A screen that frightens users and displays the message activation error can appear for a number of reasons. Regardless of what exactly led to the “breakdown,” the user should know that the further scenario will require, if not repairs in the service, then certainly a system rollback and a number of other manipulations. Unfortunately, the more “dead” the smartphone model is, the less likely it is that the iPhone activation failure can be corrected. It is important not only to carry out visual inspection phone, but also to restore the picture that preceded the breakdown. This will help you understand why the iPhone activation failed in the first place, as well as what you should do next. It is likely that you will need to not only roll back (return to the previous version) changes made into the smartphone, but also to clean the device itself. However, it is fair to note that there is still a chance for the smartphone to be restored.
Why activation is needed
Before thinking about the question of what to do if the activation of the iPhone fails, some angry users will blame the developers from Apple Inc. for the imperfection of the device. Many Apple supporters have repeatedly seriously criticized the activation procedure as ineffective and problematic.
In fact, the process of activating a smartphone helps to personalize it and specify it to the needs of the owner. It is not recommended to skip this process, as this may later lead to data loss or disruption of the synchronization process. Therefore, the corporation strongly recommends that users go through the activation process every time the device requires it.
What is the reason for the failure
The most common are two specific iPhone activation failure problems. The first is the hardware, both the device itself and Apple servers.
If the user is asked to wait with the activation process until a certain conditional period, then it is quite possible that the problem is in the hardware. This happened when iOS update 9.3, when the company’s servers went down due to the simultaneous start of the download process from several million devices. This problem can be solved by simply rebooting during the least peak periods. I would like to add that Apple technical support promptly resolves problems with platform load.
Modem malfunction
If the problem is hardware character, but the Apple servers are fine, so the problem is in the device. If the iPhone writes that the operation failed, but another device is updated without problems, then the issue is most likely in data processing specific device. Checking this is quite simple, just select the item with the letter “i” circled, after which it will become clear whether the device is capable of receiving data. This item also shows devices. If this is not the case, then the problem is almost 100% in the smartphone modem.
How to fix it
A hardware failure in activating an iPhone can be fixed either at a licensed service center for a fairly significant amount, or using homemade technologies.
The latter include common private services, but even in such an organization the technician will undertake to repair the phone with great reluctance. The more expensive the device, the more advisable it is to send it to a service center rather than try to solve the problem yourself.
Also, the reason for iPhone activation failure may be short circuit in the contacts of the board where the modem is located. In some cases, a sudden change in temperature can help, when the smartphone is suddenly cooled down or, on the contrary, heated up. However, such manipulations should be carried out at your own peril and risk.
Software glitch
In the event of a software failure, we are talking about the installation of suspicious software or the shell as a whole. In this case, saving the entire smartphone, as well as fragments of the system and user data, is possible only by rolling back all changes in the gadget to the previous version.
Therefore, it is recommended to perform these functions not only at the request of the software, but also independently. A system rollback can also be performed in a regular service, after which the chances of resuscitating the device are high. Otherwise, the gadget will also have to be sent to an official service, where the system will simply be torn down and reinstalled, which will also be expensive. Moreover, the owner will have to say goodbye to his files.
Several other reasons for iPhone activation failure
The iPhone activation procedure itself may be terminated for a number of other reasons independent of software. Before going to the service center, you should first carry out a few simple manipulations with the device: check for a SIM card in the slot, rearrange it, and then try to activate the device again. It is also recommended to change the Internet channel. It is quite possible that the next device update is too heavy or that the data packet transmission channel is occupied by another gadget. Another option is to activate the device through iTunes. If this does not help, the service will offer to restore data, after which the device will automatically return to its previous state.
If the device is not registered
Failure to activate an iPhone on the network when the gadget and Apple servers are working properly can also be dictated by the fact that a beta version of the firmware was installed on the smartphone. In this case, upon release, already full version With corrections, a certain number of devices may “fall out” of the register. In this case, you can fix the iPhone activation failure by going to the developers’ website, where the gadget will have to be added to the database manual ways by entering information. If this does not help, then you need to contact an official service center, after which the device will be working properly. If the iPhone says activation failed, then this is always a reason to contact a service center.
Sometimes it is difficult to say for sure why the iPhone activation failed. Some factors leading to an error may be interrelated. The owner can only be recommended to conduct a full external inspection of the device, after which not to resort to artisanal methods of restoring the gadget, but to immediately turn to professionals. Almost any instance of activation failure can be fixed, with the exception of a modem failure. Much more destructive are attempts by users to solve the problem themselves, after which the gadget can no longer be repaired.
If you've ever reset everything iPhone settings to the factory settings, and then tried again, you could well encounter an activation error. It is difficult to understand the reasons for this problem, since there is no useful information on iPhone screen in this case does not give, but only advises to contact technical support Apple. But since this process is quite long, you can try to fix it yourself.
Try again
When an error occurs, hold down Home button until the bottom menu appears, and then click Try Again. You will be taken to the initial settings page and will be able to 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, move on to the next step.
Use a working SIM card
Typically, activation problems occur when they try to activate the phone without a SIM card. Insert a working SIM card into the iPhone and try to activate the smartphone again. If this does not help, start activation using a cellular network by turning off Wi-Fi. What helps most users is this decision.
Sometimes an activation error occurs due to the fault of the telecom operator, who for unknown reasons 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 another operator and activating your iPhone. After this, you will be able to use your old number again.
Based on materials from osxdaily.com
iPhone models have been taking first place among the desired new products for many years now. Sales volumes are high enough to call the company's products a market favorite. Apple provides high-quality support to buyers of purchased equipment. However, malfunctions occur here too. Recently, iTunes has been crashing massively: “Unable to activate iPhone. An unknown error 0xe8000013” occurred, which appeared after the transition to iOS 11. The phenomenon is widespread and can occur during any reset or firmware update of the device. Read on to find out what to do and how to solve the problem.
What causes the error?
The main cause of the problem is said to be a banal bug in iOS 11, which, by the way, should be fixed by the developers themselves. In the vast majority of cases, a malfunction of the operating system causes a problem in the iPhone 5S. There are several other reasons highlighted on the forums:
- replaced Touch ID;
- phone use serial number, which does not belong to him.
How to fix activation error 0xe8000013?
Unfortunately, there are no 100% effective ways to do this yet, but, nevertheless, you can try some options. Where to begin? Here is a list of simple manipulations that you can try.
- Connect USB directly to motherboard.
- Try connecting through all available ports.
- Change the connecting cable - use the 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).
- Press and hold the Home button and insert the cable into the connector.
- Restore via Recovery Mode . With the phone turned off, hold down the button "Home" and connect to a PC running iTunes.
- Report the problem to support.
They will not be able to eliminate the error that appears even in service centers, so contact the masters at this moment don't make sense. How to avoid getting into such a situation?
Checking the device serial number
Alas, this is not a solution to the problem, but it is a real opportunity to find out whether your serial number is in the database. If it is busy, then it is impossible to reset the settings and flash the firmware until the situation with this error is resolved.
How to check the serial number:
It so happens that problematic smartphones can be sold as new. They come with a box and other necessary documentation. When purchasing, it is advisable to check that the serial number on the box and in the device settings match, in order to avoid troubles in the future. Please note that replaced devices even go through official networks, so a personal check will be useful. When talking about any iOS error, it’s worth remembering one more procedure – DFU, which we’ll look at in more detail.
Recover iPhone in DFU mode
If the normal recovery mode does not help, then use a different approach. The abbreviation DFU stands for firmware update mode. In fact, it is designed for emergency situations such as error 0xe8000013. It does not use a touchscreen or OS shell. Therefore, the device will not respond to touches and presses with obvious signs. To enter the mode you need to do this.
Exiting DFU debugging is no less simple. You just need to press the power button. Did not help? Then press “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 it beforehand. backup copy. Today, such a restoration is the most correct, but drastic decision.
Conclusion
Apple treats its customers well by providing operational solution any problems. This error But it is global in nature, and they are already working to eliminate it. An update will be released in the near future that will fix the bug, so don’t give up on your device, but be patient. The likelihood that the device will remain inoperative tends to zero.
When you try to update the firmware of an Apple device to latest version or while activating your iPhone or iPad, you may encounter various types of errors that will prevent you from completing the process. How to solve them?
Causes of iPhone and iPad activation errors
There may be several reasons why the process of updating and activating a device may be interrupted:
How can I solve the problem?
First you should try the most simple ways, which very often turn out to be the most effective.
Restarting the device
Restart your iPhone or iPad by pressing the Home and Lock buttons simultaneously for 8-10 seconds. All background processes and the applications will restart, and there is a high chance that after this they will start working correctly.
Network change
Check if it works Wi-Fi network stable. If your Internet speed slows down, reboot your router or connect to another Wi-Fi network.
Activation via iTunes
If you are unable to activate or update your device via a Wi-Fi network, follow these steps:
- You need to update iTunes to the latest version. Expand the Help menu.
- Go to the "Update" section.
- The program will automatically find available updates and prompt you to install them, confirm the action.
- Connect the device to the computer using a USB adapter.
- After completing the authorization process, click on the icon of your device.
- Go to the Review section.
- Click the "Update" button, which is located under the block with a description of your device.
- Go through the update process by following the instructions that appear on your computer screen. The following message appears indicating that the device has been updated successfully. Go through the activation process by following the instructions on your computer screen.
Restoring a device to fix a problem
Only if none of the above methods helped fix the problem, you should use this option.
- Open iTunes app on your computer with operating system Windows or Mac OS.
- Connect the device to your computer using a USB cable.
- Turn off the device by holding the “Lock” button for a few seconds and confirming the action.
- Simultaneously press the “Lock” and “Home” buttons on the device for exactly 10 seconds. Remove your finger from the “Lock” button and hold the “Home” button for about 10–15 seconds until a notification about the connected device appears on the computer. During the entire process of putting the device into recovery mode, the screen should not light up.
- iTunes will see that the device is in recovery mode and will offer to restore it, agree. Go through the recovery process by following the instructions that appear on the screen.
Video: what to do if you couldn’t activate your iPhone or iPad
If one of the above errors occurs while updating or activating your device, change the Wi-Fi network, restart the device, activate and update it through iTunes, or go through the recovery process. If none of the proposed methods help, and you are sure that Apple’s servers are working when the error occurs, then take your device to the service center to get help from a qualified specialist. But it is better to first consult with Apple support - https://support.apple.com/ru-ru, describing in detail the problem that arose and the methods that did not help resolve it.
To the factory ones, and now I want to show in detail what activating an iPhone is and what the pitfalls may be.
What is iPhone activation
Activate iPhone = turn on for the first time, if we are considering new phone out of the box, or simply turning it on if you have previously reset or flashed it. Activation is initial setup phone: language, region, restoring from a backup and setting up some services. If you have already produced the first turning on iPhone, then you should know some of these points, otherwise, look below - I will describe step by step what to do and where the pitfalls may lie...
Before activating your iPhone or iPad (there is almost no difference in activation), make sure that you have a SIM card or WiFi network (for an iPad without a SIM card) - you cannot activate without them! You may also need a computer or fast Internet 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 screen on the screen in various languages and an invitation to swipe your finger across the screen.
The next step will ask you to connect to any WiFi networks, or will prompt you to use your SIM card to activate your iPhone. If you don’t have a SIM card at hand, then even the presence wireless internet and computers will not help you... Let me explain - you need a SIM card, just like the Internet, it’s just that not all SIM cards come with the Internet, and in this case you will need WiFi or a computer with the Internet connected and iTunes installed!
If you have successfully completed the previous steps, then welcome to the “almost” activated iPhone. Why “almost”, you ask? Yes, because if you purchased the gadget secondhand, you may need to enter the iCloud account and password of the previous owner! If the old owner is not available and you don’t know the treasured login-password, then, alas, you have a “brick” on your hands :) In this case, you need to find the old owner, and in the right scenario, the reset before purchasing should be done with the seller, so as not to there was mutual misunderstanding!
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 options: Set up as new iPhone, Restore from iCloud copies or Restore from iTunes copies ... What are the differences between these 3 points?
- set up like a new iPhone - you just set up the phone as you wish and there will be no data on it, except for what will be downloaded later from iCloud, if you have used iCloud before, of course :)
— restore from an iCloud copy — this option is needed for those who already have a backup copy in iCloud, for example, from a previous iPhone.
- restore from a copy of iTunes - just connect your iPhone to a computer where iTunes is installed and there is a backup copy of the phone, and follow the instructions on the computer. During this time, your 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 an input window account iCloud, or creating a new account if this is your first Apple device. If you don't have an account yet, it's better to skip this step and set up iCloud after activating your iPhone.
Well, how can we do without legal information and accepting its terms:
If you are in the habit of protecting your iPhone/iPad with a password or Touch ID, then you will be able to make these settings right away. And these are the ones that shouldn’t be put off until later!
If there is a request to enable geolocation, it is advisable 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 is on Maps, Google or Yandex, or correctly displayed weather and time data. I think it's worth turning on geolocation!
Next, if you want, you can enable or disable the sending of diagnostic data or give access to developers. Personally, I included all this so that data about failures 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 backed it up to Apple cloud, then feel free to select this item. You will need to enter your Apple ID and password linked to iCloud and click next. If everything is entered correctly and you have access to the Internet, the device will begin downloading the backup copy. 
After the restoration begins, you will be asked the same questions when setting up the device as if it were new, so I will not describe them again.
I’ll just focus on this: if you want the iPhone activation to go as smoothly as possible, make sure in advance that the Internet is fast, since restoration can take a long time due to the volume of the copy. The biggest things that can take the longest to transfer are photos and videos. So try to do this at home when you have a lot of free time. Of course, after initial setup, you can interrupt the recovery and continue later, however, 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 the old device, or the device itself, or the backup copy itself takes up a very large volume! In my memory, I have seen an iPhone where about 40 GB were taken up by photos - via iCloud it’s too long and expensive, but via iTunes it only takes 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 this, you will need to connect your gadget to a computer with iTunes running, where there is an old backup copy...
On your 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 volume of the backup, you can go to the kitchen for coffee, or start cooking dinner :) After the restoration from iTunes is completed, you will also be asked to enable geolocation, protect the device with a password, and an offer to send diagnostics to Apple. Please note that after the activation of the iPhone is completed, 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 the computer!
Now you have learned what iPhone activation is and how it can be done. We have seen several methods, among which you can find the one that suits you! I hope that after reading my instructions, you will see something like this on your iPhone!
