Recently, we received some e-mails from our visitors with an error code new to us. Our visitors also provided us with screenshots of their problem, which shows the following message to their screen: “Unauthorized Device – This iPhone cannot be activated for service“.
Below this message, it informs you to either contact your Carrier or AppleCare to solve this issue, but do not expect any real help. They will tell you that this iPhone is not authorized to their network (If you contact the carrier) or that you should contact your iPhone’s carrier (If you contact AppleCare).
After many hours of research, we were able to find a solution, which will unlock your iPhone and remove the “Unauthorized Device – This iPhone cannot be activated for service” error message from your screen.
What “Unauthorized Device – This iPhone cannot be activated for service” message means?
It is not very clear of the actual meaning of that message, but after some GSX checks (Information that we got from Apple’s GSX servers), we figure out that an iPhone that have the Unauthorized Device message, is blacklisted and locked.
It is not showing from which mobile network it is locked and blacklisted, which most likely means that this iPhone is blacklisted by Apple.
Our first though was that if this iPhone is blacklisted by Apple, then it will not work with any networks (Worldwide Blacklisted), but this is not true.
You can get an idea in which country it was blacklisted, by the Purchased In value. Most likely, this iPhone (after the unlock) will not work there.
How to remove the “Unauthorized Device – This iPhone cannot be activated for service” message?
The only way to remove this message from your iPhone, is to unlock it (Network unlock). Since it is not clear from which network it is locked, it is impossible to pick the right iPhone unlock service (The Official IMEI Method, requires the Network that locks your iPhone in order to successully unlock it).
The Worldwide iPhone Unlock service does not require any information about your iPhone, only the IMEI number.
Before ordering a Worldwide iPhone Unlock service, you need to make a GSX check to your iPhone, to get an idea of where your iPhone cannot be used (Since it is blacklisted).
-> Order a full iPhone GSX Unlock Check (Real time and updated IMEI Check reports)
Order a Worldwide iPhone Unlock service to remove the Unauthorized Device message
The Worldwide service will unlock your iPhone permanently, will allow you to use iTunes normally and also you will be able to upgrade your iOS version without relocking your iPhone.
Not all companies offer that version of the Worldwide iPhone Unlock method, but iPhoneUnlock.Zone does. We already tested this service with one of our visitors, and now not only removed the “Unauthorized Device” message, but they are able to sync with iTunes and upgrade to the latest iOS versions.
To order the Worldwide iPhone Unlock service from iPhoneUnlock.Zone, click on the following link and pick the “Network is not listed” option.
8 comments
Hello; I’m looking into buying one of these “unauthorized device” phones just to use as a camera. Will this iPhone work like an ipad that doesn’t support cellular (wifi only)? Can I still use the camera function and maybe even transfer music from my iMac to it. Will wifi work? I wouldn’t mind spending $69 for an iPhone and not having cellular service, but everything else functioning.
Thanks for any help
I have an iPhone 7 plus but I didn’t pay the bills.
I took iPhone prepaid and used it for a year now and I paid my monthly payment and it got turned off.
I couldn’t use it.
I look online and it said status suspended.
So, I looked on swappa to check the imei and it says this device can not be activated because this is a Verizon iPhone.
Can anyone help me on how to get this iPhone working
Did someone find any solution for this problem?
After the gsx report, I discovered that the iPhone is gsm clean but it has a blacklisted tether activation policy. policy id:15. Does someone know how to activate this type of iDevice?
Hello, did you find some solution for that?
I have the same problem, next tether: Blacklist15
Hello, can you help me with an iPhone 7?
I get the same error message on the screen.
thank you
Unauthorized Device. I can’t activate an iPhone 6s. Could you solve this problem?
Hi, John!
Read this article about iPhone’s Blacklist Status!
If you IMEI Check your iPhone first you will know if it was blacklisted, why it was blacklisted, in which country was blacklisted and all other iPhone’s hidden issues!
Now if the iPhone was lost, stolen or involved in fraud activities, you won’t be able to use it inside the country it was blacklisted (and maybe 1 or 2 neighboring countries if they share their blacklists) because you only SIM Unlocked it! But it will be fully unlocked everywhere else in the world!
If the iPhone was blacklisted for pending contract bills, then you will be able to use all GSM Carriers worldwide except the Mobile Network that blacklisted the iPhone (after the Premium IMEI Unlock).
The only way to unblacklist the iPhone is to eradicate the reason it was blacklisted!
Anyway, if you can’t use the iPhone after the unlock, then sell it to another country for its maximum refurbished market value because it is Network Unlocked or use it as a travel phone when you visit foreign countries and use any local SIM card you like!
I hope, I’ve helped you!
Take care!
It is not true.
I already unlocked it and it still doesn’t work and most likely it’s locked because of Contract Bills non-payment or fraud.