iPhone activation errors have been reported by users, both while trying to activate New iPhone and also while trying to activate an existing device after Factory Reset.
In general, the following types error messages have been reported by users trying to activate both New and existing devices.
- “iTunes was unable to verify your device”
- “iPhone could not be activated, the activation server is temporarily unavailable”
- “iPhone is not recognized and cannot be activated for service”
Going by above error messages, the problem appears to be being caused due to Apple servers being busy, Carrier networks experiencing problems or due to technical glitches on the device or the SIM Card.
Fix: iPhone Activation Errors
If your New iPhone or existing device (after Factory Reset) is coming up with an error message reading “the activation server is temporarily unavailable”, the reason is most likely due to Apple servers being busy.
The best course of action in this case is to postpone the activation process. In our case, the activation was successful after a wait period of about 10 to 15 minutes.
1. Check Wi-Fi Network
If your iPhone is still coming up with activation error messages, make sure that your device is connected to a stable and strong Wi-Fi network.
1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. On the next screen, make sure Wi-Fi is enabled and iPhone is connected to your Wi-Fi Network.
Also, test the Wi-Fi Network on your Mac or another device to make sure that it is working and you are able to access the internet with good connectivity.
2. Check iOS Device Activation Status
The problem could be due to Apple Servers being temporarily down or going to problems. To confirm, visit Apple’s System Status page and take a look at iOS Device Activation entry.
If there is a problem, you will see an error message next to iOS Device Activation entry and the dot next to the entry will be Red and not Green.
3. Remove and Reinsert SIM Card
iPhone Activation problems can be caused by an improperly placed or loose SIM Card. Simply, remove the SIM Card from your iPhone and Re-insert it back into your device.
Note: If you are trying to switch carriers, make sure that your previous carrier has unlocked your device and it can be used with any other carrier.
4. Activate iPhone on Mac
If above methods did not help, you can try to activate the iPhone using your Mac.
1. Plug iPhone to the USB Port of your Mac.
2. Open the Finder on your Mac and select your iPhone as it appears on the Finder sidebar.
3. Once the iPhone is selected, it should prompt you to activate your device.
5. Activate iPhone on Windows Computer
If you are using Windows PC, make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes installed on it and follow the steps below to activate your device.
1. Plug iPhone to the USB Port of computer.
2. Open iTunes (if it is not already open) and wait for your iPhone to appear in iTunes.
3. Once your iPhone is detected by iTunes, it will prompt you to go through the steps to activate your device.
Note: If you are connecting iPhone to iTunes for the first time, you will see a welcome screen > Click on Continue. If you had previously connected iPhone to iTunes, click on the Setup option and then click on Continue.
6. Contact Apple Care and Carrier
If you are unable to fix iPhone activation errors using above methods, it is time to contact Apple Care. They should be able to find the source of the problem on your device and help you fix it.
If you had bought your iPhone from a carrier, try calling the carriers technical support service and ask them to help you activate your device.