HT206203: If you can't activate your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch after installing iOS 9.3

Learn about If you can't activate your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch after installing iOS 9.3
shamimash

Q: I tried all three options mentioned here to activate my iPad Air but it says the email address I used in creating my Apple ID cannot be used to unlock the iPad. What else can I do?

Hi,

After updating installing iOS 9.3 updates, I cannot sign in to my iPad Air with the Apple ID, though I can do it on my iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s with the same ID. So, as advised by the Support section, I tried to restore factory settings last night using iTunes on my laptop. The device is now erased but I can’t activate it using the Apple ID. The msg reads: “s…..@gmail.com cannot be used to unlock this iPad.” To turn off the activation lock, I signed in to iCloud, logged in with Apple ID, but don’t see my iPad listed there, though I see my iPhone 5s there. I tried all methods suggest in https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206203 and https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201441 but for no avail. Can anyone kindly help me out?

Regards.

iPad Air, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Jul 16, 2016 11:20 PM

Close

Q: I tried all three options mentioned here to activate my iPad Air but it says the email address I used in creating my Apple ID cann ... more

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Esquared,

    Esquared Esquared Jul 17, 2016 3:20 AM in response to shamimash
    Level 6 (8,405 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 17, 2016 3:20 AM in response to shamimash

    Are you the first owner of that iPad?

  • by shamimash,

    shamimash shamimash Jul 17, 2016 3:40 AM in response to shamimash
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPad
    Jul 17, 2016 3:40 AM in response to shamimash

    Yes, I'm the first owner. I created my Apple ID after buying this iPad in April 2014. However, I changed my password many times so far and do not remember the first one. While I was having problem signing in with my Apple ID on my iPad, I changed password several times but still could not sign though though, at the same time, I was signing in on my other devices - iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s - with the same password. I changed my password after failing to activate the iPad last night too. But also that doesn't help. Though the activation instruction that appears on the screen shows the shortened email of mine that is my Apple ID, it doesn't accept when I hit the submit button after filling the ID and password field.

    Thanks in advance for helping me out, dear Esquared!