Q: Why does it keep failing?
I bought a second-hand iPad Air 2 and it all works fine except that it won't activate with a sim card inside it. With no sim card everything works, it allows internet access, successfully updates to latest iOs and allows access to Apple store, icloud etc.
But as soon as a sim card is put in it says 'activation required', goes through the set-up process but when it gets to the home screen (after 'welcome to ipad') it goes back to the set-up again, still saying 'activation required'.
I have tried doing it through itunes but just get the message 'The iPad failed to activate. Please try again later'.
I have tried doing a full recovery-mode restore and the problem persists. Have also tried several sim cards but with no difference.
I have ran a CheckMend report on it and it hasn't been reported as lost or stolen, and hasn't been blocked or blacklisted.
iPad Air, iOS 9.3.1
Posted on Apr 6, 2016 4:41 AM
