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Buying used phones

How to tell if a used iPhone is blacklisted

A blacklisted iPhone cannot be activated on most networks. Here is how to check before you pay, and what to do if you already bought one.

By Peter | Published | Last updated | 3 min read

Illustration of a phone next to a shield with a check mark

A phone can look perfect and still be useless. If it is blacklisted, carriers will refuse to put it on their network, even with a new SIM card. This guide shows how to find out before you hand over money.

What “blacklisted” means

Every phone has a unique number called the IMEI. When a phone is reported lost or stolen, or when its owner stops paying for it under certain plans, the carrier can add that IMEI to a blocklist. Carriers share these lists, so the phone can be blocked on more than one network.

A blacklisted phone usually still turns on and works on Wi-Fi. It just cannot make calls or use mobile data on most networks.

Step 1: Get the IMEI

Ask the seller for the IMEI before you meet. You can also dial *#06# on the phone to see it. It is also in Settings, then General, then About. Do not accept a photo of a box or a screenshot of someone else’s phone. The number must come from the phone you are buying. Our guide on finding your IMEI shows every method.

Step 2: Run a check

Use an IMEI checker. Our free IMEI check tells you the model and carrier lock status. A full report adds deeper checks, such as blacklist status. You can pay for the full report before you buy, which is cheaper than buying a phone you cannot use.

Read the result carefully:

  • The model should match what the seller told you.
  • The carrier lock status tells you if it is locked to a network.
  • A blacklist or “lost or stolen” flag means walk away.

Step 3: Check the phone in person

A report is only as good as the IMEI you typed. At the meeting:

  • Dial *#06# and compare the number with the one you checked.
  • Compare it with the number printed in Settings and on the SIM tray.
  • Make sure the phone is signed out of the previous owner’s account. If you see an Activation Lock screen, do not buy it. We cannot remove Activation Lock and nobody honest can promise to.

Step 4: Ask the right questions

  • Is the phone fully paid off? Phones on unpaid plans can get blocked later.
  • Why is the seller selling?
  • Can I insert my SIM and make a call before I pay?

If the seller refuses a quick check, that tells you something too.

Blacklisted vs carrier locked

These are different problems. A carrier lock means the phone only accepts one network’s SIM. That is often fixable: ask the carrier, or see our carrier unlock service. A blacklist means the phone is blocked because of a report on that IMEI. We do not unlock lost, stolen or blacklisted phones, and we refuse them.

What if you already bought one?

  • Contact the seller and ask for a refund. Keep all messages.
  • If you paid through a marketplace or card, use their buyer protection and report the issue quickly.
  • Do not try to change the IMEI. That is illegal in many places and will not fix the problem.
  • If you think the phone was reported by mistake, the original owner or carrier is the one who can clear it.

Quick summary

Get the IMEI from the phone, run a check, compare numbers in person, and test with your own SIM before paying. Checking costs far less than a phone you cannot use. If the check shows a lost or stolen flag, do not buy it.

Carrier rules change, so check your carrier’s current policy if you have questions about blocks and unlocks. The official pages are linked in our guides for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

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