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

55 replies

Jan 31, 2015 2:38 AM in response to lilley66

TThankfully mine had ten days of warranty left and got another replacement. Took it to our local Apple Store where it certainly baffled the tech there but he was of the opinion it's definetly a software issue. I hope you all get it sorted soon folks.

Jan 31, 2015 4:54 AM in response to mintchocicecream

It looks like this afternoon, for the first time in nearly two weeks I'm finally logged into iMessage and FaceTime on my iPad again! So whatever Apple support and Apple engineering did on their end to solve my case has worked –– thank you very much!

Jan 31, 2015 7:06 AM in response to mintchocicecream

Mine also came back yesterday morning. They've fixed whatever was wrong.

Jan 31, 2015 11:29 PM in response to annie1971

I've been having the same problem for the past few days.

I have and Iphone 5 and Ipad Air but I have the same problem with the Ipad Air, the problem is I already upgraded the Ipad to 8.1.3 and I still get the signing error and I live in Argentina and my Ipad is without warranty... should I restore my ipad?

adnerbm

Level 1

0 points

Feb 1, 2015 1:41 AM in response to carlinaen

Restoring the iPad worked for me and was a relatively simple procedure. I did it all while I was online to the apple support team. I backed content up first to my Mac and then afterwards put everything back on again and so far no problems and I didn't lose any data. Hope you get sorted soon.

Catzeyes

Level 1

0 points

Feb 10, 2015 4:15 AM in response to mintchocicecream

I am also having the same problem. 4th Generation IPad, not a replacement, using 8.1.3 and nothing seems to solve the problem. Have any of those who could also not find a solution got it working yet. Reading the comments it seems for some that it just fixes itself at some point - or is Apple doing something behind the scenes?

Is there an actual solution as clearly the resetting does not always work?

Feb 10, 2015 7:23 AM in response to Catzeyes

When mine happened several weeks ago I did all of the fixes they told me to do such as going back to factory settings, restoring etc. nothing worked for me. I had talked to Apple and was transferred to a Senior tech. We talked and she said they were working on the problem. When she called back several days later, she wasn't aware that mine had suddenly started working again. Several others on this site were restored at about the same time. They all started posting that their iMessage was back up and working. I don't know how it got fixed. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with calling Apple, bcause the senior tech didn't know either. But I would continue to call you get some answers. I had called three or four times before I fit referred to a senior tech.

Feb 15, 2015 1:57 PM in response to Catzeyes

Had this problem for days with both Facetime and iMessage. Could not sign in to download update. Sign in worked ok for App Store and Veiwing account but not the two mentioned. Just reset time and date manually and its working fine now.

aa0403

Level 1

0 points

May 12, 2015 12:36 AM in response to mintchocicecream

hello, i have the same problem with my ipad mini..
i already tried everything just like what you did..

the weirdest thing happens is this. i borrowed an apple id from a close friend and try to use it for logging in facetime in my ipad, facetime/imessage works.. but when i use my own apple i.d for logging in , same issue occurs.. i also tried to create a new apple id, verified it, used it for facetime still same issue occurs.. now i'm frustrated with this..😟

Dec 8, 2015 4:19 PM in response to aa0403

hi, i was wondering if you were able to find a solution? thank you.

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