Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Tried everything, FaceTime has an error occurred during activation on my iPad Air.

My iPad refuses to connect to FaceTime or iMessage. It goes to the "verifying" screen displaying the list of telephone numbers and email addresses, then goes back to the main screen and displays "An error occurred during activation. Try again."

This is what I have done to troubleshoot the problem:

1. Followed the instructions on http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201422 and…

1.1 confirmed that device and time zone settings are correct (both using "set automatically" and manually configuring it via choosing the nearest city to me;

1.2 tried disabling and re-enabling iMessage and FaceTime.

2. Contacted Apple web chat support and tried all the following:

2.1 resetting network settings

2.2 turning off FaceTime and iMessage on my iPhone and Mac and turning it back on again (also in different order – iPhone first; Mac first)

2.3 turning off and on two-factor authentication on my account;

2.4 completely erasing and restoring my iPad from iCloud backup, iTunes backup;

2.5 setting up as a completely new iPad (over the air; and also restoring and re-installing the latest iOS version via iTunes)

3. I also tried the following:

3.1 setting up a completely new Apple ID account;

3.2 completely deactivating iMessage via http://support.apple.com/en-us/TS5185

None of the above worked. My iPhone and Mac connects back to iMessage without a hitch, but my iPad simply refuses to do so, and instead shows "An error occurred during activation. Try again."

In addition, the person at Apple web chat confirmed there are no settings on their end (e.g. they can't deactivate/re-enable iMessage for my account on their end). I haven't got another iOS device to try to see if it's an account problem but thus far it appears to be a problem entirely on that particular iPad.

This is really a problem for me as one of the reasons for sticking with iOS is for FaceTime/iMessage… So, I wanted to know if anyone has any ideas for me to try, or if else has experienced anything similar or have any suggestions to resolve this problem.

Probably unrelated, but my iPad Air is just over a year old, purchased on the Hong Kong store in December 2013. It was replaced with a by the Apple Store Bullring United Kingdom in November 2014 after the Home button broke.

Any help would be most appreciated!

iPad Air Wi-Fi

Posted on Jan 20, 2015 12:05 PM

Best reply

Demo

Level 10

166,513 points

Posted on Jan 20, 2015 1:21 PM

I have seen more people posting about having problems trying to activate FaceTime and Messages in the last couple of weeks than I can remember seeing for months and months. That just doesn't seem right to me. It would seem to indicate some kind of problem on Apple's end, but their system status website has not shown any problems with either service from what I have seen.

I am really stumped as to what else you might try except to switch WiFi networks and try to activate somewhere else and/or reset your router if you haven't done so already.

View in context

55 replies

SergZak

Level 6

10,354 points

Jan 28, 2015 2:21 PM in response to timfromhayes

timfromhayes wrote:

I wonder if anybody has reset the device and created another Apple id and used that account instead to see if that resolves the activation issue

Good observation...you got me wondering about this as well.

The other topics I'm reading regarding the issue seem to be pointing to those with devices that have been replaced...I'm sure it will get resolved. How long it will take is unknown and I feel for those that are having issues. (I'm not)

SergZak

Level 6

10,354 points

Jan 28, 2015 2:25 PM in response to mintchocicecream

Has it been reported that iPad Airs are the only devices affected? Have any devices other than iPad Airs been reported with this issue? I'm not really following all these topic which is why I ask.

Jan 28, 2015 2:25 PM in response to SergZak

Nope, it's not confirmed, the Apple senior tech said that this particular problem has only appeared on iPads (didn't say which ones or whether replacement only) but I haven't read widely enough on other posts to be entirely certain.

Jan 28, 2015 2:34 PM in response to mintchocicecream

A Previous post suggested that the issue wasn't happening on the iPhone / iMac / iPad air 2 .

Jan 28, 2015 6:08 PM in response to timfromhayes

I can confirm this problem exists on a brand new, non replaced iPad 2 retina. After updating to 8.1.3 it still gave same error. I backed up the iPad to my iMac, did a full wipe, treated it as a new device and signed in with the same account that was failing, Imessage and Facetime worked and both had the original options to turn off if desired. So far so good.

I restored and all is good. Hopefully others will find this helpful. It's not my device, I'm happy with my android and find it rather absurd a critical app for texting requires login and a company with the resources of Apple could let a problem like this last as long as it has. But the owner is happy and to each their own.

Jan 29, 2015 12:39 AM in response to timfromhayes

yep timfromhayes I did it as a totally clean fresh slate with no connection at all via my real account ...and nope still nothing.

Jan 29, 2015 12:45 AM in response to femfrankie

Glad to see though that Apple have realised that there is an issue. I have an iMac and iPhone also and these are working perfectly fine so my issue is definitely not related to my account but seems to be specific to my replacement iPad air

lilley66

Level 1

8 points

Jan 29, 2015 3:34 AM in response to mintchocicecream

I do not have a replacement. I have updated the new iOS which was to have fixed the issue. This exclusion from iMessage and FaceTime started 1/27 AM. This issue is not impacting my sons ipad air, my Mac or any of our phones or iPods. It is limited to my IPad 4th generation. Very frustrated and disappointed in the promptness of Apple to acknowledge and fix the issue.

adnerbm

Level 1

0 points

Jan 29, 2015 10:53 AM in response to lilley66

I have been having this problem on my ipad 4 since Monday. Neither imessage or facetime working and just happened out of the blue. I keep getting activation error and apple support have been unhelpful.

Jan 30, 2015 9:42 AM in response to adnerbm

i can now log back into I message & face time . Not sure when it git sorted out tho

Jan 30, 2015 11:52 AM in response to mintchocicecream

Another one here. Ipad mini 2 - original, not replacement. It's my teenage daughters Ipad so you can imagine how this effects her social life!

Tried all the suggestions and updated just now to latest version. Haven't done a complete wipe and restore though as I'd have to spend ages setting up all her apps again.

Strangely, my other daughters Ipad Mini, bought at the same time (Dec 2013) from Apple website, still works fine.

So much for apples reputation of - it just works!

Why oh why did I ever bother getting her an Ipad instead of an Android. Thought it would be less work to maintain but nope.

Jan 30, 2015 11:59 AM in response to mintchocicecream

I had this problem on my iPhone 4. Instead of using my main email address (not an @me or @icloud), I added one of the aforementioned addresses and it seemed to fix it. Post back and let us know if it works.

adnerbm

Level 1

0 points

Jan 30, 2015 12:09 PM in response to adnerbm

After two calls with apple support the problem has now been resolved. Had to back up iPad on my Mac in iTunes then restore the iPad and hey presto iMessage and FaceTime back again!

Jan 30, 2015 12:10 PM in response to adnerbm

Cool im glad it works.

lilley66

Level 1

8 points

Jan 30, 2015 1:59 PM in response to lilley66

I backed up then erased iPad. Once I restored I was able to access iMessage and FaceTime.

Tried everything, FaceTime has an error occurred during activation on my iPad Air.