Phone Warranty Check by IMEI or Serial Number
Warranty lives with the brand. Here is which number to type for each, where to find it, and how to read what comes back.
Look up the model and status of this IMEI
See device, blacklist and lock status in seconds — no signup. Dial *#06# on the phone to display its IMEI — or scan a photo or screenshot of that screen, or of the barcode on the phone's box or SIM tray.
Check many IMEIs at once — paste, photo or Excel (up to 100) →100% free · no signup · no card needed
Which number each brand wants
| Brand | Number it accepts | Where to read it | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple (iPhone) | Serial number or IMEI | Settings, General, About | Apple Check Coverage |
| Samsung | IMEI or serial number | Dial *#06#, or Settings, About phone | Samsung warranty information |
| Google Pixel | IMEI or serial number | Settings, About phone | Google Store support page for your country |
| Other brands | Usually serial number or order number | Settings, About phone, or the box label | The brand's support site for your country |
We link the brand pages that we have opened and confirmed. For other brands, search "<brand> warranty check" and stay on the brand's own domain; be careful with third-party sites that ask for payment.
IMEI or serial number: how to tell them apart
The IMEI is 15 digits, all numbers, and works with every cellular network. The serial number is shorter and mixes letters and digits; it identifies the unit to the manufacturer and is what most warranty systems index. A dual-SIM phone has two IMEIs, and the first one is the one most registers expect. The IMEI vs serial number guide goes into the difference.
What to look at in the answer
- Coverage end date. Is it in the future? A phone with two weeks left is a different purchase from one with eleven months.
- Model name. It must match the phone in your hand and the listing. A mismatch means a swapped or counterfeit unit.
- Purchase date. Missing or very old on a phone that looks new often means a refurbished or replaced unit.
- Region. If the brand says the phone was sold in another region, check that warranty service works where you live.
- Extended plan. Plans like AppleCare+ are listed separately and are often tied to the original buyer. Ask whether it transfers.
What a warranty check will not tell you
It will not say whether the phone is stolen, carrier locked or tied to someone's account, because the brand's system does not know. A phone in perfect warranty can still be blacklisted. Do the blacklist check and the carrier lock check as well. For an iPhone, also read the account lock page.
One more practical point for sellers: a printed receipt and a clean warranty page together are the most persuasive thing you can show a buyer. Buyers who see both pay faster and haggle less.
Questions people ask
Can I check the warranty with just the IMEI?
It depends on the brand. Apple takes a serial number or an IMEI. Samsung takes the IMEI or serial number. Many brands only take the serial number or an order number. The table above says which is which, and where to find each on the phone.
Is warranty tied to the phone or to the person?
To the phone, for the manufacturer warranty, with an important exception: some countries and brands limit it to the region of sale, and a phone bought in one country may be covered only there. Carrier and store extended plans (AppleCare, Samsung Care and others) can be tied to the buyer.
Why does the warranty start date look wrong?
Brands usually start the clock when the phone is activated or first sold, not when it left the factory. A phone that sat in a warehouse for months may show a start date later than you expect. A refurbished phone can show a new period or none at all.
What if the lookup says "invalid" or "not found"?
First retype it. A single wrong digit gives "not found". Then check you used the right kind of number: the IMEI is 15 digits, the serial number is shorter and mixes letters and digits. If both are right, the phone may have been replaced, refurbished or sold in another region.
Does a clean blacklist check mean it is under warranty?
No. They are unrelated. A phone can be in warranty and blacklisted, or out of warranty and perfectly clean. Check both.