How can I tell if an iPhone is refurbished?

Open Settings, tap General, then About, and look at the code next to Model Number. If that part number starts with F, the iPhone was refurbished by Apple or a carrier; M means it was first sold new. That letter only catches Apple and carrier refurbishment. An iPhone refurbished by Back Market, Amazon Renewed or another independent refurbisher usually still starts with M, so for those the Parts and Service History screen tells you more.

How do I find the part number?

1. Open the Settings app, then tap General.
2. Tap About.
3. To the right of Model Number you see the part number, a code such as MN572LL/A.

Tapping the part number switches it to the model number, which identifies the iPhone model rather than its history. The steps are from Apple's page on finding the model number of your iPhone.

What does the first letter mean?

Apple doesn't publish this code. Its support pages explain where the part number is but not what the letter means. The meanings above come from long-standing answers on Apple's Community forum, written by users rather than Apple staff. How-To Geek's guide to checking whether an iPhone was refurbished gives the same meanings, including F for a phone refurbished by Apple or a carrier. Still, treat the letter as a strong hint, not an official label.

Why does my refurbished iPhone start with M?

Because Apple didn't refurbish it. The letter reflects how Apple sold the phone, so a phone refurbished outside Apple and the carriers keeps the letter it had when new. One owner on Apple's forum reported exactly this with an iPhone 12 Pro bought as renewed from a third-party seller: the part number still started with M.

So an M on a phone you bought as refurbished is normal. An F on a phone sold to you as new is not, and you should ask the seller about it.

What does Parts and Service History show?

If an iPhone has been repaired, a Parts and Service History section appears in Settings > General > About, after the serial number. It needs iOS 15.2 or later. Apple explains each label on its iPhone Parts and Service History page:

• Genuine: the repair used genuine Apple parts and processes.
• Unknown: the part may be nongenuine, not working as expected, or not yet verified after the repair.
• Used: the part was already installed in another iPhone.
• Unverified: the logic board was replaced during a repair.

The parts it tracks depend on the model. iPhone 12 and later list the battery, display, logic board and front and rear cameras. iPhone 11 models list the battery and display, and the iPhone XR, XS, XS Max and SE (2nd and 3rd generation) list the battery only.

No section at all means no repair of a tracked part has been recorded. A third-party refurbished iPhone whose original parts passed testing can look the same, so this screen tells you what was replaced, not whether the phone is refurbished.

Can the serial number help?

Yes, for warranty status. Copy the serial number from Settings > General > About and enter it at checkcoverage.apple.com to see the device's warranty and AppleCare coverage. Apple explains what the result shows on its page about finding your warranty or AppleCare plan. A phone sold as new should have a full warranty ahead of it. If the coverage ends soon or has already expired, someone used the phone before you.

What about the box?

Apple says its refurbished iPhones come with a new battery, a new outer shell and a one-year limited warranty, packed in a brand-new white box with all accessories and cables. Other refurbishers use their own packaging, so a plain box proves little either way.

What if a "new" iPhone turns out to be refurbished?

Contact the seller and ask for a refund or exchange under their return policy. If you bought it as refurbished, the letter matters less than the warranty and the battery. Apple units get a new battery, while other sellers test the old one, as our page on whether refurbished iPhones get a new battery explains.

While you are in the About screen, also check that the iPhone is unlocked and run the IMEI through a blacklist check. To buy only Apple-refurbished stock, filter for Apple Store listings on RefurbMe.