Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: How to check your model number
• Method 2 of 2: How to check the serial number
• Tips
• Warnings

In this article, we will tell you how to find out if iPhone has been restored or not. A refurbished iPhone is a new, problematic smartphone that Apple has repaired and then put up for sale.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: How to check your model number

1. 1 Pay attention to the common symptoms of a refurbished iPhone. Look for the following signs:
   • worn out or missing accessories;
   • damage or scratches to the iPhone case;
   • lack of packaging.
2. 2 Launch the Settings app . Click on the gear-shaped icon on the home screen.
3. 3 Tap General. You will find this option at the bottom of the screen.
4. 4 Tap About Smartphone. You will find this option at the top of the General page.
5. 5 Scroll down to the Model section. On the right side of this section, you will find numbers and letters.
6. 6 Find out if the iPhone has been restored. This is evidenced by the first letter in the iPhone model:
   • if the first letter is "M" or "P", the iPhone is new;
   • if the first letter is “N,” iPhone has been refurbished by Apple;
   • if the first letter is “F,” the iPhone has been refurbished by the mobile operator or some other company.

Method 2 of 2: How to check the serial number

1. 1 Understand how this method works. If you buy an already activated smartphone, this does not mean that it has been restored; however, this method can distinguish an iPhone that has been used but is being marketed as "new."
2. 2 Launch the Settings app . Click on the gear-shaped icon on the home screen.
3. 3 Tap General. You will find this option at the bottom of the screen.
4. 4 Tap About Smartphone. You will find this option at the top of the General page.
5. 5 Scroll down to the Serial Number section. In it you will find numbers and letters (for example, ABCDEFG1HI23). Copy this number because it needs to be entered into Apple's database.
6. 6 Open the Service and Support Eligibility Check site. Go to https://checkcoverage.apple.com/. On the page, enter the copied number to find out if the smartphone has been activated earlier.
7. 7 Enter the copied serial number in the "Enter Serial Number" line. It is located in the center of the page.
8. 8 Enter the verification code. Do this under the line where you entered the serial number. The verification code ensures that the serial number has not been entered by malware.
9. 9 Tap Continue. The iPhone Diagnostics page will open.
10. 10 View the status of your iPhone. If the smartphone is new, “This phone has not been activated” (or a similar phrase) will be displayed at the top of the page.
    • If you find that your iPhone is already activated but is being sold as new, consider buying from another seller.

Tips

• If your smartphone is not refurbished by Apple, you cannot tell if your iPhone is refurbished or not from the packaging of your iPhone.
• Refurbished does not mean a low quality device. In most cases, an Apple device is labeled as "refurbished" after minor troubleshooting.

Warnings

• Before buying an iPhone, read the site or store's terms of sale.