Checking the official iPhone warranty. How to Check iPhone Warranty by Serial Number

Typically, the issue of warranty on an iPhone arises when something happens to the device. This is when the need for technical support from an Apple service center arises. It also happens that, having decided, the buyer wants to check whether technical support is still available for him.

In addition, such a procedure will not hurt when buying a new phone, because modern Chinese craftsmen have learned so well that it is difficult for an ordinary person, and sometimes even an experienced craftsman, to distinguish whether the phone in front of him is a real one or a fake.

Let's start with the fact that the worldwide warranty for all Apple devices begins with the first turn on and activation, yes, precisely from the moment when most new owners joyfully anticipated the first start of the device.

Therefore, the easiest way to not only check the validity of the warranty, but also determine its authenticity, is to check the iPhone on the Apple website. This method is the easiest, because you can check even an iPhone packed in a box.

Checking the right to Tech. support and service

In order to check your right to repair, you need a computer, tablet or iPhone itself with Internet access. From any browser you need to go to the official website Apple.com in the “Support” section. After this, a special verification panel will appear in front of you, into which you will need to enter the IMEI or serial number of your phone.

In order to find out the IMEI or Serial number there are several ways:

Find it in Phone Settings
Dial *#06# on your phone
Both numbers are also indicated on the SIM card tray

After you enter the serial number or IMEI into the verification panel, the iPhone model and name should appear on the site. This will ensure that the model is genuine and officially released.

Below you will find information about its warranty status. We invite you to watch a video illustrating the entire process, and then consider several options for warranty conditions.

Possible warranty conditions

The phone is original and has never been activated before

In this case, the model and name of the iPhone will appear on the site, but there will be no information about the warranty status. The site may say something like “Warranty information could not be found” or “You must provide the date of purchase of the product.” This means that the device has not yet been activated, and therefore no one has ever really used it.

Technical support and service rights provided

If the phone was purchased and activated quite recently, then next to the technical support and right to repair fields there will be a green check mark, and the status “Supported” is indicated, and here you can also find out the expiration date of the service. This means that the device is under a free warranty.

The technical support period has expired, but the right to service remains

After the three-month period, the period for free technical support ends, but the right to service and repair remains. This means that the phone was used for less than a year, and until the right to repair expires, you can find out the time the iPhone was first turned on.

The more popular Apple devices become, the more counterfeits appear, and it is very important to understand how to make sure that the iPhone you are purchasing is genuine (original). In addition, you need to be able to check whether the device is stolen and whether warranty service is still available in official iStore stores.

Not so long ago, an original and a fake iPhone could be distinguished with your eyes closed. These were two completely different devices, which differed not only in software, but also in the quality of all the parts used. But now the situation has changed dramatically and now it is very difficult to find the differences between a real and a non-original gadget.

In today's material, you will learn how to confirm the originality of an iPhone before purchasing it.

What you need to know about iPhone?

To avoid cooperation with scammers, it is best to purchase an iPhone only from an authorized dealer.

Such places may include a reliable online store or electronics supermarket that has been selling Apple products for a long time, has positive reviews on the Internet and can provide smartphone service to customers.

Remember that official dealers inflate the price by 20-30% of the cost, which is determined by Apple. For this reason, consumers often decide to order a gadget from the United States of America, with the help of many distributors. Another way to buy an iPhone cheaper is to find an advertisement for the sale of a used device that works fine. Each of the presented methods to spend less on a purchase has its own pitfalls.

Ordering an iPhone from the USA is cheaper, and there is a much wider choice of colors there. But if you just buy a smartphone there, it will not work in any other country, it will only function in the USA. This means you will need to disconnect from the mobile operator’s network (unlock).

There are also advertisements on the Internet for the sale of smartphones that do not require unlocking - these are refurbished gadgets that were purchased by someone and then returned to the store due to some technical problems. Such devices are sent to a service center where repairs are performed, and then sold outside the United States, where they are not treated very well.

To avoid buying a Chinese counterfeit iPhone, you need to understand the following things:

What is included in the complete package of the original smartphone?
Checking the device according to its external parameters;
Nuances of software operation.

How to choose a seller?

If you want to purchase an original phone and want to be 100% sure of it, without particularly paying attention to the cost of the device, then immediately go to popular retail chains.

And if you don’t have enough money or you are used to saving money on purchasing quality things, then remember the following tips for choosing a reliable iPhone seller:

Always check the seller's reviews and ratings. You may have to look for additional information about him in a search engine, using his name or phone number. If this is an attacker, they are most likely talking about him on some websites, in social network groups or forums.
Please ask for as many photos as possible of the gadget, device contents, box and serial number. You may even have to make a video call.
Don’t skimp on questions that help you find out the history of your phone. In what store and how long ago did you purchase it? How long have you used it? Has it been repaired? Was it dropped? Only the owner will give answers to the questions posed, and the scammer will be confused.
Check the warranty status and whether the iPhone is locked. It is not necessary to have a guarantee, but this nuance will definitely be a good bonus!

Parameters that distinguish an original smartphone from a fake one

Apple pays great attention to the issue of security and originality of its own gadgets. That's why options are provided to allow users to identify and confirm the uniqueness of their device.

To check, it is necessary to carry out an external inspection of the gadget, as well as find out the serial number and examine the operation of the software. Follow our tips:

Check the condition of the case, including all the features of the selected iPhone model;
Check the technical specifications of the gadget; they should not differ from those stated;
Check the serial number and IMEI code;
Check your Apple ID.

Stage No. 1. Checking IMEI, serial number and iOS parameters

It is not recommended to purchase an iPhone without a box, since it is one of the tools that helps to find out whether the device is original or not. The IMEI is written on the box and it needs to be compared with the one displayed in the information about iOS in the iPhone itself.

If the numbers do not match, this means that the smartphone is either not original or stolen.

You can find out the IMEI on any phone by typing the following combination: *#06#

Stage No. 2. We check using the official Apple website

In order to verify the authenticity of the device, you can use the Apple website. This is a very accurate and reliable method. It will take you a few minutes to check:

Go to the Apple page: https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru/;
Enter the device serial number;
Enter the required information and click on “Continue”.

It is important to understand that this method determines the availability of service. You can also find out using the imei.info website:

Gadget model;
Its serial number;
Date of original purchase;
And the availability of warranty service.

All about Activation Lock

Activation Lock is a tool that allows you to lock an iPhone that has been stolen. No one will be able to remove the lock except the one who owned it up to this point. Activation Lock is activated using FindMyPhone service.

On the service’s website you can find out the type of gadget, its location, as well as information about the status of the device.

Linking iPhone to Apple ID

Apple ID is an online service to which absolutely every iPhone should be linked. This site identifies users. Having created an account on the site, account data will be entered on each device.

Everything is tied to one place and can be used on several devices at the same time.
Before purchasing, it is important to check the device binding. You should not buy devices that are linked to some third-party account. If the seller comes up with reasons not to leave your account, then it’s not worth buying. If it is not possible to log out of the ID, then the device is stolen.

To exit, do the following:

Go to settings;
Enable “Basic” settings;
Log in to Apple ID;
Click on “Security and Password”;
Next, click “Exit”;
Then we confirm the unbinding process;

How to properly check an iPhone before purchasing?

It doesn’t matter which iPhone you decide to buy: from America, unlocked, refurbished or used, the main thing is to check its condition at the place of purchase. To do this, pay attention to different elements, which we will discuss below.

Frame

You need to check the condition of the back cover and screen. It’s good if there are no defects or their number is reduced to a minimum. Dents, chips and scuffs are signs of a not very high-quality smartphone.

Pressing the screen should be accompanied by an immediate response. Latency is a sign that the display module is not working well.

Each product purchased is provided with a manufacturer's warranty. Its essence is that during the warranty period the product will not change its consumer qualities and will perform its declared functions. Otherwise, the buyer has the right to return or replace the faulty sample with a similar one. In this material we will talk about how to check the Apple warranty and what types of warranty are provided in the Russian Federation.

Standard Warranties

When purchasing any Apple equipment, the user automatically receives two guarantees for the selected product:

Annual limited, provided by the manufacturer.
Two-year (guaranteed by the Russian Law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”).

They calculate deadlines differently. In accordance with the law, the warranty begins at the time of purchase or receipt of the ordered product. Apple's limited warranty begins when your device is activated. For example, an iPhone purchased in advance as a birthday gift, which has been lying in a box for several months, will receive a company guarantee only at the moment when the birthday person turns it on, registering it under his ID. At the same time, the period determined by law will already be calculated in months from the date indicated on the sales receipt.

Additionally, from the moment of activation of any Apple device, the user receives ninety days of free technical support via telephone. and the expiration date for the possibility of telephone consultation can be simultaneously on a special page of the company’s website.

Advanced option

In addition to standard, automatically provided privileges, the user can pay for an extended warranty and service plan. This program is called AppleCare Protection and is not available for all of the company's products. In Russia it can be ordered for the following products:

All types of Mac computers.
iPod music player.
Apple Thunderbolt Display Monitors.
Apple TV set-top box.

The cost varies widely and depends on the category of product for which the extended warranty is purchased. Its validity period is three years. Throughout the entire period, the user receives the right to free contact with the service by phone. Check Apple warranty on tech. Support for this program is available on the same page as the standard one.

Among other things, there is also an international guarantee. It is understood that authorized service centers operating in Russia, as part of its implementation, must service all Apple products, regardless of the country of purchase. In fact, everything is somewhat more complicated. This type of warranty service will only cover those devices that are officially registered and certified for distribution in the Russian Federation.

Service status

As we have already said, to find out the service status of your Apple device, you will need to go to a special page. Here you can check Apple's warranty. Once on this page, you will find only two text input fields. In the first one you need to indicate the device number, and in the second - a verification captcha.

The issued service status certificate contains a maximum of four points:

Valid date of purchase of the device.
Status of technical support by phone with its end date.
Right to warranty repairs.
Status of your AppleCare extended warranty, if purchased.

All items are additionally accompanied by color status indicators. Checkmarks on the green field correspond to valid items, exclamation marks on the orange - expired ones. In some cases, when checking the Apple warranty in Russia, you can see an exclamation mark in the blue field. For the user, this means that the right to warranty repairs does not apply to his device. The reason will be indicated, but usually it is the purchase of goods abroad.

Check for iPhone, iPad

To check your mobile device for warranty, you will need to enter its serial number. For devices running on iOS, you can find it in several ways:

Look at the box the device was in when purchased.
Go to settings, item “Basic” - “About this device”.
If your device synchronizes via Wi-Fi with iTunes, look in the information field.
Go to the Apple ID management page and view the serial number for the linked device.

On the company's home page, select "Support" from the top menu and scroll to the "AppleCare and Warranty" section. To enter your serial number for verification, you will need to select the interactive link “Is my product still under warranty?”

Checking Mac computers

On computers, you can check the Apple warranty by using the menu with the apple logo located on the top information panel. Selecting About This Mac will open a window with the specifications of your device. The serial number will be listed as the last item. Further actions are similar to those already described for mobile devices.

There is another way to check the Apple warranty on an Apple computer. In the opened window with device characteristics, go to the “Maintenance” tab. Select "Check Service and Warranty Status" here. A technical support page will open where you will only need to enter a confirmation captcha. Your device will automatically transmit the serial number and it will be indicated in the appropriate field.

Special programs

On the Apple technical support page you can find information about the company's extended replacement and repair programs for all users of certain types of devices that have been found to have manufacturing defects. If your device falls within the description of the detected defect, you can take it to an authorized service center for a free replacement or repair.

A list of such centers is provided on the page describing the program. Additional information posted there directly warns users that the measures taken do not affect the current warranty. In other words, you can fix the identified defect free of charge, but the warranty period of your device will not be changed.

Another point of additional information states that if, before the announcement of the repair program, you contacted the service with an identified problem and incurred financial costs for servicing the device, the company is ready to compensate them. Of course, the fact of such treatment will have to be confirmed with a sales receipt.

Finally

We told you about ways to check the Apple warranty for the device you purchased, the types of warranties valid in the Russian Federation and some features related to service. This information will allow you, knowing your rights, to competently communicate with service employees if necessary.

Checking the iPhone warranty may be necessary when purchasing a device, where you can find out the warranty period and in cases where the phone seller claims a warranty for the purchased device. It will also be possible to find out the activation (blocking) time in order to determine the age of the purchased device.

To check the activation date, the warranty period of the device, two important things are needed - the presence of the series number (including, preferably, the IMEI), as well as a special service.

Options for determining the warranty period:

1 using serial numbers, so you can determine the activation time and warranty conditions. A simple option is to use iTunes. For these purposes, it is enough to connect to a computer and launch iTunes (the main tab is information about the device). If this does not help, you should visit “settings” - “basic” and “about this device”, where in the “serial number” column we find out it. If you have an iPhone 6, 5, 5c and other models, it is possible to use IMEI instead of the series number. It is located on the surface at the back of the device. In modifications of iPhones 3G, 3GS, 4s, 4, the series numbers are located on the SIM card tray; 2 using a special website where you enter all your phone data, so you have a chance to get all the information, as well as the serial number. To do this, you will need to visit the special website of the manufacturer, where you will need to enter the serial number received earlier (input fields), then activate the “continue” function. After this, information about your phone will appear on the monitor. The activation process and service warranty period can be found in two sections - “validity of the activation period” (determination of the period and compliance), “right to maintenance and repair” (availability of repairs under warranty service). A green check mark should be lit next to a certain section to determine whether the information data corresponds to reality; 3 Carrying out an IMEI check. You will need to go to the manufacturer’s resource and enter your IMEI, and then activate the “Check” function. After a certain time, this service will provide all the necessary information.

Thus, it is possible to check the iPhone warranty period using the serial number.

Right to warranty service

If you need to make sure that there is a warranty when purchasing a device, you need to check its status data in the column on the manufacturer’s website. To do this, you will need to enter the serial number of the device, where you can find out the warranty number of the purchased device and find out the warranty period during operation, as well as important information regarding the technical support of the device.

After the owner finds out the series number (this was mentioned earlier), they use a resource on the Internet to check the status data of the iPhone warranty. You should visit the website of the manufacturer and find out your account information. After this, you need to enter the serial number of your phone and the code from the image that appears, then click “continue”. You need to know that if your device was previously activated and the warranty time has expired, the following entry will appear on the monitor - “phone technical support - expired”, and an orange exclamation mark will also appear. In this case, you will need to contact the service center or request repair of your phone at a specific technical center of the manufacturer.

There are times when a person purchases a used iPhone and the owner is faced with the question of how to find out the capabilities and availability of technical support for this device. When purchasing a used iPhone, you need to pay special attention to important factors:

1 Pay special attention to the presence and integrity of the films. They must be carefully applied to the device and free of bubbles. 2 Registration information corresponding to the phone. You should fully check whether the phone you are purchasing matches the serial number. To do this, you will need to compare the series number on the device and the surface of the box (the information must be identical). When the number does not match or begins with the letters “SK”, the device has been subjected to a recovery process. To check the device data with the information on the box body, you will need to go to the device settings (menu), “basic”, then “about this device”. These important points may arise due to the fact that many owners sell old phones under the guise of new devices, replacing only certain parts (they can be opened during certain actions). 3 Determining the country where the phone came from. iPhone numbers are green (unlocked) and red (locked devices). For example, TA means Taiwan, X means New Zealand, T means Italy. Alas, not all phones with green numbers can work with Russian mobile operators. But it is possible to determine the country from which the phone was delivered using the device model number, which only needs to be decrypted. For example, MC131TA/A is an iPhone 3G16Gb Black purchased in Taiwan. Russian operators have the following numbers - MB496RS/A, MC133RS/A and others (RS means that the device operates in the networks of the Russian Federation). 4 Carrying out a check on the iCloud resource. This check is carried out if you suspect that you have purchased an unlocked device. In such cases, if a check on the iCloud.com website reveals that the phone has the “Activation Lock” function enabled, you need to contact the owner for information on the Apple ID and password for it. Otherwise, you will not be able to use your supported iPhone.

It is necessary to check the device for performance, especially Wi-Fi and various applications - video, photo, music.

Checking the Apple warranty card when purchasing second-hand or from a dubious store is a necessary condition for peace of mind of the future owner and an indicator of his degree of responsibility. Even the most advanced and advertised manufacturer cannot give a 100% guarantee that all of its products are manufactured at the required international level and will not fail in the first year of operation. A guarantee provided for free service, even from the most famous world-famous manufacturers, may be needed at a service center much earlier than the period specified in the coupon expires. The buyer must check its status and warranty period. Not only does he have the right to do this, but he also gets several opportunities. Otherwise, the warranty period even for a new phone will end much earlier than promised upon purchase, and the service center will repair it, even if the cause of the malfunction is a manufacturing defect. Verification is also necessary to make sure that the iPhone is not a Chinese counterfeit, but truly a product of a world-famous brand.

Apple products purchased in the Russian Federation and certified by Rostest are eligible for warranty repairs. This limited warranty can only be provided in cases where the failure is due to a manufacturing defect. To refuse free repairs, service center employees can use any condition specified in the user agreement:

the gadget was subjected to mechanical impact (the owner dropped it from a height, drowned it, or moisture simply got into the case);
glass is cracked or broken;
the owner installed an unauthorized program;
the controller has deteriorated due to the use of charging from another phone;
the wrong center was contacted for repair services;
We listened to music on the phone not with Apple headphones, but with simpler ones, which loosened the connector.

If the device was purchased on American territory, in Russia they will refuse to carry out free repairs in any service, for those purchased in the European Union - this will apply in approximately half of the cases, brought from any region of the Russian Federation, but not certified by Rostest, will be rejected as third-party and not subject to warranty service even in perfect condition. It is useless to contact if the case or screen is damaged. Such an iPhone will not be taken for examination, even if it is indeed a factory defect, but the dent or chip is of accidental, mechanical origin, or they were not noticed at the time of purchase.

The protective glass and battery are not repaired free of charge; if there is damage from devices prohibited by regulations, it will be officially rejected, as in the case of a broken screen.

So you can apply for limited warranty repairs or return low-quality products only if you have a receipt in hand, and even then the device should look as if it had just come from the factory. And if you opened it to find out what the problem was, you can safely ask how much, because there will be no free repairs. Therefore, not only when buying an iPhone second-hand or in a dubious store, but also on Euroset, MTS and Beeline, you should pay attention to the warranty period, the appearance of the device, and check not only the warranty, but also the authenticity of the purchased gadget.

Why and in what cases should you check the warranty?

Checking the Apple warranty is a simple, accessible and absolutely free procedure, which the buyer has the right to undergo not only in his own sales network, but also in any officially operating store that has an official physical address. Here the buyer directly contacts the seller, sees the model with his own eyes, its condition, checks for external defects, and can learn the subtleties of operation and additional technical parameters. This is not a site on the Internet where you can very easily buy a fake, almost indistinguishable from a real product, or a Eurotest, which is not subject to the manufacturer’s obligations because it was illegally imported from abroad.

Nowadays, not everyone can afford to have an iPhone. And those who were able to purchase such a phone should check the warranty card when purchasing. When checking the warranty, you can not only determine the real release date of the smartphone, see the remaining warranty period and try to reduce the price, but also check its authenticity. If the question is to buy it cheaply, you don’t have to go to a company store or Megafon, you can simply order the device through a retail sales network on the Internet and wait for it to arrive. At the same time, it is absolutely unknown where the so-called Apple Plus is actually delivered from and whether it will function at the proper level, like a real seven. For people who are concerned about the authenticity of the device they are purchasing and want to know if they are really buying an original, they can look at the warranty period and serial number. There is a special video that shows this process, and there is a special section of the official Apple website where this can be done.

Sample: Determination of the serial number at the time of purchase or activation.

Type or series	Room location	Characters
iPhone	on the back of the product box or in iOS settings: Settings–> General –> About device	twelve characters
iPad	on the back of the product packaging or in iOS settings: Settings –> General –> About device	twelve characters
Mac	connecting to iTunes, main tab	twelve characters
PC	connecting to iTunes. main tab	twelve characters

A service using a serial number makes it possible to verify authenticity (only original models have a number). This will allow you to determine your warranty status. The support service is 24/7 and the Russian language is provided for communication in Russia. A page dedicated to warranty status opens on the website, where you need to indicate your account address, serial number and code from the picture. If necessary, you will have to activate the device, to do this, connect the power and remove the lock.

It will be clear where to enter, the lines are well marked, any student can handle this. If the device is already activated and under warranty, in the column (see photo). The right to service and repair can be seen as a green plus, and there is also the expiration date of the warranty.

Neither a receipt nor any other form is required to reinstate your limited warranty with free repairs. All you need is a unique serial number for the device and a coherent statement of the problem. But if the period has expired before the purchase, they will say the same thing everywhere, and you will have to pay for the repair in the same way as for installing a running application, repairing a gray product of unknown origin, or correcting the bottom line in the mobile version of the site. And leaving a negative review is also pointless, because the service center operates in accordance with the company’s rules. Therefore, it is recommended to check the limited warranty period when purchasing any gadget or device from Apple.