iPhone IMEI Check – verify an Apple device before you buy

One IMEI answers every question that matters about a used iPhone: which model it really is, whether it is reported stolen, whether it is locked to a carrier, and whether the previous owner's Apple Account still holds it.

An iPhone can be blocked in three independent ways, and a device can carry one without the others. Activation Lock ties it to an Apple Account. A blacklist entry bars it from mobile networks. A carrier lock ties it to a single operator.

Checking only one of the three is the mistake that costs buyers money — which is why the iPhone check runs all of them against the same IMEI.

Finding the IMEI and serial number on an iPhone

Dial *#06# to display the IMEI immediately, even on a locked device. Both the IMEI and the serial also appear under Settings → General → About, on the SIM tray of recent models, and on the barcode label of the original box.

What the Apple check covers

Model and exact configuration, estimated purchase date, warranty and AppleCare status, Find My and activation lock state, carrier and lock status, blacklist status, and whether the device has been repaired or replaced.

The results come from manufacturer and carrier records rather than from the listing, which is the entire point of running the check.

Before you buy an iPhone

Ask for the IMEI before you travel. A seller with nothing to hide has no reason to withhold it, and a refusal is itself an answer.

At the meeting, dial *#06# on the device and compare it with the IMEI you were given. If they differ, the device is not the one you checked.

Frequently asked questions about iPhone IMEI check

Can I check an iPhone without an Apple Account?

Yes. The check runs against the IMEI or serial number. No sign-in, no account and no software installation are involved.

Will I see whether activation lock is on?

Yes. The report includes the Find My and activation lock state, which is the check that matters most on a used purchase.

Does it work for every iPhone model?

Yes, for every iPhone with a valid IMEI, from older models through to the current generation.

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