IMEI check and activation lock: the two checks in your first 10 minutes
3 min read
The box is open and the phone is in your hand. Before the SIM goes in, run an IMEI check. Two checks decide whether the device is usable.
Check 1: match the IMEI
The IMEI is a 15-digit, device-bound serial number, shown by dialling *#06# (Bundespolizei, in German).
Compare four things: screen, box, invoice, and the listing you bought from. All four matching means you got the device sold to you.
That's all it proves. A matching IMEI says nothing about the phone's history, and there's nowhere to look that up: Germany has no free, central database where private buyers can check an IMEI against theft records (Talk-Point, in German). O2 treats the IMEI as police-report material, not a buyer's blocklist.
Check 2: activation lock check
If an iPhone is still tied to the previous owner's Apple Account, it shows "iPhone Locked to Owner" at power-on instead of the normal setup. Apple's advice: skip a device while activation lock is on. Apple's own checker for this went offline in 2017 (MacRumors).
Android is different. Factory Reset Protection turns on automatically once a Google account is added, and after a factory reset it asks for that account's password again (Google). So FRP stays invisible until a reset happens. Samsung suggests buyers confirm the previous owner's account was really removed.
It passes when setup reaches the home screen without a stranger's password.
If a check fails
Don't try to fix it yourself. Contact the seller in writing before you use the device further. In Germany nobody acquires ownership of stolen goods, not even in good faith (Verbraucherzentrale, in German). What you can demand from the seller is in our refurbished warranty guide.
If the phone has to go back, the next option looks like this: the Apple iPhone 13 mini 256GB grün with 256GB in asgoodasnew's "sehr gut" grade at 369,00 € (as of 13.08.2026). Our condition grades explainer covers those labels.
Apple iPhone 13 mini 256GB grün
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I display the IMEI?
Dial `*#06#` on the keypad, SIM or no SIM. The 15-digit number appears at once, and it's also on the box label.
Can I check an IMEI for theft online?
Free and reliable: no. Germany has no central lookup for private buyers. That leaves matching box and invoice, plus the police if something looks wrong.
How do I spot an active activation lock?
On the first screen. An iPhone showing "iPhone Locked to Owner" instead of normal setup is still attached to the previous owner's Apple Account.
Is FRP the same as activation lock?
No. Apple's lock belongs to Find My and shows at power-on. Google's Factory Reset Protection only appears after a factory reset.
