iPhone can't connect to iCloud server

Question

Level 1

11 points

iPhone can't connect to iCloud server

Hi!

My son's iPhone can't connect to the iCloud server. App Store is unavailable. In the iTunes and App Store pane of the Settings app I cannot log in. Reset of iPhone is not possible. Restore from iTunes on Mac is not possible, because Find My iPhone is active on iPhone, and it can't be turned off, because in the iCloud pane of the Settings app nothing can be done until I accept new terms and conditions, which can't be done.

Wifi on the phone works great with Safari, but Mail cannot get new emails. The Weather app does not connect.

His iPad which is logged into the same iCloud account has no problems, and there is no trouble logging into his account on iCloud.com.

I tried restarting and hard resetting iPhone, as well as updating to 9.3.4 via iTunes on Mac (which went painlessly but changed nothing).

Any help much appreciated!

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Aug 8, 2016 2:05 PM

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Answer 1

Elvis Boy Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 15, 2016 1:38 AM in response to Elvis Boy

Does anybody have any advice at all...? Apart from tossing the thing?

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

684,027 points

Aug 15, 2016 11:48 AM in response to Elvis Boy

When you go to restore or erase the phone, do you get a request for the Apple ID, which would then turn off Find My Phone?

Selling/Giving Away Device

If all else fails, take the phone and the original purchase receipt to an Apple Store for assistance.

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Answer 3

Elvis Boy Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 15, 2016 11:58 AM in response to Eric Root

Hi!

Thanks for your reply!

I get no request for Apple ID, only a message that Find My iPhone must be switched off.

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Answer 4

TOBALL

Level 2

190 points

Aug 15, 2016 12:00 PM in response to Eric Root

you can turn off Find my iphone on icloud.com, all devices then erase the iphone

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Answer 5

Elvis Boy Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 15, 2016 12:48 PM in response to TOBALL

Thanks for your reply!

Can you tell me where I find this function? I am logged into iCloud.com - just can't locate where to turn it off?

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Answer 6

TOBALL

Level 2

190 points

Aug 15, 2016 1:08 PM in response to Elvis Boy

On the main screen Go to FIND then on the top of the page you have ALL DEVICES, sick on it, you will have all devices, turn off your iPhone, it will appear grey, then click on it and erase it, it will erase all the content, you need to restore after that from iCloud or iTunes

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Answer 7

Elvis Boy Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 25, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Elvis Boy

Turns out the date & time settings were wrong; the automatic setting was off, and the date was set to sometime in 2022...;)

Changing back into automatic time sync solved the issue. Apparently the iCloud server does not like it when an iPhone tries to connect from the future. AND the system does not possess the brains to report back to the user this simple thing. Oh well...

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