.

I have an iPad 2 and before running the latest IOS 9.3 update, it was a perfectly good, functioning device. I do not have iCloud back up. I have valuable pictures and info on my iPad that I do not want to lose!! Now I cannot even use it! It failed to activate after running the update and is now in an endless loop.
The screen display shows the following:

Could not active iPad. 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 couple if minutes. If this problem persists, contact Apple Support. ....Try Again.....and again.....

I have been 'Trying Again' for four days and spent a day at the Apple Store Genius Bar. They failed to find a 'fix' and suggested I send my iPad to California and pay for data recovery, because the next step would be to wipe my iPad! ***!

iPad 2, iOS 9.3

Posted on Mar 26, 2016 12:16 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 1, 2017 3:55 AM in response to russfromdelta

It could be that the time on the iPad is messed up! My brothers were cheating on a game to get free coins, but to do it you needed to change the time... So they did, but they didn't put it back to the way it was. So I plugged it into my lappy and activated it from there. 🙂

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Answer 2

carol563

Level 1

8 points

Jul 22, 2017 6:22 AM in response to Bassetmommy

I had the same thing. Kept expecting to see the update option on the ipad. The trick is to let itunes on your COMPUTER do the work. It recognizes that the ipad needs to be updated and does it for you.

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Answer 3

Mar 26, 2016 12:20 PM in response to russfromdelta

I understand you are upset because of the activation server issue, but sittuations like this is why it's so important to backup your data using either iTunes or iCloud. You never know when you may have to restore from a backup.

http://appletoolbox.com/2016/03/ios-9-3-activation-error-update-fix/

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Answer 4

Apr 16, 2016 9:20 AM in response to russfromdelta

Good News! The Genius Bar fellows sent me a fix from their engineering team.

This fix wasn't as simple as laid out....it included a 1.34 MB iPad software update, which took about 20 minutes and several 'activation failed' results, but after turning the iPad off and on and going into the restart/recovery mode again to get the iTunes graphic up on the iPad....unplugging iTunes, etc. I finally had success!

Steps to reinstall iOS 9.3:

1. Connect iPad to a computer

2. Ensure that the computer is running the most recent version of iTunes

3. While your device is connected, force it to restart: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake (Power), and Home (on the front of the iPad) buttons at the same time. Keep holding down the buttons until you see the Recovery Mode screen. Keep holding until you see an iTunes graphic of a plug-in.

4. When you get the option to restore or update in iTunes, choose Update.

5. iTunes will try to reinstall iOS without erasing your data. If it takes more than 15 minutes, your device will exit recovery mode, and you'll need to repeat steps 2 and 3 again.

6. After the Update is complete, leave the iPad connected to the computer and complete the setup process for the iPad 2 (GSM model) using iTunes.

If iTunes does not recognize the iPad after the Update is completed, disconnect the iPad and reconnect it to the computer. It should appear after that. If it still does not appear, you may need to try connecting the iPad to another computer with the latest version of iTunes to complete the set up process.

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Answer 5

elcpu

Level 7

31,586 points

Apr 16, 2016 9:42 AM in response to russfromdelta

I am glad it is now fixed but very surprised that it took this long to resolve. This fix was available on March 28 and publicized here. See date at the bottom of this article. Sorry you had to wait.

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

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Answer 6

Apr 16, 2016 10:27 AM in response to elcpu

I Posted today, but the fix was done two weeks ago....been busy moving to a new city! Have a nice day.

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Answer 7

Aug 31, 2016 2:38 PM in response to russfromdelta

hi i am bhim tamang from usa michigan i have a problem with my ipad is a computer say activation lock so can you guys help me how to fixed this ipad

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Answer 8

Aug 31, 2016 5:22 PM in response to bhimtamang000

Hi. Could you please post a new question with your problem? Give as many details as you can. What model iPad, is it new or used, did you forget the passcode, etc.

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Answer 9

Nov 12, 2016 7:00 PM in response to russfromdelta

Mm

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Answer 10

Nov 27, 2016 10:05 PM in response to russfromdelta

a

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Answer 11

Kat-48

Level 1

4 points

Dec 26, 2016 2:47 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Hi my son has iPhone 5s he doesn't no what he has done but the phone is just white and has different languages coming up, then says choose a wifi network so we did then it. It said please wait a few minutes, then says it could not be activated. We have no idea why this has happened. I tried a good few times still didn't work. It says connect to iTunes but we don't have a computer to this. Is there any other way I could activate it without iTunes ???

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Answer 12

Dec 26, 2016 3:20 PM in response to Kat-48

Hi. What you have see is normal re-activation that happens from time to time, usually after an iOS update. If you have a good internet connection, it should be no problem. Are the time zone and region settings consistent with your actual location? Unfortunately, if you cannot get it out of Connect to iTunes, and you cannot access a computer, you may need to go to an Apple store for help.

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Answer 13

May 17, 2017 6:48 AM in response to russfromdelta

I get as far as seeing the iTunes graphic of a plug-in. No option to restore or update has ever appeared.

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Answer 14

May 22, 2017 6:33 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Nice afvise but no help

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Answer 15

Jun 3, 2017 9:31 AM in response to russfromdelta

RussfromDeltaCompany=Yer one Bad "A" MF and I love you! You saved the day with yer "BRILLIANCE" and nifty fix, my IPad is BACK and on-line! THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! U DA MAN! :-)

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