If you've ever reset all iPhone settings to factory defaults and then tried again, you may well have encountered an activation error. It is difficult to understand the causes of this problem, since in this case it does not give any useful information on the iPhone screen, but only advises to contact Apple technical support. But since this process is quite long, you can try to fix it yourself.
try it again
When an error occurs, hold the Home button until the bottom menu appears, and then click Try Again. You will be taken to the initial settings page and can try activating your iPhone again. Often, to get the desired result, you need to do this procedure 5-7 times. 
If it doesn't help, go to the next step.
Use a working sim card
Usually, activation problems occur when the phone is tried to be activated without a SIM card. Insert a working SIM card into the iPhone and try to activate the smartphone again. If this does not help either, start activation using the cellular network by turning off Wi-Fi. This solution helps most users.
Sometimes an activation error occurs due to the fault of the telecom operator, who, for some unknown reason, rejects it. I think many people remember what problems Beeline subscribers had to face, although in this case we are talking about something else. Try inserting a SIM card from a different carrier and activating your iPhone. After that you will be able to use your old number again.
Based on materials from osxdaily.com
On iOS 11, this is a problem that many Apple phone users have been facing lately. It manifests itself in the inability to activate the iPhone after resetting content and settings or reinstalling iOS. When activating the phone via Wi-Fi, the user sees the message " ... Your iPhone could not be activated because it cannot contact the activation server". When trying to activate through iTunes, the computer displays an error message with the number 0xE8000013 or 4016, or the message" iPhone could not be activated because it was not possible to get activation information from it. "
Why does iPhone activation fail?
There are three main reasons why the iPhone does not activate and displays a message about activation failure:
Problems on Apple activation servers
The most harmless option that may be associated with the fact that at a particular moment in time Apple's activation server is really not available, as indicated in the error message. Check the status of Apple's web services and, if the iOS Device Activation service is unavailable, then the solution in this case may be patience and an attempt to activate a little later.
IPhone hardware problems
Activation failed may be due to a hardware issue with the iPhone. So, for example, if the phone has problems with identifying the SIM card ( constant search for the network, regardless of whether a SIM card is inserted or not), the iPhone will not activate. The solution to the problem, if the phone does not activate, in such cases can be determined after diagnostics at the service center.
IOS 11 Activation Issue on Refurbished Phones
Most often iPhone activation error occurs with the owners of refurbished phones. At the same time, here we are not talking about officially restored iPhones, which are produced under the control of Apple, but about Chinese handicraft assembled devices. As a rule, such phones inside resemble a "Frankenstein's monster", assembled from different parts. Very often, of the original components on such iPhones, only the processor board remains, and it may contain replaced components ... Why on such phones most often there is a problem with the device activation error?
The problem stems from the fact that in iOS 11 Apple changed the rules for the device activation system. When activated, the components are polled and technical information is compared ( UDID, Serial No, IMEI, MAC-Address and others) with numbers in the official Apple databases. If for some reason (and for not officially restored devices, there are a dozen reasons) the information does not match, the device will not be activated.
How to protect yourself from the appearance of a problem?
You can check the serial number of your device on the Apple website. If during the check it says "This serial number corresponds to the product that was replaced" or the check displays information about another device that does not match your model, color or memory size, your iPhone may be prone to an activation error. If you own a refurbished iPhone, it is highly discouraged to erase the content of the device or restore software on it via iTunes.
Can a Refurbished iPhone with Activation Error be fixed?
There is a solution. It consists in working with a memory microcircuit and making changes to its firmware. Such an operation can be performed only by the hands of an experienced craftsman in a service center with the availability of good specialized equipment. You can carry out such repairs in our service center. Information on the cost and estimated time of execution of works is presented in the table below.
However, the solution is not universal and is not suitable for every case. Since most of the owners of refurbished iPhones face this problem, it is possible to determine exactly whether we can help you only after inspection and diagnostics at the service center. We will be waiting for you and will be happy to help you solve problems with your iPhone!
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To the factory ones, and now I want to show in detail what iPhone activation is and what pitfalls there can be.
What is iPhone Activation
Activate iPhone = make the first turn on if we are considering a new phone out of the box, or just turn it on if we reset or flashed it before. Activation is the initial setting of the phone: language, region, restoring from a backup and setting up some services. If you have already turned on the iPhone for the first time, then you should know some of these points, otherwise, see below - I will describe step by step what to do and where pitfalls may await ...
Before activating an iPhone or iPad (there is almost no difference in activation), make sure that you have a SIM card or WiFi network (for iPad without a SIM card) - you cannot activate without them! Also, you may need a computer or a fast Internet connection if you need to restore data from a backup. After all the preparations, you can safely press the Power button, at the top of the device, and as soon as the iPhone turns on, you will see a welcome splash screen in various languages on the screen and a prompt to slide your finger across the screen.
The next item will be offered to connect to any WiFi network, or will offer to use a SIM card to activate the iPhone. If you don't have a SIM card at hand, then even the presence of a wireless Internet and a computer will not help you ... Let me explain - a SIM card is required, like the Internet, just not all SIM cards come with the Internet, and in this case you need WiFi or a computer, with internet connected and iTunes installed!
If you have successfully completed the previous points, then welcome to the "almost" activated iPhone. Why "almost", you ask? Yes, because if you purchased the gadget hand-held, you may need to enter the iCloud account and password of the previous owner! If the old owner is not available and you do not know the cherished login-password, then, alas, you have a "brick" there were mutual misunderstandings!
If this is a new phone, then you will not have any obstacles. In the next step, you will be offered a choice of 3 points: Set up like a new iPhone, Recover from iCloud copy or Restore from iTunes copy... What are the differences between these 3 points?
- set up like a new iPhone - just set up the phone to your liking and no data will be there, except for what will be downloaded later from iCloud, if you've used iCloud before, of course 🙂
- restore from iCloud copy - this option is needed for those who already have a backup in iCloud, for example, from a previous iPhone.
- restore from a copy of iTunes - just connect the iPhone to the computer where iTunes is installed and there is a backup copy of the phone, and follow the instructions on the computer. At this time, the phone will display the iTunes and cable icon.
Set up like a new iPhone
If you chose the first option, then the next step you will have is the iCloud account entry window, or create a new account if you have this first apple device. If you don't have an account yet, then it's better to skip this step and set up iCloud after activating your iPhone.
Well, how can you do without legal information and the acceptance of its terms:
If you are in the habit of protecting your iPhone / iPad with a password or Touch ID, then you will have the opportunity to immediately make these settings. And they shouldn't be put off for later!
If there is a request to enable geolocation, it is desirable to agree. Geolocation, why else? And so that your phone understands where you are and provides you with the most relevant and correct information. For example, your location on Maps, Google or Yandex, or correctly displayed weather and time data. I think it's worth turning on geolocation!
Further, if you want, you can enable or disable sending diagnostic data or give access to developers. Personally, I included all this so that data on crashes and problems would be sent to Apple and developers, and they, in turn, would improve the quality of programs and services!
Recover from iCloud copy
If you already had an iPhone and a backup was created from it to the Apple cloud, then feel free to choose this item. You will need to enter your Apple ID and password associated with iCloud and click next. If everything is entered correctly and you have access to the Internet, the device will start downloading the backup. 
After the start of the recovery, you will be asked the same questions when setting up the device as a new one, so I will not describe them again.
Let me focus only on this - if you want the activation of the iPhone to pass as calmly as possible, make sure in advance that the Internet is smart, since the recovery can take a long time due to the volume of the copy. The biggest thing that can last the longest is photos and videos. So try to do this at home when you have a lot of free time. Of course, after the initial setup, you can interrupt the recovery and continue later, but I do not recommend interrupting the activation process.
Recover from iTunes copy
This method is best suited for those who have a computer at hand, as well as a backup copy of an old device, or it itself, or the backup itself takes up a very large volume! In my memory, I saw an iPhone, where about 40 GB was occupied by photos - through iCloud it is too long and expensive, but through iTunes - it’s only for an hour!
So, on the iPhone screen, you need to select the appropriate item, after which, you will see the iTunes icon on the device screen. After that, you will need to connect your gadget to a computer running iTunes, where there is an old backup ...
On a computer, in iTunes, you will need to select a specific backup copy, if you have a lot of them or they are from different devices, and click on Restore. Then, depending on the size of the backup, you can go to the kitchen for coffee, or start cooking dinner 🙂 After the end of the restore from iTunes, you will also be prompted to enable geolocation, password protect the device and offer to send diagnostics to Apple. Please note that after the iPhone activation is over, you should carefully look at iTunes and the iPhone desktop - it may well be that programs are being installed on the device, or music is being recorded. Do not disconnect the gadget from your computer!
Now you have learned what iPhone activation is and how it can be done. We saw several ways among which you can find the one that suits you! I hope that after reading my instructions, you will see this inscription on your iPhone!
IPhone models have occupied the first place among the desirable novelties for several years now. Sales volumes are high enough to call the company's products a market favorite. Apple provides quality support to buyers of purchased equipment. However, malfunctions occur here as well. Recently, iTunes has become a massive glitch: “Failed to activate iPhone. There was an unknown error 0xe8000013 ", which appeared after the transition to iOS 11. The phenomenon is widespread and can occur during any reset or firmware of the device. Read on for what to do and how to solve the problem.
What causes the error?
The main cause of the problem is called a banal bug in iOS 11, which, by the way, must be fixed by the developers themselves. In the vast majority of cases, a malfunctioning operating system causes a problem in the iPhone 5S. There are several more reasons on the forums:
- replaced Touch ID;
- the phone is using a serial number that does not belong to it.
How to fix activation error 0xe8000013?
Unfortunately, so far there are no 100% effective ways to do this, but, nevertheless, you can try some options. Where to begin? Here is a list of simple manipulations you can try.
- Connect the USB directly to the motherboard.
- Try connecting through all available ports.
- Change connecting cable - use original.
- Disconnect other devices, restart your laptop or PC, connect your phone.
- Insert a SIM card with a positive balance (the phone may try to send a technical SMS).
- Hold down the Home button and insert the cable into the connector.
- Restore in Recovery Mode... On the switched off phone, hold down the button "Home" and connect to a PC running iTunes.
- Please report the problem to support.
Even the service centers will not be able to eliminate the error that has appeared, so at the moment it makes no sense to contact the wizards. How not to get into this situation?
Checking the serial number of the device
Alas, this is not a solution to the problem, but a real opportunity to find out if your serial number is listed in the database. If it is busy, then it is impossible to reset the settings and reflash until the situation with this error is resolved.
How to check the serial number:
It just so happens that problem smartphones can be sold like new. They are accompanied by a box and other necessary documentation. It is advisable to check the coincidence of the serial number on the box and in the device settings when buying, in order to avoid troubles in the future. Please note that replaced devices go through even official networks, so a personal check will be useful. Speaking about any iOS error, it is worth remembering another procedure - DFU, which we will consider in more detail.
Restore iPhone in DFU Mode
If normal recovery does not help, then use a different approach. The abbreviation DFU means firmware update mode... In fact, it is intended for emergencies such as error 0xe8000013. It does not use a touch and an operating system shell. Therefore, the device will not respond to touches and presses with obvious signs. To enter the mode, you need to do the following.
Exiting DFU debugging is just as easy. You just need to press the power button. Did not help? Then hold down “Home” + “Power” for 10 seconds with the cable disconnected. This reset will erase all your data on your phone, so you need to take care of the backup beforehand. Today, such a restoration is the surest, but cardinal decision.
Conclusion
Apple treats its customers well and provides a prompt solution to any problem. This error is of a global nature, and they are already working on its elimination. In the near future, an update will be released that will fix the bug, so do not give up on the device, but be patient. The probability that the device will remain inoperative tends to zero.
Unfortunately, the developers have not yet managed to create an ideal device that would not break, give errors and work stably all its life. Firstly, it is not in the interests of the manufacturer. Secondly, this is, perhaps, impossible. Therefore, the average user has to deal with iPad activation failure and other problems.
Don't panic
It just so happened that not all users understand how this or that device works. As a result, this leads to various problems. System crashes often appear, viruses get on the device or important information is deleted. These are all reasons for inexperienced use of tablets and smartphones. To avoid this, you need to be careful and patient.
Could have happened for various reasons. But it is important not to panic right away, pressing all the buttons in a row and taking wrong actions. Please be patient and read the article.
Causes
As practice shows, such a problem is faced by those who independently tried to reset content and settings, reflash the system, update it or restore it. Any of these operations causes the tablet to require activation.
To fix everything, it is enough to go through the same path as after purchasing the gadget. But on it you can expect some difficulties.
IPad activation failed
So, at first the device showed you that it needs activation, and then it gave an error. It will definitely appear along with an explanation. From it, you will immediately understand what was the reason and what needs to be done next.
If you see that "the server is unavailable", you can try to wait a few minutes. There is a possibility that Apple is having some kind of problem. You can mentally scold the developers and try again. If after some time the problem remains urgent, you will have to deal with it in more detail.
Modem
Of course, as with any other gadget, there is the possibility of irreversible losses. An error with the servers could appear due to the "death" of the device modem. You can check this immediately by connecting your iPad to your computer and iTunes. If no processes are occurring at this moment, then we will try another guess.
There is a small icon on the welcome screen - "i in a circle". You need to click on it. If everything is in order and the iPad 2 activation failure can be fixed, then the serial number of the device will appear.
If you do not see anything like this, and standards have appeared in an additional window, then the probability that the modem has "died" is almost one hundred percent. With this problem, the device cannot be activated.
What to do: iPad activation fails due to modem
For a start, of course, you should go to the service center. This is the easiest, safest and surest way. Experts will advise the reasons and possible solutions. There is only one problem in this case - no one wants to take on such a breakdown. Therefore, it will not be easy to find a specialist who would undertake repairs. And after the repair, there are no guarantees that such a failure will not happen again.
If you can't find anyone who can deal with this problem, you can try other methods. For example, put your tablet in the freezer. Yes, the method is strange, and besides, it is unsafe. But if you are completely desperate, it is possible that he will help you. Contacts can fall into place, and activation will be successful.
There is another option, which consists in heating the device with a hairdryer. The principle of fixing the problem is the same. But again, all this you do at your own peril and risk.
If after clicking on the "i in the circle" you see the serial number of the iPad mini 2, the activation failure can be fixed.
Diagnostics
When you have determined that the problem is not in the modem and the gadget can be saved, try several options. Immediately, what is advised to experience is a SIM card. Perhaps it was damaged or for some reason became inoperative.
Then we check the Internet connection. Suddenly, while you were performing some operations with the device, it was torn apart?
There is also an option that your network does not provide access to the company's servers. Try connecting to a different Wi-Fi.
The next step is to check the Apple servers. As already mentioned, it so happens that with the release of updates, they "fall". This is caused by an influx of people who want to quickly update their device. In this case, you just have to wait.
To fix iPad activation failure, you need to use iTunes. Update the software so that no errors occur.
Finally, you can try hard reset. To do this, hold down the Home and Power keys. You will have to hold the buttons until the device turns off.
Beta version
When iPad 2 activation fails, few know what to do. It so happens that a beta version of the firmware was installed on the device, and the tablet itself turned out to be unregistered with the developer.
To fix this, you need to head over to the official developer.apple.com site. Register the device here. It can also be done via iTunes by installing the latest official firmware.
Problems with the new version
IPad activation failed with the release of iOS 9.3. When this version appeared in March 2016, the owners of Apple gadgets faced this error. Fortunately, there is nothing terrible in this problem, and the technical support department immediately issued instructions on how to fix it.
Many advanced users already know that it is better to wait a week or two for the specialists to finish the new version. Then you can easily download it without any errors.
If after the update the device does not activate, you need to:
- Check if you entered your personal data correctly. You need to go to the iCloud.com website and find your tablet in the My Devices list.
- If the data is correct, you need to connect the device to a PC. Go to iTunes and select the iPad, then activate it.
- If all of the above did not help, it remains to deactivate the activation of the lock.
There is also an instruction for the last stage:
- Turn off the device.
- Log in to your iCloud.com account.
- Select the "Find iPad" tab.
- We select the device in the "My devices" section.
- We remove it from the list.
- Turn on the tablet and activate it again.
If all these methods could not cope with the problem, then you need to contact the support service.
Cellular network
Another problem that may overtake the owners of "Apple devices" is the failure to activate the cellular network of the iPad. Usually this process is accompanied by notifications "No network" or "Search".
This may be due not only to the fact that you entered the subway or an area with poor coverage. It happens that a failure occurs at the hardware level. To fix this, you first need to check the coverage area.
Go to the settings and look at the "Cellular data" section. If this situation happened to you abroad, go to the "Roaming" section. If everything is good on these points, then let's move on.
Try just restarting your device. Of course, this is not a panacea for all problems, but often this is quite enough to "rein in" your device.
If all else fails, try removing and installing the SIM card back. Maybe it is she "buggy". Then check the network settings and, if necessary, reset them. This can be done in the "Settings". Finally, it is possible that this failure is related to the need to update the system.
If the above methods did not help restore your network, call your service provider. Maybe the problem is on his part.
