I've got a non-carrier iPhone 7 that stopped connecting to the cellular network a while back. A repair shop said the SIM card reader is broken, likely due to my frustration with the phone slowing down over the years. I never got it fixed. Recently, the phone started shutting down randomly. I tried using some third-party tools to get it into DFU or recovery mode, but they wanted me to pay to get it out, and my phone kept shutting down during the iTunes update. I replaced the battery, updated, and attempted a fresh install, but now it says, "Couldn't retrieve activation information on this iPhone." During setup, it states, "Update required to activate this iPhone," and while it connects to Wi-Fi, it never asks for my iCloud info. Is there a way to bypass this issue? It feels like this activation problem is deliberately aimed at me, though I've heard of people getting iCloud locked devices. I'm just hoping for any advice to get past this frustrating situation.
2 Answers
It’s actually a common issue with the iPhone 7, and Apple had a repair program for this very thing! You're not alone in this. The problem is just an old glitch and isn’t targeted at you specifically. If your iPhone 7 was sold between September 2016 and September 2019, there’s a chance you're still covered for repairs. You might want to check if you can still get that service.
Honestly, I get the frustration! But you might want to try resetting your network settings and then go through the activation process again. Sometimes a fresh start with the right configuration can help. Also, have you contacted Apple Support? They might have options for you.
I’ll definitely reach out to Apple Support. Thanks for the suggestion!
Did Apple really do hardware repairs for that? I’m guessing that program may have ended by now, right?