Iphone unable to activate an update is required

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Regularly updating your iPhone is a good way to keep it functioning correctly. However, the last update I did on my iPhone 13 Pro did not go quite as I expected.

After the phone turned on, it showed ‘An update is required to activate your iPhone’.

I had never faced this issue before, so I had no idea what to do with it. I restarted my phone, but the error was still there.

Frustrated, I called up a friend who works at an Apple store and asked if there was anything wrong with my phone.

To my relief, he told me that it was not a big issue and I could solve it on my own.

He then explained the process to fix this error, and after following his steps, my iPhone was good to go. 

To fix the ‘An update is required to activate your iPhone’ error, ensure Apple servers are working, then check your SIM card and restart your phone. If this does not work, activate your iPhone via iTunes.

Why Does My iPhone Require an Update to Activate?

You may encounter the ‘An update is required to activate your iPhone’ error if a critical process was not completed during a recent update or reset.

Though it is difficult to pinpoint a single reason for this error, here are the most typical causes: 

• Your phone’s activation lock is enabled.
• Your mobile carrier has locked your phone.
• The Apple ‘iOS Device Activation’ server is down.
• Your Internet connection was not stable.
• The SIM card is not working correctly.
• Your network service carrier was having technical problems. 

If you see the ‘An update is required to activate your iPhone’ error, it may seem like something significant has gone wrong with your device, and you might have to spend a few dollars to resolve it.

But the truth is you can easily solve this issue by following the steps mentioned below.

Also, remember that you may have to try more than one solution to fix your problem. 

Make Sure Your iPhone is Unlocked

A locked phone can mean two things; a mobile carrier locked the phone, or the previous owner did.

If the activation lock is enabled in ‘Find My iPhone’, there is a high probability that you will see the ‘Unable to activate’ error.

In such a case, you will have to contact the previous owner and ask for the password or request them to remove your device from their iCloud.

If a mobile carrier has locked your phone, you can only unlock it by contacting the carrier’s customer support. 

Check Apple System Status

One of the initial steps you need to take to fix the ‘Unable to activate’ error on your iPhone is checking the status of Apple servers on their System status page.

If the ‘iOS Device Activation’ server is down, your error may be due to its unavailability. Wait for Apple to resolve the server’s issue, then check your phone. 

Check Your Network Connection

During the update process, your iPhone requires a stable Internet connection to complete it.

If you have unreliable Wi-Fi, it might cause the ‘Unable to activate’ error.

You should only update your phone on a fast and stable Wi-Fi connection. 

Check Your SIM Card

A SIM card links your phone with your network service provider. If you have a faulty SIM card or if it’s not inserted correctly, you may face connectivity issues causing the ‘Unable to activate’ error on your iPhone. 

Check your SIM for any damage and make sure to place it correctly on the SIM tray.

To do so: 

1. Eject your phone’s SIM card tray with an ejector tool or a paper clip.
2. Check your SIM for any physical damage.
3. Put the SIM back on the tray properly.
4. Insert the tray back into your iPhone and check for the error. 

If your SIM card is damaged in any way, contact your service provider to get a replacement. 

Restart Your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone after reinserting the SIM card works most of the time in resolving the ‘Unable to activate’ error. 

Restarting helps your phone fix various bugs and glitches and clears the memory. 

To restart an iPhone with a Face ID, you need to: 

1. Push one of the volume buttons along with the power button.
2. Release both buttons once the ‘Power off’ option prompts.
3. Push the ‘Power slider’ from left to right to turn off your phone.
4. Once the screen is off, push and hold the power button.
5. Release the power button when the Apple logo lights up. 

For iPhones without a Face ID: 

1. Push the power button and release it once the ‘Power off’ option prompts.
2. Push the ‘Power slider’ from left to right to turn off your phone.
3. Once the screen is off, push and hold the power button.
4. Release the power button when the Apple logo appears. 

Activate Your iPhone via iTunes

If you have tried the above-mentioned steps and cannot resolve the ‘Unable to activate’ error on your iPhone, you can activate your phone using iTunes.

Take these steps for the activation process: 

1. Connect your iPhone to your laptop using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes on your computer.
3. Find the ‘Activate your iPhone’ tab and fill in your Apple account credentials.
4. Select the ‘Summary’ option.
5. Tap on the ‘Continue’ tab. 

If iTunes prompts ‘Set up as new’ or ‘Restore from backup’, your iPhone is activated. 

Use Recovery Mode

Using ‘Recovery mode’ to resolve the ‘Unable to activate’ error on your iPhone should be your last resort.

Check out all the ways mentioned in this article before trying this one.

The ‘Restore’ option of Recovery mode will delete all your data. It is better to have a backup of your data before you start this method.

Follow these steps to start the recovery process: 

1. Link your iPhone to your laptop using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes on your computer.
3. When iTunes recognizes your phone, restart it.
4. Go to ‘Recovery mode’.
5. Click on the ‘Update’ or ‘Restore’ option. The ‘Update’ option does not erase your data, but ‘Restore’ does.
6. Afterward, follow the on-screen prompts to set up your device. 

Contact Apple Support

If you have used all the measures mentioned in this help guide but cannot resolve the ‘An update is required to activate your iPhone’ error, this might be due to some hardware fault in your iPhone.

In that case, only Apple support can help you solve the issue. You can visit Apple support and connect with their customer support through a call or visit the nearest Apple store. 

Final Thoughts

The ‘An update is required to activate your iPhone’ error is not limited to a particular iPhone model. It affects the old as well as the new models.

Resolving this error might feel like a hassle if you do not know what to do and how to do it.

But using the solutions mentioned in this article, you can easily fix this issue and rest easy.

When updating your iPhone, make sure that you have a strong and fast Internet connection, as it ensures all the processes are completed correctly. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPhone keep saying activation is required?

An iPhone would show this error if the latest iOS update or reset was faulty. This error can occur due to network issues, SIM card problems, and activation lock. 

How do I unlock my iPhone?

Only your service provider can unlock your iPhone. Some service providers unlock your phone after a certain time, while others need you to contact them. 

How do I fix the ‘An update is required to activate your iPhone’ error?

To fix this error, take out the SIM card, reinsert it, and restart your phone. If the problem persists, use iTunes to activate it. 

How do I force my iPhone to activate?

You can force-activate your iPhone by connecting it to iTunes and using the Recovery mode. 

How do I fix unable to activate an update is required to activate iPhone?

What does it mean when your iPhone is unable to activate?

Why is my iPhone not letting me do a software update?