iPad Activation problem

Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:

Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Turn off Activation Lock – Apple Support

As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, or unless you can secure the cooperation of the previous owner, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. Without documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple won’t assist - and nobody here will be able to help you.

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

the org owner has to take the following steps What to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support

otherwise the activation lock will work as a theft protection and you will not be able to use the device

Unless you have the original sales receipt, clearly showing the serial number, you’ll not get any help from Apple. As previously outlined, nobody here can help you - as everyone has already indicated at some length.

Have paid for a second-hand device or not makes no difference to your issue.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250001038

Sorry, but without knowing the original owner, there is no "good" response to provide you. No one here, nor Apple can assist you with this. The owner should have properly prepared this iPad before they sold it to you. Otherwise, it may be lost or stolen and should be turned into your local law enforcement agency.

Then you have a dead, useless device now.

If it is, at least, 8-years old now, it is, most likely, NOT supported by Apple or third party app developers, any longer!

Please, recycle this device responsibly.

I am just going to reiterate on this.

No. there is not unless you have an original Apple sales receipt as proof.

You obviously purchased a second-hand device from someone who didn't reset the device properly for sale and not it is forever stuck in User Activation Lock mode.

Even if you could get this iPad working, the procedures to do so are to completely erase and setup the device as new.

When you do that with an over 8-year old iPad, you will render the device pretty much useless.

Apple ended support for all over 8-year old and nearly 10-year old iPad models, at least, over 3-years, ago!

Virtually, all third party iOS app developers ended/stopped/abandoned supporting these old iPads over two years, ago.

These old iPad models are fully unsupported now!

There are virtually, NO MORE older iOS 9 or 10 compatible apps available from the Apple iOS App Store, any longer.

You will never get any compatible apps for that old an iPad, any longer, from the Apple iOS App Store.

AND the default iOS Safari Web browser is over 4-years old and it NOT safe nor secure to trust and use to access the Internet, any longer.

That iPad model cannot ever upgrade beyond iOS 9.3.5/9.3.6.

Simply put, that 8-year old iPad Mini is too old and obsolete now.

That iPad is done!

Sorry., but that’s the way it is.

Please, PLEASE recycle that iPad responsibly, if you can.

It's time for a new iPad.

You really need to seriously consider a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH, MUCH “newer” , used iPad model capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.

There are plenty of newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

Before you purchase another, newer used iPad, before you make another used purchase, start the iPad up.

A NON-Activation locked iPad will be completely reset and greet you with a multi-language, highly animated start screen that states “Hello, Welcome to iPad”

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!