Carrier Verizon Activation Issues

[Blarson61389]

This is a thread to talk about issues you are having activating new devices on Verizon. Maybe we can help each other figure out solutions.

I have had issues activating an iPhone Xs. I keep getting stuck on the activation screen for billing zip and pin. Been on the phone with apple and Verizon all day and no resolution yet. I was reading through some of the other threads and it sounds like it's a common problem. Any figure out any solutions for this?

 

[vtboyarc]

Been on the phone with Apple, they said it's a Verizon issue. Verizon says its an Apple issue.
I've had my new phone for 9 hours now and can't use it, and at this point, I have no idea what to do

 

[adammull]

I'm trying to help, not mocking.

What is this screen you're speaking of? I never saw a screen. Called a phone number and it was instant.

Dialed 877-807-4646 from my desk phone. Asked for my phone number. I typed it in, voila. Used the new sim that came with the phone. Only thing I did beforehand was eject the SIM from the old phone. Didn't want to turn the phone off, as I wanted to use it to take photos of the new one.

HTH

 

[Shadowbech]

I picked one up from the apple store for my in-store pick up that I pre-ordered and activated the phone without any issues. Was very smooth.

 

[Sumter]

I had this issue last year with iPhone X on launch day and it was a terrible experience. I tried everything I read that might work: old address zip codes (literally every zip code I ever lived at), 0000 as pin, 00000 as zip code, you name it... none worked. I would call Apple and get told to talk to Verizon and Verizon would tell me to talk to Apple. I called both of them at least three times each. At one point I was in a three-way call with Verizon and Apple because I told them I have already tried everything suggested and talked to both more than once and nothing works. Verizon says it shows as activated on their end.

I was on phone with them until they had to close for the day... next morning I tried and still wouldn’t work, so I headed to Apple Store. Talked to a genius, genius gave me a replacement phone, guess what, replacement phone activates totally fine out of the box. Problem solved. It was ridiculous. Hope I don’t run into this again this year.

 

[philbo7]

Well, I have ATT and I have the same problem. My phone will not activate. ATT chat guy said he contacted Apple and verified that the Apple servers are totally jammed up with all the phone activations. He said this: You just need to restart the device after 4 to 5 hours. So that the Apple servers will be refreshed by then.

 

[steelestar]

It IS a carrier issue - at least with Verizon. I had the same Verizon activation lock-out with my new xs max. Enter your Verizon account PIN, not the last 4 digits of your SSN. I called Verizon and the one of the automated options was to activate a new phone. When choosing that option, I provided my PIN when prompted (use your Verizon account PIN). I've already forgotten, but they may have asked for the phone's IMEI too. After doing so, it took maybe 10 seconds for the automated response to confirm that my new phone had been activated, and sure enough, before I had hung up (actually you're automatically disconnected), the new phone was activated and I proceeded with the quick install. Apple has already provided the carriers with all your new phone info and it's just to confirm that you are you. The whole process took maybe 2 minutes.

 

[Vorskyr]

It IS a carrier issue - at least with Verizon. I had the same Verizon activation lock-out with my new xs max. Enter your Verizon account PIN, not the last 4 digits of your SSN. I called Verizon and the one of the automated options was to activate a new phone. When choosing that option, I provided my PIN when prompted (use your Verizon account PIN). I've already forgotten, but they may have asked for the phone's IMEI too. After doing so, it took maybe 10 seconds for the automated response to confirm that my new phone had been activated, and sure enough, before I had hung up (actually you're automatically disconnected), the new phone was activated and I proceeded with the quick install. Apple has already provided the carriers with all your new phone info and it's just to confirm that you are you. The whole process took maybe 2 minutes.

Yeah i've done all that too, with 3 different verizon people and 2 apple people lol... Verizon showed my XS Max active but the actual phone didn't actually activate

 

[Sheboygan]

Yeah i've done all that too, with 3 different verizon people and 2 apple people lol... Verizon showed my XS Max active but the actual phone didn't actually activate

Same here. I’ve only done that once so I’m leery of doing it again because it disables you current working iPhone.

 

[rufas2000]

On line chat got me connected. Very smooth.

 

[cwosigns]

I could not activate my Apple Watch after I picked it up. Similar run around. Verizon blamed Apple, and Apple said it was a Verizon issue. Apparently, Verizon didn’t load the IMEI numbers into their system so new devices couldn’t be activated.

I took it back to Apple, and they were willing to exchange it to rule out a hardware issue. The second watch activated just fine. But prior to me coming in, there wasn’t a single Apple Watch that was successfully activated on Verizon’s network.