What You Can Do If You Are Unable to Activate iPad

Samuel Spenser Published on July 17, 2025Unlock iOS3-min reading

"My iPad suddenly says it needs to activate, but I receive a message saying Unable to Activate This iPad when I try to activate it. Any suggestions?" When you get a brand-new iPad or a factory-reset device, you need to follow Apple's Setup Assistant to activate it. If the process stops by the error message, don't panic. This article explains why the error occurs and what you should do when you encounter the error.

Part 1: Common Causes for iPad Unable to Activate

The activation error may appear in different forms. For example, Unable to Activate This iPad because the activation server is temporarily unavailable, or Could Not Activate iPad without an internet connection. The message indicates why your iPad is not activating:

1. Apple servers are down.

2. Internet connection is poor.

3. Software glitches.

Part 2: How to Fix iPad Unable to Activate

Solution 1: Check Apple Servers

When your iPad cannot be activated, it is a good idea to check the status of Apple's activation servers. Although it is not common, these servers can occasionally go down for maintenance or other reasons. Go to https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/ in a web browser and check the relevant server. If it is denoted by orange or red, you have to wait for it to work again.

Solution 2: Connect to Wi-Fi

As mentioned previously, you were unable to activate your iPad due to a poor internet connection. Activating an iPad requires a good internet network. The solution is simple: connect to a stable Wi-Fi network.

Solution 3: Restart Setup

Your iPad cannot be activated if the Setup Assistant gets stuck in a temporary error loop. The easiest solution is restarting the setup process from scratch. To do that, long-press the Side or Power button. Then, tap Start Over and set up your iPad again.

Solution 4: Activate iPad with Computer

If the Unable to Activate iPad error keeps appearing, you'd better activate your device with iTunes or Finder on a PC or Mac. This solution requires a computer with an internet connection and a USB cable.

Open Finder instead on macOS Catalina or later.

Tip: If prompted, enter your Apple ID and password.

Solution 5: Restore iPad in Recovery Mode

Another solution for not activating your iPad is restoring your device in Recovery Mode. That removes all settings and data from your iPad. Then, you can activate and set up it as a new device.

On an iPad without a Home button

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.

Do the same thing with the Volume Down button.

Long-press the Side button until the connect-to-computer screen appears.

On an iPad with a Home button

Hold the Home + Power buttons together.

Release them until you see the connect-to-computer screen.

Part 3: How to Remove Apple ID from iPad and Activate It Again

If you encounter the Unable to activate iPad error due to an issue with your Apple ID, imyPass iPassGo can help you resolve this problem. It is able to remove your Apple account without any restrictions. The user-friendly interface makes it a suitable option for ordinary people.

How to Remove Apple ID from Your iPad

Situation 1: Find My iPad Is Disabled
The software will immediately remove your Apple ID from your device.

Situation 2: Find My iPad Is Enabled on iPadOS 11.3 or Earlier
Choose General in Settings and tap Reset All Settings on your iPad. When it finishes, the software will do its job.

Situation 3: Find My iPad Is Enabled on iPadOS 11.4 or Later
Turn on two-factor authentication. Enter 0000 and confirm unlocking. Check your device information and begin removing Apple ID from your iPad.
When it is done, your iPad will reboot, and you can activate it directly.

Conclusion

This article explained what you can do when you cannot activate your iPad. You can follow our solutions one by one to get rid of the error and activate your device smoothly. imyPass iPassGo can remove your Apple ID account from your device, and you can set it up again.