IPhone 5 - Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable

I have a brand new iPhone 5 64gb, and I'm trying to activate it. But when I connect either to WiFi or iTunes via PC, i get the following message:
'Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable'
Any idea what the problem could be? The phone was purchased from someone who received the phone as an upgrade.
When a sim is entered it shows 'Searching...' but doesn't show 'No SIM' or 'No Service'

Generally a sign that the iPhone had previously been jailbroken
or hacked to work with other than the original wireless carrier and
an upgrade or restore has relocked the iPhone to the original carrier.
You will need to contact that original carrier to see if they offer
unlocking and if you qualify.
Best advice - return the iPhone to whoever sold it to you, get your
money back, and purchase a truly new iPhone from Apple or an
Apple authorized reseller in your location.

Similar Messages

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    your phone could not be activared because the activation server is temporarily unavilable

    Hello dhawalkc,
    Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. if you are having issues with activation, the following article will guide you through troubleshooting the issue.
    iPhone: Troubleshooting activation issues
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3424
    Resolution
    Perform 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 Wi-Fi 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.
    Regards,
    -Norm G.

  • Restore error:iphone could not be restored because the firmware file is....

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    Message was edited by: liskan

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    You may have to arrange to take the product into an authorized
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    See all worldwide telephone support numbers
    Contact a mobile carrier
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    Visit an Apple Retail Store
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  • ERROR: "The iPhone could not be synced because the sync session failed to start.?"

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  • Sync problems with iOS5. "The iPhone "iPhone" could not be synced because the sync session failed to finish."

    Hi,
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    Just made one very simple move without having to restore iPhone or reinstall iTunes..
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  • HT1386 itunes comes up with message "the iphone could not be synced because the sync session failed to start" no matter what i do it wont sync it

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    iTunes
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  • TS3694 upgrade from 4.3.3 to 5.1.1 b208 gives an error " the iphone could not be updated because the firmware is not compatible"

    I recieved an error while trying to update from ios 4.3.3 to 5.1.1 b208 the error:" the iphone could not be updated because the firmware file is not compatible"

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  • HT201210 the iphone could not be updated because the firware is not compatible

    Hi
    I am trying to update my Iphone software from 4.2.1 to the latest version.
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    Cheers
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    Have you previously jailbroke your iPhone or manually downloaded and pointed iTunes to a older or 3rd-party IPSW file?
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  • Unable to update.  Receiving message:  The iPhone could not be updated because the firmware is not compatible.

    I'm trying to update my iPhone but am receiving this message:  The iPhone could not be updated because the firmware is not compatible.

    You may have to arrange to take the product into an authorized
    service agent for the iPhone (or other affected iDevice) to see
    if they can apply the correct firmware update, to help resolve the
    issue of upgrade; or if they have a way to put it as it was prior to
    the attempted upgrade to a later iOS.
    See all worldwide telephone support numbers
    Contact a mobile carrier
    Find an Apple Authorized Service Provider
    Visit an Apple Retail Store
    Pending some release of another update to the iOS, you'd need
    to have someone's hands-on effort to correct the issues your
    product faces now, before another round of upgrade attempt.
    Sorry that I have no exact method to attempt to resolve your issue.
    Good luck & happy computing!

  • When trying to sync my iPhone, the message " The iPhone could not be synced because the Sync session failed to start" comes. What to do?

    When trying to sync my iPhone, the message " The iPhone could not be synced because the Sync session failed to start" appears. What to do?

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  • When I connect my iPhone 4S to my MacBook Pro, the synchronization process by iTunes failed with the following message "My iPhone could not be synchronized, because the synchronization process has not started". What does that mean?

    Hello,
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    I think I remember hearing that if you quit iTunes with your device still connected, then open iTunes up again, it should work.
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  • My iphone 5 won't sync, even i restored. it always appeared " The iPhone could not be synced because the sync session failed to start.

    my iPhone 5 won't sync even i restored. it always appeared  "The iPhone could not be synced because the sync session failed to start.

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3415227?start=0&tstart=0
    https://discussions.apple.com/message/16400530#16400530

  • Syncing photos via iTunes - getting new error message" "the iphone could not be synced because the connection to iphone was lost"

    I am trying to sync photos in a dedicated file on my desktop with the photo library on my iPhone 4S.  Something I have done many times before. 
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    This may help you
    http://appducate.com/2012/12/troubleshoot-an-ios-device-that-wont-sync-in-itunes /

  • TS1389 i keep having a "the iphone could not be sync because the computer is no longer authorized" i authorize it and still no result

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