Installing iOS 9.3 has bricked my iPad 4th gen? What to do?

[the8thark]

I upgraded my iPhone to iOS 9.3. That worked just fine. Activated fine. I then upgraded my iPad 4th gen to iOS 9.3 and when I tried to put in the Apple ID that was used to set up the iPad, isee there that the iPad is currently linked to a different email address. This is strange as the iPad has never been linked to another email address apart from the same one as the iPhone (ie my itunes account email).

This is very strange indeed. All of a sudden I can't activate the iPad. It says the iPad is linked to 8*****@qq.com. I just don't know what to do about it. Would this be require a call to the Apple custimer service department to see what can be done about this?

When I put in my icloud email address to activate the iPad it says incorrect Apple ID. I am a loss as what to do about this.

Does anyone know anything that can be done about this?

 

[kch50428]

Have you tried using Find My iPhone to remote wipe the iPad? Give that a go... or put it into DFU mode and connect to iTunes and restore the iOS?

 

[richwoodrocket]

Have you tried using Find My iPhone to remote wipe the iPad? Give that a go... or put it into DFU mode and connect to iTunes and restore the iOS?

I don't suggest doing this. It could iCloud lock it and then you're out of luck entirely.
I'd call apple or take it into an Apple Store.

 

[grockk]

Did you buy the ipad used? Do you have kids or a friend that would have logged into a different icloud account?

Sounds like it is locked to another apple id, so you need to find out that id and password to get it working or it is junk and sell for parts.

 

[C DM]

This has happened to people for some time now, and not linked to iOS 9 (let alone 9.3) or anything like that. Not sure if any conclusive findings have been done, but it seems like perhaps the underlying iCloud account was hacked or something else of that sort has happened.

Basically it's not iOS 9.3 related, nor is it actually bricked (just Activation Locked essentially).

 

[the8thark]

Thanks for all of the responces. I have contacted Apple about this. They find the issue to be very strange. I have given Apple a copy of the purchase invoice for the iPad and they will look into it in the next few days (because they have a backog of issues to deal with).

I will let you all know what the results of this are.

 

[MorphMan]

The iPad 2 definitely has activation issues so maybe there's some weird activation problems for older models.

 

[Max(IT)]

My colleague with an iPad 2 had activation issues and I solved with a DFU restore

 

[grockk]

sounds like you may have been hit by this 9.3 activation bug. They just released an updated build today.

 

[MarvinHC]

I upgraded my iPhone to iOS 9.3. That worked just fine. Activated fine. I then upgraded my iPad 4th gen to iOS 9.3 and when I tried to put in the Apple ID that was used to set up the iPad, isee there that the iPad is currently linked to a different email address. This is strange as the iPad has never been linked to another email address apart from the same one as the iPhone (ie my itunes account email).

This is very strange indeed. All of a sudden I can't activate the iPad. It says the iPad is linked to 8*****@qq.com. I just don't know what to do about it. Would this be require a call to the Apple custimer service department to see what can be done about this?

When I put in my icloud email address to activate the iPad it says incorrect Apple ID. I am a loss as what to do about this.

Does anyone know anything that can be done about this?

Where did you get your iPad in the first place? qq.com is a common email provider in China.

 

[saudor]

the qq.com thing has been floating around the internet for the longest time ever. For some odd reason, the iDevice gets "hijacked" and changes owner. Dont think anyone's really figured out what was going on

 

[MarvinHC]

the qq.com thing has been floating around the internet for the longest time ever. For some odd reason, the iDevice gets "hijacked" and changes owner. Dont think anyone's really figured out what was going on

My guess (and this is only a guess!!!) is that the serial number has been cloned, maybe to re-activate an iCloud blocked iIpad or something along this way. And that user used a qq-Email to activate it. As said, just a wild theory but I would not be surprised...

 

[Bladery]

Usually easy to solve:

This happens when you have music you've downloaded somewhere.
The specific song is linked to this mail address (because the qq guy bought the song in iTunes).
You would probably get another Apple ID popping up even you would know the password from qq Mail. Just because you downloaded other songs probably.

You should set your phone up as new and it should be fine and disable iCloud music library

 

[the8thark]

My guess (and this is only a guess!!!) is that the serial number has been cloned, maybe to re-activate an iCloud blocked iIpad or something along this way. And that user used a qq-Email to activate it. As said, just a wild theory but I would not be surprised...

I would not be surprised at this either. Those people would go to any length to do immoral things like this.

Usually easy to solve:

This happens when you have music you've downloaded somewhere.
The specific song is linked to this mail address (because the qq guy bought the song in iTunes).
You would probably get another Apple ID popping up even you would know the password from qq Mail. Just because you downloaded other songs probably.

You should set your phone up as new and it should be fine and disable iCloud music library

Not the case, that's a nice advice but just does not apply here as I've never downloaded music to the iPad. I've only downloaded music to OS X.

Apple is working on the issue. Right now the issue is at the security team within customer care. Apple have my proof of purchase (invoice) so they know this is my iPad. After a long discussion, Apple claim they will unlock the iPad. I just have to wait a while for Apple ot get back to me on this. If they do not, I'll make a genuis bar appointment and get Apple to deal with the iPad personally.

I just need a little more patience on this.

 

[the8thark]

I have received an email from Apple, another one.
"After reviewing the documentation you provided, we unlocked the product."
Among other things that's the main point to the email. Apple did unlock the iPad for me. It took a long while and I had to show them my pirchase invoice. But Apple did hold up their end of the line and did unlock the iPad.

A good result in the end. Just so you all know.

 

[hammie14]

I had the same thing happen with my wife's iPhone 6 and it was full of qq.com appleID. Lucky for us the activation lock was still linked to her own email.

Just to be on the safe side we changed all her passwords and since then its been all ok. If you have not already I change your password too!