Every iPhone has a unique string of alphanumeric characters that acts as its digital fingerprint. You will need it to:
Using third-party lookup tools (not official Apple), you may also see:
If your screen is broken, connect your iPhone to a computer: Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). Select your device. check iphone serial number
Source: Rao, S. S., et al. "A study on iPhone serial number analysis for forensic investigation." Journal of Intelligent Information Systems 57.2 (2020): 267-278.
Before you check it online, you need the serial number itself. Every iPhone has a unique string of alphanumeric
Source: Zhang, Y., et al. "An analysis of iPhone serial number generation and its implications for supply chain security." IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security 13.10 (2018): 2274-2285.
Don't confuse the Serial Number with the IMEI. The Serial Number is for Apple’s internal tracking and warranty; the IMEI is used by cellular carriers to identify the device on the network. For warranty checks and Apple Support, the Serial Number is usually what you want. Source: Rao, S
Source: Apple Support. "Check the serial number to see if your iPhone is eligible for Activation Lock." (2022)
However, – use only for reference.