When purchasing an iPhone, many buyers turn to their acquaintances who are familiar with apple technology for help, which, in principle, is true and helps to avoid annoying mistakes. However, not everyone has such a useful companion, in which case Apple's own services will come to the rescue.
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Naturally, the high cost of smartphones, in comparison with other countries, stimulates the growth of the "gray" market, within which its own rules operate. When importing devices from abroad, unofficial resellers (in other words, resellers) are often forced to activate the iPhone in order to unlock it (unilaterally break a contract with a cellular operator) or smuggle it through customs as a personal gadget. At the same time, the smartphone is further positioned as new, which is not entirely true.
What's the difference between activating and turning on iPhone for the first time?
Do not confuse Activation with the first turn on of the device. You can activate the iPhone only by connecting the device with a valid SIM card inserted to the Internet. In the absence of one of the above conditions, turning on the smartphone will not activate it.
Can I delete or hide my activation data?
The activation process is irreversible. If the device is activated, it is impossible to delete information about it, even if you resort to resetting the iPhone or procedure.
Actually, the iPhone activation procedure is the starting point for Apple to use the device. That is, the company believes that you use your smartphone not from the date of purchase, but from the moment you first activate it. Naturally, from the same date, Apple's warranty period begins to expire.
How to find out the date of the first iPhone activation and the remaining warranty period
1. Go to the section of the Apple website to check the rights for service and support (link);
2. Enter the serial number of the iPhone, which can be found on the box, case or in the menu Settings → The main → About this device;
In addition, information about the IMEI and serial number can be found on the welcome screen when you first turn on the iPhone - click on the icon " i " in the lower right corner.
3. In the third paragraph "The right to service and repair" there should be a status "Provided";
4. Subtract 365 days from the warranty expiration date below to be the date the iPhone was first activated.
Examples of iPhone Service and Support Eligibility Information Received After Verification
New unactivated iPhone (this should be stated if you are buying a new Apple smartphone):
Newly activated iPhone (up to three months) under warranty:
Activated used iPhone. Warranty expired:
Why did I get the message "This serial number is for the product that has been replaced" when checking?
If, when checking the IMEI or serial number, a message appears with the text: Sorry, this serial number is for the product that was replaced ... - avoid buying such a device, it is not new! We talked about this case in more detail.
If you are interested in the question of how to find out the iPhone release date, this article will be a good guide. This question is usually asked by those who purchased an iPhone from their hands. It is important to know when it was manufactured and also when it was activated.
You also need to be able to distinguish a real smartphone from a Chinese counterfeit. Sometimes it is absolutely impossible to do this outwardly. In order to obtain the information we need, a serial number is required. We will tell you how to find it out, and how to see the date of activation of the device, as well as its production.
How to find out the activation date for any iPhone model
The activation date is needed for more than just knowing when the user bought it. With its help, we will determine if the iPhone is under warranty or no longer. Lack of warranty can sometimes lead to a refusal to purchase. Usage time is like a car mileage: the device also wears out over time.
Find out the serial number of the iPhone in iTunes
So, it's time to find out the serial number. The first way is to connect to iTunes. If you have never done this before, you need to download / install the latest version of this program and connect the device using the original cable. We connect, run, look: in the "Overview" tab there is data on the serial number. We copy it.
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Find out the serial number in the iPhone itself
We need to go to the main settings of the iPhone and select the "About this device" tab. Information about your iPhone will appear there. There will also be a serial number. Hold your finger on it and copy.
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We get information of the release date
It doesn't matter which device you used to access the Internet. You will need to follow this link. In a special window, you must enter the device number. Then you will see one of the messages:
- If the warranty period has not expired, information about its expiration will appear. Subtracting the year - and we get the exact information on the date when the user purchased and activated the iPhone. Now we know exactly how long the iPhone has been in constant use.
- If the warranty has expired, you will have to take the former owner's word. The only proof would be a check. But not everyone keeps receipts, even for such expensive purchases, if the warranty period has expired. The only thing we can do is find out the iPhone production date.
How to find out the iPhone production date
This is done quite simply: follow the link to a special service. We insert the serial number there. We press one button - and all the data is in front of you. The year of production and the week are displayed. That is, if we know both the activation date and the production date, we can find out how long the iPhone has been in the warehouses. When there was no such service, the decryption had to be done independently. There are instructions on how to do this on the Internet, there are special tables. But you won't need it.
When ordering a new IPhone smartphone from abroad or buying from hand, the future owner often doubts the authenticity of the phone. After all, the market for such gadgets is teeming with analogues and fakes, which are cheaper, but at the same time have nothing in common with a real smartphone. Checking the IPhone IMEI and carefully examining its appearance is the first thing to do in order not to run into a cheap and low-quality item. However, it is not always possible to carry out the verification procedure quickly when buying, and not everyone knows how to carry it out.
How to identify a fake by its appearance
Before checking the authenticity of the IPhone by IMEI, it is necessary to conduct a preliminary inspection of the device. if the forgery is not crude, it may not always have significant differences from the original. Also, the complexity is made by new ones that are just appearing on sale, and the domestic consumer is not always aware of the details of the appearance.
In most cases, you can notice some discrepancy precisely in appearance. First of all, look carefully at the package bundle and the device itself:
... The original iPhone does not have a retractable antenna, stylus and memory card slot.
... The back panel of a real Apple device cannot be removed, you cannot see the battery, much less place a SIM card under it (as in standard phones).
... This gadget works with only one SIM card and specially cut off.
In appearance, you can independently distinguish a gross fake from a high-quality original thing. On a real IPhone on the case, you can find the inscription, which leads many to think that the device is not original: “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China ”. In America, the functionality and appearance of the device are only being developed, and the entire assembly is carried out at factories in China, therefore, despite this inscription, you will receive a high-quality device.
How to distinguish from the original IPhone by internal functions
If the appearance does not alert you, then to check the quality of the device it is worth turning it on. Take a close look at the menu. Since the Russian language is one of the most difficult ones, and manufacturers of analogs of expensive phones clearly save on translation, sometimes delusional errors can be noticed in menu items and application names.
Go to the AppStore application store, most often the connection fails, or the application store icon redirects you to the Google Play Market.
What smartphones are called "gray"
Above, we considered quite crude fakes for the device of the famous brand. However, there are seemingly completely indistinguishable pipes, but at the same time working with them will be very difficult. Imported phones fall into this category. First of all, in order to install the software, you will need to use not the standard application store, but the Cydia service. All user support services and the usability of the official device are not available for gray tube holders.
Check IMEI IPhone - one of the ways to verify the origin of the device. Pipes officially imported into the country have a guarantee of more stable operation of applications and service.
What is IMEI
Most often, users find out about the existence of the IMEI code if the phone has been stolen. This is a code that cannot be faked, since it is written in that part of the device's memory that cannot be formatted. It is absolutely unique for each device; it is possible to find a lost phone using it through a mobile operator. For owners of expensive models, this is extremely important.
It will also come in handy when buying to make sure the box and instructions match the device. So you can exclude the acquisition of stolen equipment. It will also be useful to check the IPhone IMEI in the police databases about stolen devices. You should refrain from buying if a match was found in the database. You can find such a database on the Internet, as this is a common practice among owners of IOS devices.
How to check IMEI IPhone
In order to know in case of loss of a gadget its identifier number, depending on the model, it is necessary to carry out various manipulations. The easiest way to find this number is for owners of the first generation IPhone, who have it on the back of the case.
Later, the manufacturer abandoned the practice of applying this code to the case. In subsequent models, the 15-digit IMEI code can be found on a sticker on the box and for comparison in one of the menu items or displayed using a special command.
It is possible to check the IMEI of iphone 5s or another model using the command * # 06 # or find it out through the menu item "About device".
How to find out if your device is locked for one carrier
There are several sites on the Internet that, by the identifier number, can show the maximum information about the device. For example, it is possible to find out information about blocking a device for one operator. In order to get this data, enter the IMEI code on any of the sites that provide these services, and confirm it.
If the status of the phone is indicated as Locked, it means that the device can only be used with SIM cards of one operator. The information about the operator is most often indicated below or next to.
What is Activation Locked
A very useful service has appeared on devices with IOS 7 - activation lock. At the moment, more than 80% of users use this option with success. In order to start using, you do not need anything other than to check the IMEI of the IPhone 5 and see it.On the iCloud portal, you can see the status of the activation lock. If it is enabled, then you need to ask the seller for the Apple ID and password to access it in order to remove the block.
If the seller of the gadget cannot provide these data, then the purchase should be refrained from, as this means that the phone is stolen and blocked by the owner. If you find yourself in a situation where your device is lost, then through iTunes it is currently possible to lock it.
How to check the activation date of your smartphone
There is another way to check your smartphone data. In order to get to the necessary section of the site to check the status of your smartphone, type in the browser search bar: "Check IMEI IPhone Apple.com". On the site, in the field you must enter the 15-digit IMEI and the request will be processed using the manufacturer's servers. Through this form you can check by IMEI. If you see "activated" in the column, it means that the smartphone is not new and was previously used. This is very important, as Apple devices have a worldwide warranty, which is not measured by the date of sale, but by activation. The gadget lock can be removed with the help of specialists. They can be found via the Internet or at service centers, but you should beware of scammers who only take money for unlocking, but do not do the procedure itself. However, the registration date cannot be changed, at best your device will have several months of warranty, and at worst this period will be completely expired, and if a malfunction occurs, you will not be able to contact the official service.
Thus, when buying, it is worth checking the IMEI of the Apple IPhone to know that the phone:
- Officially brought into the country.
- Not fake.
- Hasn't been stolen.
- Has not been previously used.
If you have not purchased your smartphone or tablet from an Apple Authorized Reseller Store, such as an classifieds site, this check will be very helpful for you for a number of reasons.
There are frequent cases of deception in the secondary market, therefore, by checking the IMEI and serial number, you can find out exactly where the iPhone was bought, find out the activation date, the remaining warranty (if any), find out if the new device is in front of you and check it for authenticity.
Let's take a closer look at each of these questions.
How do I find the IMEI and serial number of an iPhone?
The most reliable option is to look in the settings of the device itself. To do this, launch the "Settings" application, go to the "General" section and select "About this device".
By clicking on it, you will see all the necessary information, including the serial number and IMEI. For clarity, these items are circled in the screenshot. The whole sequence of actions is also true for the iPad.
Similar data is indicated on the original box and on the back of the device. But, if we are talking about a used device, they could have been replaced, but the system will give 100% reliable information.
Another way is iTunes. Run it and connect the device to your computer using a cable. Click on the name of your gadget, and on the "Overview" tab, its serial number will be displayed:
Check iPhone by IMEI
After you have learned the necessary information, you can start a quick check of the device using a special service. Not all of them work correctly, therefore, we recommend using the proven iphoneimei.info
Going to the site, you will see only one field, into which you need to drive the received IMEI numbers. In just a few seconds, you get the information you need:
As you can see from the screenshot, in this way, you can find out:
- iPhone activation date
- date and country of purchase
- the presence of a binding to the operator.
In addition to a third-party service, similar data can be obtained from the Apple website. More on this later in the article.
Serial number check
To check the warranty and get other useful information, as they say, "first hand", go to the Apple website at this link. You will see a page with the words "Verify eligibility for service and support" with a field in which you need to enter the serial number of the equipment, then the captcha, and click the "Continue" button.
As you can see in the screenshot above, this way, you can quickly check the Apple warranty, which is important if the seller assures you that it is still valid. Thus, you can verify this yourself.
Before you can start using your new iPhone, you need to activate it. The activation procedure involves connecting a smartphone with an inserted SIM card to Apple's activation servers. To do this, you just need to connect to Wi-Fi or use cellular data.
And only after the iPhone owner receives confirmation of activation, he will be able to use his device. Thus, if a smartphone does not require this procedure when purchasing, then it has already been in use. At the same time, if a request for activation still appears, this does not mean that the gadget was not used. The point is that the device repeats this procedure every time iOS is restored. That is, this method of checking the device cannot be called effective. But there is another option.
Apple has a Service and Support Eligibility section on Apple's website that lets you quickly and effortlessly verify that the iPhone you're buying hasn't really been used before. All the user needs to know to work with the service is the serial number of the device. For activated gadgets, this number can be found in the "Settings", in the "General" section, the menu item "About this device". In the event that the smartphone has not been activated, its serial code can be checked on the start welcome screen by pressing the “i” button in the lower right corner.
In addition, the IMEI and serial number of the iPhone can be found on the box or on the SIM card tray.
How to check if a new iPhone was actually sold to you
1. Insert a SIM card into the iPhone, connect to Wi-Fi or mobile Internet and activate the smartphone.
2. After activating the "Service and Support Eligibility Check" on the Apple website.
3. Enter in the appropriate field the serial number of the iPhone (how to find the serial number), enter the code shown in the picture and click Continue.
ATTENTION:
Your iPhone serial number NEVER contains the letter "O" (uses the number "0" (zero).
4. When checking a new iPhone (or an officially restored (ref, refurbished) Apple) a message “iPhone needs to be activated” will appear, which confirms that the smartphone had no history and he really is new.
After activation, in the "Right to Service and Support" section, the warranty expiration date (+ 356 days from the date of activation) will appear (perhaps not immediately, but within 24 hours). Or subtract exactly 1 year from this date and you will get the date the first iPhone activation.
NOTE: The data on the Apple server may not change immediately, it usually happens in the interval from 1 minute to 12 hours.
If the activation date you carried out differs from the one specified in the section “Checking the eligibility for service and support”, then you can safely file a claim with the seller - the smartphone was activated earlier, ie You are not the first owner of this iPhone.
The start date of the warranty must not be earlier than the purchase date shown on the receipt.
Otherwise, you can be sure that this copy came to the store directly from the factory warehouses.
Video review:
Let's take a real life example. In the post-Soviet space, the sale of gray (illegally imported) activated iPhones under the guise of new ones is often used. How does this happen? New locked (tied to a mobile operator) iPhones are sold, for example, in the United States, at a fairly low price. They are bought by "businessmen" for the purpose of subsequent unlocking (decoupling from the operator) for a fee.
However, to unlock such an iPhone, in most cases it must be unpacked (box), software restored, activated and repacked. By and large, this is a new phone (in fact, it was not used), identical to the one purchased from an official reseller, but the date of its first activation will not correspond to the date of activation by the buyer, since it has already been produced earlier. Naturally, the warranty period for such a phone will be less than a year.
Based on materials from yablyk
