Buying a used iPhone Duo: checks before you pay

iPhoneUpdated

Before you pay for a used iPhone Duo, turn it on and check it isn't locked to the seller's Apple Account, look at its Parts and Service History, and check its coverage with the serial number. Apple says don't take any used iPhone that's protected by Activation Lock or hasn't been erased.

Quick answer

Turn the phone on. An "iPhone Locked to Owner" screen means Activation Lock is on, so don't buy it. A Lock Screen or Home Screen means it hasn't been erased. You want the Hello screen. Then check Settings > General > About for Parts and Service History, and enter the serial number at checkcoverage.apple.com.

How do you check Activation Lock on a used iPhone Duo?

Apple says that before you buy an iPhone from someone other than Apple, make sure it's been erased and is no longer linked to the previous owner's account. Activation Lock is what links it. Apple says that while it's on, the owner's Apple Account password is needed before anyone can turn off Find My, erase the phone or reactivate and use it.

Apple's steps, with the seller there:

  1. Turn on or wake the phone. On iOS 15 or later, an "iPhone Locked to Owner" screen means it's protected by Activation Lock. Apple says don't take ownership of it.
  2. If the passcode Lock Screen or the Home Screen appears, it hasn't been erased. Ask the seller to erase it completely before you take it.
  3. Start the setup. If you're asked for the previous owner's Apple Account details, the phone is still linked to them. Hand it back and ask them to enter their password.
  4. If the previous owner isn't there, Apple says to contact them and ask them to remove the phone from their account using a browser. Don't take it until they have.
  5. The Hello screen means the phone is ready for you.

iPhone Duo runs iOS 27, so the "iPhone Locked to Owner" screen applies. More on how the lock works is in Find My and Activation Lock on iPhone Duo.

What does Parts and Service History show?

It shows whether the phone has been repaired and with what. Apple says that with iOS 15.2 and later you'll find it in Settings > General > About, and that if you sell or give away an iPhone, the new owner can see the repair history too.

Apple's table lists six parts for iPhone Duo: battery, display, logic board, front camera, rear cameras and Touch ID. Next to a part you may see:

  • Genuine: the repair used genuine Apple parts and processes.
  • Unknown: for example, the part was replaced with a non-genuine part, or isn't working as expected. Apple says an Unknown part might affect the trade-in value.
  • Unverified: the logic board was previously replaced. Apple says this may affect some features, such as Apple Pay.
  • Used: the part was already used or installed in another iPhone.

There's a second reason to look. Apple says Activation Lock can also protect individual parts. A part taken from a device that was protected by Activation Lock when the part was removed isn't eligible for service under the Apple Limited Warranty or an AppleCare plan.

How do you check the warranty and AppleCare coverage?

Get the serial number first. Apple says it's in Settings > General > About, and on the barcode label of the original box, along with the IMEI. On iPhone 14 models and later, Apple says there's no IMEI engraved on the phone.

Then enter the serial number at checkcoverage.apple.com, Apple's coverage page, which shows the device's coverage and benefits.

Once the phone is yours, Apple says you can also check in Settings > General > AppleCare & Warranty, then tap your device. Apple's iPhone repair pages say the Apple Limited Warranty covers a device against manufacturing issues for one year from the date it was bought, and doesn't cover accidental damage.

Does AppleCare+ move to you with the phone?

Sometimes. Apple says a seller may be able to transfer an AppleCare plan to a new owner by contacting Apple Support with the agreement number, serial number, proof of coverage and the original sales receipt, plus your name and contact details.

There's a catch Apple spells out. If the plan is paid monthly or annually and is already linked to an Apple Account, it can't be transferred to a new owner. Apple's UK and US AppleCare pages list AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss for iPhone Duo as monthly or annual plans, so ask the seller which plan they have before you count on it. Prices are in AppleCare+ for iPhone Duo.

How do you move your number onto a used iPhone Duo?

With an eSIM. Apple says iPhone Duo is activated with an eSIM and doesn't support a physical SIM, so there's no card to swap in.

Apple's eSIM page lists the ways, depending on what your network supports:

  1. eSIM Quick Transfer from your old iPhone. Both phones need iOS 18.4 or later, signed in to your Apple Account, nearby with Bluetooth on, and the old one unlocked. In Settings > Mobile, tap Set Up Mobile or Add eSIM, choose the plan to transfer, or tap Transfer From Nearby iPhone, then follow the steps on your old iPhone.
  2. Network provider activation, where your provider assigns the eSIM.
  3. A QR code from your network provider.

Apple says that when the mobile plan on your new iPhone activates, it deactivates your previous SIM.

What should the seller do before handing it over?

Apple's checklist for selling an iPhone covers it: back up, unpair any Apple Watch, sign out of their Apple Account, then go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Apple says erasing turns off Find My and Activation Lock, and for a phone that uses eSIM, to choose the option to erase the device and the eSIM profile.

Apple also says to turn off Stolen Device Protection before you sell, give away or trade in an iPhone. Away from familiar locations, turning it off starts an hour's security delay, so a seller meeting you somewhere new may need to do it beforehand.

What should you do once it's yours?

The NCSC's advice for second-hand phones is to erase the previous owner's data, or factory reset it, before you use it, and to accept automatic updates and a screen lock when you're prompted. It also suggests switching on automatic backups. Then set the phone up as your own, with your own passcode, Touch ID and Find My. Our iPhone Duo setup guide has the order.

Buying online? Our iPhone Duo scams page covers what the FTC, NCSC and Report Fraud warn about.

Where Failshot fits

A used Duo becomes yours the moment it's erased and set up with your passcode. Your passcode is the first layer. Failshot is the second.

Failshot for iPhone is coming soon. When it's out, you'll turn it on, leave Failshot open on its own screen and lock your iPhone, and whoever unlocks it into Failshot will be photographed. Get early access and we'll email you when Failshot for iPhone is ready.

Failshot for Mac is out now, for macOS 14 or later.

More questions

What does "iPhone Locked to Owner" mean on a used iPhone Duo?

Apple says that screen appears when you turn on or wake an iPhone on iOS 15 or later that's protected by Activation Lock. The phone is still linked to someone's Apple Account. Apple's advice is not to take ownership of it.

Can the seller remove Activation Lock remotely?

Yes. Apple says if the previous owner isn't present, contact them and ask them to use a browser to remove the device from their account. Don't take the phone until it has been removed from their account and you reach the Hello screen.

Does a used iPhone Duo need a new SIM card?

No. Apple says iPhone Duo is activated with an eSIM and doesn't support a physical SIM. You move your number across with eSIM Quick Transfer, your network's activation or a QR code from your network.

How can I tell if a used iPhone Duo has had its screen replaced?

Go to Settings > General > About and look for Parts and Service History. Apple lists the display among the parts it reports on for iPhone Duo, labelled Genuine, Unknown or Used, depending on the repair.

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