activation error ipad air (wifi only)

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Level 1

6 points

activation error ipad air (wifi only)

Dear community maybe someone have any idea. i try everithing but no luck. no body can answer what is the problem... I restore my ipad and after that I choose language and country but then with wifi or itunes can't be activated. 24 ours later works without any problems...

hope someone can help me , apple support was terrifying no answers at all... I live in Argentina and they told me "came to USA to verify it..."

thanks again.

regards,

Juan

iPad Air Wi-Fi, iOS 11.3, null

Posted on Apr 16, 2018 2:48 PM

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Answer 1

soysolojuan Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 16, 2018 8:18 PM in response to sberman

Dear sberman. Yes I do that and more. Today too upgrading to the lastest but the same message. Activation error. Sorry but the image in spanish I will try to upload it on english too.

Regards and thanks.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

264,693 points

Apr 16, 2018 9:14 PM in response to soysolojuan

OK, thank you.

The A1474 is an iPad Air - Wi-Fi only iPad.

Be certain you are using iTunes 12.7 or later when connecting the iPad to iTunes. This is required to communicate to iOS 11.

Also check imobl's response to a similar question here:

cannot activate iPad because activation servers unavailable

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Answer 3

sberman

Level 10

264,693 points

Apr 16, 2018 10:04 PM in response to soysolojuan

Oh, iCloud Activation Lock is a whole different matter!!

Are you the original owner of this iPad? You said in your first post you were told to come to the U.S.A. --- did you buy this iPad there new, in a factory sealed box? Did you buy it at an Apple Store or Authorized Apple Retailer?

Here is material about Activation Lock.

Turn off Find My iPhone Activation Lock - Apple Support

Find My iPhone Activation Lock - Apple Support

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Answer 4

sberman

Level 10

264,693 points

Apr 16, 2018 3:04 PM in response to soysolojuan

Does the iPad have a cellular capability, or is the model built as supporting Wi-Fi only? If you don't know, then check Settings > General > About > Model and report the result here.

Typically activation issues are associated with cellular activation.

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Answer 5

sberman

Level 10

264,693 points

Apr 16, 2018 8:02 PM in response to soysolojuan

Force restart the iPad. Hold the on/off and home buttons together for about 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears.

If the iPad does not restart normally, please tell us exactly what you see, including the exact and complete contents of any error message.

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Answer 6

soysolojuan Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 16, 2018 9:38 PM in response to sberman

Sberman , thanks again. I see this problem a lot on the internet. No one has an answer, I try everything on thar forum and more stuff and no luck at all. I try with 3 different computers too, someone told me “is a hardware issue” or “you dont have internet on it...” i have, I put manually forced DNS servers and open websites without any problem.

Exists lots of problem like this and no solution yet. I talk with apple support hours and nothing. I think that the best option is drop it to trash. Sad but realistic.

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Answer 7

sberman

Level 10

264,693 points

Apr 16, 2018 9:43 PM in response to soysolojuan

So you checked imobl's five suggestions and your iTunes version, and everything checks out fine. Yes, that is very sad. And Apple Support cannot help you either.

I'm sorry you have to go through that. I'm just an Apple user, but my iPad (which is also Wi-Fi only) has always worked fine and never asked for activation.

Good luck!

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Answer 8

soysolojuan Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 16, 2018 9:53 PM in response to sberman

After think what you say I put again manually the DNS servers and see the clock and say 12:51 and here in Argentina is 01:51. But i cant change that in any places. Maybe thats why I cant activate, but at the same time, why ask for activation if is wifi only?

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Answer 9

soysolojuan Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 16, 2018 10:10 PM in response to sberman

I buy it here in argentinaa year a go. I see it before and check serial number info on the case and software. It was clean 100%. I load up my apple id and use it, then past febrary i do a factory reset because has lot of trash, itunes do the upgrade of ios 11 and puff now is like this.

The only strange thing is, when i do the restore never ask for turn off “find my phone”. Maybe that is the problem, but no one here in argentina has the tools to solve it.

So on apple support tellme “came toUSA to check it” ... thats no to easy for me...

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Answer 10

sberman

Level 10

264,693 points

Apr 16, 2018 10:25 PM in response to soysolojuan

soysolojuan wrote:

The only strange thing is, when i do the restore never ask for turn off “find my phone”.

Assuming you had Find My iPhone "On", yes, that would have been very strange.

You bought the iPad in Argentina a year ago. But your model, the iPad Air Wi-Fi only, was discontinued by Apple in March 2016. So it sounds like the iPad had a previous owner. You checked it, it was clean, and it has worked fine until now.

That is very puzzling.

Are you asked to enter the Apple ID and password of any previous owner?

Sorry, I don't have any brilliant ideas to really help you. I can only suggest if you are asked Activation Lock questions (like the Apple ID or password of a previous owner) that you try to contact that person if you can.

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Answer 11

soysolojuan Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 16, 2018 9:56 PM in response to sberman

And now I found this.... icloud activation lock is locked? I really dont know how this happen

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Answer 12

soysolojuan Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 16, 2018 4:39 PM in response to sberman

Dear Sberman, is a ipad air wifi only. doesnt have SIM. I really don't know what is going on... very sad...

I can't see any menu... says activation error and nothing else..

thanks for your answer

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Answer 13

MichelPM

Level 10

81,044 points

Apr 16, 2018 5:27 PM in response to soysolojuan

If you have computer, connected to the Internet, with iTunes on it, try connecting your iPad to the computer to see if iTunes will help to re-activate your iPad.

Good Luck to You!

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