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
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.
April 28, 2020
March 18, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 13, 2020
January 26, 2020
August 22, 2019
August 20, 2019
August 10, 2019
July 08, 2019
May 16, 2019
April 19, 2019
April 10, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 14, 2019
March 13, 2019
February 22, 2019
February 06, 2019
January 22, 2019
January 18, 2019
January 04, 2019
December 17, 2018
December 10, 2018
December 01, 2018
October 19, 2018
October 13, 2018
October 02, 2018
September 21, 2018
September 11, 2018