By Sophia | Last Updated
“Get my iPhone 11 today and want to set it up. But it says your activation session expired.Please try again. How can I get rid of the activation session expired issue?”
Are you encountering the frustrating "Activation Session Expired" error on your iPhone/iPad? This issue can prevent you from completing the activation process, leaving your device stuck and unusable. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the top solutions to fix the "Activation Session Expired" error and successfully activate your device.
Outlines:
Several factors can trigger this error, including:
Unstable Internet Connection – Poor Wi-Fi or cellular network can interrupt the activation process.
Apple Server Issues – If Apple’s activation servers are down, you may face this error.
Corrupt System Files – Software glitches may interfere with activation.
The SIM Card issue—the SIM card is incompatible with the iPhone/iPad
Follow these proven solutions to resolve the issue and activate your device successfully.
Since activation requires a stable network, ensure you are connected to a strong Wi-Fi or cellular network. If necessary: restart your Wi-Fi router; switch to a different network; use mobile data if Wi-Fi is unstable.
Sometimes, restarting helps to refresh the system process and system glitches. You can press and hold the Power button and slide to turn off the iPhone/iPad. Wait a few seconds and turn it back on.
Apple’s activation servers may be down. Check the Apple System Status page: Visit Apple's System Status; If the iOS Device Activation service is down, wait and try again later.
If activating a cellular device, your SIM card may be the issue. You can remove the current SIM card and insert another from a different carrier. Then restart your phone and retry activation.
If activation fails on your device, try using iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac):
Step 1: Connect your iPhone/iPad to a computer using a USB cable.
Step 2: Open iTunes (Windows) or Finder (MacOS Catalina and later).
Step 3: If prompted, select Set Up as New iPhone or Restore from Backup.
Step 4: Follow on-screen instructions to complete activation.
If iTunes fails to activate your iPhone/iPad, you can perform a refresh on iTunes. After that, restarting iTunes and connect your devices, the activation session expired might be fixed.
Step 1: Shut down iTunes and make your devices disconnected.
Step 2: Press Windows + R keys to launch Run box. After that, enter services.msc and click the OK button.
Step 3: Locate Apple Mobile Device Service on the right panel. After that, right-click to choose Properties from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Select Automatic as the Startup type. After that, stop the service. After it is stopped, click the Start button to run it again.
Step 5: Hit the OK button to save the changes. Then open iTunes to activate the iPhone/iPad.
If you cannot bypass the Activation Session Expired error with the above solutions, it is recommended to bypass the activation lock on iPhone/iPad without a passcode. iSunshare iBypass Genius can help unlock the activation lock without the previous owner on iPhone/iPad in simple clicks.
Step 1: Download and install the iBypass Genius on your computer. Then open the software and select Bypass ID.
Step 2: Connect your device and hit the Start button to proceed.
Step 3: At this point, you need to jailbreak the device with the on-screen instructions. After that, make the device enter DFU mode again for activation lock removal.
Step 4: Finally, the bypassing process begins. And you just need to wait patiently.
The "Activation Session Expired" error can be frustrating, but it’s fixable with the right approach. With the mentioned solutions, you can successfully activate your device. If the issue persists, iSunshare iBypass Genius can help bypass the activation lock on your iDevices.
