How to get past "could not activate iPhone" screen

Trying to wipe and start from scratch with an old iPhone 4 that I do not want to activate as a phone. How do I get past the "could not activate iPhone" screen? I did this once on my other old iPhone 4 and it worked without issue.

It's a Verizon/CDMA phone. If it has a SIM, it's likely not activated and never has been. Then again, same is likely true of my other iPhone. "Likely" as in I have no recollection of ever asking Verizon to activate the SIM.
Again, I don't WANT to activate it. I just want to use it like an iPod Touch.

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I am having the problem . it says it shouldnt take more than 3 minutes then i get this message Could not activate iphone. i have taken the sim card out and put it back in even then its of no use. if any one out there can help us it would be very nice

i am having the problem in my 3gs iphone. it says it shouldnt take more than 3 minutes then i get this message Could not activate iphone.
i have taken the sim card out and put it back in even then its of no use.
if any one out there can help us it would be very nice of them. thank you for your time.

I can not get to iPhone screen, so no way to get to Settings. That is the problem. When I connect phone to iTunes I get screen asking to insert SIN card. On the phone I'm getting Cinfigure screen asking Launguage , Country or Region, Wi-Fi, ( I can connect to my home wi-fi), and last screen "Activating your iPhone". After two minutes of waiting IM getting message: Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server in temporary unavailable. try connecting to iTunes or try later or contat apple.com/support.
Like I mention, I went to Bell as well Rogers store and tried to insert active SIM card with no results.
Yes, my friend unlock the phone to use with Rogers but I don't know where

COULD NOT ACTIVATE IPHONE 3GS

my son did something to my iphone 3gs and now I get to a screen that says:
Could Not Activate IPhone
Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Try connecting your iphone to iTunes to activate it, or try in a couple of minuites. If this problem persists, contact Apple Support at apple.com/support.
It has continued for weeks, therefore asking if there is a solution to this?
Thanks.

Hey Fletchdog55
I have the same problem on my 3GS. I took it to the apple store and was told that the Activation Server was down internationally and should be up in a week or so.
I've had this problem for over a week now and apple said the server went down yesterday so I'm not sure what to think. As far as I can see there is no solution except to wait.

4s could not activate iphone

i just restore my iphone 4s white 16GB,
but its not letting me activate the iphone.
The messages is showing as below
"Could not activate iphone"
"Your iphone could not be activated beacause the activation server is temporarily unavailable.
Try connecting your iphone to iTunes to activate it. or try again in a couple of minutes."
"If this problem persists, contact Apple Support at apple.com/support"
and when i call in to tech support, they ask me to paid 19.99 to get a 30 day call in help.
But i dont think the problem is with my phone, it was fine before i did a restore of 6.1.3.
Please help!!

So you were already running 6.1.3 and then restored the iPhone and got this message?
Was the iPhone jailbroken before you Restored it? If so, to truly clear it you need to put it in DFU mode and Restore it. If not, try a different SIM from AT&T and if that doesn't work make a Genius Bar appointment at your nearest Apple Store.

When trying to use internet without Wifi I get a "Could not activate cellular data network - PDP authentication failure". What is the solution?

When trying to use internet, i get a" could not activate cellular data network - PDP authentication failure" Message. how to solve this problem?

If you have a data only plan for the iPad with your carrier, if no change after powering your iPad off and on you will need to contact your carrier.

HT1222 Could Not Activate iPhone, Ios7 Reset my phone and now it wont work

Could Not Activate iPhone,
it was active before the upadte

I imagine a ton of people are attempting to activate after the update, and the server is getting overloaded. Simple patience, maybe keep trying, and if possible, try a little later. Think of it as all those people lining up at Apple Stores + about a million more.

Could not activate iPhone (ios 7)

My iPhone 4s suddenly wants activated - when unlocked, it shows me my wallpaper. After sliding to unlock, it asks for my passcode. When I enter it, it takes me straight to the 'Activate iPhone' page - like it wants to be set up.
The text on the page:
"This iPhone is currently linked to an Apple ID ([email protected]). Sign in with the Apple ID that was used to set up this iPhone."
After I input the correct credentials and press Next in the top right corner, the title of the page changes to 'Activating...', then changes back to how it was before.
About 15 seconds later, it transitions to a 'Could not activate iPhone' page:
"Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Try connecting your iPhone to iTunes to activate it, or try again in a couple of minutes.
If this problem persists, contact Apple Support at apple.com/support"
I've tried to contact Apple chat support also, but it is not available of course -.-!!! And I can't call apple support cause' my freakin' phone won't activate......

Were you running iOS 7 beta? If so, as a developer you need to log into the Developer forum for assistance.
Not a developer and running iOS 7 beta? Then you've stolen Apple's software and will receive absolutely no assistance from this forum.

HT4623 my iphone 3gs says could not activate iphone when i tried to update from 4.1 to current

Iphone says it could not activate iphone after downloading update current. going from 4.1 to current. now im stuck how do i fix?

iPhone: Troubleshooting activation issues

HT1414 could not activate iphone

upon updating my old 3gs to a new software it always prompt me an error message
"Could not activate Iphone.Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable. try connecting you iphone to itunes to acivate it, or try again in a couple of minutes. if this problem persist, contact apple support at apple.com/support"
even though itry to connect to itunes it always prompt me an error. could not sync nor return back the back up.

Generally this is a sign that the iPhone had previously been
hacked/modified/jailbroken and the update relocked it

I erase all my iphone 5 setting after that could not activate iphone why

i erase all my iphone 5 setting after that could not activate iphone why

I just updated my whatsapp...clicked on whatsapp in appstore and now can access my whatsapp

Trying to reset my iphone and its connect to my internet but is saying "could not activate iphone"

trying to reset my iphone and its connect to my internet but is saying "could not activate iphone"

What model is your phone and what OS are you trying to install. iOS 7 can only be installed on certain phones.
Maybe someone knows the specifics?

HT201401 could not activate iphone

YESTERDAY I TRIED TO DOWNLOAD ITUNES ON ONE IPHONE - IT WAS OK
WITHOUT SIGN OUT I TRIED TO DOWNLOAD ITUNES ON ANOTHER IPHONE BUT COULD NOT AND NOW THE IPHONE SHOWS THE FOLLOWING
COULD NOT ACTIVATE IPHONE
YOUR IPHONE COULD NOT BE ACTIVATED BECAUSE THE ACTIVATION SERVER IS TEMPORARY UNAVAILABLE.
TRY CONNECTING YOUR IPHONE TO ITUNES TO ACTIVATE IT OR
TRY IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES
IF THIS PROBLEMS PERSISTS CONTACT APPLE SUPPORT AT APPLE.COM/SUPPORT.
BUT ALL FAILED

Sounds like your phone was jailbroken.

HT3406 how can i pass "could not active iphone" when I want to use an old iphone 4 as ipod?

I have old iphone 4 like to use as ipod. How can i pass "could not active iphone", I just want to use it as ipod.
thnak you.
Vivo

Using an iPhone without a wireless service plan

HT201407 Hi my whatsapp is not working! I keep getting message" could not activate"

Hi my whatsapp is not working! I keep getting message" could not activate"

Thank you! I forgot that all I have to do is reset iPad n it will ix most problems. Someone posted that message and it worked for me! :D

HT4993 could not activate iphone....after restore.

could not activate iphone.....after restore.

Hello dar1000ex,
Thank you for the details of the issue you are experiencing after restoring your iPhone. I recommend the following steps:
Symptoms
Your iPhone may display one of the following messages when you attempt to activate it:
"Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable."
"The SIM card inserted in this iPhone does not appear to be supported"
"The iPhone is not recognized and cannot be activated for service."
"iTunes was unable to verify your device."
ResolutionPerform the following steps if you receive one of the messages above:
Restart the iPhone.
Try another means of reaching the activation server and attempt to activate.
Try connecting to a known-good Wi-Fi network if you're unable to activate using a cellular data connection.
Try connecting to iTunes if you're unable to activate using Wi-Fi.
Restore the iPhone.
If you receive an alert message when you attempt to activate your iPhone, try to place the iPhone in recovery mode and perform a restore. If you're still unable to complete the setup assistant due to an activation error, contact Apple for assistance.
iPhone: Troubleshooting activation issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3424
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

How to get past "could not activate iPhone" screen

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