[Fixed] Your iPhone Could Not Be Activated Because the Activation Server Cannot Be Reached

The first thing you do when you get your hands on a new iPhone is to set it up. However, getting the “iPhone Activation Server Cannot be Reached” error midway can get pretty frustrating. Because believe me, everyone wants to start using their iPhone asap! But this notification is not only limited to new iPhones; you may also be unable to activate iPhone after factory reset and trying to set it up again or after installing a new update.

So, why your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server cannot be reached? And how to fix this issue? In this post, we will discuss about the causes to this issue and 8 proven fixes to solve the activation server cannot be reached problem.

Bonus Tip: You may also be interested in the following tips.

• How to Activate iPad without Apple ID and Password >
• How to Bypass iCloud Activation Lock on iPhone/iPad >

Why Does My iPhone Say Activation Server Cannot Be Reached?

There could be many reasons for getting the “activation server cannot be reached” notification. Some of the most common ones are:

• You have a slow or weak internet connection.
• The activation lock in the “Find My iPhone” feature is enabled on your device.
• Your iPhone is carrier locked, and you have inserted an unsupported SIM.
• You have an old iOS version.
• The iOS firmware is not properly installed.
• The Apple servers are down.

While this issue is not as common, numerous ways exist to fix it. Below, we have discussed 8 fixes for you to solve your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server cannot be reached.

8 Fixes of Activation Server Cannot Be Reached Issue

Here are some easy ways for you to solve your iPhone/iPad could not be activated because the activation server cannot be reached. Let’s take a look.

Fix 1. Wait it Out

Sometimes iPad/iPhone cannot connect to server to activate, because the Apple activation server down. Or if your internet connection is weak, you will also see the notification saying this iPhone cannot be activated without an internet connection. In such a case, the best thing to do is to check your network, wait for a while, and try again. Once the iPhone activation server is back online, or your internet connection is stable, you can try again to see if the activation server cannot be reached iPhone issue is fixed.

Fix 2. Check Network Status

Check your network status if you’re getting the “Activation Server Cannot be Reached” error due to slow or weak internet. Alternatively, try restarting your Wi-Fi device, and if it doesn’t work, try connecting to any other available Wi-Fi network.

If it’s due to a weak network, connecting to another Wi-Fi network will definitely fix the issue.

Fix 3. Bypass iCloud Activation Lock with iOS Unlocker

Another reason why your iPhone could not be activated is the iCloud activation lock. This lock automatically turns on when you enable the “Find My” feature on your iPhone. iCloud activation lock prevents unauthorized usage, activation, and erasing of your device. If activation lock server cannot be reached, you can bypass this lock with the help of a professional iOS unlocker like AnyUnlock – iPhone Password Unlocker.

It is a one-stop tool to unlock all iOS locks and can help bypass the iCloud activation lock safely and reliably. Whether you remember your Apple ID and password or not, you can easily unlock iCloud activation lock with this tool. You can also learn more about what AnyUnlock can do for you when activation lock could not be removed because the activation lock server cannot be reached.

• Simplified to 3 steps – Just follow the prompts to click the button and bypass iCloud activation lock in 3 steps. No complicated operations. Suitable for everyone.
• No long waits – You only need a few minutes to unlock. Save your precious time as much as possible.
• Safety first – No IMEI number required. So you don’t need to worry about your privacy and device information being leaked through this number. 100% safe and confidential.
• Unlock more iOS locks – You can also use AnyUnlock to unlock iOS screen lock, Apple ID, SIM lock, MDM lock, and more.

To bypass the iCloud activation lock on your iPhone to fix the activation server cannot be reached issue, free download AnyUnlock and follow these steps:

Step 1. Lanch AnyUnlock on your Windows or Mac computer, and select the Bypass iCloud Activation Lock tab from the interface.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to your PC using a lightning cable and click Start Now to continue.

Step 3. Once AnyUnlock detects your device, it will ask you to jailbreak it. Click Jailbreak Now and follow the tutorial.

Step 4. Click Bypass Now to start the iCloud activation lock bypass process. You’ll have to wait a few minutes for the bypassing process to complete.

However, if you still get the error, you can remove the SIM lock from your iPhone using AnyUnlock’s SIM unlock feature.

Fix 4. Unlock SIM Card within Minutes

There’s a possibility that your iPhone came with a carrier lock, and if you insert an unsupported network’s SIM, you will get “your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server cannot be reached”. To resolve this issue, you can try carrier unlocking your device with the SIM lock removal feature of AnyUnlock.

It only takes 3-5 minutes to unlock the SIM card with this tool, and after that, you can freely use the SIM card of other carriers. During the unlocking process, all your information will not be leaked, ensuring your privacy security. Most importantly, AnyUnlock supports unlocking from all network carriers, including Cricket, AT&T, Vodafone, O2, Tracfone, and many more.

Now follow these simple steps to remove the carrier lock from your iPhone and fix the “activation server cannot be reached” issue.

Step 1. Free download and launch AnyUnlock on your PC/Mac, and select Remove SIM Lock from the interface.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to your PC using a lightning cable and click Start Now. Then click Jailbreak Now to proceed.

Step 3. Then you need to tap on the Remove Now button to start the unlocking process.

Step 4. Turn off your Wi-Fi and re-insert the SIM in your iPhone by following the on-screen instructions. Click Ok to continue.

Step 5. Once AnyUnlock has removed the carrier lock from your device, you can use it with any network’s SIM.

Fix 5. Force Restart iPhone

It is a proven fact that force restarting your device usually gets rid of petty issues caused by a system glitch. Therefore, try restarting your iPhone if your iPhone or your iPad could not be activated because the activation server cannot be reached. Here’s what to do:

• For iPhone 6 and Earlier: Press and hold the home and power buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
• For iPhone 7 Series: Press and hold the volume down and power buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
• For iPhone 8 and Later: Press and release the volume up button, and do the same for the volume down button. Now press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo.

If force restarting your iPhone does not fix the “iPhone Activation Server Cannot be Reached” issues, try the following method.

Fix 6. Activate iPhone with iTunes

If carrier lock was not an issue and you still get the “iPhone Activation Server Cannot be Reached” error, it’s time to try activating your iPhone with iTunes. While iTunes is usually used to back up your iPhone or restore an existing backup, you can also use it to activate your iPhone. Here’s how to fix your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server cannot be reached.

Step 1. Launch iTunes on your PC, and switch off your iPhone.

Step 2. Now connect it to your PC using a lightning cable.

Step 3. Once iTunes detects your iPhone, it will show you an “Activate iPhone” screen.

Step 4. Enter your Apple ID and password in the given fields and click “Continue” to activate your iPhone.

Fix 7. Restore iPhone

If nothing else helps resolve the “Activation Server Cannot be Reached” error, it’s time to restore your iPhone. For this method, ensure you have the latest iTunes version installed on your PC. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your PC using a lightning cable and launch iTunes.

Step 2. Now put your iPhone in DFU Mode, based on your model:

• For iPhone 6 and Earlier: Long press the home and power buttons simultaneously. Then release the power button but continue pressing the home button until you enter DFU Mode.
• For iPhone 7 Series: Press and hold the volume down and side buttons.  Release the side button but continue holding the volume down button until your device enters DFU Mode.
• For iPhone 8 and Later: Quickly press the volume up button > Repeat it for the volume down button > Hold the side button until the screen turns black > Press the side and volume down buttons for a few more seconds > Release the side button but keep pressing the volume button until the device enters DFU Mode.

Step 3. As soon as iTunes detects your iPhone in DFU Mode, you will receive a pop-up to restore it. Click “Ok > Restore iPhone.”

This will restore your iPhone to factory settings and hopefully fix the “iPhone Activation Server Cannot be Reached” error.

Fix 8. Contact Apple Support

However, if your iPhone or your iPad could not be activated because the activation server cannot be reached after you tried all of the methods mentioned above. Then you need to contact Apple Support to check the apple activation server status. And if there’s some technical issue with your iPhone that causes the activation lock status could not be determined issue, then you can visit the nearest Apple Store and get your device analyzed to get to the root cause of the issue.

The Bottom Line

It can be quite overwhelming if you get the “your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server cannot be reached” notification while setting up your device. However, we have discussed 8 methods that can prove helpful in fixing this error. And if the activation server cannot be reached issue is caused by the iCloud activation lock or SIM lock, don’t forget to free download AnyUnlock to unlock it. Have you ever experienced this type of problem with your iPhone? Let us know in the comments how you went about fixing it.