im trying to activate my iphone 5s but i keep seeing a message saying can not be activated because the activation from this device could not obtain information from this iphone pls help me

I had the same problem with my iPhone 7 after updating to IOS 11.1.2 this past Sunday (11/19/2017). I lost all cellular connection after updating. Phone was hot and battery drained from trying to search for service the entire time. Went to my carrier (Verizon) on Tuesday, and the associate said I had no choice but to wait until Apple hopefully fixed the issue with their next update. No thank you. So I backed up my phone via iTunes and tried to restore it to factory settings. Restoration process wouldn't go through, and error code -1 kept occurring. Online research indicated hardware issue (because Apple's own website doesn't even list error code -1, only 1). What a coincidence, as it was not present prior to updating to iOS 11.1.2. So I went to the Apple support website to schedule a fix with an authorized shop. Went there today, the guy ran into error code 3, which he said also indicated a hardware issue. He tried to restore again and was fortunately successful, only this time a different notification popped up--the one you're being plagued with regarding the SIM. Took the suggestion from one of the users who replied here and switched out the SIM from my old iPhone 6S device. Phone successfully restored my back-up, no longer having a problem with reading the SIM.

To me, this means 2 things:

1) SIM cards, perhaps if they're "newer", can no longer be read by your iPhone. (Unless, maybe, you have the iPhone 8 or iPhone X. This is just conjecture, since all these iOS updates are being released with the new iPhones in mind because the rest of us don't matter. Lol.) And this is all due to the iOS 11.1.2 update. Any other iPhone with "newer" SIM cards will not read your SIM if you try to restore. I got my iPhone 6S in early 2016, for reference, so SIM cards that were manufactured around that time may work if you have any on hand.

2) I will be switching to the Google Pixel.

I've always frequented these boards without giving account of my own experiences because I was too lazy. Thought I should pay this knowledge forward before I peace out.

Update:

Turns out it was indeed a hardware problem, specifically the modem in my case. I called Verizon customer service, and the person walked me through each step to help him (and me) find the source of the issue.

The reason he knew it was the modem was because even after removing the SIM card, my phone would still say “No Service” or “Searching” in the top left corner where you would normally see the connection/reception bars. This meant modem was neither registering the SIM card nor the absence of it.

Researching the Internet, I stumbled upon a common suggestion for a fix: Open up your phone, take out the modem, and HEAT it. This requires an expert if you don’t know what you’re doing. But wait wait waaaaaittttt why should we even have to do that???

Here’s where it gets sticky.

Apple had been going through lawsuits with Qualcomm— the company who manufactures the MODEM in iPhones—, and ever since the iPhone 7, they started using Intel. (They didn’t stop using Qualcomm though, but you don’t know which one your phone has.) If you have an older model and purchased it before the 7 came out, you probably have Qualcomm. If you purchased any iPhone after the 7, you have either Qualcomm or Intel. My guess is that the new updates Apple has been rolling out can’t be handled by all Qualcomm chips— unless they’re newer and can handle all the new software from these updates.

You’re probably going to have to get a new phone.

same thing happened to my iphone 5s last week. i heard if you use an older sim without the lte stuff, it'll activate but haven't tried it yet.

seems like apple is blocking any devices that have received certain hardware replacements by third parties. with this they unequivocally take command over devices that have been paid for and are in use by its customers. refer to twitter for the shitstorm they are receiving until this is rectified. #Iost #ios1

please provide solution for this i also having same issue with my iphone.

the iphone could not be activated because the activation information could not be obtained from the device

Forgot to add one more important piece of info:

After restoring my iPhone 7 at the authorized shop, my problem with cellular connection persisted-- because my phone was still on iOS 11.1.2, and the whole purpose of restoring my phone in the first place was to revert to the original iOS that my phone had been on when I had purchased it back in December 2016.

I asked the guy to get me to that factory setting with the restoration, but he said he couldn't because due to the error (-1 and 3) that was occurring. Apparently I needed to have my phone in the most updated iOS for it to even successfully restore. Not sure if that's even true, but-- my phone is no longer stuck in no service/searching mode after switching out the SIM, at least not 100% of the time. It's now stuck without cellular connection about 50%. (ha ha)

Not the most ideal fix (very infuriating, in fact), but I hope this helps those of you who ran into the same issue.

This is an apple problem. I think they prevent you activating your 5s device so that you buy a 7, 8 or 10.

Why else would we not be able to activate a 5s phone? We all have the same problem - so it can't be hardware - it has to be software.

I have a question - does apple ever respond to problems posted here?

hello Apple Team,

i have same issue, i reset my iphone 5s to give someone on 4th Nov 2017 and now i am try to activate it but can not...
due to same error as subjected...

need solution please...

I have been restored my iphone 5s to reset all data and create new one but this same error occurred with me. Please help me and other people.

Is there any solution for this? I´m facing the same problem at the moment. I've already tried every troubleshoot guide i found without success!

I'm having the same problem when i try to activate my iPhone 5S through iTunes.

Apple need to solve this issue, and immediately!

I need my phone!!

And also

Bring back 10.3.3 !!

Did anyone figure out how to fix this?

did anyone had try to fix this is this a hardware related issue or not apple need to address this issue

Did anyone got an fix for this ???

since Sep 20th i have the same issue with my iPhone 6 plus. Apple is no more interested for solving of old phones issues because they are busy in selling of iPhone x.................