Activated

A device state indicating that the device has successfully completed the activation process with Apple’s servers and is ready for use.

What to Know

Activation is a prerequisite for nearly all device functionality. Until a device is activated, it cannot access cellular services, iCloud, the App Store, or most core features. Devices that fail to activate cannot be enrolled in MDM or used for productive work. Activation Lock, when enabled, requires authentication during activation to prevent unauthorized device reuse after a factory reset.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: New corporate devices must activate before IT can deploy them via ADE or manual enrollment. Devices stuck in activation can indicate network issues, expired certificates, or Apple server outages. IT should verify connectivity to Apple’s activation servers (gs.apple.com, albert.apple.com) during troubleshooting.

MSP: Client devices arriving from distributors may require activation before staging. MSPs performing bulk deployments should ensure devices activate successfully before deploying configuration profiles or apps, as activation failures can block the entire provisioning workflow.

Education: Shared iPads and student devices must activate before ASM enrollment. Schools receiving large shipments should verify activation status during receiving to catch hardware or account issues early, especially when Activation Lock is managed through ASM.

In Addigy

Addigy does not directly control the activation process, but enrollment requires an activated device. If a device appears in Addigy but shows connectivity issues or incomplete enrollment, verifying activation status on the device itself (Settings > General > About) can help identify whether activation succeeded or is blocking further management.