设置全新(setting up a brand-new)或恢复出厂设置的 iPhone 或 iPad(factory-reset iPhone or iPad)时,设置助理(Setup Assistant)会尝试通过与 Apple 服务器通信来激活设备。如果失败,则会出现“无法(Could)激活iPhone/iPad”或“无法激活(Activate)”错误消息
。(Activate)
有多种因素可能会触发此错误,例如互联网连接问题、服务器中断或SIM 卡复杂性(SIM card complications)。

本故障排除指南将探讨“无法激活 iPhone/iPad”错误背后的原因,并提供成功完成激活过程的解决方案。
检查苹果系统状态
在深入研究特定于设备的故障排除之前,最好检查 Apple 的激活服务器是否正常运行。有时,他们可能会停机进行维护,或者被大量的激活请求淹没。
为此,请访问 Apple 的系统状态页面(visit Apple’s System Status page)并确保 iOS设备激活(Device Activation)为绿色。如果发生中断(以橙色或红色表示),您必须等到Apple将其恢复在线。

连接到 Wi-Fi 网络
激活 iPhone 或 iPad 需要稳定的互联网连接。如果 Apple 的激活服务器没有任何问题,并且您尝试等待几分钟,则问题可能与您的互联网有关。
蜂窝数据并不是最可靠的(Cellular data isn’t the most reliable)。如果您已选择此选项,请返回网络选择屏幕并连接到Wi-Fi。
如果您已经使用Wi-Fi并且不确定连接的稳定性,请尝试连接到其他网络或重置路由器(resetting your router)以消除轻微的连接问题(eliminate minor connectivity issues)。
重新启动设置助手
iPhone 或 iPad 上的设置助手(Setup Assistant)可能会陷入临时错误循环,反复导致激活过程失败。
解决问题的最佳方法是从头开始重新启动安装过程。为此,请按住Side/Power按钮并点击“重新开始”(Start Over)。
通过 Mac/PC 激活设备
如果继续出现“无法激活(Activate)iPhone(Could) / iPad”消息,您可以依靠涉及Mac或 PC 上的(Mac)Finder或 iTunes 应用程序的替代激活技术。
注意:如果您的 PC 上没有
iTunes,您可以从 Microsoft Store 获取 iTunes 。(grab iTunes from the Microsoft Store)
- 通过USB(USB)将您的 iPhone 或 iPad 连接到Mac或 PC 。
- 打开新的Finder窗口或启动 iTunes。
- 在Finder(Finder)边栏或 iTunes 窗口的右上角
选择 iOS 或 iPadOS 设备。
- 等待(Wait)Finder/iTunes与 Apple 的服务器通信并激活您的 iPhone 或 iPad 。随后出现的屏幕显示“设置(Set)为新”和“从备份恢复”选项,表示激活成功。

如果问题仍然存在,请更新macOS 中的Finder(这涉及更新系统软件)或Windows版 iTunes(您可以通过(Windows)Microsoft Store获取最新更新),然后重试。
取出并重新插入 SIM 卡
如果“无法(Could)激活iPad/iPhone”错误指出SIM 卡(SIM)“不兼容”或“无效”,您应该尝试取出SIM卡托盘,重新(SIM)插入(Activate)卡,然后重新插入。当您使用时,
请考虑用超细纤维布擦拭(microfiber)SIM卡。(SIM)

之后,重新启动您的 iOS 或 iPadOS 设备 - 按住“侧面”(Side)按钮,点击“关机”(Shut Down),然后再次
按住“侧面”按钮。(Side)
如果问题仍然存在,则可能表明您的手机帐户或SIM卡存在问题,最好由无线运营商的支持团队解决。
在恢复模式(Recovery Mode)下恢复 iPhone/iPad
作为最后的手段,您可以在恢复模式下(iPad in Recovery Mode)恢复您的 iPhone(restore your iPhone)或iPad ,特别是如果“无法(Could)激活iPad/iPhone”错误消息指出(Activate)“激活信息无效”或“无法从设备。”
恢复模式是一种可通过(Mode)Mac或 PC访问的特殊环境,允许您安装最新版本的系统软件。这有助于解决 iOS 和 iPadOS 中已知的与激活相关的问题。
进入恢复模式
要启动进入恢复模式(Recovery Mode),您必须:
- 将 iPhone 或 iPad 连接到您的电脑。
- 打开 Finder 或 iTunes。
- 依次按下并释放音量增大和音量减小按钮,然后立即按住(Down)Side/Power按钮,直到出现“恢复模式”(Recovery Mode)屏幕。在基于 Touch ID 的设备上,请按住主屏幕(Home)按钮和电源(Power)按钮。

恢复设备
进入恢复模式(Recovery Mode)后,选择Finder或 iTunes中的“恢复”(Restore)按钮。这会提示应用程序下载系统软件安装文件(download a system software installation file)- 它的大小约为 5GB,如果您的连接速度较慢,可能需要一段时间。

如果您的 iPhone 或 iPad 同时重新启动进入设置助手(Setup Assistant),请重新进入恢复模式(Recovery Mode)以继续恢复过程。下载完成后, Finder(Finder)或iTunes将自动删除并重新安装系统软件。
恢复模式后
恢复 iPhone 或 iPad 后,保持设备连接到 PC 或Mac,它应该会自动激活。然后,您可以通过Finder(Finder)或 iTunes设置设备。或者,您可以断开连接并使用设置助手(Setup Assistant)。
联系苹果支持
遇到“无法(Could)激活iPhone/iPad”错误是一次令人沮丧的经历,并且完全违背了Apple“它就是有效”的口号。(Activate)解决方案是可用的,但它们并不是最方便的。
如果完成上述所有操作后错误仍然存在,则需要联系 Apple 支持(contact Apple Support)或访问Apple Store 零售店(Apple Store)并让技术人员查看问题。
How to Fix "Could Not Activate iPad/iPhone" Error
When setting up a brand-new or factory-reset iPhone or iPad, the Setup Assistant attempts to activate the device by communicating with Apple’s servers. Should that fail, a “Could Not Activate iPhone/iPad” or “Unable to Activate” error message appears.
Several factors can trigger this error, such as issues with internet connectivity, server disruptions, or SIM card complications.

This troubleshooting guide will explore the reasons behind the “Could Not Activate iPhone/iPad” error and provide solutions to complete the activation process successfully.
Check Apple’s System Status
Before diving into device-specific troubleshooting, it’s a good idea to check if Apple’s activation servers are operational. Every now and then, they can go down for maintenance or be overwhelmed with a large number of activation requests.
To do that, visit Apple’s System Status page and ensure that iOS Device Activation is green. If there’s an outage (this is denoted by orange or red), you must wait until Apple brings it back online.

Connect to a Wi-Fi Network
Activating an iPhone or iPad requires a stable internet connection. If there’s nothing wrong with Apple’s activation servers and you’ve tried waiting for several minutes regardless, the problem could have something to do with your internet.
Cellular data isn’t the most reliable. If that’s what you’ve chosen, head back to the network selection screen and connect to Wi-Fi instead.
If you’re already on Wi-Fi and unsure about the stability of your connection, try connecting to a different network or resetting your router to eliminate minor connectivity issues.
Restart the Setup Assistant
The Setup Assistant on your iPhone or iPad could be stuck in a temporary error loop, repeatedly making the activation process fail.
The best way to sort out the issue is to restart the setup process from scratch. To do that, hold down the Side/Power button and tap Start Over.
Activate Device via Mac/PC
If the “Could Not Activate iPhone/iPad” message continues to appear, you can rely on an alternative activation technique involving the Finder or iTunes apps on a Mac or PC.
Note: You can grab iTunes from the Microsoft Store if you don’t have it on your PC.
- Connect your iPhone or iPad to a Mac or PC over USB.
- Open a new Finder window or launch iTunes.
- Select the iOS or iPadOS device on the Finder sidebar or the top-right corner of the iTunes window.
- Wait until Finder/iTunes communicates with Apple’s servers and activates your iPhone or iPad. A subsequent screen with the “Set up as New” and “Restore from Backup” options denotes successful activation.

If the problem persists, update Finder in macOS (this involves updating the system software) or iTunes for Windows (you can get the latest updates via the Microsoft Store) and try again.
Remove and Reinsert the SIM Card
If the “Could Not Activate iPad/iPhone” error mentions that the SIM is “not compatible” or “invalid,” you should try removing the SIM tray, reseating the card, and reinserting it. Consider the SIM card with a microfiber cloth while you’re at it.

After that, restart your iOS or iPadOS device—hold the Side button, tap Shut Down, and hold the Side button again.
If the problem persists, it may indicate issues with your cellular account or SIM card that are best addressed by your wireless carrier’s support team.
Restore iPhone/iPad in Recovery Mode
As a last-resort measure, you can restore your iPhone or iPad in Recovery Mode, especially if the “Could Not Activate iPad/iPhone” error message states that the “activation information was invalid” or “activation information could not be obtained from the device.”
Recovery Mode is a special environment accessible via a Mac or PC that allows you to install the latest version of the system software. That helps address known activation-related issues in iOS and iPadOS.
Enter Recovery Mode
To boot into Recovery Mode, you must:
- Connect the iPhone or iPad to your computer.
- Open Finder or iTunes.
- Press and release the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons one after another, and then immediately hold the Side/Power button until the Recovery Mode screen appears. On Touch ID-based devices, press and hold the Home and Power buttons instead.

Restore the Device
Upon entering Recovery Mode, select the Restore button in Finder or iTunes. That prompts the app to download a system software installation file—it clocks in at around 5GB and might take a while if you’re on a slower connection.

If your iPhone or iPad restarts into the Setup Assistant in the meantime, re-enter Recovery Mode to resume the restoration procedure. Finder or iTunes will automatically erase and reinstall the system software once it finishes downloading.
After Recovery Mode
After restoring your iPhone or iPad, keep the device connected to your PC or Mac, and it should activate automatically. You can then set up the device through Finder or iTunes. Or, you can disconnect it and use the Setup Assistant.
Contact Apple Support
Encountering the “Could Not Activate iPhone/iPad” error is a frustrating experience and completely goes against Apple’s “it just works” mantra. Solutions are available, but they aren’t the most convenient.
If the error recurs despite working through everything above, it’s time to contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store and have a technician look at the problem.