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You are here: Home / Not working? / How To Fix iPhone 12 Pro Activation Issues

How To Fix iPhone 12 Pro Activation Issues

Last Updated: August 8, 2021 by Moses Gitari

Are you facing iPhone 12 Pro activation issues? In this article, I’ll explain why you are experiencing activation error on iPhone 12 Pro and how to fix the problem!

There are lots of reasons why you might see a “Could not activate iPhone” error when trying to set up your iPhone 12 Pro. In this tutorial we will look at the causes of the activation error, and the potential fixes that should help you set up your iPhone 12 Pro.

See also: How To Fix iPhone 12 Pro Unlock Issues

Apparently numerous people are facing difficulty activating their new iPhone 12 Pro, so if you are experiencing that you aren’t alone.

There are numerous reasons why you may fail to activate your iPhone 12 Pro and we will list them below, as well as offer a number of fixes that should make it possible to activate your iPhone.

Contents show
1 Reasons why you can’t activate your iPhone 12 Pro
1.1 Activation Lock is set
1.2 Your carrier may be experiencing issues
1.3 The activation server may be unavailable
1.4 Your SIM card might not be supported
1.5 Activation couldn’t be completed
2 How to Fix iPhone 12 Pro Activation Errors
2.1 Check that there is a SIM card in your iPhone
2.2 Wait a while
2.3 Remove the SIM and re-insert it
2.4 Unlock Activation Lock
2.5 Check that you don’t have a locked iPhone
2.6 Check your WiFi network is working
2.7 Try activating your iPhone via iTunes or Finder
2.8 Call your carrier
2.9 Contact Apple
3 iPhone 12 Pro activation issues: Fixed!

Reasons why you can’t activate your iPhone 12 Pro

Before you start troubleshooting, it may help to take a moment and understand why these iPhone 12 Pro activation errors are occurring. It can be due to one or a combination of the following reasons:

Activation Lock is set

You may experience activation issues if the iPhone 12 Pro you are using is still tied to someone else iCloud account, with an Activation Lock in place.

Your carrier may be experiencing issues

In the case of the iPhone 12 Pro activation issues, it seems that these were mostly tied to AT&T and Verizon customers in the US.

The activation server may be unavailable

Apple’s server that checks that your device can be activated could be down or it might be experiencing a high volume of traffic. You can check whether Apple’s server is down by visiting Apple system status page.

Your SIM card might not be supported

The SIM card in your device may not work with the iPhone.

Activation couldn’t be completed

There might be issues with your internet connection or the iPhone itself.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Pro Activation Errors

Here are the solutions to fix activation error on iPhone 12 Pro:

Check that there is a SIM card in your iPhone

You can’t activate your iPhone 12 Pro without a SIM card.

Wait a while

It is possible that the servers at Apple are busy (especially if there is a new iPhone or an update to iOS). Check the status of Apple’s activation server by visiting Apple’s System Status page

Remove the SIM and re-insert it

It is possible that the SIM is not placed on the SIM card tray properly, so reinsert it and see if that resolves your iPhone 12 Pro activation issues.

See also: How to fix your iPhone 12 Pro when it has no service

Unlock Activation Lock

The purpose of Activation Lock is to keep your iPhone, and the data on it, safe if your iPhone is stolen. If the iPhone 12 Pro you are trying to activate has an Activation Lock then it may still be locked to a previous user (perhaps it is a second-hand model). The most straightforward method to remove activation lock on iPhone is to enter the Apple ID password of the previous user or ask them to log into Find my iPhone and remove iPhone from their iCloud account. Alternatively, you may be able to contact Apple support or visit the nearest Apple Store and as long as you are able to present proof of ownership and Apple is able to confirm it is your iPhone they may be able to remove the Activation Lock for you.

Check that you don’t have a locked iPhone

If your iPhone 12 Pro is locked to a particular mobile network you may not be able to use a SIM from another network in it. The previous network should unlock your iPhone so you can use it with the new carrier’s SIM card.

Check your WiFi network is working

Try an alternative WiFi network if you can incase Apple’s servers are blocked (If you don’t have a WiFi network, plug your iPhone into your Mac or PC and use iTunes or Finder, see next step).

See also: How to fix iPhone 12 Pro Wi-Fi issues

Try activating your iPhone via iTunes or Finder

You can also use your Mac or PC to activate your iPhone 12 Pro. For this, you’ll have to use iTunes on Windows PC and Mac running macOS Mojave & earlier. If you’re on macOS Catalina or later, use Finder.

Here are the steps to follow if you wish to try and activate your iPhone 12 Pro via iTunes or Finder:

  1. Connect your iPhone 12 Pro to your Mac or PC with a Lightning cable.
  2. Launch iTunes or Finder.
  3. Select your iPhone, and you will see the setup screen.
  4. Follow the steps laid out to fix the iPhone 12 Pro activation error.

Call your carrier

If none of the points above fixed your iPhone 12 Pro activation issues then contact your carrier for advice. And if they can’t solve the problem…

Contact Apple

It may be that there is a fault with your iPhone 12 Pro that is stopping you from being able to activate it. Apple should be able to help or replace the iPhone if it is faulty and still under warranty.

iPhone 12 Pro activation issues: Fixed!

This is how you can fix iPhone 12 Pro activation error. I hope the above troubleshooting steps were helpful. If you need further assistance, please ask any questions in the comment section below.

About Moses Gitari

Moses Gitari is the Editorial Director of iPhoneArena and has been writing about iPhones, iPads, Macs, accessories, and software for over 10 years.

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