Verizon is telling me they cannot put a SIM in and activate my iPad Air 2 because the device is not being accepted in the system. Has anyone else ran into this today?
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iPad Verizon won't activate iPad Air 2
- Thread starter kycophpd
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Perhaps the ESNs haven't been added to Verizon's database yet. The Apple website did promise you'll be able to activate any US iPad Air 2 on Verizon.
I hope they get it fixed soon. The staff here was not very nice about it and sent me away for the second time today.
ESN is definitely in. Picked up a cellular iPad, put in an already activated verizon sim and my verizon online shows the new iPad
My suggestion is to take your iPad to the Apple Store and they'll give you a verizon SIM card. Or call verizon and have them ship one to you
My suggestion is to take your iPad to the Apple Store and they'll give you a verizon SIM card. Or call verizon and have them ship one to you
Not necessarily. How it worked with the iPad Air 1... If you had an activated Verizon SIM, it would work on another carrier's iPad Air. However, if you tried to activate new service on a non-Verizon iPad Air, Verizon would refuse since the device's ESN wasn't in their database.
How to activate an iPad 2 Air on Verizon
I got my brand new shiny iPad 2 Air this morning. I had suspended my iPad data plan (line of service) on Verizon when I gave my original Air to my adult son who lives in another state. I removed the Verizon nano sim before giving it to him so he could set up his own data plan on whatever carrier he wants.
Anyway, I called Verizon Customer Service to try to get my new iPad Air 2 activated under my old data plan. I still had the Apple nano sim installed. Verizon said they couldn't activate the iPad because the EMI number was not in their database yet. Hmmm...
Here's the solution. I removed the Apple nano sim and replaced it with the Verizon nano sim I had removed from my other iPad Air. Then I used iTunes to Restore the iPad Air 2. This is NOT restoring a previous backup, it's restoring the device itself. That's very important.
As soon as the iPad came back on after the Restore, it recognized Verizon and gave a normal indication of signal strength. I called Verizon Customer Service again and re-activated the line of service I had suspended when I gave my son my other iPad. Voila! Everything's good.
This procedure will work with a brand new Verizon nano sim as well. Any corporate Verizon store should give you one for free.
I got my brand new shiny iPad 2 Air this morning. I had suspended my iPad data plan (line of service) on Verizon when I gave my original Air to my adult son who lives in another state. I removed the Verizon nano sim before giving it to him so he could set up his own data plan on whatever carrier he wants.
Anyway, I called Verizon Customer Service to try to get my new iPad Air 2 activated under my old data plan. I still had the Apple nano sim installed. Verizon said they couldn't activate the iPad because the EMI number was not in their database yet. Hmmm...
Here's the solution. I removed the Apple nano sim and replaced it with the Verizon nano sim I had removed from my other iPad Air. Then I used iTunes to Restore the iPad Air 2. This is NOT restoring a previous backup, it's restoring the device itself. That's very important.
As soon as the iPad came back on after the Restore, it recognized Verizon and gave a normal indication of signal strength. I called Verizon Customer Service again and re-activated the line of service I had suspended when I gave my son my other iPad. Voila! Everything's good.
This procedure will work with a brand new Verizon nano sim as well. Any corporate Verizon store should give you one for free.
I bought the LTE version from the Apple store today, then went to the Verizon store and they activated it without any hassle
This is terrible, all of you seriously have to make two trips to get your iPad on Verizon?
You should be able to buy it from Apple and be done with it. I was questioning whether it would actually play out this way but it seems to be true.
You should be able to buy it from Apple and be done with it. I was questioning whether it would actually play out this way but it seems to be true.
I stopped by a Verizon store WITH my new iPad Air 2 this morning. At first he couldn't locate the IMEI number in the system. Then, he tried activating the SIM in his computer, then putting it in the iPad. After a quick restart, he was able to make it all work and just transferred my data plan from my old iPad to my new one. So if your person is having trouble that's how to make it work.
I don't see why you'd need to do a restore. The iPad isn't locked to any SIM, including Apple's own SIM. Just put the Verizon SIM in there and at the most you might need to restart it.
Of course Verizon wouldn't be able to activate it with an Apple SIM in it, they opted out of using Apple's SIM card.
When I called to activate mine, they couldn't find the device using the IMEI number, device not found. Called right back and the agent had no problems.
Guessing they were slow to show up in Verizon's system.
Guessing they were slow to show up in Verizon's system.
I just went to Verizon website and selected swap device.
It first asked for device id. Then it asked for SIM. After restarting it works fine. It also shows the device fine on the website.
NOTE: I used an extra SIM card I got when I swapped my iphone 6+ 64 for 128. This is why I did the steps on the website. The SIM I used was never activated as an iPad.
It first asked for device id. Then it asked for SIM. After restarting it works fine. It also shows the device fine on the website.
NOTE: I used an extra SIM card I got when I swapped my iphone 6+ 64 for 128. This is why I did the steps on the website. The SIM I used was never activated as an iPad.
This. My iPad air 2 was delivered yesterday and I just stopped by the Verizon store. All they did was put in a SIMILAR and activate it. Didn't even charge me anything.
It seems like it would have been more helpful if they gave your SIM card back to you instead of throwing it away.
I had an interesting time activating my iPad Air 2 with verizon today. It went something like this
Me: Hi, I'd like to activate this new iPad with verizon on a prepaid data plan.
Manager: Is it a verizon specific model?
Me: Its brand new, the iPads are now carrier agnostic, I just need a SIM.
Manager: Thats not possible.
Me: Of course it is, I just need a Verizon SIM.
Manager: That won't work with Verizon's CDMA network.
Me: Listen, I know what I'm talking about. I know about CDMA networks but as I'm sure you know LTE is completely SIM based. There are no more carrier specific iPads. Just give me a SIM.
Manager: We can't do it, we just lost a 50 line deal with a local company because we can't activate iPads from other carriers.
Me: There are no such thing as carrier specific devices with the new iPads. They come with an Apple SIM which will automatically work with the other carriers. This iPad has not been activated by any cellular provider. I just need a Verizon SIM.
Manager: Well, if you don't mind waiting and possibly wasting your time, I can add you to the queue.
Had one of the associates create a new account for me in the system, scan the sim, popped it in my iPad, reset my network settings via Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. Worked like a charm. It is honestly pathetic how clueless these people can be. So excited about this iPad though.
Me: Hi, I'd like to activate this new iPad with verizon on a prepaid data plan.
Manager: Is it a verizon specific model?
Me: Its brand new, the iPads are now carrier agnostic, I just need a SIM.
Manager: Thats not possible.
Me: Of course it is, I just need a Verizon SIM.
Manager: That won't work with Verizon's CDMA network.
Me: Listen, I know what I'm talking about. I know about CDMA networks but as I'm sure you know LTE is completely SIM based. There are no more carrier specific iPads. Just give me a SIM.
Manager: We can't do it, we just lost a 50 line deal with a local company because we can't activate iPads from other carriers.
Me: There are no such thing as carrier specific devices with the new iPads. They come with an Apple SIM which will automatically work with the other carriers. This iPad has not been activated by any cellular provider. I just need a Verizon SIM.
Manager: Well, if you don't mind waiting and possibly wasting your time, I can add you to the queue.
Had one of the associates create a new account for me in the system, scan the sim, popped it in my iPad, reset my network settings via Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. Worked like a charm. It is honestly pathetic how clueless these people can be. So excited about this iPad though.
I had a somewhat better experience today - I went in without my ipad air 2 and got a SIM. They needed the IMEI number for the ipad to activate the SIM, which Apple support emailed to me (since I didn't have the ipad with me). The guy set up a new account and scanned the SIM and I should be good to go.
However, he tried to charge me an activation fee. I told him that there isn't supposed to be one for prepaid tablet plans, but he insisted they always charge one. So I brought up the Verizon website on my phone and showed it to him. He deducted the fee.
However, he tried to charge me an activation fee. I told him that there isn't supposed to be one for prepaid tablet plans, but he insisted they always charge one. So I brought up the Verizon website on my phone and showed it to him. He deducted the fee.
