How to check the authenticity of an iPhone using IMEI on the Apple website. How to find out IMEI

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a mobile equipment control identifier assigned to each device by a special certified service (BABT - a British telecommunications organization) upon direct authorization on the network. And although IMEI was initially used exclusively when accessing mobile telecommunications, the powers of the identifier have changed greatly.

First of all, IMEI is used to verify the authenticity of smartphones and tablets (of different brands, including Apple). If you cannot visually distinguish a copy from the original, and you need to know everything about the device you are purchasing – from the warranty to blocked services – then you can safely arm yourself with an identifier and check the originality on the official website.

IMEI is usually marked in different places - on the packaging, on the sales receipt, in the settings, sometimes in the warranty, and is shown when the *#06# command is entered on the keyboard (it always works on the operating system). And yet sometimes questions arise during the search. How to check the authenticity of an iPhone using IMEI on the Apple website?

How do I find my iPhone's IMEI number? And what is IMEI?

Every iPhone has a unique identification code known as an IMEI number. The letters IMEI stand for International Mobile Station Equipment Identity and the number is used to identify each mobile phone.

The IMEI number is used by your mobile phone company to match your phone with networks so it can figure out who is calling. It is also used to maintain a blacklist of stolen mobile phones. In the UK, the database is publicly maintained by a charity so stolen phones cannot be moved from one network to another.

With the launch of the iPhone 6s, this became a little more difficult: Apple stopped printing the IMEI on the back of the phone. However, there are several different ways to find the IMEI for an iPhone, and in this article, we will show you the 6 easiest and most useful ways to find the IMEI for your iPhone. Of course, you'll only need one, so choose the method that's most convenient for you.

How to find out Apple ID by IMEI?

Apple ID is an official “personal identifier” that provides access to Apple entertainment content, as well as to specialized services and support departments (iTunes Store, App Store, iCloud - the listed services never work with those who have not registered an Apple ID and have not passed authorization). In fact, Apple ID is a real passport that opens any door, provides security and at the same time keeps a lot of secrets.

The level of capabilities of the Apple ID, at least in the Apple space, is much higher than the same IMEI, and therefore you should not count on access to confidential information through a mobile ID (especially for free). The manufacturer keeps all important information under seal and will be trusted only to users who directly own the device.

Even through the official website, through the password and personal account recovery menu, no one will tell who previously owned the device along with IMEI, because the “passport” has long been seized. The only way to find out your Apple ID is to try to contact support and persuade technical support to reveal its cards. Most likely, nothing will come of such an idea. The Apple ID is either registered and assigned to the network, or belongs to someone else - along with a security question, important settings and confidential data (and recently two-factor authentication has appeared - it’s even worse there!).

How to find your iPhone's IMEI number by typing a code

You can get the IMEI number on iPhone by dialing the code *#06# in the Phone app. Follow these steps to get your iPhone's IMEI number:

Open the Phone app.
Click Keyboard.
As shown in the picture above, enter *#06# - you don't need to press the green call button;

The IMEI code will appear on the screen. Code dialing is the most commonly described method for finding an IMEI number, but we don't think it's the best because you can't copy the number. Instead of copying and pasting the code, you have to write it down (and it's quite long at 15 digits).

How to check if the “find iPhone” function is enabled by IMEI?

As in the case of Apple ID, checking the “find iPhone, iPad or iPod” function works without any connection with IMEI - users will have to go through authorization in any case, but not on the official website, but in the iCloud.com service. It is there that the developers offer to check the current location of any of the devices attached to the Apple ID. If you do not receive information, or for some reason the search does not work, then the “Find iPhone” function is not activated in the settings.

Previously, additional verification of the “Find iPhone” function by IMEI was offered by third-party resources, and completely free of charge. The identifier also displayed other information - such as the status of “stolen and blocked” and even offered to contact support directly.

Recently, such services have stopped displaying such valuable information for public viewing. From now on, only data related to the warranty, access to technical support and other information is available, such as where the iPhone, iPad and iPod were supposed to be sold, or under which operators the device is blocked.

How to Find Your iPhone's IMEI Number by Looking at the Back of the iPhone

The IMEI number is usually written on the back of your iPhone. Turn your iPhone over and look for the long number at the end of the text (the bit that starts with “Designed by Apple in California”) that says IMEI. The IMEI text is incredibly small, so you may need a magnifying glass. Once again, you will need to write this down manually.

One option is to take a photo of the code using another iPhone (or iPad). This will allow you to enlarge the text so you can see it more clearly.

We say "usually" because Apple stopped engraving the IMEI on the back of its phones when the iPhone 6s came out: if you have an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, you'll find that only the model number, FCC ID and IC are listed.

How to find out the country of manufacture by IMEI

When buying smartphones, tablets and players not in certified stores, you can stumble upon devices brought from different places - the USA, Europe, some Asian countries, and intended for sale in local stores, and not in Russia. As a rule, few people are interested in information about where Apple equipment came from (what difference does it make whether a smartphone is from the USA or from China, when the savings are obvious? Domestic retail offers exorbitant prices after paying VAT and RosTest services!), but sometimes you can figure out the place “ the birth of the technology is still worth it. And there are two reasons for this.

Firstly, sometimes the delivery package changes a lot (no, the classic Apple stickers are always in place) - we are primarily talking about chargers. If European analogues work with domestic Euro sockets, then chargers from the same Britain or the USA can be safely left until better times - for example, until a tourist trip in the indicated direction. Sometimes instructions are available in certain languages.

Secondly, the manufacturer often blocks in advance the ability to use different cellular operators (you can check using IMEI using the methods listed above). Accordingly, it will not be possible to insert a SIM card of a classic Megafon or Beeline even with a strong desire (even the option of using special repair services can be safely dismissed - blocking is not only at the hardware, but also at the software level).

And, since there is every chance of stumbling upon something incorrect, then it’s time to get checked using a third-party service.

Go to sndeep.info.
On the main page, select the manufacturer and enter the IMEI.

In the section that appears, go down to the “Country of purchase” block.
Next, you will have to turn to your smartphone and, having found the model number in the “About this device” menu, remember the two letters written before the slash.

The resulting letters must be entered into the text field.
The result is location information.

How to find your iPhone's IMEI: ... or at the bottom of the SIM tray

If Apple has not engraved the IMEI on the back of the phone, you need to check the SIM card tray. Take out the SIM card removal tool (the metal spike that came with your iPhone), poke it into the small hole on the right edge of the iPhone and remove the SIM card tray, carefully remove the SIM card and flip the tray over. The IMEI will be written on the bottom of the SIM tray, quite small.

What country is your iPhone from?

Almost everyone dreams of purchasing an Apple device, but for some, the price becomes an insurmountable obstacle to their dream. Many users do not buy phones from official Apple dealers. This is primarily due to the fact that the price of such gadgets is much cheaper, and in addition, you can get the coveted iPhone much earlier than it appears in official stores.

But do not forget that when buying an iPhone through the Apple website or in the official store, you will definitely receive a PCT - a device that is specially adapted to work in your country. If you purchased the phone from a “gray” dealer, then you may encounter a number of problems.

How to Find Your iPhone's IMEI: Use iOS Settings

The IMEI number is also located in the iPhone Settings app. Using settings is the best option because it allows you to copy and paste the number.

Follow these steps:

Open settings.
Click General > About.
Scroll down to find the IMEI number.
Long press the IMEI number to bring up a bubble.
Click Copy.
You can now paste the IMEI code into another application such as Notes.

Where to look for an iPhone model

To determine the country for which the iPhone was manufactured, we need its serial number. By recognizing it, we will find out where the device itself comes from.

You can do this directly in the store by looking at the information on the back of the iPhone box. Although we recommend checking the model number directly through the phone menu to rule out any discrepancy (such cases are not uncommon).

To do this, you need to turn on your iPhone, go to “Settings”, find the “General” section, and then go to the “About this device” item.

Once you have found the serial number you can go in two ways:

An easy way to determine the “homeland” of an Apple device is to use our service. You just need to enter the full model number of your phone and find out all the information you need about the origin of your phone and whether or not it is tied to a specific operator.
If it is not possible to check your phone number through the website, then you can find out the information you are interested in yourself. The model number of the device consists of four letters and three numbers, but in order to determine which country your iPhone came from, you only need the last two letters. For example, if the model number looks like this - MC354LL, then you need to pay attention to the letters LL.

Deciphering the iPhone model number

A - Canada
AB - UAE, Saudi Arabia
AE - UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
AH - Bahrain, Kuwait
B - Great Britain or Ireland
BZ - Brazil
C - Canada
CH - China
CN - Slovakia
СZ – Czech Republic
D - Germany
DN - Holland, Austria, Germany
E - Mexico
EE - Estonia
ET - Estonia
F - France
FB - Luxembourg
FS - Finland
FD - Liechtenstein, Austria, or Switzerland
GR - Greece
HB - Israel
HN - India
IP - Italy
J - Japan
KH - China, South Korea
KN - Denmark or Norway
KS - Finland or Sweden
LA - Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia, El Salvador
LE - Argentina
LL - USA
LP - Poland
LT – Lithuania
LV - Latvia
LZ - Paraguay, Chile
MG - Hungary
MY - Malaysia
NF - Luxembourg, Belgium, France
PK - Finland, Poland
PL - Poland
PM - Poland
PO - Portugal
PP - Philippines
QL - Italy, Spain, Portugal
QN - Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland
RK - Kazakhstan
RM - Russia or Kazakhstan
RO - Romania
RP - Russia
RR - Russia
RS - Russia
RU - Russia
SE - Serbia
SL - Slovakia
SO - South Africa
SU - Ukraine
T - Italy
TA - Taiwan
TU - Türkiye
UA - Ukraine
X - Australia
X - New Zealand
Y - Spain
ZA - Singapore
ZD - Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, France, Switzerland, Monaco
ZP - Hong Kong, Macau

How to Find iPhone IMEI Number in iTunes

You can also find the IMEI number using iTunes.

Follow these steps:

Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
Click on devices in the top right corner and select iPhone.
Make sure the Summary tab is selected.
Click on the phone number in the top field (under the container and above the serial number). It will change to display the IMEI number. You can then right-click and select Copy.

Check iPhone by serial number on Apple website

To do this, you need to go to checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru/, enter the serial number and verification code.

After completing the request, data about the smartphone being checked will appear on the page.

What does it mean that there is no data on the Apple website?

If, after entering the serial number, information about the smartphone you are checking does not appear, you need to carefully check the entered number again. Users often make the mistake of specifying the letter O instead of 0. But remember that Apple never uses this symbol in serial numbers.

If, after checking the entered serial number, the user does not find any errors, but the device is not found using the specified code, then it is a Chinese “copy”. Apple enters information about all released devices into a common database. A direct query to this database should find information about any original mobile device.

How to check if a smartphone was activated before your purchase?

Why track iPhone and how you can do it

Some sellers deceive buyers by selling used smartphones under the guise of new ones. If after the code a message appears on the screen about the need to activate the smartphone, then it is new.

If, instead of an activation offer, the column “Right to maintenance and repair” appears and the expiration date of this service is indicated or information is provided that it has already expired, then another owner has already used the smartphone.

What is IMEI for?

As mentioned above, Name is a unique code, so it is often used to identify phones in the network of mobile operators.

At the same time, using IMEI, the mobile operator is able to determine the iPhone model number and obtain other important information.

It can also be used to check the phone at the time of purchase, and if the date of purchase is not confirmed, then the device is not worth purchasing.

The following situations can be identified when IMEI is important to know:

identification of a stolen device;
remotely blocking an iPhone if it falls into the hands of intruders;
checking originality at the time of purchase.

Remotely locking a smartphone using a telephone operator has a caveat. Even if this action is carried out, the iPhone can be easily unlocked from another SIM card.

Differences between the original iPhone 7 and the refurbished fake in appearance

But still, accessories can also be taken from the original. Or vice versa, a real iPhone 7 with missing components may be supplied with Chinese copies. So let's look at the body of the phone itself.

If you buy a used device, then you need to understand that during operation, traces of use must remain on it in any way. Scuffs on the edges, small scratches on the lid and screen, dirty speakers and buttons - even if carried in a case and protective glass.

If the iPhone looks perfect on the outside, then its body and screen have obviously changed.

Also pay attention to the external condition of the accessories. If the smartphone is 17 years old, and you inspect it in 2021, then the same charger and cord should clearly show signs of use.

As for the screen, the cheap Chinese copy is much dimmer than the real thing. For comfortable use during the daytime, you have to turn it to the maximum, which greatly drains the battery. At the same time, on the original iPhone it is enough to set 2/3 of the total brightness reserve.

Batch number

Often, when you are asked to check an iPhone by model, they actually mean testing the device by its batch number. This indicator is also indicated on the packaging before the name of the device and a second time above the barcode after Part No. Experts advise to be especially careful, since in the menu of the phone itself the batch number is indicated in the “Model” category.

Moreover, on many specialized sites, if you check the iPhone model by serial number or IMEI, then this parameter may appear in different categories: Model, Model number, Order or Type.

To avoid confusion, it is important to remember what the lot number may look like. Unlike the model, which always begins with the letter A and the four numbers following it (A1234), the classic batch number has the following format: AB123B or AB123V/G.

Checking iPhone on UnLock

In many countries, iPhones are sold specially locked for a specific telephone operator. In this case, the use of the device in other countries may be limited. It is possible to fix this problem and use a brand new phone, but one way or another, this requires additional time and money.

To make sure that your iPhone will function normally in your country, it is better to check when purchasing where your Apple gadget came from and whether it is locked to a specific operator.

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What is the phone model

Before you learn how to check an iPhone by model, it’s worth taking a closer look at this concept.

This is a unique index that denotes a set of characteristics characteristic of this particular series of phones. As a rule, it consists of letters and numbers.

When dealing with Apple products, it is worth knowing that in this case the word “model” combines three concepts at once:

model code;
model number;
batch number.

All of them are often referred to as a model. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between these concepts, and to do this you should understand what they mean.

In the first case, we are talking about the name of a certain line of iPhones (iPhone 7, iPhone Xs).

In the second and third - about their narrower varieties. To avoid confusion, let's take a closer look at each designation.