How to Check if Your Phone Has Clean ESN or IMEI

Are you in the market of buying or selling an iPhone? This guide will help you ensure you are buying a clean IMEI device and/or selling one too. We will explain what an IMEI is, where to find it and how to check its status.

Phones are identified by serial number and an IMEI/ESN number (International Mobile Equipment Identity or Electronic Serial Number). Note that the serial number is different than the IMEI number. The IMEI number is a unique 15-17-digit code that identifies smartphones. Mobile network providers can block the IMEI number for various reasons. Some of those reasons include:

1. The phone has an outstanding balance that has not been paid off by the original owner.

2. The phone is still active on someone else’s account

3. The phone has been reported lost or stolen

If a device has a blocked IMEI number the user will not be able to activate that device on their account.

Before you sell your phone make sure you pay off any balance due on the device. After, contact your carrier to deactivate the phone from your account. If you lost your device and reported it as lost to your carrier for insurance purposes but then found the phone, you will need to call your carrier provider and let them know you found your phone. Otherwise, the device will still have bad ESN and will not be able to be activated by another user.

Where can you find the IMEI number on your device?

For iPhones Go to General -> Settings-> About -> Scroll down to IMEI

For Samsung Phones you can find the Settings-> About Phone-> Status -> IMEI Number

If you are in the market for a second-hand phone please make sure to check the ESN status prior to purchase. There a multiple website that allow the consumer to check the ESN Status. Some of those sites include:

For AT&T Phones Click Here

For Verizon Phones Click Here

For Sprint Phones Click Here

For T-Mobile Phones Click Here

If you have a device that does not use any of these carriers then you can use the following sites:

1. Swappa.com

2. Checkesnfree.com

3. Stolenphonechecker.com

When buying or selling an iPhone or any smartphone please make sure to check the ESN status beforehand. This will ensure you don’t waste time and money specially when buying second-hand. I hope this information is helpful in your next purchase or sell of your smartphone.