To buy a used phone safely in the UK, check the IMEI against a stolen-phone database before you pay, make sure the phone is not linked to the seller’s Apple or Google account (Activation Lock or Factory Reset Protection), and test it in person before money changes hands. A phone that is blocked or still locked to someone else’s account may never work for you, however good it looks.
Here is the full checklist, in the order you will need it.
Before you meet the seller
Ask for the IMEI number
Every phone has a unique 15-digit IMEI number. Ask the seller to send it before you agree to meet. They can find it by dialling *#06#, or in the phone’s settings (on iPhone: Settings, General, About; on Android: Settings, About phone). It may also be printed on the original box.
A seller with nothing to hide will send it straight away. If they refuse or make excuses, that tells you enough.
Run an IMEI check
In the UK, the main networks share information about phones reported lost or stolen. A blocked phone cannot connect to UK mobile networks, so it will not make calls or use mobile data on a UK SIM.
Paid services such as CheckMEND search police, network and insurance records and can show whether a phone has been reported stolen, blocked by a network, claimed on insurance or still has finance owing. A single online check is inexpensive, at the time of writing around £2. Free IMEI checkers exist too, but they often show only basic model details.
Check that the model in the result matches the advert. A mismatch can mean a fake or a phone with a swapped IMEI.
Agree the details in writing
Confirm the model, storage, colour, condition, whether it is network unlocked and what is included, all in our on-site chat. This gives you a record if anything is different on the day.
Activation Lock and FRP: the check that matters most
Both Apple and Google build in anti-theft locks that tie a phone to its owner’s account. This is the biggest trap in second-hand phones.
iPhone: Activation Lock
When Find My is switched on, an iPhone is linked to the owner’s Apple Account. Even after it is erased, it will ask for that account’s password before it can be set up again. Apple’s own advice for buying a preowned iPhone is simple: if it is Activation Locked, do not buy it.
- If the phone shows the lock screen, ask the seller to unlock it and erase it in front of you (Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings). They will need to enter their Apple Account password to turn Activation Lock off.
- If you see the “Hello” screen, the phone has been erased. Start setting it up. If it asks for the previous owner’s Apple Account, the lock is still on. Ask the seller to enter their password there and then.
- Do not accept “I’ll remove it from my account later”. If the seller is not there, you have no way to make them do it.
Android: Factory Reset Protection (FRP)
Android phones signed in to a Google account have Factory Reset Protection. After a reset, the phone asks for a Google account that was previously on it. Google warns that if you cannot provide this during setup, you will not be able to use the device at all. Samsung phones may have a similar lock linked to a Samsung account.
- Ask the seller to remove their Google account (and Samsung account, if used) in Settings before resetting.
- Then ask them to do a factory reset in front of you.
- Start setup. If it asks to verify a previous account, the lock is still active.
The safest outcome is a phone that reaches the setup screen and lets you sign in with your own account, with the seller standing next to you.
Checking the phone in person
Give yourself 10 to 15 minutes. A good seller will not mind.
Network lock
Since December 2021, UK mobile networks have not been allowed to sell locked phones, but older handsets and imported phones can still be locked. Bring your own SIM, put it in, and make a quick call. On iPhone, Settings, General, About should show “No SIM restrictions” next to Carrier Lock.
Battery health
On iPhone, go to Settings, Battery, Battery Health (on newer versions, Battery Health and Charging). It shows the maximum capacity compared with when it was new. A low figure means shorter battery life and a likely replacement cost. Many Android phones show battery health in Settings or a built-in diagnostics app, though this varies by brand.
Genuine parts
On recent iPhones, Settings, General, About may show a Parts and Service History section. A part marked “Unknown” may be non-genuine or badly fitted. That is not always a deal-breaker, but it should be reflected in the price.
Hardware test
- Screen: set it to a white background and look for dead pixels, discolouration or burn-in.
- Touch: drag an app icon slowly around the whole screen to check for dead spots.
- Face ID or fingerprint: set it up quickly with your own face or finger. A phone whose Face ID “doesn’t work” may have had a screen or camera repair.
- Cameras: take a photo and a short video with every rear lens and the front camera. Check focus and the flash.
- Speakers and microphone: record a voice memo and play it back.
- Buttons and ports: press every button, plug in a charger, and check the port for wobble.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: connect to your phone’s hotspot.
- Body: look for dents, cracks, gaps between screen and frame, or a bulging back, which can mean a swollen battery.
Box, receipt and proof of ownership
An original box with a matching IMEI, or a receipt in the seller’s name, is a good sign. It is not proof on its own, and plenty of honest sellers have lost the box, but it adds confidence. If the IMEI on the box does not match the phone, ask why.
Meeting and paying safely
- Meet in a busy public place with good lighting and phone signal, ideally with Wi-Fi so you can sign in. Many people use a café or a supermarket entrance.
- Bring someone with you, or tell a friend where you are going.
- Bring a charger or power bank and your own SIM.
- Only pay once all the checks are done and the phone is set up with your account.
- A bank transfer made in front of the seller leaves a record. Make sure the account name matches the seller.
- Never pay a deposit, and never pay for a phone to be posted to you by someone you met on a local classifieds site.
Our safe meet-up guide covers this in more detail, and how to avoid scams on classified ads explains the payment tricks to watch for.
Red flags
- Seller will not share the IMEI before meeting
- Price far below similar phones, with pressure to be quick
- Phone is “locked to my old account, I’ll remove it tonight”
- Phone is already “reset” but the seller will not let you set it up there
- Seller insists on meeting somewhere quiet, or at night
- IMEI in settings does not match the box or the IMEI they sent
- Seller has several identical phones and no clear story
If an ad looks like it involves a stolen phone, report it to us and do not go ahead.
Used phone checklist
- IMEI received and checked against a stolen-phone database
- Model and storage match the advert
- Seller signed out of Apple or Google account and erased the phone in front of me
- Phone sets up with my own account, no previous owner lock
- My SIM works and there are no network restrictions
- Battery health checked
- Screen, touch, Face ID or fingerprint, cameras, speakers, buttons and charging tested
- Paid only after all checks, by a traceable method
Looking for a handset? Browse phones on NextDealUK.
FAQs
How do I check if a used phone is stolen in the UK?
Ask for the IMEI and run it through a paid checking service that searches police, network and insurance records. Do this before you meet, and confirm the IMEI on the phone matches when you see it.
Can Activation Lock be removed if the seller has gone?
Not by you. Activation Lock can only be removed with the original owner’s Apple Account details, so the seller needs to do it. Apple advises not buying an Activation Locked iPhone.
Is it safe to buy a phone with a cracked screen?
It can be good value if the price reflects the repair cost and everything else works. Check that the touch screen responds everywhere and that Face ID still works, as some repairs can affect it.
Do I need the original box and receipt?
They are not essential, but they help. A box with a matching IMEI or a receipt in the seller’s name adds confidence. The IMEI check and account lock checks matter more.
