How to Check iPhone Serial Number and IMEI
Every iPhone has two key identification numbers: the serial number, which identifies the specific unit as manufactured and registered by Apple, and the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), which identifies the device to cellular networks worldwide. These numbers are your primary tools for verifying device authenticity, checking warranty coverage, confirming the model and storage configuration, and checking carrier lock and blacklist status. This guide explains what each number means, all the ways to find them, and how to use our iPhone Checker to get maximum information from them.
Serial Number vs. IMEI: What Each Number Does
The serial number and IMEI both identify a specific iPhone, but they serve different purposes and contain different information. The serial number is Apple's internal identifier for a specific manufactured unit. It is registered in Apple's database at the time of manufacture along with the device's model, color, storage capacity, and production date. When you run a serial number through Apple's coverage check or our iPhone Checker, you are retrieving the record Apple created for that specific device. The serial number format on modern iPhones (since 2021) is a 12-character alphanumeric code. Older models used a 10-character format. Decoding a serial number: The serial number encodes information about when and where the device was made. For older format serial numbers (pre-2021), the 4th character indicates the production year, the 5th and 6th characters indicate the production week, the 7th, 8th, and 9th characters are a unique identifier, and the last three characters identify the specific configuration (model, color, storage). Apple switched to randomized serial numbers in 2021, so this decoding does not apply to recent models — the information is still in Apple's database, just not readable by humans from the number alone. The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a 15-digit number defined by GSMA standards that identifies the device to cellular networks. Every phone with cellular capability has an IMEI. Mobile carriers use IMEIs to block stolen or lost devices from connecting to their networks (IMEI blacklisting). If an iPhone is reported stolen, the owner or carrier can blacklist its IMEI, preventing it from registering on any carrier network. Buying a phone with a blacklisted IMEI means you have a device that cannot make calls or use mobile data. For Wi-Fi-only iPads and iPod touches, there is no IMEI because they lack cellular radios. These devices have serial numbers only. The IMEI2 on dual-SIM iPhones: iPhone models with dual SIM capability (iPhone XS and later in certain configurations) have two IMEIs — one for each SIM slot or eSIM. Both are visible in Settings > General > About.
Five Ways to Find Your iPhone's Serial Number and IMEI
There are five reliable ways to find an iPhone's serial number and IMEI, each useful in different situations. Method 1 — Settings app (most reliable for a device you can use): Go to Settings > General > About. Scroll down to find both the Serial Number and IMEI fields. Tap and hold on either to copy the value to your clipboard. This is the definitive source of the numbers as recorded in the device's firmware and should be the primary method when you have working access to the phone. Method 2 — Device box (useful before purchase): Apple prints the serial number and IMEI on the device's original packaging. Look at the small print area on the side or bottom of the box — it typically shows multiple barcodes and the numbers underneath them in small text. Cross-referencing box numbers with Settings numbers verifies the box is original to the device. A mismatch between box and Settings serial numbers is a red flag. Method 3 — SIM card tray (hardware verification): On iPhone 12 and earlier models, the IMEI is laser-engraved on the SIM card tray. Remove the tray with the SIM ejector tool and look at the face of the tray for the engraved IMEI. This is a hardware identifier independent of the software — a match between the tray IMEI and the Settings IMEI confirms the SIM tray is original to the device. Method 4 — Dialing *#06# (quick field check): In the Phone app, dial *#06# (do not press call — it triggers automatically). The IMEI displays on screen immediately. This works even on a locked iPhone if the passcode is not required for dialer access. Useful for quick field verification without needing the seller to unlock the device. Method 5 — iTunes/Finder (for a non-functioning device): If the iPhone does not turn on or is stuck in recovery mode but can be connected via USB, plug it into a computer. In iTunes (Windows or older macOS) or Finder (macOS Catalina and later), click the device icon and the serial number appears in the Summary/General tab. This method works for devices that are physically damaged or have boot issues.
What You Can Learn from a Serial Number Lookup
Running a serial number through our iPhone Checker returns a set of device facts registered at the time of manufacture and updated by Apple. Here is the complete information set and how to use each piece of data. Exact model name and identifier: The lookup returns the full product name (iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB in Natural Titanium) and the internal model identifier (e.g., A3293). The model identifier is particularly useful because it identifies the regional variant — different regions receive different cellular band configurations, and using a phone on a carrier in a region its radio is not designed for can result in missing bands and reduced connectivity. Verify the model matches the cellular bands used by your carrier. Manufacture date and production cohort: Apple's database records the year and approximate period of manufacture. This is useful for understanding the device's age relative to its warranty start date and for identifying refurbished units (which may have a later production date than the original purchase date if components were replaced). Original color and storage configuration: These are locked in at manufacture. If the lookup returns 'Midnight, 128 GB' and the device shows 256 GB in Settings, the storage reading in Settings may have been manipulated (a rare but documented fraud method using jailbreaking to display false storage amounts). Trust the serial number lookup result over the in-device display when they conflict. Warranty coverage status: The lookup returns one of three states: Limited Warranty (within the one-year warranty period), Expired (out of warranty), or AppleCare+ (active extended coverage). The coverage end date is also returned. This tells you whether the device is eligible for free repair or replacement through Apple for hardware defects. Activation status: Whether the device has been activated or is new and unactivated. An unactivated device sold as 'brand new sealed' should be confirmed by a sealed box with intact factory seals before purchase. Carrier lock status: Locked (to a specific carrier), or Unlocked (works with any compatible carrier SIM). Essential for international buyers or users intending to use a carrier other than the one the phone was originally sold through.
IMEI Blacklist Checking: Stolen and Lost Device Status
A serial number lookup through Apple's API returns model, warranty, and carrier lock information. IMEI blacklist status — whether the device has been reported stolen or lost — is a separate check that uses GSMA and carrier database lookups. How IMEI blacklisting works: When a phone is reported stolen to a carrier or through Apple's Lost Mode, the carrier submits the IMEI to a national or international IMEI blacklist database. In the US, the major shared database is maintained by the GSMA's IMEI database. Carriers check this database when a device tries to register on their network and block blacklisted devices from connecting. A blacklisted iPhone cannot make calls, send SMS, or use mobile data on any carrier that participates in the blacklist network. Why buying a blacklisted phone is a trap: Blacklisted iPhones are sometimes sold by thieves who know the device will not work as a phone but hope the buyer does not check before purchase. The device may appear to work fine on Wi-Fi (calling apps, messaging, apps all work over Wi-Fi), which can disguise the problem during a quick test. Only when the buyer inserts a SIM and tries to make a call does the blacklist become apparent. How to check IMEI blacklist status: Our iPhone Checker includes IMEI status information in its results. Third-party blacklist checking services (IMEI Pro, IMEI.info, CheckMEND) also provide this information, sometimes with more detailed carrier and origin information. Some services are free for basic checks; others charge for detailed reports. For any used iPhone purchase above a modest amount, an IMEI blacklist check is worth performing. Global vs. national blacklists: The GSMA manages a global IMEI database, but participation varies. Some carriers only submit to national databases, meaning a device blacklisted in the US may still connect on networks in some other countries. Buyers purchasing internationally should be aware that a 'clean' IMEI in one country may not mean it is clean on all carriers globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can a serial number be faked or cloned on a counterfeit iPhone?
- Yes, and this does happen. Counterfeit iPhones sometimes display a valid-looking serial number in their Settings app that belongs to a real iPhone. When you run this cloned serial number through the checker, it will return information — but the returned information may describe a completely different device (wrong model, different color, different storage). Any mismatch between the checker result and the physical device in front of you means the serial number is not authentic to this device. Use both the checker result and physical inspection together to catch this type of fraud.
- Does the IMEI number change if the iPhone's motherboard is replaced?
- Yes. The IMEI is stored in the baseband chip on the motherboard. If Apple or an authorized service provider replaces the motherboard (as may happen during a repair for logic board damage), the IMEI will change. The serial number, stored in a different chip and in Apple's database, remains the same after a motherboard replacement. After a motherboard replacement, the IMEI in Settings may no longer match the IMEI on the original SIM tray — this is expected and indicates a legitimate repair, not fraud, if supported by an Apple repair record.
- How do I find the serial number if the iPhone is broken and won't turn on?
- Three options: check the original box (serial number is printed on the packaging), check the SIM tray (IMEI is engraved on the tray of iPhone 12 and earlier), or connect the iPhone via USB to a computer with iTunes or Finder — even non-booting iPhones in recovery or DFU mode are often recognized by the software and display the serial number. If none of these work, Apple can potentially look up the device with proof of purchase if you need warranty service.