How to check a second hand iPhone before you buy

1. Make sure it is not locked to someone else

This is the most important check, because a phone still linked to the previous owner's Apple Account cannot be fully used by you. Open Settings and tap the name at the top: if someone is signed in, ask them to sign out and turn off Find My iPhone in front of you.

After the phone is erased, it should start at the Hello screen and let you set it up without asking for anyone else's Apple Account password. If it asks for a previous owner's details, do not buy it.

2. Match the IMEI and serial number

Dial *#06# to show the IMEI, or find it in Settings under General, then About. It should match the number printed on the box and on the bill if there is one. A mismatch is a reason to walk away.

You can also enter the serial number on Apple's Check Coverage website to confirm the exact model and whether any warranty remains.

3. Read the battery health

Go to Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health (the wording varies a little between iOS versions). Maximum Capacity shows how much charge the battery holds compared with when it was new.

Above 85% is good for daily use and 90% or more feels close to new. Below about 80%, most people notice the phone running out sooner, so budget for a battery replacement. On newer iPhones the battery cycle count is shown in Settings too, which tells you how hard the phone has been used.

4. Check Parts and Service History

In Settings, General, About, recent iPhones show a Parts and Service History section when a part such as the screen, battery or camera has been replaced. A replaced part is not automatically a problem, but you should know about it, and an unknown part can affect features and resale value.

5. Test the screen, Face ID and True Tone

• Open a plain white page and look for dead pixels, yellow patches or uneven brightness.
• Drag an app icon slowly across the whole screen to check that touch works everywhere.
• Open Control Center and check that True Tone is available; if it is missing, the screen may have been replaced.
• Set up Face ID or Touch ID quickly with your own face or finger and unlock the phone a few times.

6. Try the cameras, microphones and speakers

Record a short video with sound on the back camera, switch between the lenses, then do the same with the front camera. Play it back: the picture should be sharp and the sound clear. Make a quick call on speaker and on the earpiece to test the microphones and both speakers.

7. Charging, buttons and SIM

• Plug in a charger and check that charging starts straight away.
• Press every button, including the side switch or Action button, and the volume keys.
• Insert your SIM, or set up your eSIM if the model uses one, and make sure you get signal and mobile data.

8. Box, bill and accessories

Ask what comes with the phone and whether there is a bill. A bill and the original box make warranty claims and resale easier, and the IMEI on them is your proof that the phone matches. If there is no bill, ask the seller to write the IMEI on your receipt.

Questions to ask the seller

A good seller answers these without hesitation. Vague answers, or pressure to pay before you have tested the phone, are reasons to walk away.

• Has the phone ever been repaired, and which parts were changed?
• Is the bill available, and does the IMEI on it match the phone?
• Has it been dropped in water or had any liquid damage?
• Why is it being sold, and how long was it used?
• Can I come back if something stops working in the first few days?

Where you buy matters as much as what you buy

A stranger from an online listing can disappear after you pay. A shop with a fixed address, where you can do every check above before paying and come back with questions later, is a much safer place to buy a used iPhone.

At our Sultanwind Road shop you are welcome to run this whole checklist on any phone before you pay, and every listing already shows the grade, battery health, box contents and bill status for that exact unit.

Quick checklist