Error "Failed to Activate Device" on MacBook Pro after erasing it

There is an issues on Apple's end. Having the same issue for two days now. Went to genius bar today.

I have the same problem with my macbook pro m3 pro nov 2023. i have bought it on sept 6 2024, i have tried to erase it, ask me login appleid, what i did . but when it comes to activate I got the same message 'Failed to activate device'. two days now.

Is there any solution about that.

Genius bar today esclated to Apple engineers. Apparently this is also happening with new out of the box macs. They said I should hear something back in the next couple days, but should keep trying to activate periodically.

Apple definitely seems to be having issues with activation currently i have found many posts on reddit with this same issue

I do see this all over Reddit. I reccomend more people start calling support or going to the Apple store so they can esclate / expedite.

Same problem for me. Currently with 2 MacBook Pro's 14 inch 2021 with M1 Pro chipset.

Had multiple calls with support. Went through all possible steps.

Last support agent told me there might be an issue on Apple's end.

Really hope this will be resolved quickly because I have 2 unusable MacBooks here.

I have the same problem with 2 MacBook Air M2.

Hello guys, I found a way to install a new macOS Sonoma on my apple MacBook Pro M3 Pro 16inch.

I had the same issue "Failed to activate device".

I ask my colleague at office to use his MacBook Pro 2019 16inch(Mac OS Sonoma) so that I will try to revived or restore my MacBook.

I follow all the steps on this link How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support

And everything went well. I have my MacBook Pro M3 pro back in business.

I hope this will help.

Note: it's not easy to get into DFU mode but just try till you get it right. it's not impossible.

me too，why so stupid

Hi! Thanks for sharing first. But I've tried so many times to restore my mac mini with m2 chip, and that helped nothing. Everytime after I restored my mac and restarted it, I was led to the activate mac page again. Would you like to share more details about your experience? Like did you use apple configurator or just in finder? And what did you see after you restored your mac and restarted it again, was you led to the activate page again and this time activated successfully? Or just skipped activation progress? I'll be very appreciate. I'm having the same issue for almost one week. That made me so sad. Thanks for your reply again and wish you have a nice day.

I have fixed my MacBooks.

After browsing reddit someone suggested to do the Restore through DFU-mode with another MacBook.

The thing is he managed to get a successful activation on his 15th try.

I had some time so I gave it a shot. On my 12th try I got a successful activation.

Please note a Restore takes roughly 30 minutes.

If you’re desperate and can’t wait, please try this option.

Hi! Thanks do much for sharing us about that. I have some free time and I’d like to try this method because I do need my Mac this weekend, and I don’t think Apple could solve this problem in this week. Before I do that, would you like you share some details about your try? Did you use Apple Configurator or just finder on another Mac? And did you remember what’s the sign of success? Is that the same as Activate Mac page or just skipped activation? I’ll be very appreciate for that. Thanks again and wish you have a great day. 

My colleague's apple macbook pro 16 2019 had catalina installed, when I try to install Apple configurator on it, it said I need tu upgrade to at least monterey. I upgrade his mac to macos 14.6 sonoma.

Then I try again to install apple configurator from applestore. This time, the install succeded.

And I start to follow the steps of How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support

I will call Macbook pro 16 2019 Mac A and my macbook pro M3 pro Mac B

Mac A has sonoma

Mac B Failed to activate

1. I connect Mac A to internet with a good speed and also to power till it gets full charged
2. On Mac A, I launch Apple Configurator showing the message "Connect device"
3. I shutdown Mac B and plug it into power
4. I use a Type-C to Type-C white cable of Mac A to connect the two Macs (Any type-C port of Mac A to the most left Type-C port on the magSafe side of the Mac B)
5. At this time, everything was setup and ready to start the process, I got the big breath!!!
6. On Mac B I press Power Button and the control +option + right shift, the first time I missed it and the second time I got it right.
7. I realize I got it because I press power button first just before it starts, add control+option+right shift while still holding power button. It all about timing. Power button pressed, the Mac B starts and instatntly while holding Power button, press control+option+shift for 10 seconds. I got DFU on the Mac A screen in apple configurator.
8. I restore the Mac B

I hope this come help, That what I did for my Macbook Pro. I was not believing that could work succefully as it was my first time to do it, but I was surprised and happy at the same time when I see DFU on the Mac B screen.

Good luck

I share your frustrations.

Over a few days I restored my MacBooks a dozen of times.

I used a 2019 MacBook with intel chipset running Apple Configurator.

usb-c cable should be on the left side closest to you!

The broken MacBook, usb-c cable, also left side closest to the screen.

The process I repeated was:

1. Turn off device.
2. Enter DFU mode
3. Restore using Apple Configurator
4. Enable wifi, once the restore is complete.

Now you will get the verification failed screen.

I repeated these steps the whole evening. Attempt 12 I went to a different screen after enabling wifi. This meant the verification was succesful.

I cannot guarantee this will work for you. But apple wont help you. And it seemed this method of being persistent worked for other people aswell.

Please let me know if it worked out