Ipad mini stuck at 'activation error' after factory reset

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Level 1

11 points

Ipad mini stuck at 'activation error' after factory reset

Anyone experiencing this currently? I checked the apple service status and it's all green. I just can't seem to get my ipad mini 1 activated. I kept saying activation error. I tried with wifi and hotspot and still cannot activate. I even tried itunes for a few hours now and it kept asying "We're sorry, we are unable to continue with your activation at this time."

iPad Mini Wi-Fi, iOS 9.3.5

Posted on May 29, 2018 4:34 AM

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Answer 1

sterling r

Community Specialist

May 29, 2018 4:48 PM in response to jbatbatan

Hello jbatbatan,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities! I understand that you are encountering an error when activiating your iPad over Wi-Fi and using iTunes. I would be happy to help provide some steps to take next.

Let's start by confirming that you have updated to the latest version of iTunes, which is 12.7.5:

Update to the latest version of iTunes - Apple Support

After that, try to activate your iPad again following the steps here:

If you can't activate your iPhone - Apple Support

If you're still encountering an activation error, you may need to try activating the iPad over a different Wi-Fi network, or restore your iPad using iTunes:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Keep us posted with what happens from here. Cheers!

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Answer 2

sterling r

Community Specialist

May 29, 2018 5:39 PM in response to jbatbatan

Hi jbatbatan,

Thanks for following up with the additional information. Do you have a Wi-Fi network (not Personal Hotspot) that you could connect the computer with iTunes, or iPad to directly? The reason why I ask is that if the Personal Hotspot from your phone is using a cellular data connection, it may be preventing the iPad from properly reaching the Apple activation servers.

If the error persists when activating over a Wi-Fi network, or you do not have a Wi-Fi network you can connect to, contact Apple using the link below:

Contact - Official Apple Support

Take care!

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Answer 3

jbatbatan Author

Level 1

11 points

May 29, 2018 5:17 PM in response to sterling r

I already did all the steps you gave me and I still get the activation error. Tried different connections using hotspot on my other phones and still no fix.

I have not tried to restore from backup because the icloud account got removed after the reset. I do not have itunes backup because I reformatted my drive last year.

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Answer 4

jbatbatan Author

Level 1

11 points

May 29, 2018 5:47 PM in response to sterling r

Yes, that was what I was using at first, I did everything through wifi and when that did not work I used hotspot. I read a lot of the same issue online yesterday and some ipads were good as paperweights after that. I hope mine does not come to that. I do not even use paper anymore lol.

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Ipad mini stuck at 'activation error' after factory reset

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