How to Check Your Phone's Warranty and Trade-In Value Before You Sell

You can check a phone's warranty by finding its serial number or IMEI and entering it on the maker's official coverage page: checkcoverage.apple.com for iPhone, and the Warranty Checker on Samsung's US support site for Galaxy phones. Trade-in value comes from the condition you report, so check coverage first, then follow the maker's preparation steps before the phone leaves your hands.

Who this is for and what you will have at the end

This guide is for anyone in the US who is about to sell, trade in or hand down an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone and wants to know three things: whether the phone is still covered, what a fair trade-in process looks like, and how to wipe it so nobody else can reach your data or lock you out of your own account.

By the end you will have the phone's identifiers written down, a warranty status from the official source, a decision between a manufacturer trade-in and other ways to sell, and a short preparation checklist that matches Apple's and Samsung's own instructions. The guide covers the official programs only. It does not quote trade-in prices, because the manufacturers calculate them per device and condition at the moment you ask.

Why check warranty before you trade in

Warranty status and trade-in value are separate questions, but you should answer them in the same sitting.

• If the phone is still under warranty or an AppleCare plan, a fault you notice now may be a free repair rather than a lower trade-in offer.
• Apple says you can cancel an AppleCare plan or transfer it to the new owner. If you sell privately, knowing the remaining coverage is something a buyer will ask about.
• A trade-in is judged on condition. Apple's trade-in page says the device must match the condition you described, and Samsung lists working display, charging port and battery as requirements. A pending repair can block the whole transaction.

Step 1: Find the serial number or IMEI

The warranty lookup needs an identifier. Which one depends on the maker.

On an iPhone

Apple's article on finding the serial number says the quickest route is on the phone itself:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap About.
4. Read the Serial Number. Scroll down for the IMEI and other identifiers.

Touching and holding a number copies it, so you can paste it into a form. If the phone will not turn on, Apple lists other places: the SIM tray on some models, the Finder or Apple Devices app on a computer, the Devices section of your Apple Account at account.apple.com, or the barcode on the original packaging. Apple also says several models, including the iPhone 11 through iPhone 13 series, have the IMEI etched on the SIM tray.

On a Samsung Galaxy phone

Samsung's US warranty page asks for the model number if prompted and points to a "How to find my model number" guide for your device. Open that guide for your exact phone, because the on-screen path can differ between One UI versions. The IMEI is also useful later when a carrier or marketplace asks for it, and you can read it from the phone's About phone screen in Settings.

Write down the serial number, the IMEI and the model number. Keep them in a note outside the phone you are about to erase.

Step 2: Check warranty coverage

Apple

Apple's coverage page is checkcoverage.apple.com. The page describes itself as the place to view device coverage and benefits. The steps are:

1. Open checkcoverage.apple.com.
2. Enter the device's serial number in the "Enter a serial number" field.
3. Complete the verification (a CAPTCHA) and select Submit.

You can instead sign in with your Apple Account to see the devices attached to it. The page lists your coverage and benefits, so treat it as the authoritative answer rather than a third-party "IMEI checker" site. Search results for warranty checks are full of look-alike sites, and Apple's own address is the safe one. Never enter your Apple Account password on any page you reached through an ad or a forwarded link.

Samsung (US)

Samsung's US warranty page describes this process:

1. Open the Warranty Checker on Samsung's US support site and sign in, or register the product first.
2. Choose the category Phones, Tablets and Wearables.
3. If prompted, use the "How to find my model number" guide for your device.
4. Go to My Page and Products, select View Product Details for your phone, and read the warranty information.
5. If you think the expiration date is wrong, click the info icon next to the warranty information and follow the on-screen steps to validate the date.

Samsung does not publish one warranty length for every phone on that page. It mentions a 12-month standard warranty for certain models, including the Galaxy S23 series and newer models launched in 2023 or later, and a 1-year limited warranty for phones bought in another country and serviced in the US. Read the result for your own device rather than assuming.

If the lookup fails

A serial number that returns no result is usually a typo, a character confusion such as the letter O versus the digit 0, or a device you do not own the purchase record for. Re-copy the number from Settings rather than retyping it. If it still fails, contact Apple Support or Samsung Support with the identifier and proof of purchase.

Step 3: Understand how the official trade-in programs work

Both programs give credit toward a new device from the same maker, and both judge the phone against the condition you describe.

Details to note for Apple, from its trade-in page:

• For iPad, Mac or Apple Watch you need the serial number for an accurate value.
• Third-party engraving may lower the value. Apple engraving does not.
• Devices that are not eligible for credit can still be recycled for free.
• Monthly payment is not offered if the net price is under $99 for an iPhone or under $25 for an iPad, Mac or Apple Watch.
• Once the device is shipped, you cannot cancel. To cancel, do it before shipping.
• For mailed devices, discharge the battery to below 30 percent, do not ship swollen or damaged batteries, use at least 2.5 inches of filler and ship one device per box.

Details to note for Samsung, from its trade-in page:

• The credit works only on new Samsung purchases and cannot be combined with carrier bill credit promotions.
• The phone must power on, hold a charge, have a working display and charging port, and have no swollen battery or major damage such as water damage or corroded ports.
• You must own the device, so leased phones are not eligible.
• Reactivation Lock or Google Factory Reset Protection must be turned off, and the device must not be on the banned list.
• Samsung says it is not responsible for personal information left on a device.

Because the final value depends on condition, take an honest look at the phone before you request an estimate. Note scratches, cracks and battery behavior. If you want to see where the battery stands first, see iPhone battery health or the Android battery check.

Step 4: Prepare the phone

iPhone

Apple's "What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone" article lists the sequence. In summary:

1. Back up the iPhone. If you need a refresher, see iPhone backup: iCloud vs computer.
2. Transfer your information to the new device with Quick Start.
3. Open Parts and Service History. If any part shows Finish Repair, complete that repair first, or you cannot trade in the device.
4. Unpair your Apple Watch if one is paired.
5. Cancel the AppleCare plan or transfer it to the new owner.
6. If you are switching to a non-Apple phone, deregister iMessage.
7. Sign out of your Apple Account. On iOS 26 or later, open Settings, tap your name, scroll down and tap Sign Out, then choose Erase this iPhone or Sign Out But Don't Erase. On iOS 18 or earlier, tap Sign Out, enter your Apple Account password and tap Turn Off.
8. Erase the phone: Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode if asked, then tap Erase iPhone.
9. If you use an eSIM, choose the option to erase the eSIM profile when asked.
10. Remove the device from your trusted devices list.

Erasing turns off Find My and Activation Lock. If you no longer have the phone, Apple says to erase it from Find Devices on iCloud.com and then change your Apple Account password.

One exception matters: if you are trading in at an Apple Store, Apple says to stop before erasing. A specialist completes the trade-in and works through the remaining steps with you, and you may need your Apple Account password, so know it or reset it beforehand.

Samsung Galaxy

Samsung's trade-in page tells you to:

1. Back up your data.
2. Sign out of accounts and remove passwords, locks and cloud backup links.
3. Remove all SIM and memory cards.
4. Factory reset the device.
5. Make sure Reactivation Lock or Google Factory Reset Protection is turned off.
6. Ship only the phone and essential accessories such as an S Pen. Pack it with padding in a sturdy box and tape the label on all four sides.

If you are moving to a new phone, the Android backup and restore guide covers the Google side of the transfer.

Verification: how to confirm the phone is ready

Before you box the phone, confirm each of these:

• The phone shows the setup screen (Hello on iPhone, or the Welcome screen on Galaxy) rather than your home screen.
• Your Apple Account or Google account no longer lists the phone as a device you are signed in on.
• Find My, Reactivation Lock and Factory Reset Protection are off, so the next owner is not blocked.
• SIM and memory cards are out of the tray.
• Your notes with the serial number, IMEI, trade-in order number and shipping tracking are saved elsewhere.

Troubleshooting

The estimate is lower than expected

The credit depends on the model, manufacturer and condition. Compare your description with the real state of the phone, and recheck whether the estimate is for the exact storage size and model you hold. Apple notes that third-party engraving may lower the value.

Apple says a repair is unfinished

If Parts and Service History shows Finish Repair for a part, Apple says you must finish that repair before you can trade in the device. Complete it at an Apple Store or authorized service provider, then start over.

The phone is still tied to your account

A phone that stays signed in to your Apple Account or Google account can block the next owner and can affect eligibility. For a phone you no longer have, erase it from Find Devices on iCloud.com for an iPhone, then change your account password.

The offer changed after review

Apple sends a revised offer that you can accept or reject. Samsung may charge back the credit if the device does not meet requirements. Keep photos of the phone's condition taken before you packed it.

A private buyer asks you to unlock or log in remotely

Be cautious of buyers who ask to remote into the phone, send you a verification code, or pay with a link that asks for your login. Complete the erase yourself, and meet in a public place or use a platform that protects sellers. For more on spotting these, see iPhone Stolen Device Protection and find a lost phone.

Closing checklist

• Write down the serial number, IMEI and model number.
• Check coverage at checkcoverage.apple.com or in Samsung's Warranty Checker.
• Decide what to do with AppleCare: cancel or transfer.
• Get a trade-in estimate and describe the condition honestly.
• Back up, then sign out, turn off Find My or Reactivation Lock, and erase the phone (except for an in-store Apple trade-in).
• Remove SIM and memory cards, pack the phone and keep the tracking number.
• Watch the deadlines: 14 days for the Apple estimate after you receive your new device, and 15 days to ship for Samsung.

References

• Apple Trade In: https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in
• Apple, check your coverage: https://checkcoverage.apple.com
• Apple Support, Find the serial number or IMEI on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: https://support.apple.com/en-us/108037
• Apple Support, What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad: https://support.apple.com/en-us/109511
• Apple Support, iPhone model identification: https://support.apple.com/en-us/108044
• Samsung US, Trade-In: https://www.samsung.com/us/trade-in/
• Samsung US, Warranty: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/warranty/