I browsed everywhere for a way to keep iOS 9. I saw that it happened to many devices. As a matter of fact, I first read about iOS 9 activation issues back in 2017. I remember thinking: “please don’t do this to me when iOS 33 is released because you’ll cripple my iPad”.
I contacted Apple and they told me to restore, as always. My issue is the following: Why now? I had been using iOS 9 for three years. It rebooted on its own a couple of times, but it always activated correctly. Just have it happen when it was new... iOS 10 was the latest back then - bought it just after iOS 10 was released - and yes, it would have bothered me, but battery life was like-new on iOS 10. Obviously, If I knew this would happen, as soon as I got the iPad I would have restored to 10. I would lose the original version (I like having original versions), but I would have saved an old, flawless-battery-life version at least. Battery would have been like-new (every single battery life fact I read on iOS 10 about this iPad described that battery life was unaffected), and it would have ended there. Now this thing is crippled, and I don’t like it as much as I did.
Now, freaking Apple, tell me if you will force me to update my Xʀ to iOS 43, ok?
PS: If I had known that this would happen, I would have traded it in for the Air 3. I have no interest on a crippled iPad. Too late now...
So I have a half bias (used to work for the fruit company but have left macOS entirely and switch back and forth between iOS and Android), but I don’t personally think this is related to forced obsolescence or forcing updates. This is a bug, one that cost Apple money both in fixing and then in support costs. Forcing someone with an iPad running a version with a known bug to update just costs more money in support.
like I said, I’ve always thought this was a bug on the activation server. Some iPads, update em or restore em, good as new. Some, particularly 2’s, wouldn’t activate again no matter what, DFU mode, tethered or wireless activations, nothing. And it was a random assortment of iPads that were hit (notably no iPhones to my recollection), though the 2’s got it the worst. Given the lack of consistency (and you now having it years later), I think the culprit has to be the one common thread, the activation server handling iPads on that OS.
A few less invasive steps to try if you haven’t already : try going to settings -> General -> reset and erase all settings. This puts preferences back to default without eliminating data. So just a few tweaks in the settings app and you’re set. MacOS will sometimes have issues and you’ll need to trash the preferences files. iOS at its core is fork of macOS and that reset is the equivalent.
since you’re using iCloud, if you’re using iCloud Photo Library and messages in the cloud, a restore and setup as new isn’t super terrible, mostly just redownloading apps. It’s a pain, but a pain that does correct issues.
worst case: call applecare and ask for tier 1, explain your situation and your unhappiness with its result. Can’t hurt.