With the release of iOS 14, there are a number of new features and improvements that users can take advantage of. Here are five ways to activate your iPhone 14:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone and scroll down to General. Tap on Activation Lock and enter your passcode to turn it on.
  2. If you have a newer iPhone with Touch ID, you can use the Finger Scanner to unlock your device. Just place your finger on the home button and wait for the scanner to recognize you.
  3. If you don’t have a passcode or fingerprint scanner, you can use Apple’s Find My iPhone feature to track down your device if it’s lost or stolen. Just sign in to iCloud using your Apple ID and password, and locate your device on a map.
  4. You can also erase all of your data by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This will remove all of your personal information from the phone, including contacts, photos, videos, etc.
  5. If you need help activating or using any of these features, don’t hesitate to reach out to Apple support or visit their website for more information." ..

Apple says an internal memo, “there is a known issue for iOS 16 that may impact device activations on open Wi-Fi networks,” according to MacRumors. That impacts any iPhones or iPads shipping with iOS 16 out of the box, which includes the iPhone 14 series.

There is a fix, though. When you are asked to connect to a Wi-Fi network, press “Connect to a Mac or to a PC with iTunes,” then return to the previous screen and try Wi-Fi again. Apple has also released an iOS 16.0.1 update for the iPhone 14 series with a few fixes, but you can’t update the phone until after the activation process unless you connect it to a Mac or PC.

Even after you get past the initial setup bug (or don’t run into it at all), Apple notes in a support document that you may not be able to receive iMessages or FaceTime calls from your phone number. The solution for that is also updating to iOS 16.0.1, which thankfully doesn’t require a tethered computer once the phone is working.

Source: MacRumors, Apple