How to Check Phone Warranty by IMEI or Serial Number (iPhone, Samsung, Pixel and More)

To check warranty by IMEI or serial number, use the manufacturer’s official tool: Apple’s checkcoverage.apple.com for iPhone (serial number), your Samsung account or the Samsung Members app for Galaxy phones, and Google Store’s Your Devices page for Pixel. The result tells you whether the phone still has its limited warranty or an extended plan such as AppleCare+, and roughly when it was bought.

That last detail matters as much as the warranty itself. A warranty check is one of the fastest ways to catch a “brand new, sealed” phone that was actually activated two years ago, or a replacement unit sold as original. Below you’ll find the official route for each brand, how to read the result, whether coverage transfers to a new owner, and where an independent IMEI check fills the gaps.

Where to find the IMEI and serial number

You need the right number before any check. On almost any phone, dial *#06# to show the IMEI (and on iPhone, the serial number too). You can also find both in settings:

• iPhone: Settings › General › About shows the serial number and IMEI.
• Samsung Galaxy: Settings › About phone shows the serial number and IMEI.
• Google Pixel: Settings › About phone shows the IMEI; the serial number is under Model.

If the phone is locked or won’t turn on, check the box label, the SIM tray on some models, or your carrier account. Our guide to finding the IMEI lists every method, and IMEI vs serial number explains which number each tool expects.

Apple check coverage: is my iPhone under warranty?

Apple’s official tool is checkcoverage.apple.com. It asks for a serial number plus a CAPTCHA, or you can sign in with your Apple Account to see every device linked to it. On the iPhone itself, recent iOS versions show the same information under Settings › General (look for AppleCare & Warranty, or Coverage under About on older versions).

What the Apple result shows

Apple’s US limited warranty lasts one year from the date of original retail purchase by the end user. A replacement device or part “assumes the remaining term of the Warranty or ninety (90) days” from replacement, whichever is longer. So a phone whose coverage looks oddly short may be a replacement unit; the model number prefix (N for replacement, F for refurbished) tells you more, as explained in iPhone model numbers explained.

AppleCare check by serial when you can’t use Apple’s site

Apple’s page sometimes rate-limits or rejects lookups, and it won’t show sold-by details, the original carrier or repair history. The All-in-one Basic Info check (first check free) returns the model and basic warranty status from the serial or IMEI, and the purchase date check shows the recorded purchase date. For a full picture, a GSX report includes the sold-by information, warranty and AppleCare status, repair cases and carrier policy. Our Apple GSX check page explains what’s included and how to read a GSX report walks through every field.

Samsung warranty check by IMEI

Samsung’s process depends on your country, but the official routes are the same everywhere:

1. Samsung account: in the US, register the phone on Samsung’s site, sign in, open My Page & Products and choose View Product Details to see the warranty. Samsung’s US warranty page also offers a Warranty Checker using the model and serial number or IMEI.
2. Samsung Members app: Samsung says you can check the warranty of a registered device in the Members app, which comes preinstalled on most Galaxy phones.
3. Local support: in some countries (Malaysia, for example) Samsung handles warranty queries by email or service center, with the IMEI, serial number and proof of purchase.

If the warranty date looks wrong, Samsung US lets you tap the info icon next to the warranty information and validate it with your proof of purchase. Without a receipt, Samsung service centers can fall back on the registration and production dates.

For a used Galaxy where you can’t sign in to the seller’s account, the Samsung info check returns the model, country of sale and warranty status from the IMEI. Our Samsung IMEI check page and used Samsung checklist cover the rest.

Pixel warranty check

Google’s official tool is the Your Devices page on the Google Store. Sign in with the Google Account linked to the phone and it shows the warranty status and repair options. Google says the tool is only available in supported countries or regions.

In the US and Canada, Google’s hardware limited warranty covers new phones for one year from original retail purchase and refurbished phones for 90 days. To file a claim, Google asks for your name, contact details, IMEI and purchase receipt; if you bought from a carrier or retailer, contact them first.

The catch with a secondhand Pixel is that it’s linked to the seller’s Google Account, so you can’t see it in Your Devices. The Google Pixel info check shows the model, carrier and warranty information from the IMEI instead. Also make sure the seller has removed their account; see Google FRP lock explained.

Other brands and official tools compared

Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, Huawei

Most brands have a support page that takes the IMEI or serial, but coverage and availability vary by region. If the official page doesn’t work in your country, iSerial offers IMEI checks for Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola and Huawei that show model and region details. In every case, the receipt from an authorized seller is what ultimately proves coverage.

Comparison: official warranty check tools

Does warranty transfer to a new owner?

Usually the manufacturer’s limited warranty follows the device, not the person, but the wording and the paperwork differ:

• Apple: the limited warranty runs from the original retail purchase date and coverage is tracked by serial number, so a second owner generally sees the same end date on checkcoverage.apple.com. AppleCare+ can be transferred when you sell the phone if it was paid for upfront; you contact Apple with the agreement number, serial and proof of purchase. Monthly or annual AppleCare+ subscriptions billed to the seller’s account don’t transfer and must be cancelled.
• Samsung: Samsung Australia states its mobile warranty “is transferable to a subsequent owner” if Samsung is told in writing, within a reasonable time, of the new owner’s name and contact details. Terms differ by country, so check your local Samsung site.
• Google: Google’s warranty refers to the original retail purchase and requires proof of purchase for claims. Ask the seller for the original receipt, because without it a claim is difficult.

Region restrictions and international phones

Warranties are often tied to where the phone was sold. Apple’s warranty says Apple “may restrict warranty service for iPhone… to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally sold the device.” Google’s Pixel warranty is “only valid and enforceable in locations the Phone is sold.” Samsung applies a limited international policy, as noted above.

This matters a lot for imported phones. A US iPhone bought in Lagos, or a Gulf-market Galaxy sold in Europe, may show active coverage online yet be refused service locally. Check the country of sale (a GSX report or Samsung info check shows it) before paying a premium for “warranty included”. If you travel with a US phone, see will a US iPhone work abroad.

Refurbished phone warranty and red flags

Refurbished phones come with very different coverage depending on who refurbished them. Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones carry Apple’s standard one-year warranty; Google’s refurbished Pixels get 90 days in the US and Canada; third-party sellers and marketplaces offer their own warranties, which the manufacturer’s tools won’t show. Our refurbished vs used vs renewed guide explains the labels.

Warning signs in a warranty check for used phones:

• A phone sold as “new” whose warranty started months ago.
• Coverage that ends unusually early, which can indicate a replacement device.
• A purchase country that doesn’t match the listing.
• A model in the report that differs from the listing (storage, color or generation).

Spotting these is covered in depth in how to spot a fake refurbished iPhone. And remember: an active warranty says nothing about Find My, FRP, the blacklist or carrier locks — check those separately.

How to check warranty by IMEI step by step

1. Dial *#06# or open Settings › About to get the IMEI and serial number.
2. Run the official tool for the brand: checkcoverage.apple.com, your Samsung account or Members app, or Google Store’s Your Devices page.
3. Note the coverage type (limited warranty or extended plan), the end date and whether the purchase date is validated.
4. If you can’t use the official tool, run an iSerial check by IMEI or serial for the brand.
5. Compare the model, purchase date and country with the listing or receipt.
6. For a used phone, ask for the original receipt and any AppleCare+ agreement number, and confirm transfer rules.
7. Finish with Find My/FRP, blacklist and carrier checks before you pay.

Summary

Checking a phone’s warranty takes a minute with the IMEI or serial: Apple’s coverage page, Samsung’s account tools and Google’s Your Devices page are the official sources, and independent IMEI checks fill in when you can’t sign in as the owner. Read the dates carefully, check the country of sale, keep the original receipt, and treat a mismatched purchase date as a reason to ask questions before you buy.