Buying usedFor buyers5 min read

Checklist for buying a used phone

Before you pay for a used phone: match and check the IMEI on Sanchar Saathi, make sure account locks are off, test every feature and get a bill with the IMEI.

In short

Dial *#06#, check that the IMEI matches the box and bill, and check it on Sanchar Saathi before you pay.
Make sure the seller's Google, Apple or brand account has been removed, then test every feature yourself.
Get a bill or written record with the IMEI, the price, the date and the seller's details.

01Check the IMEI first

01
Read it from the phone
Dial *#06#. Dual-SIM phones show two IMEIs. You can also find them in Settings > About phone on Android or Settings > General > About on iPhone.
02
Match it to the box and bill
The IMEI on the box label and on the bill should match the phone exactly. If they do not, the box or bill belongs to another phone. Ask why, or walk away.
03
Check it with Sanchar Saathi
Send an SMS to 14422 in the format KYM <15-digit IMEI>, or use the Sanchar Saathi app or the Know Your Mobile check on sancharsaathi.gov.in. On a dual-SIM phone, check both IMEIs.
04
Read the result
The reply shows the brand and model registered to that IMEI. If they do not match the phone in your hand, or the status says blacklisted, duplicate or already in use, the official advice is not to buy it.

02Make sure account locks are off

A phone still linked to its old owner's account can lock you out after a reset, and there may be no way back in without them. Check this before any money changes hands.

iPhone: the seller should open Settings, tap their name and tap Sign Out, which turns off Find My and Activation Lock, and then erase the phone.
Android: the seller should remove their Google account, plus their Samsung account on a Galaxy phone or their Xiaomi account on a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phone, and then factory reset it.

03Test everything before you pay

Screen: no dead pixels, lines, patches or burn-in. Look at a plain white image and a plain black one.
Touch: drag an app icon slowly into every corner and along every edge.
Cameras: every rear lens, the front camera, zoom, focus and the flash.
Speakers and microphones: make a call, try speakerphone, record a voice note and play it back.
Charging: charge with a cable and check that the plug sits firmly in the port.
Signal and connections: put your SIM in and make a call, connect to Wi-Fi and pair Bluetooth earbuds.
Fingerprint reader or Face ID: set it up and use it several times.
Buttons, vibration and the SIM tray.
Battery health, where the phone shows it. The battery guide explains where to look.

04Look for replaced parts and water damage

On an iPhone XR, XS or later, including the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation), go to Settings > General > About. If the phone has been repaired, a Parts and Service History section lists replaced parts, such as the battery, display or cameras, depending on the model.

What the labels mean

Genuine: the repair used Apple parts and processes.
Unknown: the part may not be genuine, or may not be working as expected.
Used: the part was previously installed in another iPhone.

Android phones rarely show a repair history. Look for gaps, glue or uneven edges around the screen, colours that look dull or tinted, and an in-display fingerprint reader that is slow or fails, which can happen after a cheap screen replacement.

For water damage, shine a torch into the SIM tray slot of an iPhone that has one. The liquid contact indicator inside is normally white or silver and turns red after contact with water. On any phone, look for fogging under the camera glass, rust or green deposits in the charging port or SIM tray, and crackling speakers.

05Get the paperwork

A bill or written record with the IMEI, model, price and date
The seller's name, address and phone number, or the shop's details
The original box with a matching IMEI, if it is available
Any warranty that is left, and whether it passes to you

The seller has no bill. Should I walk away?

Not always, but be more careful. Check the IMEI on Sanchar Saathi, ask how they came to own the phone, and write down their name, phone number and the IMEI on a note you both sign.

Is buying from a shop safer than buying from a person?

A shop gives you an address to go back to if something goes wrong. Ask about returns or a warranty before you pay, and get the answer written on the bill. It does not replace your own checks.

If the shop bought the phone through Recashy, it has a locked purchase record for it, with the IMEI, the seller's verified mobile number and the seller's declaration that the phone was theirs and not stolen.