There are many reasons why you might see an “iPhone could not be activated” or “Could not activate iPhone” error when trying to set up your iPhone. In this tutorial, we will look at the reasons for the activation error and possible ways bug fix to help you set up your iPhone

Apparently, a lot of people are having difficulty activating their new iPhone X, so if you find such an error, know that you are not alone.

But activation problems are not limited to iPhone X. There have been problems with people not being able to activate their iPhone after updating to iOS 11. Although this problem mostly affects iPhone 5S or earlier.

How to Fix iPhone Failed to Activate Error

There are many other reasons why you might not activate your iPhone, and we will list them below, as well as suggest a number of fixes that should enable your iPhone to be activated. Next, we will talk about possible ways to fix the "Failed to activate iPhone" error.

Reasons Why You Can't Activate Your iPhone

Activation lock is set

You may have activation problems if the iPhone you are using is still linked to another account iCloud with activation lock. Next, we will analyze the solution of how to fix the error "Failed to activate the iPhone", in this situation, when starting the smartphone.

Your carrier may have a problem

In the case of iPhone X activation issues, it looks like they were mostly tied to AT&T and Verizon US customers.

The activation server may be unavailable

Apple's server that checks that your device can be activated may be unavailable, or it may be experiencing a lot of traffic. You can check if the Apple server is here LINK https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/.

Your SIM card may not be supported

The SIM card on your device may not work with the iPhone.

Activation could not be completed

You may be having problems connecting to the Internet or iPhone.

How to Fix iPhone Activation Errors

Make sure your iPhone has a SIM card

You cannot activate iPhone without a SIM card. Find out more about it here: How to set up iPhone without a SIM card.

wait a bit

It is possible that the servers at Apple are busy (especially if there is a new iPhone or an iOS update). Check the Apple Activation Server status by visiting the Apple System Status page here. LINK https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/

Remove the SIM card and reinsert it

It is possible that the SIM card is not in the SIM card tray correctly, so insert it and check if that has changed. Now let's move on to other ways to fix the "Failed to activate iPhone" error.

Reset your iPhone
How you restart or restart your iPhone depends on the model. With older iPhones, you can hold the Home and Sleep / Wake buttons together for about 10 seconds. With the iPhone 7 and 8, the process is different than the Home button is a sensor that depends on the system and if software functions then the button performs its task, so to speak. And with the iPhone X, the process is different than there is no Home button.

Unlock Lock
The purpose of Activation Lock is to keep your iPhone and the data on it safe if your iPhone is stolen.

If the phone you are trying to activate has Activation Lock, it could still be locked by the previous user (it might be a used model). To turn off Activation Lock, you'll need to enter the previous user's Apple ID and password, or ask them to sign in to Find My iPhone and remove that iPhone from their iCloud account. Alternatively, you can call AppleCare or go to the Apple Store, and while you can provide proof of ownership and Apple can confirm that this is your iPhone, they can remove the Activation Lock for you.

Make sure you don't have a locked iPhone
If your iPhone is locked for a specific mobile network, you will not be able to use a SIM card from another network. The previous network must unlock your iPhone so you can use it with the new carrier's SIM card.

Check if your WiFi network is working

Try an alternative Wi-Fi network if you can block Apple servers are blocked (if you don't have WiFi networks, connect iPhone to your Mac or PC and use iTunes, see next step).

Try activating your iPhone through iTunes

Below are the steps to take if you want to try activating your iPhone through iTunes:

  • Make sure iTunes is up to date.
  • Turn off your iPhone and connect it to your computer via a USB cable.
  • Turn on the iPhone and it should launch iTunes to open (or open iTunes if it doesn't).
  • Once iTunes detects your iPhone, it will ask you to go through a few steps to activate your iPhone.
  • If it doesn't automatically, select your device in the left pane and you should see how to activate your iPhone.
  • Sign in with your Apple ID and click Continue.
  • Call your carrier

If none of the above points solve the problem, please consult your dealer. And if they can't solve the problem ...

How to contact Apple

There may be a bug in your iPhone that is preventing you from activating it. Apple should be able to help or replace the iPhone if it's defective and still under warranty. In this case, contact the support service.

conclusions

We hope you understand the possible ways to fix the "Failed to activate iPhone" error. If you know other options for solving this error, then write about them in the form of comments.

Activating iPhone is a simple process and is made by Apple developers intuitively, however, problems can arise here too. One of the most common errors is associated with the message “Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable” - we will tell you how to get rid of it in this manual.

Right now, a huge number of users from all over the world are trying to update to iOS 9.3. Before such a serious influx of people wishing to install new firmware even strong Apple servers cannot resist, so many have errors when updating. To avoid any problems, it is strongly recommended to postpone the update for at least a few hours. After Apple's update servers start working normally, you can install the latest version of iOS on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch without incident.

During iPhone activation, you may encounter various errors, the list of which is listed below:

  • "Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable."
  • IPhone is not recognized and cannot be activated for service
  • "SIM card in this iPhone not supported "
  • "ITunes cannot check the device"

If one of these messages is displayed on the screen of your iPhone, try our advice - one of them will definitely help you cope with the problem situation.

Insert SIM

New iPhone owners are often in such a hurry to get to know their device that they completely forget about the need for installation. In this case, it is not necessary to reboot the smartphone - the activation process will continue immediately after installing the SIM card.

If the SIM card is inserted, then you need to make sure that it works. Try using a different SIM card and try activation again.

Use a different Wi-Fi connection

A Wi-Fi connection blocking the smartphone's connection to Apple servers may be one of the reasons why you cannot activate your iPhone. Use another wireless connection and try again.

Try activating your iPhone through iTunes

Connect your iPhone to your computer, open the latest iTunes and try to activate your smartphone. This method is best used if you do not have the opportunity to connect to another Wi-Fi network.

Restart iPhone

Problems with activating the iPhone can be solved after a banal reboot of the smartphone. Reboot your device and try activating it again.

Restore iPhone via iTunes

In most cases, the first four tips will solve the problem with activating the iPhone, however, if all else fails, it's time to connect the "heavy artillery". Restoring iPhone is done as follows: while holding and holding the Home button, connect the smartphone to the computer. The device will be recognized by iTunes in recovery mode, after which you will need to click the "Recover" button.

Good to know:

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IPhone Activation Failed - Causes and Solutions

We know the activation problems for each iPhone model. We fix a lot. Diagnostics is free and immediately.

Not always the reason for the inability to activate is the interference of the Chinese in the iPhone, sometimes the problem is in something else, for example, iTunes. It is necessary to consider each specific case. Read what is under the price list.

We open the iPhone and look at whether Repair iPhone or not. It is not always possible to resolve the error.

Come and see your case, let's say your verdict, diagnostics are always free, and payment is made only after the problem has been eliminated. Not fixed - pay nothing. Repair Request Whatsapp Consultant

Recovering about 20 iPhone activations, including many service centers, we have tremendous experience in soldering, we use circuitry, good equipment, a compressor hairdryer, Webber soldering irons, bottom heating, good fluxes and solders, we have a whole set of stencils. We do it quickly and imperceptibly, no one will ever see that something has changed or re-soldered.

And, most importantly, we give a 6-month warranty for work.

Let's get down to business with

Causes of the Activation Failed Problem


Since iOS 11, many users have faced iPhone activation issue. On this page we will detail the “what” and “how”.

In iOS 11, Apple introduced some kind of hardware check on the iPhone, the so-called protection against refurbished iPhones. If you are facing this problem, then most likely you have a refurbished iPhone.

The protection works as follows: the main chips on the phone board are interrogated, such as Processor (CPU), Flash phone memory (NAND), EEPROM (memory with serial numbers) , Modem.
From the data of all these chips, a certain "match key" is formed, which is sent to Apple's servers when an iPhone is activated. In turn, Apple already sees which chips are in the phone and which should be.
If at least one chip from the bundle is not native, i.e. it was replaced, then, of course, the key will differ from what is in the Apple database and, as a result, the verification will not work, and the activation will not be completed.

Where do these phones come from? If you bought new phone, then you will not have such problems, because all the chips fit together and are tested without problems.
If you have a refurbished iPhone (you may not even know about it), then it appeared as a result of repair and was assembled from components of two or more iPhones.

The problem is serious, but not terrible, it is being repaired. The solution will require a soldering iron, hair dryer, programmer, screwdrivers. Please watch the video, it will answer most of the questions:

When trying to update the device's firmware from Apple before latest version or while activating your iPhone or iPad, you may experience different kinds errors that will prevent the process from completing. How to solve them?

Causes of iPhone and iPad activation error

There may be several reasons why the process of updating and activating the device may be interrupted:

How can you solve the problem

Try the most simple ways, which are very often the most effective.

Reboot the device

Restart your iPhone or iPad by simultaneously holding the Home and Lock buttons for 8-10 seconds. All background processes and applications will restart, and there is a good chance that after that they will start working correctly.

Change of network

Check if the Wi-Fi network is stable. If the Internet speed drops, then restart the router or connect to another Wi-Fi network.

Activation via iTunes

If it did not work to activate or update the device via Wi-Fi, then follow these steps:

  1. You need to update iTunes to the latest version. Expand the Help menu.
  2. Go to the "Update" section.
  3. The program will automatically find available updates and offer you to install them, confirm the action.
  4. Connect your device to your computer using a USB adapter.
  5. After completing the authorization process, click on the icon of your device.
  6. Go to the "Overview" section.
  7. Click the "Update" button, which is located under the block with the description of your device.
  8. Go through the update process by following the instructions that appear on the computer screen. The following message appears, indicating that the device has been successfully updated. Go through the activation process by following the instructions on the computer screen.

Recovering the device to fix the failure

Only if none of the above methods helped to fix the problem, you should use this option.

  1. Open the iTunes app on your computer with operating system Windows or Mac OS.
  2. Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable.
  3. Disconnect the device by holding down the "Lock" button for a few seconds and confirming the action.
  4. Simultaneously press the "Lock" and "Home" buttons on the device for exactly 10 seconds. Remove your finger from the "Lock" button, hold the "Home" button for about 10-15 seconds, until a notification about the connected device appears on the computer. During the entire process of putting the device into recovery mode, the screen should not light up.
  5. ITunes will see that the device is in recovery mode and will offer to restore it, agree. Go through the recovery process by following the instructions that appear on the screen.

Video: what to do if you failed to activate your iPhone or iPad

If any of the above errors occurred while updating or activating your device, change your Wi-Fi network, restart your device, activate and update it via iTunes, or go through the recovery process. If none of the proposed methods helped, and you are sure that the Apple servers are working at the time of the error, then take your device to the service in order to get the help of a qualified specialist. But it is better to first consult with the service Apple support- https://support.apple.com/en-ru, describing in detail the problem that occurred and the methods that did not help to fix it.

iOS 11 follows in the footsteps of iOS 10.

IPhone Owners Massively Claim Activation Failure During Execution full reset smartphone or restore to backup... Any iPhone model running all versions is affected. iOS 11 including the latest tested builds of iOS 11.1. The solution to the problem has not been found at the moment, Apple does not comment on the situation.

What is the essence of the problem

When performing a hard reset iPhone settings, restore to a backup via iTunes and even a "clean" iOS installation 11 at iTunes help error 0xE8000013 may occur. Activation fails on iPhone, bricking the device.

No solution yet

As of October 10, no solution has been found. Note that the bug first appeared for some users at the end of September. Then a rollback to iOS 10.3.3 helped to get rid of the activation failure. Now Apple does not sign iOS 10.3.3, which makes it impossible to return to the firmware.

Important! The only iPhone still available for iOS 10.3.3 rollback is the iPhone 6s. If you have an iPhone 6s and you have an error 0xE8000013, then it is recommended to urgently perform downgrade to iOS 10.3.3 to fix the activation failed error.

Apple's solution will definitely be

Over the past few days, the problem has started to be really widespread. Hundreds if not thousands of users have experienced activation failure. Many of them turned to Apple, to which the company reacts with only standard advice.

However, according to the experience of previous years, the company will definitely release a special firmware to solve the problem, or it will start signing iOS 10.3.3 again. When Apple provides a solution to the problem, we will update this topic.

See also:

  • Features and first images of the iPhone SE 2
  • How many new Galaxy S11s are coming? Three models await us

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