A lot of factors contribute on why your iPhone can’t be activated. It could be a faulty sim card or your carrier is incompatible with your iPhone. Before you head out to your nearest Apple Store and save all the hassle, you can try these troubleshooting tips.

Check these things first

• If your iPhone uses a SIM card, make sure that the SIM card is in your iPhone. Even without an active contract, your iPhone might need the SIM card to activate.

• If an error says, “No SIM” or “Invalid SIM,” learn what to do.

• If asked to sign in with an Apple ID during activation, learn about Activation Lock.

Follow these steps if you can’t activate your iPhone

1. Check the list on the System Status page. If the box by iOS Device Activation isn’t green, try to activate your iPhone later.

2. If asked to enter your password as you activate your iPhone, enter the password. (A password prompt means that Activation Lock might be enabled in Find My iPhone.)

3. Restart your iPhone.

4. If you’re using a cellular data connection, connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network instead.

If you still can’t activate, here’s how to activate your iPhone through iTunes instead:

1. Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes.

2. Check that your computer has an Internet connection.

3. Open iTunes on your computer. With the cable that came with your iPhone, connect your iPhone to your computer.

4. Wait while iTunes detects and activates your iPhone:

   • If iTunes shows, “Set up as New” or “Restore from Backup,” it means that iTunes activated your iPhone.

   • If an error in iTunes says that the SIM card isn’t compatible, contact your carrier.