How do I know the production date of my mobile?
There can be various reasons for wanting to know how to see how old your phone is. For example, you may want to know how long its warranty is still valid, or you want to resell it, and this information is needed for potential buyers. Some manufacturers may also stop releasing updates for older versions of their mobile devices over time, so finding out the age of your phone is useful to ensure you won't be left without technical support. Another important reason to explore this topic is to understand whether the market still has the necessary parts and components if your mobile device needs repairs.
How to Check How Old My Phone Is?
There are several reliable ways to find out the production date of your gadget, both universal and specific to iPhone or Android phones. So, how to tell how old your phone is?
Original box
Obviously, the easiest way is to take the original packaging from the manufacturer (you didn't throw it away after purchase, did you?) and look for the manufacture date there. If this information is not in the phone manual or warranty card, it will be on the sticker on the box, next to the serial number. This method is reliable, except in cases where you've thrown away the original box or bought a used phone and cannot be sure the packaging offered is original since the box could have been replaced. Therefore, let’s consider other ways to find out the phone production date.
Phone's IMEI number
It is also a simple method. Follow these steps:
- Dial *#06# on the keypad to find the IMEI number.
- Go to the IMEIcheck.net service and enter this number in the appropriate verification field.
- Then press the “Check IMEI” button.
In response to your query, the online resource will provide information about the manufacture date of your phone. You will also learn other interesting details about your gadget: specifications, warranty status, and so on. Even if you don’t have a technical or urgent need to know your phone’s age, it’s simply an interesting and easy procedure. Try it. Plus, it’s free!
In most cases, the IMEI or serial number of the phone is enough to find out when it was manufactured. The simplest way is to dial *#06# on the keypad and press the call button. But if that doesn’t work, there are a few other methods:
- You can see the phone's serial number in the "Settings” > “About this device” section.
- It may be indicated on a sticker on the phone itself (although rarely anyone leaves such stickers on a phone).
- Check it using specialized apps.
There are also a few specific options that only work for iPhones or only for Android.
Analyzing the serial number (for iPhone)
You can find out the manufacturing year of an iPhone using the serial number. Look for the serial number in the settings, or connect the iPhone to iTunes on your Mac, and in the “Connected Devices” — “Properties” section, you will find the technical parameters and the serial number of the phone. Now enter this number on the IMEIcheck service — and all the needed information will be available instantly.
Phone settings (for select Android models)
Android users can also see the serial number and IMEI in the Settings, and using this data, check the manufacture year of the phone. In some models, the release date of the gadget is indicated right there, but in most Android phones, only the serial number and IMEI for each SIM card slot are specified separately.
Entering special codes (for Android devices)
You can access hidden information on the phone using special codes. Enter them — and you will get the device details on the screen. For example:
- #197328640#
- ##197328640##
- *#0000#
After entering such codes, a service menu should open, helping you find more information about the phone, including the manufacture date. Note that special codes do not work on all phone models. Sometimes, the service code for displaying hidden information about the phone is quite specific, and it can be found on Google. Enter the query "code to find the production date of the phone model (device model name)." If none of the codes worked, the manufacturer has not provided for such a technical possibility. In that case, use the other methods listed above to find the information you need.
Using an application
How to check how old is my phone if none of the above methods worked? In this case, you can use additional third-party programs that allow you to access information about the technical parameters of your specific phone, as well as its age.
- For Android, you can download the Phone INFO app (or its trusted alternatives) from Google Play. In the “Production Information” section of such an app, you will see the manufacturing date of the phone you are using.
- For iPhone and Mac, the CoconutBattery program is suitable. Install this software on a Mac, connect the iPhone to it, and select the "Detailed Information" option. Here are hidden data about the manufacturing year of your Apple phone.
So, depending on the brands, the methods for finding manufacture date information may differ. For some phone models, this data will be easy to find, while in certain cases, you will need to make some effort and experiment with entering codes or installing additional apps. But you will not be left without the necessary data — one or more methods will definitely work for your phone.
