There are many reasons why you might see a “Could not activate iPhone” or “Could not activate iPhone” error when trying to set up your iPhone. In this tutorial we will look at the causes of activation error and possible ways error fixes that will help you set up your iPhone

Apparently a lot of people are having difficulty activating their new iPhone X, so if you've encountered this error, know that you're not alone.

But activation issues are not limited to the iPhone X. There have been issues with people being unable to activate their iPhone after updating to iOS 11. Although this issue mainly affects the iPhone 5S or earlier.

How to fix the “Unable to activate iPhone” error

There are many other reasons why you might not be able to activate your iPhone, and we'll list them below, along with a number of fixes that should allow you to activate your iPhone. Next, we will talk about possible ways to fix the “Unable to activate iPhone” error.

Reasons why you can't activate your iPhone

Activation lock set

You may have trouble activating if the iPhone you're using is still linked to a different account iCloud recordings with activation lock. Next, we will look at the solution to how to fix the “Unable to activate iPhone” error in this situation when starting the smartphone.

Your operator may have a problem

In the case of iPhone X activation issues, they seemed to be mostly limited to AT&T and Verizon customers in the US.

The activation server may be unavailable

The Apple server that verifies that your device can be activated may be down or experiencing a high volume of traffic. You can check if the Apple server is located here LINK https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/.

Your SIM card may not be supported

The SIM card in your device may not work with iPhone.

Activation could not be completed

There may be problems connecting to the Internet or iPhone.

How to fix iPhone activation errors

Make sure your iPhone has a SIM card

You cannot activate an iPhone without a SIM card. Find out more about it here: How to set up iPhone without 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 status page Apple systems Here. LINK https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/

Remove the SIM card and reinsert it

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

Reset your iPhone
How you reset or reset your iPhone depends on the model. With older ones 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 that depends on the system and if software If the button functions, it does its job, so to speak. And with the iPhone X, the process is different because there is no Home button.

Unlocking the 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're trying to activate has an activation lock, it may still be locked by a previous user (perhaps a used model). To disable Activation Lock, you will need to enter the ID and Apple password previous user or ask them to go into Find My iPhone and remove that iPhone from their account iCloud. Alternatively, you can call AppleCare or go to Apple Store, and as long as you can provide proof of ownership and Apple can confirm that it's your iPhone, they can remove Activation Lock for you.

Make sure you don't have a locked iPhone
If your iPhone is locked to 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 it alternative network Wi-Fi 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 you should 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 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 follow several 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 to your Apple ID and click Continue.
• Call your carrier

If none of the above resolves the issue, please contact your retailer for advice. And if they can't solve the problem...

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 faulty and still under warranty. In this case, contact support.

conclusions

We hope you understand the possible ways to fix the “Unable to activate iPhone” error. If you know other solutions to this error, please write about them in the comment form.

Models iPhone already which year rank first among the desired new products. Sales volumes are high enough to call the company's products a market favorite. Apple provides high-quality support to buyers of purchased equipment. However, malfunctions occur here too. IN Lately iTunes crashed massively: “Unable to activate iPhone. Happened Unknown error 0xe8000013”, which appeared after the transition to iOS 11. The phenomenon is widespread and can occur during any reset or firmware update of the device. Read on to find out what to do and how to solve the problem.

What causes the error?

The main cause of the problem is said to be a banal bug in iOS 11, which, by the way, should be fixed by the developers themselves. In the vast majority of cases, a malfunction of the operating system causes a problem in the iPhone 5S. There are several other reasons highlighted on the forums:

• replaced Touch ID;
• phone use serial number, which does not belong to him.

Unknown error 0xe8000013 when iPhone activation

How to fix activation error 0xe8000013?

Unfortunately, there are no 100% effective ways to do this yet, but, nevertheless, you can try some options. Where to begin? Here is a list of simple manipulations that you can try.

1. Connect USB directly to the motherboard.
2. Try connecting through all available ports.
3. Change the connecting cable - use the original.
4. Disconnect other devices, restart your laptop or PC, connect your phone.
5. Insert a SIM card with a positive balance (the phone may try to send a technical SMS).
6. Press and hold the Home button and insert the cable into the connector.
7. Restore via Recovery Mode . With the phone turned off, hold down the button "Home" and connect to a PC running iTunes.
8. Report the problem to support.

Even service centers will not be able to eliminate the error that appears, so contacting the specialists on this moment don't make sense. How to avoid getting into such a situation?

Checking the device serial number

Alas, this is not a solution to the problem, but it is a real opportunity to find out whether your serial number is in the database. If it is busy, then it is impossible to reset the settings and flash the firmware until the situation with this error is resolved.

How to check the serial number:

It so happens that problematic smartphones can be sold as new. They come with a box and other necessary documentation. When purchasing, it is advisable to check that the serial number on the box and in the device settings match, in order to avoid troubles in the future. Please note that replaced devices are processed even in official networks, That's why personal check would be useful. Talking about anyone iOS error, it is worth remembering one more procedure - DFU, which we will consider in more detail.

Recover iPhone in DFU mode

If mode normal recovery did not help, then use a different approach. The abbreviation DFU stands for firmware update mode. In fact, it is designed for emergency situations such as error 0xe8000013. It does not use a touchscreen or OS shell. Therefore, the device will not respond to touches and presses with obvious signs. To enter the mode you need to do this.

Exiting DFU debugging is no less simple. You just need to press the power button. Did not help? Then press “Home” + “Power” for 10 seconds with the cable disconnected. This reset will erase all your data on your phone, so you need to make sure you have a backup in advance. Today, such a restoration is the most correct, but drastic decision.

Conclusion

Apple treats its customers well, providing prompt solutions to any problems. This error But it is global in nature, and they are already working to eliminate it. An update will be released in the near future that will fix the bug, so don’t give up on your device, but be patient. The likelihood that the device will remain inoperative tends to zero.

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8 comments on ““Error 0xe8000013 in iTunes, failed to activate iPhone - how to fix it””

Such a wild thing... You should at least understand the issue before writing an article. The problem is in the phone, which is yours and which is the ref. And a problem specifically created by apple. And since they created it, they are unlikely to make a concession and return the ability to use devices where the processor number does not match the main combination of three microcircuits (Google “trio 5s”).

Answer

New software iOS provisioning 11 brought a lot of problems for users. Some people's devices are stuck on a black screen and Apple logo During installation, someone was unable to download the firmware due to lack of sufficient memory or iPhone activation failure. And someone installed the build, but encountered a problem that the iPhone or iPad does not activate after iOS installations 11. We will tell you in detail in this article what to do in this case and how to solve this problem.

Why iPhone won't activate after installing iOS 11

If you have installed iOS 11, but still cannot complete the activation procedure, you need to try one of the suggested methods. Typically, you won't be able to get past the activation screen when you enter your Apple ID. Similar problem also happened in case of exit iOS firmware 11. What to do if your iPhone does not activate.

The first thing that can help is rebooting the device. Restart your mobile device, then try the activation procedure again.

If activation fails again, you need to check whether you are entering the Apple ID correctly - it is possible that the iPhone or iPad that you cannot activate after installing iOS 11 is simply linked to a different Apple ID. So, let's check:

1. Open iCloud.com. Sign in with using Apple ID that you enter to activate your iPhone or iPad.

2. Next, in iCloud, go to Settings - My Devices. All devices that are linked to this will be listed here. this Apple ID. If your iPhone/iPad is not among them, then you simply enter wrong Apple ID. If your device is on the list, then you need to complete the next step.

3. Connect your iPhone/iPad that you cannot activate to your computer using a USB cable. Then launch iTunes. Update to the most latest version and enter your Apple ID.

If this method did not help you, then you can try using the Tenorshare iCareFone program.

1. Download the Tenorshare iCareFone program to your computer from the official website. Install it and run it.

3. In the bottom menu bar, select “Repair iOS systems" Click the button.

4. You will then be prompted to click the “Download” button to continue with the iOS recovery.

5. Once the download is complete, click "Fix Now". Wait until your iPhone or iPad restarts. After this, the device will be ready for use, and you can successfully complete the activation procedure.

iCareFone Review

Note that Tenorshare program iCareFone has a very advanced set of tools. With its help, you can easily manage files on your phone and computer (export, import, synchronize), make backup copies of selected file types and restore, clean your mobile device of garbage and extra files, and also decide the majority system errors. You can download Tenorshare iCareFone on the official website. You can also download the Tenorshare ReiBoot tool for free, it can also solve your problem if you cannot sign in to your Apple ID and your iPhone failed to activate.

Hello! It doesn't matter what you did to get the activation failed error. They reset the content and settings, flashed the firmware, updated, recovered - any of these actions leads to the fact that the device must be reactivated. Yes, yes, yes, you will have to go through exactly the same procedure again as when you first turned on the gadget. And here one very large and large ambush may await us.

An iPhone or iPad can easily warn you that activation is impossible because: “Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Try connecting your iPhone to iTunes to activate, or try again in a few minutes. If the problem persists, contact service Apple support: apple.com/ru/support".

It would seem that everything is very logical. The server is unavailable Apple problems, we wait until the failure passes and swear at the company. However, not everything is so simple.

And in general, if you come across such a message, then I will have two news for you, good and bad. And we'll probably start with the bad...

iPhone activation fails - everything is very bad

Why does the title say that everything is very bad? Because it is quite possible that the modem in the device has died. This can be indirectly confirmed by the fact that when connecting the gadget to a computer and iTunes, absolutely nothing happens - no activation or anything even remotely similar to it.

There is another way to check this terrible guess: on the welcome screen, click on the “letter i in a circle” icon.

After pressing, on normal and working iPhone, the device serial number should appear. If IMEI does not appear, but only standards are written, etc. then I have bad news, the modem in your iPhone or iPad is dead. Naturally, with such a malfunction, activation of the device is impossible. What to do?

• Contact the service, the cost of repair is not very high (relative to the cost of the device), but only a few people undertake such repairs and no one gives guarantees.
• You can try putting it in the freezer (at your own peril and risk!), there is a chance that the contacts will fit “as they should” at least for a while, and you will be able to activate it.
• Warm it up with a hairdryer (also at your own risk!) - the effect is similar to freezing (it may or may not appear).

You must understand that the last two points are, of course, a fierce “collective farm” and should be carried out very carefully. But it helps some. By the way, it is useless to update the firmware on such gadgets; during this operation you will receive an error.

Is everything described above not your case? IMEI is displayed and the modem is normal? Let's move on to the next point!

iPhone on iOS 11 and iOS 12 does not activate after factory reset

This text is an update to the article after the release of iOS 11 firmware.

We have already discussed this situation in the comments, but for those who are too lazy to read, here is a short excerpt from all this.

The essence of the problem:

Since the release of iOS 11 Apple company has changed its policy regarding unofficial iPhone repair. If non-original components were installed in the device, then after the procedure of resetting settings and content, you can get a “brick” - it will be impossible to activate the phone.

Who is at risk? Devices (working under iOS control 11 and iOS 12), which:

• Have ever been repaired (with replacement of spare parts - modem, Wi-Fi module and Bluetooth) at unauthorized service centers.
• These are the so-called “handicraft refurbished” iPhones (smartphones assembled by someone unknown and where) - unscrupulous sellers very often sell them under the guise of new ones.

What's happening?

At the power-on stage (after resetting settings and content or restoring the firmware), the iPhone sends data about the components installed inside it to Apple servers. If this information does not match the Apple company’s database, then activation of the device is blocked.

So, what exactly should we do now?

1. If there is a guarantee, take advantage of it.
2. Some unofficial service centers may try to solve this problem using special equipment. But, as a rule, no one gives any guarantees - even if the activation failure can be “bypassed” now, then in the future everything can happen again.

This is such a sad story. However, it is not at all necessary that the error occurs precisely because of this...

The iPhone could not be activated - is the server to blame or...

In fact, the failure may occur due to various reasons. And the right decision would be to check everything in order, let's go!

• Check if the SIM card is inserted and is it working? The advice is, of course, very obvious, but anything can happen.
• Make sure once again that you have access to the Internet.
• Apple servers are unavailable - at the moment? This often happens on new release days. iOS versions. Many people around the world are trying to get as quickly as possible new firmware and the servers simply cannot withstand such an influx of people. In this case, you just need to wait...
• Please use a different internet connection. Some Wi-Fi networks can be configured to block access to Apple servers.
• Use iTunes to activate (required!)
• Make it tough reboot iPhone or iPad. Clamp Home buttons and Power - do not release them until the iPhone turns off.

By the way, the cause of the Activation Error may also be the fact that a beta version of the firmware was installed on the iPhone, and the device was not registered in the developer program. In this case, the error text will be like this:

This device is not registered as part of the iPhone Developer Program...

IN in this case, you need to go to the Apple developer portal (developer.apple.com) and register the gadget.

As you can see, the reason why the iPhone fails upon activation can be a variety of situations.

From the banal - lack of Internet, to the very complex - modem failure and the newly created “iOS 11 syndrome”. And if the first ones can be solved quite simply (wait, change the SIM card, etc.), then the second (“hardware” problems) can only be corrected with the participation of a competent specialist service center. But I sincerely hope that this is not your case.

P.S. Write your questions in the comments, and here’s a secret scheme for you... To successfully activate your iPhone, you just need to “like” this article. Let's test!

Some iPhones running iOS 11 and later may experience error 0xE8000013 (or 4016) when activated in iTunes or message “iPhone activation failed. Your iPhone could not be activated...”, due to which the smartphone is completely blocked and turns into a “brick”.

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Why does error 0xE8000013 or 4016 appear?

First, let's explain what it is error 0xE8000013 or 4016.

Most often it occurs on unofficially restored (refurbished) iPhones. Typically, such devices are sold in online stores under the guise of new (!!!) gadgets. Not to be confused with from Apple (CPO, of ref, etc.). The reason for the error is that the serial number of this device is already contained in the database of replaced iPhones (for example, the phone had a manufacturing defect and was returned by the buyer under warranty). In other words, this IMEI or serial number is no longer valid. Thus, an iPhone with a serial number that does not belong to it simply cannot be activated on Apple servers. After resetting the settings or switching to backup copy such a device turns into a useless “brick”. This message is evidenced by:

“iPhone activation failed. Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server cannot be contacted. Try connecting your iPhone to iTunes to activate, or try again in a few minutes. If the problem persists, please contact support."

Is it possible to fix an iPhone with error 0xE8000013?

Unfortunately, today there is no solution that allows you to activate an iPhone with error 0xE8000013. However, it is possible to prevent such a situation. How to check the gadget and not become a victim of error 0xE8000013 will be discussed in the instructions below.

How to check iPhone for error 0xE8000013?

In some cases due to fraud or simple human error similar smartphones may end up in stores that officially sell iPhones. Therefore, it would be a good idea for users to always check their iPhones before purchasing.

You can check whether your phone is susceptible to errors during activation on the Apple website using this link by entering the serial number or Device IMEI in field "Enter the serial number".

How to find out the IMEI or serial number if the iPhone is activated and in working order

You can find out the serial number or IMEI of your gadget by opening "Settings" -> "Basic" -> "About the device".

How to find out the IMEI or serial number if the iPhone is packaged (sold as new)

The serial number and IMEI are located on a label at the bottom of the box, however, in the case of the iPhones described above, the information on the box and on the device itself may differ. Therefore, to guarantee a correct check, you should:

1. Unpack the device.

2. Turn on iPhone.

3. On the welcome screen, tap the i button in the lower right corner.

4. Compare the IMEI or serial number shown on the screen with the one located on the box.

5. Enter the IMEI or serial number on the Apple website (link above) to check if you are really buying a new phone ()

If the page displays information about the device, then there is no need to worry.

New iPhone that needs to be activated:

Activated iPhone (used no more than 3 months), under warranty:

Activated iPhone (used for more than 1 year):

If a notification appears stating that the serial number belongs to the replaced gadget, there is a danger of error 0xE8000013:

“Unfortunately, this serial number corresponds to a product that has been replaced. Check the available data and re-enter the serial number. If the data is correct, try contacting us."