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Level 1

2 points

iPhone 4S could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable

If you got the "scary" message that you could not activate iPhone 4S neither by Wi-Fi or iTunes, I want to share my experience:

I decided to reset my iPhone 4S, and used "Erase All Content and Settings" under the reset menu (Settings/General/Reset), I was hoping that the erasing just does that, but for me the nightmare started!

I was taken to the activation screens, and begun with the welcome one, choose language, choose location services (later on it also disappears) and selecting Wi-Fi and/or iTunes for activation.

I chose a Wi-Fi network the process started, and gave me a message that it will take about three minutes to activate iPhone, few minutes later a screen with this message appears: "Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable."

Then, I decided to try the activation using iTunes…

Using iTunes, after few minutes, it shows the following message: "We could not complete your iTunes Store request. The iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."

I tried several times in both ways, trying 4 different Wi-Fi networks and 3 different computers in the whole process, and I was going desperate! I started to find out some info about this trouble over the Internet, and guess what? I was not alone! But I did not find any answer or solution either!

Finally, I joined Apple Support Communities, and started searching with no good luck at all, until I found (many hours later) this old (2009) solution:

+Do a DFU recovery:+

+1. Open iTunes.+
+2. Connect the iPhone+
+3 Press both the home and sleep/wake buttons until the Apple icon appears (ignore the red slider if it shows).+
+4. Continue pressing the home button alone until iTunes sees your phone in recovery mode.+
+5. Follow the prompts to restore the iPhone.+

(THANKS A LOT!!! modular747 and Easily Easy, you saved me!!!)

Then I suggest everyone to use this, of course it will erase everything, but you may be able to recover your data from your last backup, or you can also choose to configure iPhone as a new cell phone.

The process took me about 92 minutes, but it was worth it, now I own an unlocked iPhone 4S (it was an AT&T when I purchased from Apple Store in November) and is working perfectly!

Hope it is useful for all of you facing this trouble!

Good luck and enjoy your iPhone then!

iPhone 4S, iOS 5.1

Posted on May 5, 2012 10:43 AM

Best reply

SoupySoupySoup

Level 1

5 points

Posted on May 6, 2012 1:59 AM

I was getting the eternal "no service" message, and despite knowing my phone would be erased, I did a back up and have been trying this method to restore it for two days now. No joy. It restores firmware and seems like it's going all the way, but just that bloomin "We are unable to continue with your activation at this time", every flippin time.

I'm totally fed up now. I just wants a phone that works!

I'm using an iPhone 4s on Orange in the UK - I'm starting to wonder if Orange are the problem now?

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31 replies

Feb 17, 2013 8:36 AM in response to SoupySoupySoup

yes, I had this problem when I was just trying to update (as instructed by Apple) and in the end it was solved by connecting to a different wi-fi. no idea why but it worked. good luck and I hope it works for you!

Mar 7, 2013 12:19 AM in response to jhidrowoh

Same problem here.

I cannot activate an older 3GS 32mb after latest ios update.

the phone is absolutelly original and was never jalbroken or unlocked. Was purchased in Italy

i use in China with China Unicom sim card

this is what i already tried

1) reset and reinstall the update again (several times)

2) DFU mode and reinstalled the update again (several times)

3) went to apple store and they also tried the above, after confirmimg that the IMEI corresponds to a legitimate unlocked phone.

they said that sometime the iphone might be wrongly locked during update process.

they could not solve the issue because the Iphone 3GS is not supported in China. (i'm not planning to go to Italy in the foreseable time)

Any suggestion? Thanks

Mar 26, 2013 12:19 PM in response to jhidrowoh

Wow! You absolutely rock! I struggled with this for 2 days, called Sprint and Apple, and was going to have to wait 5 days for an appointment at Apple. But this did the trick. Thanks a lot for taking the time to post it!

By the way, make sure you don't have other Apple devices connected to iTunes, like your iPad. I had mine connected while I was trying to restore my iPhone and it didn't allow it. HAd to disconnect and retry... and that was that.

Jun 26, 2013 2:34 PM in response to jhidrowoh

People this totally worked for me! Two days of frustration and I FINALLY found the right fix. I had the same exact issues tried all the same things multifple times. Fail. The recovery did the trick. Thank you!!!! jhidrowoh!!! You rock!!!

Jul 19, 2013 12:35 AM in response to jhidrowoh

I was trying every thing..and i saw this post....

Thank you, it worked for me too.

emy_3310

Level 1

0 points

Aug 28, 2013 11:54 AM in response to jhidrowoh

my sleep button gave out

LToptik

Level 1

0 points

Oct 9, 2013 4:27 AM in response to jhidrowoh

You don't need to Restore your iphone or earse everything i tell you how to fix it really easy without loosing any data 🙂

lfavaro

Level 1

0 points

Mar 6, 2014 2:50 AM in response to jhidrowoh

Hi Folks.

This procedure worked for me.

My gadget is iPhone 5.

Thanks a lot

Leandro

wtb300

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2014 9:32 PM in response to Prosporo

I had this issue with my sim in my ipad mini once so i turned my mini off then pulled the sim and it allowed me to begin the restore from backup process then it failed so i put the sim back and tried again and it worked perfectly.

wouldnt have thought to try it had i not read your post.

mcsantna

Level 1

0 points

Sep 3, 2014 10:06 PM in response to SoupySoupySoup

I'm having the same problem and nothings working!!!! UGH DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PLEASE

ijaz ali

Level 1

0 points

Sep 15, 2014 3:50 PM in response to jhidrowoh

ok sir wait i will try this

ijaz ali

Level 1

0 points

Sep 15, 2014 3:52 PM in response to wtb300

i will try now thanx

arls8893

Level 1

0 points

Jan 31, 2015 3:17 PM in response to jhidrowoh

it worked for me!! thanks a lot!!!😍

Jul 29, 2015 4:51 PM in response to jhidrowoh

I had an issue on my iPhone 5 where I suddenly could not connect to the cellular network but could use data via WiFi. I could not make or receive calls or check voicemail. This method worked for me! Thank you so much for this information. I went to the Apple store, Verizon Wireless and even an independent mobile phone repair shop. Nobody could figure it out really. The last thing I tried was a Factory Reset and I got the message that I could not connect to the network via iCloud or iTunes. Using your method, I was able to download the software through iTunes and then download all of my data and settings via the iCloud. Miraculously, my cellular network is back (hopefully for good)! If anyone wonders if this would work for an iPhone 5, the answer is "yes"!

BigWing

Level 1

0 points

Jan 27, 2016 4:32 PM in response to jhidrowoh

This is like 4 years later and this just saved my life!!! Thank you for this it helped a lot!!

iPhone 4S could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable