There are many reasons why you might see the "Could not activate iPhone" or "Could not activate iPhone" error when you try to set up your iPhone. In this tutorial, we will look at the causes of the activation error and possible ways bug fix that will help you set up your iPhone
Apparently, a lot of people are having trouble activating their new iPhone X, so if you find this error, you are not alone.
But activation issues are not limited to iPhone X. There have been issues with people not being able to activate their iPhone after updating to iOS 11. Although this issue mostly affects iPhone 5S or earlier.
How to Fix "Failed to Activate iPhone" Error
There are many other reasons why you might not be able to activate your iPhone, and we will list them below, as well as suggest a number of fixes that should allow you to activate your iPhone. Next, we will talk about possible ways to fix the error “Failed to activate iPhone”.
Reasons why you can't activate your iPhone
Activation Lock installed
You may experience activation issues 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 customers in the US.
The activation server may not be available
The Apple server that checks that your device can be activated may not be available or may be experiencing high 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 iPhone.
Activation could not be completed
You may be having problems connecting to the Internet or your iPhone.
How to Fix iPhone Activation Errors
Make sure your iPhone has a SIM card
You cannot activate an iPhone without a SIM card. Learn more about it here: How to set up an iPhone without a SIM card.
wait a bit
It is possible that the servers at Apple are busy (especially if there are new iPhone or update for iOS). Check server status Apple activation 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 tray correctly, so insert it and check if that has changed. Now let's move on to other ways on how to fix the "Failed to Activate iPhone" error.
Reset your iPhone
The way you reset or restart your iPhone depends on the model. with older iPhone models you can hold the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons together for about 10 seconds. With iPhone 7 and 8 the process is different in that the home button is a sensor which is system dependent and if software functions, then the button performs its task, so to speak. And with the iPhone X, the process is different in that 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 an Activation Lock, it may still be locked by a previous user (maybe it's a used model). To disable Activation Lock, you will need to enter an ID and apple password previous user or ask them to go to Find My iPhone and remove that iPhone from their account iCloud entries. Alternatively, you can call AppleCare or go to Apple Store, and as long as you can provide proof of ownership and Apple can verify it's your iPhone, they can remove the Activation Lock for you.
Make sure you don't have a locked iPhone
If your iPhone is locked to a specific mobile network, you won't be able to use a SIM card from another network. The previous network should 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 wifi 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 to activate 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 with a USB cable.
- Turn on your 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 happen 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 items solves the problem, please contact your dealer for advice. And if they can't fix the problem...
Contacting Apple
It is possible that your iPhone has a bug that is preventing you from activating it. Apple should be able to help or replace an iPhone if it's defective and still under warranty. In this case, please contact support.
conclusions
We hope you understand the possible ways to fix the error "Failed to activate iPhone". If you know other solutions to this error, then write about them in the form of comments.
Iphone activation failure may occur on different models smartphone. The problem presented can occur due to several reasons. To fix the error, you need to check what influenced its occurrence.
There are many explanations why the iPhone owner cannot go through the activation procedure. Below we will study this issue in more detail and try to understand the solutions to the problem.
Apple server is temporarily unavailable
The presented error will show the user an inscription - the server is temporarily unavailable. That is, it was not possible to obtain activation information from it. In this situation, your efforts are powerless. Server performance depends entirely on the company. The only way out is to wait for the developers to be able to raise the servers and get them working.
Information about their work can be obtained on the official website - https://www.apple.com/ru/support/systemstatus/. Active ones are marked in green, and disabled ones are marked in red. 
Reset
Iphone activation error after factory reset? When did Apple release updated version iOS 11 firmware, she made some changes to the smartphone repair policy. If the phone was subjected to repair work, during which the replacement of defective parts was carried out, then it is important that purely original components are installed in it.
The use of "left" components will necessarily lead to blocking the device after you reset the settings. In this case, you will not be able to activate the system. 
It should be noted that older versions operating system not affected by this factor. That is, you can safely reset the parameters without fear that the mobile phone will turn into a "brick". This policy has only changed for iOS 11 and 12. As such, refurbished phones should be avoided.
So the company decided to add additional security measures. When the user has reset the parameters at the time of booting the device, the system sends information about the components to the technical apple center. If the security system detects non-original parts in the phone that are not in the official database of the company, it will automatically block it.
The solution to the problem is to contact the warranty service.
iPhone hardware issues
Cellular activation failure Iphone networks may occur due to hardware failure. An example is a situation where a smartphone cannot find sim card, and even if it exists, it is in search cellular network. Without connection, the lock cannot be removed. It is required to carry out diagnostics of the smartphone in the service.
iOS 11 activation issue on refurbished phones
Owners of phones that have been previously restored are the most likely to suffer from activation problems. The presented problem affected only new versions of firmware, starting with 11 iOS.
It is not recommended to purchase phones from dubious sellers. They will not give iron guarantees for the originality of components, perhaps in this device used Chinese and low-quality parts. Such gadgets outwardly completely copy real iPhone, differing from them in system parameters.
Also under the risk category are users who have installed non-original components in the repair service. Therefore, if you decide to reset the settings, then at system startup, data about the installed components will be transferred to the Apple servers, after which a blockage will follow.
Activation Lock installed
Sometimes, using trading platforms for private ads, for example, Avito, there may be problems with activation. This means that the previous owner of the gadget did not change the account. Contact him to resolve the issue.
SIM card not supported
iPhone activation failure can occur if the gadget cannot determine the installed SIM card. Check that it is the correct size and that it is correctly inserted into the slot.
Internet connection problems
The next reason implies an unstable internet connection. In other words, it is not possible to contact the server that should receive information from your smartphone. Check mobile network stability. It is recommended to connect to Wi-Fi to solve the problem.
What to do if iPhone 4/4s/5/5s/6/6s/7/X activation fails
If the service notifies you of technical server problems, then the only way out is to wait for the servers to work again.
If activation is blocked, then the previous user did not change accounts and did not delete data from his iCloud. The presented security measure was developed in case of theft of a smartphone. To unlock the gadget, you need to specify the identifier and code associated with the old account (the previous owner). You also need to erase the account by replacing it with a new one.
The second solution to activation blocking involves a call to AppleCare, where specialists will help with the question if the user can prove that the iPhone belongs to him.
Update required
Sometimes the error may occur due to old version firmware. Iphone needs an update after activation fails. It is required to install patches released by developers in a timely manner. Check your settings for new updates. If this malfunction does not allow you to download the update, then you can try to activate the system through iTunes.
SIM card check
Check if the SIM card is installed correctly. Doesn't fit in your phone? Contact the operator to obtain the desired SIM card option. If, after checking, no malfunctions were found with the SIM card, then most likely the reason is hidden in a hardware failure.
Reboot
In some situations, a reboot or reset may help. iPhones reboot when you hold down the Home and Screen Off buttons.
Mobile network blocking check
Check if yours is working mobile network. Perhaps the reason is due to a poor internet connection. Take advantage of Wi-Fi.
Activation via iTunes
Activation can also be carried out with using iTunes. Instruction:
Iphone activation failure can occur on different smartphone models. The problem presented can occur due to several reasons. To fix the error, you need to check what influenced its occurrence.
There are many explanations why the iPhone owner cannot go through the activation procedure. Below we will study this issue in more detail and try to understand the solutions to the problem.
Apple server is temporarily unavailable
The presented error will show the user an inscription - the server is temporarily unavailable. That is, it was not possible to obtain activation information from it. In this situation, your efforts are powerless. Server performance depends entirely on the company. The only way out is to wait for the developers to be able to raise the servers and get them working.
Information about their work can be obtained on the official website - https://www.apple.com/ru/support/systemstatus/. Active ones are marked in green, and disabled ones are marked in red.
Reset
Iphone activation error after factory reset? When Apple released the updated version of iOS 11 firmware, it made some changes to the smartphone repair policy. If the phone was subjected to repair work, during which the replacement of defective parts was carried out, then it is important that purely original components are installed in it.
The use of "left" components will necessarily lead to blocking the device after you reset the settings. In this case, you will not be able to activate the system.
It should be noted that older versions of the operating system are not affected by this factor. That is, you can safely reset the parameters without fear that the mobile phone will turn into a "brick". This policy has only changed for iOS 11 and 12. As such, refurbished phones should be avoided.
So the company decided to add additional security measures. When the user resets the parameters at the time of booting the device, the system sends information about the components to the Apple technical center. If the security system detects non-original parts in the phone that are not in the official database of the company, it will automatically block it.
The solution to the problem is to contact the warranty service.
iPhone hardware issues
Iphone cellular network activation failure may occur due to hardware malfunctions. An example is a situation when a smartphone cannot find a sim card, and even if it is available, it is in search of a cellular network. Without connection, the lock cannot be removed. It is required to carry out diagnostics of the smartphone in the service.
iOS 11 activation issue on refurbished phones
Owners of phones that have been previously restored are the most likely to suffer from activation problems. The presented problem affected only new versions of firmware, starting with 11 iOS.
It is not recommended to purchase phones from dubious sellers. They will not give iron guarantees for the originality of components, perhaps Chinese and low-quality parts were used in this device. Such gadgets outwardly completely copy the real iPhone, differing from them in system parameters.
Also under the risk category are users who have installed non-original components in the repair service. Therefore, if you decide to reset the settings, then at system startup, data about the installed components will be transferred to the Apple servers, after which a blockage will follow.
Activation Lock installed
Sometimes, using marketplaces for private ads, for example, Avito, there may be problems with activation. This means that the previous owner of the gadget did not change the account. Contact him to resolve the issue.
SIM card not supported
iPhone activation failure can occur if the gadget cannot determine the installed SIM card. Check that it is the correct size and that it is correctly inserted into the slot.
Internet connection problems
The next reason implies an unstable internet connection. In other words, it is not possible to contact the server that should receive information from your smartphone. Check mobile network stability. It is recommended to connect to Wi-Fi to solve the problem.
What to do if iPhone 4/4s/5/5s/6/6s/7/X activation fails
If the service notifies you of technical server problems, then the only way out is to wait for the servers to work again.
If activation is blocked, then the previous user did not change accounts and did not delete data from his iCloud. The presented security measure was developed in case of theft of a smartphone. To unlock the gadget, you need to specify the identifier and code associated with the old account (the previous owner). You also need to erase the account by replacing it with a new one.
The second solution to activation blocking involves a call to AppleCare, where specialists will help with the question if the user can prove that the iPhone belongs to him.
Update required
Sometimes an error can occur due to an old firmware version. Iphone needs an update after activation fails. It is required to install patches released by developers in a timely manner. Check your settings for new updates. If this malfunction does not allow you to download the update, then you can try to activate the system through iTunes.
SIM card check
Check if the SIM card is installed correctly. Doesn't fit in your phone? Contact the operator to obtain the desired SIM card option. If, after checking, no malfunctions were found with the SIM card, then most likely the reason is hidden in a hardware failure.
Reboot
In some situations, a reboot or reset may help. iPhones reboot when you hold down the Home and Screen Off buttons.
Mobile network blocking check
Check if your mobile network is working. Perhaps the reason is due to a poor internet connection. Take advantage of Wi-Fi.
Activation via iTunes
Activation can also be done using iTunes. Instruction:
On iOS 11 - a problem that many users of "apple" phones have recently encountered. It manifests itself in the inability to activate the iPhone after resetting content and settings or reinstalling iOS. When activating the phone via Wi-Fi, the user sees the message " . Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server cannot be contacted". When you try to activate using iTunes on your computer, you get an error message with the number 0xE8000013 or 4016, or the message "The iPhone could not be activated because it could not receive activation information from it."
Why does iPhone activation fail?
There are three main reasons why the iPhone does not activate and gives an activation failure message:
Issues on Apple Activation Servers
The most innocuous option, which may be due to the fact that at a particular point in time, the Apple activation server is indeed not available, as indicated in the error message. Check for the status of web services Apple and, if the iOS Device Activation service is not available, then the solution in this case may be to be patient and try to activate a little later.
iPhone hardware issues
Activation failed may be due to a hardware problem with the iPhone. So, for example, if the phone has problems detecting the SIM card ( constantly searching for a network, regardless of whether a SIM card is inserted or not), the iPhone will not be activated. The solution to the problem, if the phone does not activate, in such cases can be determined after diagnostics at the service center.
iOS 11 activation issue on refurbished phones
Most often iPhone activation error happens to owners of refurbished phones. At the same time, we are not talking about officially restored iPhones, which are produced under the control of Apple, but about Chinese handicraft devices. As a rule, such phones inside resemble a "Frankenstein's monster", assembled from different parts. Very often, of the original components on such iPhones, only the processor board remains, and it may contain replaced components ... Why do such phones most often have a problem with a device activation error?
The problem is related to the fact that in iOS 11, Apple changed the rules of the device activation system. When activated, components are polled and compared technical information (UDID, Serial No, IMEI, MAC Address etc.) with numbers in official Apple databases. If for some reason (and for non-officially restored devices you can find a dozen reasons) the information does not match, the device will not be activated.
How to protect yourself from the appearance of a problem?
Can check serial number devices on the Apple website. If the verification says "This serial number matches the product that was replaced" or the verification shows information about another device that does not match yours in model, color, or memory capacity, your iPhone may be prone to an activation error. If you are the owner of a refurbished iPhone, it is highly recommended not to erase the content of the device or restore the software on it through iTunes.
Can a refurbished iPhone with an activation error be repaired?
There is a solution. It consists in working with a memory chip and making changes to its firmware. Such an operation can only be performed by the hands of an experienced craftsman in a service center with good specialized equipment. Such repairs can be carried out in our service center. Information on the cost and estimated time of execution of works is presented in the table below.
However, the solution is not universal and is not suitable for every case. Since for the most part owners of refurbished iPhones face this problem, it is possible to determine exactly whether we can help you only after inspection and diagnostics at a service center. We will be waiting for you to visit and will be happy to help in solving problems with your iPhone!
Tags:
After the release of iOS 11 and the update of the security policy, it is impossible to activate the flashed device. The problem can also occur on iPhones that have been factory reset or repaired at a non-official service center. Then, after starting the device, a message appears - iPhone 5s activation failed. What to do to fix the error, read on.
Possible reasons for activation failure
If the device has not been flashed or repaired by unofficial service centers, then the error may appear for the following reasons:
- Check if the SIM card is installed correctly. Try using a different SIM. To activate the device, a SIM card is required. Even if you do not have a contract for the provision of communication services.
- Make sure the device is connected to the network. Try restarting your smartphone, connect to another WiFi hotspot or use mobile internet.
- Make sure the Apple servers are available. You can do this with official service. Activation often fails after an update for iOs and other large changes in privacy and data security policies.
- If the error appears when activating iPhone through iTunes, then make sure you are using the latest version of the program. You can check for updates through the Settings menu. If necessary, completely remove and download the latest version of the distribution from the official site.
- Perform a hard reset on your iPhone. To do this, press and hold the Power and Home buttons at the same time. Wait until the device turns off and start it normally. If necessary, go into dfu mode (recovery mode) and reflash the device.
After that, the iPhone should work. If this does not help, and you are sure that the device has not been repaired in third-party services and has not been reflashed, then try using one of the methods described below.
If iPhone activation failed after reset ios 11 to the factory settings, then do not try to solve the problem yourself. Contact an official service center for help or contact support at http://apple.com/en/support.
Rollback to iOS 10.3.3
The activation problem appeared after the release of iOS 11. If the failure appears after downloading new version firmware, then try to rollback from iOS 11 to iOS 10.3.3. Procedure:
- Connect your device to your computer using the original USB cable and launch iTunes.
- Download desired version iOS from another site. Try to use only proven resources.
- Switch to iTunes and click on the smartphone icon (upper left corner).
- Click the Overview tab. In the left part of the window, click on the "Restore iPhone" button, while holding down Shift button(for Windows) and Alt (for Mac) on the keyboard.
- In the window that appears, select the firmware file that you want to install on your iPhone. If it does not appear, then make sure that you are pressing the correct key on the keyboard.
Confirm the download of the new iOS version and wait for the installation to complete. During the process, the smartphone may turn on and off several times. Once the firmware has been downloaded, the screen will display system notification. Only then can the device be disconnected from the computer.
Beta Firmware
If you are using beta firmware, you may see a message on the screen that says: "Your iPhone could not be activated because it could not contact the server or the device is not enrolled in the Apple Developer Program." In this case, you must do the following:
- Using another smartphone or computer, go to "developer.apple.com" and log in to your developer account using your Apple ID and password. After that, register the device on the network and restart the iPhone.
- If beta testing is over (you can find out information on official resource), then you need to reflash the device using iTunes (the latest iOS version available on the Apple website).
- If testing is completed, you can’t reinstall iOS using a computer, then you can “revive” the iPhone through iCloud (the method is only relevant if the Find iPhone service was enabled on the device). To do this, go to the site cloud storage, log in to your account and remove it from the list of available ones. In this case, all user data will be destroyed.
The steps described above are relevant only if you are using a beta version of the firmware. Then a message will appear on the screen that the device is not registered in the developer's program.
If the methods described above do not help, and when you try to update through iTunes, a system notification appears with the text: “The iPhone could not be activated because it was not possible to obtain information from it,” then most likely the serial number, IMEI, MAC address, or other device data do not match the official Apple base. Then, to eliminate the error, you must contact the official service center of the company.