Used-phone inspection
Check any phone before you buy it
Enter an IMEI to verify it and see the model for free. Then get a safety report: blacklist, carrier lock, iCloud and more.
*#06#Dial *#06# on the phone to see its IMEI.
IMEI
35 002098 123456 4
- Model
- iPhone 15 Pro · 256 GB
- Blacklist
- Clean
- Carrier
- Unlocked
- Find My
- Off
- MDM
- Not enrolled
- Warranty
- Expired · 03/2025
From $1.99, no account
Buying a used phone? Three checks that save you money
Blacklisted?
A phone reported lost or stolen gets blocked by carriers and may stop working with your SIM.
Carrier-locked?
A locked phone only works with one network until the original carrier unlocks it.
iCloud or MDM locked?
An activation or company lock makes the phone unusable until the owner removes it.
- Phone checkIMEI blacklist checkFind out whether a phone has been reported lost or stolen before you pay for it. We check the IMEI against worldwide blacklists in seconds.
- Phone checkiCloud & Find My iPhone checkAn iPhone with Find My turned on can't be set up by anyone except its owner. Check iCloud and lost-mode status by IMEI before buying.
- Phone checkCarrier & SIM-lock checkFind out which network a phone was sold on and whether it is SIM-locked, so you know it will work with your SIM.
- Phone checkWarranty checkSee whether a phone is still under warranty and where and when it was first sold, so you know its true age.
- Phone checkApple serial number checkCheck an iPhone, iPad or Mac by serial number to confirm the model and configuration, and see warranty and iCloud status.
What each result means
The statuses you'll see in a report, and what to do about them before you buy.
No loss, theft or unpaid-bill report on file.
Safe to continue. Re-check just before paying.
Reported lost, stolen or for unpaid bills. Carriers block it.
Don't buy. Only the reporting carrier can remove it.
Works only with the original network.
Ask the seller to unlock it first, or pay less.
Accepts any SIM card.
Good to go.
Still linked to the owner's Apple ID.
Seller must sign out in front of you.
The owner has marked the iPhone as lost.
Walk away. This is a strong theft signal.
Managed by a company or school.
Avoid unless the organisation releases it.
Anatomy of an IMEI
Every IMEI has the same 15-digit structure. Each part tells you something different.
Type Allocation Code. Identifies the manufacturer and exact model. The first two digits are the reporting body.
Unique number the manufacturer assigns to this single device.
Calculated from the other 14 with the Luhn formula. Catches typos.
Free IMEI tools
- FreeIMEI validator & analyzerCheck whether an IMEI is genuine-looking or mistyped. We verify its length and Luhn checksum and break it into its parts: TAC, serial number and check digit.
- FreeIMEI generatorCreate random IMEI numbers that pass the Luhn checksum, for testing apps, forms and databases. Generate up to 1,000 at a time and export them in one click.
- FreeBulk IMEI checkerPaste a list of IMEIs from a spreadsheet, invoice or stock sheet. We validate every number, flag typos and duplicates, identify each model and let you export a clean CSV.
- FreeICCID generator & validatorCheck whether a SIM card's ICCID is valid and where it was issued, or generate valid test ICCIDs for your app or database.
- FreeIMEI ⇄ IMEISV converterIMEISV is the 16-digit version of the IMEI that networks see. Convert between the two formats in either direction.
- FreeIMEI check digit calculatorType the first 14 digits of an IMEI and get the 15th digit, the Luhn check digit, instantly.
- FreeTAC lookupThe first 8 digits of every IMEI, the TAC, identify the device model. Enter a TAC or a full IMEI to see the brand and model.
- FreeMEID converterConvert a CDMA MEID between hexadecimal and decimal, and calculate its pseudo-ESN and check digit.
- FreeHow to find your IMEI numberEvery phone has a unique IMEI. Here are five quick ways to find it, even if the phone is lost or won't turn on.
- iPhone IMEI generator
- Samsung IMEI generator
- Xiaomi IMEI generator
- Pixel IMEI generator
- OPPO IMEI generator
- vivo IMEI generator
- realme IMEI generator
- OnePlus IMEI generator
- Motorola IMEI generator
- Huawei IMEI generator
- HONOR IMEI generator
- Nokia IMEI generator
- TECNO IMEI generator
- Infinix IMEI generator
- Sony IMEI generator
- Nothing IMEI generator
Before you pay for a used phone
Five minutes of checks that prevent most used-phone scams.
- 01Dial *#06# yourself and compare the IMEI with the box and the settings screen.
- 02Run a blacklist check, and run it again on the day you pay.
- 03Insert your own SIM card and make a call.
- 04Make sure Find My / Google account is signed out and the phone is reset in front of you.
- 05Check that the model and storage match the listing.
- 06Pay in a traceable way and get a receipt with the IMEI on it.
Brands
Every recent phone model in our TAC database, grouped by brand. Each model page lists its TAC codes, model numbers and regions.
Frequently asked questions
What is an IMEI number?
The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit number that identifies a mobile phone. Carriers use it to block lost or stolen devices.
How do I find my IMEI?
Dial *#06# on the phone. You can also find it in Settings → About phone, on the SIM tray, or on the original box.
Is the IMEI check free?
Validating an IMEI and identifying the model is free. Blacklist, carrier, iCloud and warranty data comes from paid sources, so those reports cost from $1.99.
Can a blacklisted phone be used?
Usually not on carriers in the country that blocked it, and often not in other countries that share the GSMA blacklist. Avoid buying a blacklisted phone.