How to Find an Apple Serial Number & IMEI with or without Your iPhone or iPad

How to Do an IMEI Check & Serial Number Lookup on Your iPad & iPhone (Even an Old iPhone)

If you need to find your iPhone serial number, iPhone IMEI, iPad serial number, or iPad IMEI, here are all the ways to look up the number you need. Let's get started learning what these Apple serial numbers and IMEI numbers are for, and how to find them when you need them.

Apple Serial Number: What Does an iPad or iPhone Serial Number Mean & When Do We Need to Do a Lookup?

The serial number on your iPhone is a unique string of digits that identifies your device and contains a wealth of information if you know how to decode it. Everything from the location of the factory where your phone was produced, as well as the date of production, to the model, the storage capacity, and even the color. You may need your iPhone serial number when you call Apple for support, or to insure your iPhone. Here's a fun link to follow if you'd like to learn more about how to decode the serial number on your device. 

Your iPad & iPhone IMEI: What Is an IMEI Number & When Do We Need to Do an IMEI Check?

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. Your cell phone carrier uses your iPhone IMEI and SIM card to link your phone to their network. You'll rarely need your iPhone IMEI number, but you can use your iPhone IMEI number as an alternate to your iPhone serial number when you call Apple for support. You may also need your IMEI number if you want to unlock your iPhone from your current carrier and transfer cell service to a new carrier.

How to Find an iPhone Serial Number & iPhone IMEI If You Have Your Phone & It's Working

If you have an iPhone 5 or later, here's how to find your iPhone serial number:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
   
   
    
3. Tap About.
4. Here you'll see your iPhone's Serial Number.
   
   
    
5. Scroll a bit further down the page, and you'll see your iPhone's IMEI number.
   
   

How to Find an iPad Serial Number & iPad IMEI

You can follow the same steps as above to find your iPad's serial and IMEI numbers. Just open the Settings app and tap About to find the info you need. You can also look on the back of your iPad, iPad Pro, or iPod touch to find the serial number for the device. If you have an iPad that's a Wi-Fi and cellular model, you'll also see the IMEI.

Find an iPhone Serial Number, iPhone IMEI Number & iPad IMEI Number with iTunes or Finder

Apple is phasing out iTunes and replacing it with Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and Apple TV. If your Mac is running macOS Mojave or earlier, you can still use iTunes to find the information you need. If you're in the habit of regularly backing up your iPhone to iTunes, it's a great way to keep a local backup should you need to restore your iPhone. iTunes also comes in handy if you need your iPhone's serial number but don't have your iPhone with you. If your Mac is running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, you'll need to use Finder. All you need to do is:

1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer.
2. Open iTunes on a computer that you've backed up your iPhone or iPad to if you're using a PC or a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier.
3. In the iTunes menu, click Preferences.
   
   
    
4. Click Devices on the top of the window that pops up.
5. You'll see your iPhone or iPad there, along with any other devices you've backed up to iTunes. 
   
   
    
6. Hover your mouse over your iPhone or iPad, and you'll see a list of data about your phone, including its serial number and IMEI number. 
   
   
    
7. Open Finder if you're running macOS Catalina 10.15. 
8. Find and click on your iPhone or iPad under Locations in the sidebar. 
   
   
    
9. Click on the name of your iPhone or iPad model, and you'll see your iPad or iPhone serial number.
   
    
    
10. Click your iPad (cellular model) or iPhone serial number, and you'll see your IMEI number. 
    
    

How to Find an iPhone Serial Number If You Have Your Phone, but It Won’t Turn On

If you need to know how to find an old iPhone serial number, and if you have the phone with you but can't get it to turn on, it's an easy, one-step process. We'll also show you how to find the IMEI on an iPhone; this is the way to go if you have a phone older than the iPhone 4S.

How to Find an Old iPhone Serial Number & IMEI (For an Old iPhone)

If you have an old iPhone, including the iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 (GSM), or 4s, just pop open the SIM tray, and you'll see your iPhone serial number and IMEI etched into the back of the tray.

How to Find the IMEI on an iPhone (For a Newer iPhone)

For phones after the 4S, the iPhone serial number is no longer etched separately on the SIM tray. Not to worry, though, you'll see the iPhone IMEI number engraved on the back of the tray, and Apple accepts this number as well, so you're good to go!

How to Find an iPhone Serial Number without the Phone

If you need your iPhone serial number but don't have your phone in hand, you still have options. 

How to Find an iPhone Serial Number Right on the iPhone Packaging

I always like to save the boxes my Apple products come in, in case I want to sell or give them away later. It turns out this is a good habit because there's an easy way to find your iPhone serial number without your phone; you'll just need your iPhone's original packaging. All you need to do to find your iPhone serial number on its original packaging is to look for the barcode sticker; the serial number is right there! If you still have your original Apple invoice or receipt, the serial number will be there as well.

Use Your Apple ID to Find Your iPhone Serial Number

This method won't work if you have two-factor authentication set up for your Apple ID account, the reason being that a code is sent to your iPhone to verify that it's ok to log in with your Apple ID from another device. If you don't have access to your iPhone, you can't retrieve this code! If you have access to another device, but don't have your phone, just sign in to your Apple ID to find your iPhone's serial number.

Log in with your Apple ID with this link.

1. You'll see a page of information about your account; click on your iPhone in the Devices section.
   
   
    
2. You'll see a list of basic information about your iPhone, including its serial number.
   
    

Still Need Help? Contact Apple

If you still haven't been able to find your iPhone's serial number, contact Apple, and they'll be happy to help you solve your problem.

Top image credit: guteksk7 / Shutterstock.com