Weird “iPhone is activated” message

Question

Level 1

10 points

Weird “iPhone is activated” message

I power off my iPhone every evening. This morning, when I powered it up, I got a screen that visually prompted me to plug the iPhone to my iTunes, along with a “Slide for Emergency” button (in various languages). As I was away from home this morning, I simply shut the phone off. When I powered it up again, it booted normally but I received a "iPhone is activated” message, along with a “Dismiss” button.

What happened? Should I be anxious about a possible system failure? Have I done some serious damage to my iPhone's drive?

My iPhone has the lastest software installed, is “legal” (its system is not jailbroken) and I'm with Fido (in Canada).

iMac Intel, Mac OS X (10.5.5), iPhone 3G v2.1

Posted on Oct 22, 2008 6:19 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 22, 2008 8:05 AM in response to RemyGrondin

I'd like to know the answer to this as well. I've had this happen to me 3 times this past month.

Since the last firmware update - I've also had a large number of application crashes - everything from 3rd party to Safari and Mail.

Anyone else been experiencing similar occurances?

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Answer 2

AKRBTN

Level 6

8,869 points

Oct 22, 2008 8:52 AM in response to mikekrabb

This happened to me after a crash when I was browsing Safari while listening to the iPod (which I can usually do). The podcast went crazy and all I could do was a reboot, whereupon I got the "Connect to iTunes" and emergency calls only. I powered off then on again and all was normal again with the "Iphone activated" message. I am not unduly worried. I think it just managed to restore itself without me having to go through the whole restore process with iTunes.

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Answer 3

RemyGrondin Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 25, 2008 11:03 AM in response to AKRBTN

Since my iPhone "re-activated" all by itself, everything's fine now. While I'm not over-worried about the issue, but I have to admit that I would like a explanation about why it happened…

Besides a crash with a third-party application (IM+, which I deleted since), I've had no other crashes or problems so far.

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Answer 4

W M R

Level 2

162 points

Nov 12, 2008 8:42 AM in response to RemyGrondin

This must be a bug! I just had the same issue! My iPhone is quite new and it never crashed! I'm a very careful user and still I only turned it off and when I turned it back on again I experienced the same problem...

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Answer 5

lex61

Level 1

0 points

Nov 24, 2008 11:10 AM in response to W M R

This happened to me this morning as well. Upgraded to v2.2 late last week. Just prior to this happening I was having some troubles getting my wifi password recognized and had powered my phone on and off a few times. Got the "connect to iTunes" icon and the emergency call notification. Cycled power and then got the "iPhone is activated" message. Weird, for sure, but at this point nothing more than an inconvenience for me. However, I read in another forum about someone who had to have their phone replaced after experiencing this issue.

joe.

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Answer 6

nikey33

Level 1

149 points

Nov 24, 2008 11:15 AM in response to RemyGrondin

happened to me too, have no idea why it did it, i just rebooted and it was fine, the bizarre thing is is when it was on the connect to itunes screen i could hear my mail arriving and saw a calender alarm, it happened after having the iphone since august, no idea why it happens, i think its a bug and is obviously happening to a few of us...its v v odd

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Answer 7

iNexxFear

Level 2

410 points

Dec 2, 2008 5:04 PM in response to RemyGrondin

Ditto... As this has been occuring to me frequently since the 2.2 firmware...

I am wondering if it is a feature to watch for jailbroken phones where in which users cycle thier iPhone power frequently to get the software to install...

Just annoying is all I have to say.... Its like ****-it, gotta power up the desktop again to reactivate it...

🙂

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Answer 8

Dec 18, 2008 6:50 AM in response to RemyGrondin

This started happening to me recently too. Thanks for the info that a reboot is sufficient. I have been plugging it in to iTunes on my home PC as requested. It has so far only happened at home so it hasn't been a problem. But this would be disastrous while travelling if it insisted on connecting to iTunes before it would work again. Imagine if you turn it off on an airplane and then after you land you want to call the person meeting you, and it won't let you!

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Answer 9

Dec 21, 2008 8:37 AM in response to RemyGrondin

This just happened to me 5 minutes ago! I turned off my iphone last night and powered it on the morning and I soon realized this slide to unlock in many languages and the connect to itunes. Then it said iphone is activated. I just got the iphone 3 weeks ago and have experienced no problems at all. I take very good care of it and i dont know why this just happened. Hopefully someone can answer this question.

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Answer 10

mingcyu

Level 1

4 points

Dec 21, 2008 10:50 AM in response to RemyGrondin

Had the same problem this morning. Powered up the iphone as usual and then got this message to sync with itunes and then the slide bar was in multiple languages.

Did a restart and then got the message that iphone is activated.

Has anyone contacted support?

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Answer 11

Jan 4, 2009 1:14 AM in response to RemyGrondin

Dang, I wish I would have came upon this thread sooner! I, just right now, finished upgrading to V.2.2, as that seems *to me, anyways* to be a proposed source of the problem .. I just bought my iPhone 3G 8GB today.. Hopefully I won't experience anything like that soo soon! I'll keep an eye on this thread and see what happens..

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Answer 12

CorkyO

Level 1

45 points

Feb 16, 2009 12:37 PM in response to RemyGrondin

Add my iPhone 3G to the list. Firmware 2.2, power cycling resulted in 'Activated' message with the 'Dismiss' button. Pandora is the only additional software installed.

Hopefully, Apple tech is monitoring.

Peace.

Message was edited by: CorkyO

Message was edited by: CorkyO

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Answer 13

W9FIF

Level 2

315 points

Feb 16, 2009 1:44 PM in response to RemyGrondin

My iPhone did this about 3 times a couple of weeks ago, then would not fire up at all.
After a recover and restore, everything is ok. And, I updated to 2,2 the very day it was available, what 6 months ago? IMHO, it's something in AT&T's network. But what do I know?

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Answer 14

Feb 16, 2009 3:02 PM in response to RemyGrondin

Waves hand here. This happened to me last week when I noticed my battery was still full after several hours of usage. When I got home from work I did a reset and BAM...exactly how the OP said. After connecting to iTunes everything was okay but I am glad to know a restart might have solved the problem as well.

If anyone hears as to why this occurs, please do inform. I am also on 2.2 but did not update to the 2.2.1 because of reported problems.

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Answer 15

Feb 17, 2009 1:18 PM in response to RemyGrondin

I am having the same problem. Also since the last update 2.2.1 I get the message that I am using a cord that isn't correct for my iphone. I'm using the cord that came from my apple wifi headset. I just ignore it but this time I am noticing my phone wasn't charging properly. I had to replug in and is now finally charging. Are they looking in to this?

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