How to Fix Unable to Activate Your iPhone

Fix iPhone That is Unable Activate

• Download the iOS System Recovery by AceThinker on your PC.
• Connect or link your iPhone to the app with the guide of your lightning wire.
• Choose a recovery method and download a firmware to fix your device.

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The iPhone device is one of the most well-known mobile phone brands nowadays. With its elusive features and elegant aesthetics, most of us surely anticipate every series that iPhone offers us with its advanced camera API, well-performed battery life, and enough storage capacity. With this, it is undoubtedly the most trusted brand of smartphones. You usually need to activate and set up your device when you buy one. You need to create an Apple ID and password security, tweak its settings, and check its apps. Before you can do those processes, you need to activate your device first. For the iPhone to recognize you as the owner, you need to set it up how you want it to operate. You also do this when you factory reset your device or just bought a secondhand device from other users. However, there are many instances where users cannot activate iPhone on their own. What does this error mean? How does this affect my device? What are the reasons and solutions to remove it? We will find out as we indulge in the content of this article.

Reasons Unable to Activate iPhone - Here’s Why

A new device always needs to be activated first. Whether it is brand new or buying an old device from other users, we always need to activate it for us to use it. However, when a message prompts on your screen, "unable to activate iPhone an update is required," your device is experiencing something else during the activation process. This error is not expected when doing the activation process, so what are the causes of why this error keeps happening? We gather information regarding its causes and how to resolve them.

• The first one is that your SIM card needs to be correctly attached to the SIM card tray. Your SIM card plays a significant role in the activation of your device. It usually provides your phone access to the local service network of your SIM. To know which region the SIM is located in.
• Your mobile carrier has a system error. You usually buy a phone from a cellular service provider in different regions. One of the examples here is from the US, where customers can order mobile plans with iPhone devices. These carriers include T-mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and more.
• Another reason your device cannot be activated is due to your device not being connected to a WiFi connection. When starting their system, most devices usually ask for a network connection such as WiFi or data connection. With this, you can create your email accounts and set up your device correctly. Suppose it is not connected to any internet connection. In that case, a problem may occur, including being unable to activate the iPhone device.
• Lastly, your device’s system is outdated, or a software issue is already visible on its system. This error always occurs to those devices that were factory reset to sell them or reset new data on an old iPhone. When system bugs or an outdated iOS system are present on your device, the error may occur every time you reset your device.

Fix Unable to Activate Your iPhone

Distinctive Feature: With its free quick-fix function, users can resolve minor issues on their iPhone device. These include apps crashing, freezing screens, and others.
What makes it different?: This application is other than basic troubleshooting due to its intuitive process. When doing a process on your device, you need to access more menus, buttons, and functions that may confuse you and be unable to perform the procedure correctly. With this tool, you will always be right about fixing your iOS device.

Most of the devices experiencing system issues and outdated iOS patches are the old iPhone models. So, you bought an iPhone from other users and are having a problem activating it. In that case, a computer program will surely help you. AceThinker iOS System Recovery is a one-of-a-kind application for your computer that aids users in fixing different iOS issues. Whether for activation, device issues, screen, or iTunes issues, this tool can guarantee a better result in improving it. If your device is outdated and unable to activate, you can download firmware with this tool. This iPhone system repair tool is packed with the newest iOS updates. It also has a list of patches for iOS 16, which will help you resolve] your device's issue. It also comes with two recovery methods dedicated to your Apple devices. These modes are the Standard and Advanced options. These two work similarly, which will fix iOS issues. However, the Advanced way works like a factory reset which will wipe out the data on your device and remove the lingering error. With that said, it is recommended that users who bought old phones from other users wipe out the data and system bugs of the iPhone device.

Step 1 Acquire the Recovery App

In the beginning process of fixing unable to activate iPhone an update is required to get the AceThinker iOS System Recovery on your computer. First, access its product page on your web browsers or do the easy way: tap the download button above. Then, locate the downloaded installer in your computer’s download folder, and run it on your computer.

Step 2 Connect the Device

When the installation process has been completed, the tool will launch its interface on your computer. While weaning for it to launch, connect your iPhone device using the lightning wire. When the connection is established, hit the Fix option to prompt you to the following page.

Step 3 Choose the Advanced Mode

Since the device you want is from other users, you must wipe out their data first to activate your settings and data. With that, we recommend the Advanced mode to repair your system and delete the personal data of the old user. Then, highlight its indicator and tap the confirm option.

Step 4 Finalize the Fixing Process

Lastly, a new page will appear on your screen. It holds the list of firmware that you can download to fix and update your mobile phone. Select the firmware that contains the newest iOS patch and download it. You can run the file on your iPhone system by tapping the Next icon below the page.

Check the SIM Card Slot

As stated above, a SIM card is a key factor in activating your device. It provides cellular service for the iPhone, which locates the correct location, available service, terms and conditions, and other features in your region or area. However, some iPhone applications are unavailable due to your region or country. One of the examples of features that does not function or has an error is iPhone migration not working. Similarly to this error, when your SIM card is not correctly attached, your device will fail to activate its system. Another reason related to SIM cards is that your service carrier needs to be supported on the activation server of Apple or iPhone servers. Therefore, when you use a local mobile carrier or SIM card unsupported in your area, your device will likely not activate. What needs to be done is to contact your service provider or change to a cellular provider that matches with or is supported on the activation servers of your iPhone. Nevertheless, you can follow the guidelines below when the error is regarding a misplaced SIM card slot.

• For us to resolve the error “unable to activate iPhone,” you must know the location of your SIM card tray. You can check the chart below on which side of the iPhone your SIM card tray slot is located. It would help if you had your SIM card pin when you checked your SIM card slot.
• Following the process, you need to insert the tip of the SIM card pin into the little hole on the SIM card tray. Push a little force with it to eject the SIM card tray. Check if you have the correct SIM card or if it is placed correctly.
• Finally, position the SIM card on the tray slot and push it to insert the SIM again on your device. Wait for your iPhone to register and analyze the SIM card. When the error has been resolved, you can now activate your device.

Network Settings Should Be Checked

A WiFi connection is needed to activate your device to function in its system. You can also use your cellular data to activate your iPhone. However, if your network is blocking the gs.apple.com server, it will prevent you from activating your device. What you must do is connect on a WiFi connection that is stable and does not block the Apple server. Connecting your device to a public WiFi hotspot is also not recommended. Since these public hotspots are vulnerable to your device, which provides viruses and malicious software, do not connect your iPhone to activate it. Instead, use another WiFi network or check if your internet connection works properly. You can call your internet service provider to check on them, or you can narrow your device to see if it is connected to a WiFi network. Follow the guide below to learn how to enable your WiFi connection on your iPhone.

• First, since your device needs to be activated, you cannot use your home screen page. When you first set up your device, it will prompt a dialogue box where to connect your iPhone. Select the WiFi network you have and input its password.
• Once connected, you can activate your device and see if the process will go through. You will know if your device has already been activated once the device asks you to create or log in with an Apple ID. You can use the control center if you have failed to connect your device for the first time.
• You can do this by swiping down on your iPhone screen to launch the function. On the first tab of mini tools, the WiFi network is located. Open that tab, tap on the WiFi network, and connect it by inserting the password.

Seek Professional Help

When you have recently bought a new iPhone device on a legit Apple Store, and you aren't able to activate your device, seek professional help. If your iPhone unable to activate after you have bought it, you can go to Apple Support Centers to let your device be observed by professionals. When the error occurs, it is most likely due to faulty software components, which are covered by the warranty policy of the Apple Store. You can also seek aid on their website to check on your device. Old iPhones that are experiencing the same error regarding activation can also be serviced on this website. If the reason is due to human error or it is not included in the warranty policy, you will need to pay for their service. You can check the estimate by inputting the information regarding your concern. An automated and estimated cost by the system will be presented to you.

But, if you want to avoid these kinds of processes, you can first use different iOS system recovery or repair tools. You can check this article if you want to learn more about these software.

FAQs About iPhone Activation

What We Have Learned?

The above are the best resolutions for resolving to be unable to activate your iPhone device. Although the solutions help bring your device back to its original function, preventing it will save you from inconvenience. For example, buy iPhone devices from those legit Apple Store branches only to prevent you from experiencing this error. Another is when purchasing an old or used iPhone from other users, make sure that the device is already activated and the data files of the previous owner have been cleared out on its system. Lastly, do not always use factory reset to resolve minor iPhone issues. You can use a tool to do that for your device to save you from consistently doing the reset option on your iPhone.

Patricia Rapatalo

February 8, 2024