iPhone 4S suddenly needs activation. Help?
October 5, 2013 5:52 PM Subscribe
This evening, suddenly and without warning, my iPhone decided it required activation. However, I can't get it to activate properly.
I have an iPhone 4S running iOS7. I have had some variety of iOS7 since July, as a guy at work had a developer account and added our devices to his account. (I work at a company that does IT research including mobile devices). Earlier today my iPhone was working fine, but a few minutes ago I woke it up and it suddenly said it needed to be activated. I entered my Apple ID and password but it won't activate. It says it cannot connect to the server. I've been trying for a while with no luck. I connected my iPhone back up to my laptop and tried to restore it, but it says it can't do that because I set up "Find my iPhone."
Can anyone help me?
I have an iPhone 4S running iOS7. I have had some variety of iOS7 since July, as a guy at work had a developer account and added our devices to his account. (I work at a company that does IT research including mobile devices). Earlier today my iPhone was working fine, but a few minutes ago I woke it up and it suddenly said it needed to be activated. I entered my Apple ID and password but it won't activate. It says it cannot connect to the server. I've been trying for a while with no luck. I connected my iPhone back up to my laptop and tried to restore it, but it says it can't do that because I set up "Find my iPhone."
Can anyone help me?
Response by poster: Mad_Carew, I tried updating my software multiple times and it always said I had the current version--I assumed that meant I had the correct software. Apple Store is already closed here for the night.
posted by synecdoche at 6:12 PM on October 5, 2013
posted by synecdoche at 6:12 PM on October 5, 2013
Best answer: Look into putting the phone in DFU mode and then try to restore it.
http://www.imore.com/tip-put-iphone-ipad-dfu-mode
posted by meta87 at 6:21 PM on October 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
http://www.imore.com/tip-put-iphone-ipad-dfu-mode
posted by meta87 at 6:21 PM on October 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I have seen in a few places people with similar issues...looks like apple just deactivated phones for anyone still running IOS7 beta.
posted by Captain_Science at 6:37 PM on October 5, 2013
posted by Captain_Science at 6:37 PM on October 5, 2013
Best answer: There's a thread on hacker news that will probably have the best answers to this question. Good luck!
posted by eisenkr at 8:00 PM on October 5, 2013
posted by eisenkr at 8:00 PM on October 5, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone--sorted now. I used the DFU mode meta87 mentioned. I lost a few pictures I took today since my last backup this morning but at least I can use my phone again.
posted by synecdoche at 8:02 PM on October 5, 2013
posted by synecdoche at 8:02 PM on October 5, 2013
Just for reference: this method, using the "Check for Update" button in iTunes, seems to resolve the issue for many people without losing data since the last backup.
posted by wam at 4:13 PM on October 6, 2013
posted by wam at 4:13 PM on October 6, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Can you get to an Apple store before closing tonight?
posted by Mad_Carew at 6:11 PM on October 5, 2013