iPhone 17 unable to set up Authenticator, Dropbox or Acrobat for over a year on nine consecutive iphones

Hi there

Please try this

• Isolate Your Network: Completely turn off your Wi-Fi and attempt the setup or file upload using cellular data alone, or switch to a completely different Wi-Fi network. Ensure you have no active VPNs or custom configurations profile active under Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
• Do Not Restore from an Old Backup: If you change phones or reset your current device, set the iPhone up as a "New Device" instead of restoring from your old iCloud backup. Download the apps fresh from the App Store to ensure no corrupted cache follows you.
• Upload Evidentiary Files in Small Batches: Avoid mass uploading or copying videos and duplicated files all at once. Try backing up one video at a time. If the app fails, try using the web browser version of Dropbox or Google Drive via Safari on your iPhone, rather than the app itself, to isolate where the failure happens.
• Check Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Paths: If an Authenticator app will not set up, it might be due to a lack of a verified trusted number or a mismatch in your Apple ID settings

ChatGOT says:

iPhone 17: Repeated Failures Across Nine Consecutive iPhones

If Microsoft Authenticator, Dropbox and Adobe Acrobat have been impossible to set up for over a year across nine consecutive iPhones, the problem deserves a systematic investigation.

A hardware defect affecting nine different iPhones is less likely than a shared account, network, software or authentication issue. However, the cause cannot be established without further testing.

Can multiple services fail for 238 consecutive days?

Dropbox, iCloud, Adobe Acrobat, Hotmail, Google Drive and Google Docs operate independently. Simultaneous service outages lasting 238 consecutive days would be highly unusual.

Possible causes include:

• Authentication: Account verification, security restrictions or device registration failures.
• Network: DNS problems, VPNs, content filters or connectivity issues.
• Applications: Software bugs, incorrect configurations or compatibility problems.
• Cloud storage: Insufficient space, permissions or upload failures.
• Account-specific issues: Restrictions affecting particular accounts.

The exact error message and the stage at which the failure occurs are important for identifying the cause.

What should you test?

1. Try accessing the affected service through Safari.
2. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data and repeat the test.
3. If possible, try another trusted Wi-Fi network.
4. Check whether the service works in another browser.
5. Determine whether the failure occurs during sign-in, authentication or file uploading.

If a service works on mobile data but not Wi-Fi, investigate the network configuration. If it works in Safari but not its application, investigate the application or its authentication process.

What about saving videos and duplicate files as evidence?

An unsuccessful cloud upload does not necessarily mean the original file cannot be saved locally. Preserve your evidence on the iPhone and make verified copies on another trusted storage device where possible.

Avoid repeatedly resetting the iPhone or reinstalling applications without identifying the cause.

One crucial question

Which situation best describes your experience?

A. You cannot sign in through Safari.

B. Safari works, but the applications fail to authenticate or set up.

C. Sign-in works, but uploading or saving files fails.

D. All three problems occur.

Your answer will help narrow down the underlying cause.