Where Do I Find The Serial Number On My Iphone

A serial number identifies a specific device such as an iPhone. Knowing your serial number does not in itself allow you to track your device if it is lost or stolen. However, your local law enforcement agencies may be able to use the serial number to confirm that a device has been stolen and then return it to you. Apple does offer tracking, but the service doesn't rely on a device's serial number.

Types of Numbers

IPhone 4s/iPhone 4 (GSM) and iPhone 3GS/3G users: You can find the serial number printed on the SIM card tray, along with the device’s IMEI number. Connect your device to your Mac or PC, launch iTunes and click on your device name to open the Summary tab.

Your iPhone has two numbers that identify it. One is the serial number, which is issued by Apple as the manufacturer. The other is a specific reference number that is associated with individual cellphone handsets (both iPhones and other makes and models). This number is known as the IMEI, MEID or ICCID depending on which type of phone network your iPhone is designed to work on.

Using Serial Number

Where Do I Find The Serial Number On My Iphone

You can find the serial number on your phone by tapping 'Settings,' then 'General' then 'About.' You can also find the serial number on the original packaging. Apple itself does not use serial numbers for tracking. In some locations, police departments maintain a registry of serial numbers, though you'll usually have to actively add your serial number to the registry. Police departments that run a registry may use it to identify the owner when they find a lost phone or confiscate it from a thief. In some cases, police departments may make the registry available to stores dealing in used property so they can check if any iPhones they receive are stolen.

Using IMEI Number

You can find the IMEI number on your phone by tapping 'Settings,' then 'General' and finally 'About.' You can also find it engraved on the bottom of the rear of the phone case on the iPhone 5 and later, or in the SIM tray of earlier models. Note that if your service provider uses MEID numbers, which are 14 digits, you may need to drop the last digit listed on your device. You cannot use your IMEI number to track your phone. However, if you report your phone as stolen to your cellphone service provider, the provider can use the IMEI number to block the phone from connecting to the service and racking up charges.

Find My iPhone

The only method Apple provides for physically tracking an iPhone is through the free 'Find my iPhone' app. To take advantage of this, you must install and set up the app before your phone is lost or stolen. If and when this happens, you can log into the Find My iPhone website (see Resources) and get a rough physical location of the phone. You can also remotely add a new passcode or remotely erase the data on your phone to stop a thief from gaining access to your information.

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Serial Number Lookup


IMEI gives your iPhone 8 and iPhone X a unique sense of identity, just like your body’s fingerprint.. If you are an owner of an Apple iPhone 8 or iPhone X, it’s very crucial to know what the IMEI of your Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X is. The reason behind this is because the IMEI is similar to the serial number that allows the smartphone to be identified uniquely. Additionally, for those that can’t memorize their 16 digit IMEI number, it’s highly recommended that you write down the IMEI of your iPhone 8 or iPhone X in case you lose your smartphone. Doing this will allow you to prove that you own the smartphone if ever your Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X gets stolen and you want to retrieve it back.

The IMEI or International Mobile Station Equipment Identity is a unique number for each device to identify it. The IMEI number is used by GSM networks to check if devices are valid and the Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X is not stolen or blacklisted. Completing an IMEI number check for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile will make sure that Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X is usable. The IMEI number of your Apple iPhone 8 or iPhone X can be found with this three methods:

Find out the IMEI via the iOS system

You need to first turn on the iPhone 8 and iPhone X to find the Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X IMEI from the phone itself. Go to the phone settings once you have gotten to the home screen. Then select on “Device Information”, and click on “Status”. Here you can see various information entries of your iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

IMEI on packaging

Another way to find the IMEI number on the Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X is to grab the original box of the smartphone. Here you can find a sticker on the back of the box that will provide you with the Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X IMEI number.

Show IMEI via service code

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The final way you can locate the IMEI number on your Apple iPhone 8 or iPhone X is by using a service code. To do this, you need to first turn on the smartphone and go to the phone app. Once there, type in the following code in the dialer keypad: *#06#