My husband owns one iPhone – no other device. He upgraded to iOS 10 and now it's asking him to "approve the phone" on another device. Logging in on iCloud.com does not work. Please advise so he can continue setting up his phone without resetting all of his data!
IOS – Can’t “approve this phone” after iOS 10
ios
Related Solutions
The message you describe is what happens when a locked phone is restored by iTunes without a SIM present from the carrier that the phone should be locked.
You could use any of the IME I look up tools on the Internet- some are free and some are paid and all make me worry they are harvesting databases of IMEI/serial number/other data in exchange for providing you a service by looking up your phone in the carrier database.
Of course, you can always contact the carrier in question to see what is needed to get service or a Sim card for that device.
The activation servers were overwhelmed presumably by the volume of activity on launch day. Now activation fails for a different reason - Apple is no longer signing iOS 6 software during the restore process.
Once you get your OS activated either through iTunes or over the air, you will be able to load your backup as you had planned.
Apple would surely make it easier on a segment of its customer base if the service status page were kept updated thusly….
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Best Answer
Dear tubedogg & Gabriel,
As Gabriel pointed out, this problem is NOT related to iCloud Keychain, but actually to Two-Factor Authentication. Unfortunately, this problem has not been solved even by iOS 10.0.2 released on Sep. 23rd yet. If you automatically turned on the authentication during your update to iOS 10x, here is the solution.
STEP 1: When you update the iOS, skip "approve the phone" by pushing the button of Cancel. You can retry it later.
STEP 2: Complete the iOS update by following the instruction.
STEP 3: Make sure that your Two-Factor Authentication is ON at this moment by either of the following options: Option A) Read a notification email from Apple. Option B) On your iPhone, go to [Settings] --> [iCloud] --> tap your profile of Apple ID --> Password & Security --> Two-Factor Authentication
STEP 4: Turn OFF the Two-Factor Authentication. During this process, you will be required to reset your Apple ID (iTunes & iCloud) password. But no worries, no date will be deleted. If you received the notification email about the Authentication, you will find a link of "turning off the Authentication" in the email.
STEP 5: After completing the Authentication OFF, retry "approve the phone" by going to [Settings] --> the red flag. Without doing anything, your iPhone will be automatically and immediately approved. All set.
You can get the Two-Factor Authentication back ON anytime later if you wish.
Hope this helps.