How to check if an iPhone has been activated previously. How to distinguish from the original iPhone by internal functions
Often, having purchased an iPhone, be it a smartphone or a gadget, the new owner tries to turn it on. But it was not there! For some reason the device does not want to turn on. Don't worry: this means that it requires activation, without which its full operation is impossible. But the opposite situation also happens, when the activation period has already expired. Therefore, when buying used tablets and smartphones, be sure to pay attention to this nuance. Let's look at this question in more detail - how to check the date iPhone activation?
Not only the service life of the device, but also the date of its warranty service depends on the activation date. The process of checking the activation date does not have any complicated steps. If desired, each person can find out the activation date of their iPhone.
But before that you should know him unique number— IMEI, which can be determined in one of the following ways:
- Remove the SIM card from the device (for iPhone models 3G - 4S) - IMEI data is located on the tray.
- IMEI can be seen on back cover(for iPhone 5 - 5S, iPhone 6 - 6 Plus models). The second line is the IMEI.
- Remove the SIM card from the device (for iPhone 6S - 6S Plus, iPhone 7 - 7 Plus models) - the IMEI data is on the tray.
- Using a special iTunes programs. If the device is in working condition, then connect it to the program, go to home page applications and open the line under the device information.
- If the device is working, you can find out the IMEI by dialing *#06#. The resulting set of 15 digits is what we needed.
- Open the “Settings” tab, and from there go to the “General” section. We find the “About the device” section, where the IMEI is stored.
How to find out iPhone activation date
The iPhone activation date is determined through the Apple website. Just go to the company's website and enter the IMEI.
It should be said that the iPhone, like other models (iPod, iPad), can be checked for the activation date not only in printed packaging, but also in sealed packaging, without violating its integrity.
Checking the iPhone activation date by IMEI through the Apple website has one advantage - it does not require special programs, like iTunes. The check takes place directly on the Apple website using a PC or other mobile device, such as a tablet or phone that connects to the Internet.
So, go to the Apple website and select the “Support” section. Scroll down the page. We need the “Other Resources” subsection, in which we need to open “Checking the right to service and technical support.”
A verification panel will open, in which we enter the IMEI of your device and click on the “Continue” button.
If the combination of IMEI numbers and letters was entered without errors, the name and model of your device will appear. The fact that the site recognized your purchase also indicates another important nuance: your device is not a fake!
So, among all useful information You can see both the IMEI and the warranty status of the model about your device. If there is no warranty information on the website, it means that the device has never been activated, that is, it has not yet been used. It is in such cases that the site displays: “You need to confirm the date of purchase of the product.”
If the site displays information that the date has been confirmed, and “ Technical support by phone" is still relevant, then the activation date of your device is no more than three months.
If you see information that the telephone support period has expired, the expiration date will be indicated below. warranty service and device repair. It is necessary to calculate exactly the year from this date and we get the exact date device activation.
If the text indicates that the right to service has expired, it means that the device was activated more than a year ago.
Almost every second iPhone owner in Russia faces the question of checking the device for authenticity. It is no secret that counterfeit devices are often imported into our country, which may have problems with unlocking and activation. How to find out the activation date of the iPhone and determine that the Apple gadget is completely new and no one else has used it before you - in detail in this article.
Often, wanting to save a couple of hundred dollars when buying an iPhone 5, 5s and other models popular gadget from Apple, the user purchases an uncertified product. Offers to purchase are not genuine iPhone often found both on the Internet and in offline stores mobile technology. Considering the expensive cost of the device, the user takes a risk and purchases a “gray” gadget.
In order not to throw money away, when buying a questionably cheap gadget, be sure to ask the seller when the iPhone was imported to Russia. If the price of the device is 10-20% lower than the price of the original model, there is a chance to purchase a quite decent gadget that will serve you for years. But if the difference is 20% or more, having an extra 100-200 dollars in your pocket, it is better to purchase original smartphone, otherwise it won’t be long before you have to fork out money to repair a fake iPhone.
As a rule, cheaper devices are goods that were returned by the previous owner for some reason. It’s worth wondering if this is a defective iPhone. It is also worth looking carefully at the packaging and protective film. The latter should fit tightly to the display, not move anywhere or bubble.
How to check whether the device has been replaced - you can find out about this by checking the iPhone by IMEI, which will be discussed in detail later. And now a few words about the risks of buying a “gray” iPhone 6 or any other version. This is fraught the following problems for the owner:
- Purchasing not a new, but a used smartphone, which someone has already used and, perhaps, for more than one month. When buying a gadget, we want it to be completely new. But if the price of an iPhone is greatly reduced, you should doubt it. How do you know if your smartphone is not new? For this purpose, you need to check whether the gadget has been activated. If yes, then the device is not new.
- Purchase faulty device. When going to the salon, take a SIM card with you to at least check the ability to make calls.
- Loss of rights to warranty repair in case of serious problems.
There are several ways to check the activation date of your iPhone. You can use one of them, or better yet all of them at once, to ensure the quality of the purchased gadget.
How to find out if an iPhone has been activated on the Apple website
To find out whether your iPhone could have been activated before you purchased it through the manufacturer’s official website, you need to follow these steps:
- Go to the section regarding checking your right to service and support on the Apple resource.
- Enter information about the serial number of the device there, which can be viewed in the main settings of the device menu.
- Confirm the entered information.
If the gadget is new or has been restored, but officially, then a window will appear on the screen with a message about the need to activate it. In a situation where the device was previously activated, the service and support section will tell you when the warranty period ends. If you subtract 365 days from the warranty expiration date, the activation date of your device will be determined. This is how easy it is to find out when the iPhone was activated through the manufacturer’s website.
Checking the iPhone's country of origin
To check the activation date of an Apple gadget in other ways, you must first identify from which country the device was imported. You need to find out the following information about your iPhone:
- Country of origin.
- Correctness of the package (compliance with the description on the package and what is inside).
- IMEI – number.
The most important data can only be gleaned from the packaging, this is the model number, serial number and IMEI. An alternative source of data is the iPhone itself (see the main settings in the menu).
You should also compare the same information on the packaging and in the smartphone’s memory; if it is not identical, the gadget has been used and has probably been repaired more than once.
If the serial number starts with 5S, this means that the device has been officially refurbished at the factory and can be safely purchased. 
How to check iPhone activation date using serial number
You can determine much more from the serial number than from the information on the website or the packaging of the device. It consists of 12 characters by which the model, color and release date of the gadget are easily recognized.
The serial number also shows information about the activation status of the device, and you can compare it with the one you have to determine the authenticity and condition of the device (new or used).
The serial number can be entered on the Apple website, as described above, as well as on other sites that provide information about technical specifications devices from apple. Today there are many such resources on the Internet – both in the Russian and English-speaking segments. Checking the device for third party resources in some ways it’s even more profitable, because there, as a rule, is issued detailed information about all technical characteristics of the device. Surely the user will be interested in familiarizing himself with it.
Check by IMEI
Checking the activation of an Apple smartphone using the international identification number - IMEI - is the most popular among users and the most reliable. It consists of 15 digits, and you can find it out by dialing *#06#.
In addition, unlock data is available via IMEI, i.e. about the possibility of connecting an iPhone to any mobile operator. After all, being tied to a specific operator is one of the unpleasant moments that can arise when buying an iPhone.
You can check unlock on the corresponding websites on the Internet. Some of them even have a special service for unlocking iPhones.
Unfortunately. In the last year or two, users have noted that many services for checking iPhone activation by IMEI are unstable. 
Checking activation is the most important rule for purchasing a gadget.
When you purchase a device on the “black market”, i.e. resellers, dubious sellers, Chinese websites, etc., have a chance of running into a low-quality gadget. But if the desire to save a couple of hundred dollars forces you to take a risk, it's good if it's reasonable.
Buying an iPhone is quite good quality You can do it with your own hands, but if you follow a number of rules and find out as much information as possible about the device you are purchasing before making a transaction. Among these rules the most important place is devoted to checking activation, but there are many others that are useful to familiarize yourself with.
So, here are the steps to check your iPhone before purchasing:
- Check on your device whether the function to find your iPhone in iCloud is enabled. Ask the seller to turn it off and then back on again, thus making sure it is working.
- Inspect carefully appearance the device for detection of scratches, chips, replaced elements.
- Try all the buttons by pressing each of them at least once - there should be no freezing.
- Insert the SIM card of your operator and if the phone is not locked to a specific operator, it should work stably - make calls, send SMS, etc.
- Check the serial number on the Apple website.
- On the same resource or by IMEI, identify the activation status - new gadget must wait for activation.
After iPad purchases in the store, the first thing you need to do is activate it. Without initial activation, the tablet simply will not work. Previously, activation was possible only using a PC (those were fun times), but now an activation option is available without a computer.
In this article we will look at how to activate an iPad in two ways. We will also answer the question: how to find out the date iPad activation. The instructions are fully suitable for iPhone and iPod touch, so owners of these gadgets can safely put it into practice.
How to activate iPad
Method 1. The most obvious and the oldest way activation - via computer. This method worked with both first iPad, and will work with the newfangled iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina.
1. To do this, first install official application from Apple - iTunes (for Windows, in OS X iTunes is a built-in program).
2. Connect the iPad to the computer via the cable supplied with the tablet.
3. Press and hold the power button on the iPad (it is located on the top end) until a white apple appears on the screen.
4. iTunes will launch and the iPad will be activated for the first time.
Method 2. Activation directly from the tablet. For this method you only need Wi-Fi network with the Internet. It's much simpler than the first one. This feature became available with iOS 5.
1. After unpacking the iPad, turn it on while holding the button ( Power button located on the top end).
2. We act according to the instructions that will be shown on the screen. These instructions will include steps that will activate the iPad.
This is called initial device setup. If you are not confident in your abilities and knowledge, then follow the instructions for Firmware for iPad to iOS9. Initial setup. I don’t show the activation screen in those instructions, because I was flashing iOS 7 on an already activated tablet, but you will have it - don’t worry.
How to find out when iPad is activated
What is it for?
1. You buy an iPad secondhand. Use these instructions to find out when your iPad was first activated. That is, the real “mileage” of the device.
2. From the moment the device is activated, its warranty begins to apply. Not from the moment the tablet was delivered to the store, not from the moment of purchase, not from the moment you gave it as a gift, etc., namely from the moment the iPad was activated!
So iPad activation date can be very important. In order to recognize it, we need a serial iPad number. You can find the iPad serial number in two ways.
Method 1
Connect iPad to computer. Launch iTunes. In iTunes, find your iPad and click on it. The Device Information (Overview) displays the Serial Number.
In the menu you can select Edit->Copy serial number and this number will be on the clipboard.
Method 2
On iPad go to Settings->About this device. Among all the useful information there will be a serial number.
If you hold your finger on it, you will be prompted to copy it to the clipboard.
Next, we try to find the activation date using the serial number. We go to the Apple website using a special link. And paste the serial number into the empty field. Click the Check button.
Now two situations are possible. If your warranty has not expired (that is, less than a year has passed since activation), then you will see this picture.
The date in the screenshot, May 7, 2014, means that the product was activated on May 7, 2013, which is exactly one year before the specified date.
If you see a picture like the one in the screenshot below, it means your iPad was activated more than a year ago.
Should we be content with only this information? Not really. We can find out the production date by the serial number. But as practice shows, the production date may differ greatly from the activation date. The devices may lie in warehouses. But for general development, let's find out.
How to find out the iPad production date
There is a service on the network that, based on the serial number, will determine when and where the device was manufactured. .
When purchasing an iPhone, many buyers turn to friends who know Apple technology for help, which is true in principle and allows them to avoid annoying mistakes. However, not everyone has such a useful companion, and in this case, Apple’s own services will come to the rescue.
In contact with
Naturally, the high cost of smartphones, compared to other countries, stimulates the growth of the “gray” market, which has its own rules. When importing devices from abroad, unofficial resellers (in other words, resellers) are often forced to activate the iPhone in order to unlock it (break it in unilaterally contract with mobile operator) or take it through customs as a personal gadget. At the same time, the smartphone is further positioned as new, which is not entirely true.
What's the difference between activation and turning on your iPhone for the first time?
Do not confuse Activation with turning on the device for the first time. You can activate your iPhone only when you connect a device with an inserted a valid SIM card to the Internet. If one of the above conditions is not present, turning on the smartphone will not activate it.
Can I delete or hide my activation data?
The activation process is irreversible. If the device is activated, then it is impossible to delete information about it, even if you resort to reset iPhone or procedure.
Actually, the iPhone activation procedure is for Apple the starting point for the device’s use. That is, the company believes that you have been using the smartphone not from the date of purchase, but from the moment it was first activated. Naturally, the deadline begins to expire from this same date warranty obligations Apple.
How to find out the iPhone's first activation date and remaining warranty period
1. Go to the section of the Apple website to check your rights to service and support (link);
2. Enter serial iPhone number, which can be found on the box, case or in the menu Settings → Basic → About this device;
In addition, IMEI and serial number information can be found on the welcome screen when you first turning on iPhone– click on the “ i" in the lower right corner.
3. In the third point "Right to maintenance and repair" there should be a status "Provided";
4. Subtract 365 days from the warranty expiration date indicated below - this will be the date of first activation of the iPhone.
Examples of information received about the right to iPhone service and support after verification
New not activated iPhone(this should be indicated if you are buying a new Apple smartphone):
Recently activated iPhone (no more than three months) under warranty:
Activated used iPhone. Warranty expired:
Why did I get the message "this serial number corresponds to a product that has been replaced" when checking?
If, when checking the IMEI or serial number, a message appears with the text: "Unfortunately, this serial number corresponds to a product that has been replaced..."— avoid buying such a device, it is not new! We talked about this case in more detail.
In January of this year Apple company removed the page where users could check the activation status of iOS devices.
Apple has disabled the ability to check the activation of iOS devices via iCloud to protect users from theft of their iPhone and iPad serial numbers. Function Activation Lock allows any user to check whether the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch have been stolen. However, attackers can use it for their own purposes by gaining access to device serial numbers using the IMEI code. In this case, they can change the serial numbers of stolen smartphones, which will later allow them to bypass the Activation Lock function.
Although the iCloud Activation Lock resource web page is currently unavailable, users have found alternative method checks. In order to check the activation status of your iPhone, you will need the device's IMEI number and access to the Apple technical support site.
First, you need to go to the Apple technical support website through your computer browser.
In the new window that opens, select “Send for repair.” After this, a page will open on which the system will ask you to enter the serial number or Smartphone IMEI. If Find My iPhone is activated on your iPhone, the repair order will not be placed and a message will appear on the screen: “Sorry, we cannot order repairs while Find My iPhone is activated.” This way, you can understand whether the iPhone was previously activated and possibly stolen.
Unfortunately, this method of detecting iPhone activation may not always work. In this case, you need to repeat all the previous steps, choosing a different reason for contacting support.
IN currently there is no word on when Cupertino will close this apparent gap.