How to Find Your Mobile Phone's Serial Number Without Taking it Apart

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: February 4, 2024 Fact Checked

This wikiHow teaches you how to see your smartphone's serial number without having to disassemble the phone. Viewing the serial number on a non-smartphone is a bit trickier, but you should be able to find it somewhere on the phone's casing or in the phone's documentation.

Things You Should Know

For iPhone, look in "Settings > General > About > Serial Number".^{[1]
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For Android, look for your serial number in "Settings > About Phone".
You can usually find the serial number on the back of the phone or in the case it comes in.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

On iPhone

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Tap the Settings app icon, which resembles a set of gears on a grey background.^{[2]
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It's near the top of the Settings page, just below the bottom of your iPhone's screen.^{[3]
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This option is at the top of the General page.^{[4]
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You'll find this heading toward the middle of the "About" page.
The serial number is the collection of numbers and letters to the right of the "Serial Number" heading.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

On Android

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1
Open your Android's Settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap the gear-shaped Settings
icon in the top-right corner of the resulting drop-down menu.^{[5]
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- On some Androids, you may have to use two fingers to swipe down.
2
Scroll all the way down and tap About phone. It's at the very bottom of the Settings page.^{[6]
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- You may first have to tap System at the bottom of the menu.
3
Look for the "Serial number" heading. Depending on your Android's manufacturer, this option's location will vary; scroll down until you find the "Serial number" heading on the "About phone" page.
- On some Androids, you may have to tap Status to see the "Serial number" heading. Some Androids may also require you to tap the "Serial number" heading in order to view the number.
The serial number is a combination of letters and numbers to the right of the "Serial number" heading.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Non-Smartphone

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1
Look for the serial number on the outside of the phone. Some manufacturers will place a non-smartphone's serial number on the back or side of the battery case, though you may need to remove any protective covering from your phone before looking for the serial number.
- This is relatively uncommon, but it's worth a quick look before moving on to less convenient steps.
2
Check the battery cover. In most cases, you'll be able to find the phone's serial number on the inside of the cover that protects the battery. While you'll have to remove this cover to view the serial number, you won't have to disassemble or damage your phone to do so; most flip phones' battery covers slide right off.^{[7]
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- Make sure your phone is off before removing the battery cover.
If your non-smartphone has a "MENU" or "SETTINGS" key, press it, then find the ABOUT or INFO item and select it. You may be able to find your serial number here by using the arrow keys to scroll down.
If you still have receipt or packaging from when you purchased the phone, look for the serial number on the sticker or at the bottom of the receipt.
5
Look up your phone on your account. If you use a traditional carrier such as Verizon Wireless or AT&T (e.g., not a pay-as-you-go plan), you can usually find information about your specific phone by logging into the carrier's website and viewing your account.^{[8]
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- You'll usually need to have an email address and a password in order to log in. If you don't know these credentials, consider calling your local carrier to find out what your login information is.
6
Call your local carrier branch and ask for the serial number. In the event that you can't find the serial number on the phone, its packaging, or your online account, you can call your closest carrier branch and ask for the serial number.
- In order for the branch to provide you with the number, you will have to provide some combination of your name, your date of birth, a PIN, the last four digits of your SSN, and/or your ID number.
7
Contact the phone manufacturer. If you still haven't found the number you're looking for, contact the company who made your phone to find out where it is located. In this case, be sure to contact the manufacturer, not the service provider.
- Samsung and Lumia are examples of phone manufacturers, while AT&T and Sprint are examples of service providers.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I find a stolen device if I have all the system information?

Community Answer

If it has been stolen, go to the Apple Store, and they will be able to track it for you.

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Where is the IP address located on an Android cell phone?

Community Answer

Go into your settings, then go to "about phone." It should be at the bottom of that page.

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I just lost my phone, but do not have a serial number. Is there another way to find it?

Community Answer

If it's an Android phone, you can try logging into your Google account on a computer. Your serial number should show up under "My devices."

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Tips

If you take your smartphone in to have it serviced or replaced, your carrier rep may ask for your phone's IMEI, ESN, or MEID number. This number is different than the serial number, but is usually found in the same menu (e.g., the "About" section on an iPhone or the "About phone" section on an Android).

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If all else fails and you do need to take your phone apart, the serial number is usually listed in one of the following places:
- On the battery, underneath the back cover
- Behind the battery
- In the SIM card holder, visible after removing the SIM card
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Warnings

Some phones may display the serial number in writing on the back of the phone's casing, leading to the serial number wearing off over time. If so, you'll need to find your phone's manual or original packaging to determine its serial number.

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