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What is iPhone Serial Number and How It Helps You with Apple Support



The Apple Serial Number Search tool developed by the cryptanalysts here at Beetstech can help you to uncover a whole lot more info about your Apple device. This tool not only lets you look up Apple devices by serial number, but it returns all compatible parts, and even allows searching by other criteria like EMC number, model identifier, and model number. Additionally, this tool lets you find Apple parts by searching the Apple Part Number, a part number printed on the component, or any combination of keywords you can think of.




what is iphone serial number mean



Each manufacturing location is represented at the start of the serial number by a different alphanumeric code. Apple manufactures their devices in a variety of locations, and unfortunately not not all location codes are known, but the following is a mostly complete list of codes and their corresponding factories:


The year and week of manufacture are also represented by an alphanumeric code which is, fortunately, easier to decipher. The fourth character of the serial number represents both the year the device was manufactured in, and whether the device was manufactured in the first or second half of the year. The following table shows how to interpret the fourth character:


Decoding the serial numbers of Apple products can be useful for a number of reasons. If you are interested in repairing your device yourself, determining which factory the device was manufactured in, or the date of manufacture, can help you to determine which replacement parts must be ordered to fix the device. Additionally, understanding the serial number structure can help you to troubleshoot issues with your device, as known issues can arise on products manufactured in certain factories or on certain dates.


You are correct. If your serial number starts with a F then it is a refurbished iPhone. Contact your seller and inquire about it. If you paid full price for it then return it and demand a brand new iPhone.


The year of manufacture is also encrypted by an alphabet code starting with the letter C. Apple splits the year in halves because the company is famous for introducing silent upgrades every six months or so. Also, the changes in the downstream supply chain can occur. So, the fourth character of the serial number shows the year the device was manufactured in, and if it was in the first or second half of the year. The range loops every decade. For example, H can stand for the first half of 2012 and it will represent the first half of 2022 as well. See the table below.


Details: The back housing is made of plastic. The imprint on the back case is the same bright and shiny silver as the Apple logo. There's a SIM tray on the top side that holds a "second form factor" (2FF) mini-SIM. The serial number is printed on the SIM tray.


Details: The back housing is made of plastic. The imprint on the back of the phone is less shiny than the Apple logo above it. There's a SIM tray on the top side that holds a "second form factor" (2FF) mini-SIM. The serial number is printed on the SIM tray.


The box your iPhone came in has this number printed on the back, but chances are you threw away the packaging a long time ago. There are still several ways to find your serial number. Read on for everything you need to know.


If you buy a used iPhone, you may be asked about its IMEI number or MEID. IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. Verizon explains that the 15-digit number a is bit different from your serial number in that an IMEI number is unique across all smartphones, while serial numbers are used by individual manufacturers. Before you purchase a used phone, you can check the IMEI number to find out if it has been stolen or locked.


  • Look under the battery Press down on the polished stainless steel battery cover of the AirTag and rotate counterclockwise until the cover stops rotating.

  • Remove the cover and battery.2

  • Find the serial number printed inside the AirTag.

  • Replace the battery with the positive side up. When you hear a sound, that means the battery is connected.

  • Replace the cover by aligning the three tabs on the cover with the three slots on your AirTag.

  • Press down on the cover.

  • Rotate the cover clockwise until it stops rotating.



MacRumors previously reported about Apple's plan to switch to randomized serial numbers for future products starting in early 2021, and this transition has now started with the new purple iPhone 12 model in multiple countries.


With assistance from Aaron Zollo, host of the YouTube channel ZolloTech, we can confirm that the purple iPhone 12 released last month has a new 10-character serial number format, compared to the usual 12 characters for most other Apple products. Apple previously said its randomized serial numbers would initially be 10 characters long, so the purple iPhone 12 appears to be the first Apple product with a randomized serial number.


The change likely extends to the purple iPhone 12 mini, but we've yet to confirm this. On the contrary, the randomized serial number format does not appear to apply to the AirTag at this time, with multiple MacRumors editors and others we've spoken to still seeing 12-character serial numbers for the item tracking accessory.


In a memo obtained by MacRumors in March, Apple said products already shipping at that time would continue to use the company's previous serial number format, which has for years allowed customers and service providers to determine the date and location that a product was manufactured. The first three characters represent the manufacturing location, the following two characters indicate the year and week of manufacture, and the last four characters reveal a device's model, color, and storage capacity.


The new serial number format will consist of a randomized alphanumeric string of 8-14 characters (10 characters initially) that will no longer include manufacturing or configuration details, according to Apple's memo. Apple advised authorized resellers to prepare for the transition to the new format ahead of its "Spring Loaded" event last month.


To check the service coverage, you will need the serial number of the iPhone which can be found at Settings > General > About. Once you have the serial number, you can go to Check Coverage and enter the serial number.


The six C digits represent your device's unique serial number, and the handset manufacturer defines these. The D portion of the IMEI is a check digit that ensures the IMEI meets the Allocation and Approval Guidelines. The check digit is displayed on packaging to prevent incorrect IMEI recording, but it doesn't make up part of the documented IMEI.


Having spoken with a large number of Apple Geniuses -- and many Apple engineers & managers over a series of WWDCs -- it's clear that there's ambiguity within Apple on what is meant by "an Apple model code". For our purposes, this usually means a true model / MPN if the context buying through resellers or servicing, or a Family number when ordering new direct from Apple.


Starting with product released in early 2021, Apple has abandoned structured serial number formats in favour of a fully randomised format. This means information can no longer be derived from the serial number alone.


2. Just underneath where it says "iPad" you'll find small writing. You may need a magnifying glass to read it. Your serial number will be included there, as well as the IMEI, if it's an iPad cellular model.


By scammed, he means you might want to check the model number on an iPhone you're thinking of buying or have just bought to check that the seller has been honest about whether it's new and where it's from.


A serial number is a unique number assigned by the manufacturer (like Samsung) to help identify an individual device, like a phone, tablet, TV, and so on. For example, your phone's serial number will be different from every other phone Samsung has made. Serial number makes it easier for the makers to organize and keep track of their products.


On the other hand, an IMEI or MEID is only used for phones or other communication devices. Depending on the carrier, your device will have either an IMEI or MEID. These two numbers are different from a serial number. They are used at an international or global level, not just by manufacturers. Both types of numbers can help network providers track down a device that has been stolen or lost.


Depending on your device, your IMEI, serial number and model number may be printed on the back or beneath the removable battery. For devices with a removable battery the IMEI number will be in different places depending on your model. It is usually under the battery, printed on the phone near the bottom of the device.


Note: You can also view your IMEI by entering *#06# from the keypad. Learn more from the Apple support articles Find the serial number and other information for your iPhone and Identify your iPhone model.


Now we are going to check if iphone is original using imei. If you have purchased an iPhone, without opening the iPhone box copy the IMEI number using the steps above, or if you have purchased an iPhone with the box then read the IMEI number from the box and register it using the Apple website below.


Each iPhone has a serial number that identifies it. By looking up the serial number, you can verify whether or not it's in Apple's database. Locate the serial number on the iPhone by tapping "Settings," choosing "General" and selecting "About." Scroll down to "Serial Number," and keep the screen open or write down the number. Visit " " and input the serial number. The system lets you know whether or not your iPhone is still within the warranty period. If you receive the message "we're sorry, but this serial number is not valid. Please check your information and try again," it is likely that the iPhone is a fake.


In the diagram below, a command in Powershell lists some values regarding the above two USB devices. Clearly, what we have been calling the serial number does not conflate with what the identification in Powershell calls a serial number. 2ff7e9595c


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