How to Check if iPhone is Blacklisted: Avoid Trouble with Used Phones

Have you ever come across a used phone or iPhone deal that felt suspiciously too cheap?

The most disappointing outcome when buying a second-hand iPhone or used phone is discovering it’s blacklisted which prevents cellular network use. A functional iPhone in a store may stop working completely when customers attempt to activate it with their mobile network provider.

Here’s the problem:

If your iPhone or phone is blacklisted it will fail to connect to cellular networks and your device becomes nothing more than an expensive iPod touch no matter what phone model you own.

And that’s not all…

Many sellers avoid disclosing information about blacklist status or IMEI numbers because they might not be aware their device is blacklisted or has a barred IMEI number.

This section explains how to determine if an iPhone has been blacklisted.

An iPhone becomes blacklisted when it gets reported as stolen or lost or if there are unpaid dues on its carrier contract. Mobile carriers worldwide add an iPhone’s IMEI number to a shared database after its blacklist status is applied.

This means:

Think about it:

If your iPhone was stolen or someone stopped paying their bills, you would want to block their ability to use it. The blacklist system operates to keep track of IMEI numbers for these reasons.

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These four dependable methods allow anyone to verify whether an iPhone has been added to a blacklist through its IMEI number.

Always check the blacklist status of a used phone with these proven methods before buying it to ensure the device is not lost or stolen.

You can determine if a device is on a blacklist by checking its unique IMEI number through blacklist databases which is the most reliable way.

Here’s how to find the IMEI number:

You can check the blacklist status of a phone after obtaining its IMEI number by using various services.

Free services will check if the device has been blacklisted while paid services offer detailed reports about the device’s repair and warranty history before you buy.

Mobile carriers keep separate blacklist databases which they can access to determine the blacklist status of an iPhone through its IMEI number.

The advantage of this method:

You can access your carrier’s IMEI verification tool through their customer service hotline or their official website. Knowing the original carrier from which the iPhone was purchased will yield the best results when verifying if the phone is blacklisted.

Checking Activation Lock status yields insights into possible problems with a used phone despite not examining the blacklist status directly.

Activation Lock turns on automatically when Find My iPhone functionality is activated. When an iPhone gets stolen its original owner probably activated the device’s Activation Lock feature.

To check this on a used phone:

Execute these practical tests before buying the phone to ensure that it isn’t blacklisted.

A blacklisted phone with a barred IMEI number might be the reason behind the iPhone’s failure in these tests despite showing good signal.

These indications point to an iPhone that may be blacklisted or stolen.

When purchasing a used iPhone or any second-hand phone you should exercise caution based on these warning signs.

But here’s the truth

Although these indicators don’t ensure the phone is blacklisted they still elevate the chances that it might be. You should always confirm the IMEI number before buying, even if you think the seller seems reliable.

When you find out your new iPhone purchase is blacklisted you should consider multiple ways to address this issue.

You can choose from a range of actions if your latest iPhone purchase turns out to be blacklisted.

After buying a new iPhone you should attempt to reach out to the seller. They may:

Verify the iPhone’s blacklist status with its original owner to confirm whether it was blacklisted legitimately.

Sometimes iPhones are blacklisted by mistake. Contact the carrier to verify:

Disclaimer: You can sell blacklisted iPhones as long as you’re the legal owner. For example, if you bought the iPhone from a store or a person and it’s not found or stolen, you can sell it. If you’re unsure, check with the store you choose, and they will guide you.

Examine the few choices available when dealing with the blacklisted device

If the blacklisting can’t be resolved:

The sale of a blacklisted phone through platforms like eBay requires complete disclosure about its status.

It is essential to determine whether an iPhone is blacklisted before purchasing a used device. The procedures detailed in this guide help users prevent both financial loss and disappointment from buying blacklisted iPhones.

Remember these key points about blacklisted phones:

By dedicating some time to examine the IMEI number you can prevent financial loss and avoid frustration when purchasing a used phone globally.