How to check phone warranty on iPhone, Samsung and Pixel

Knowing your warranty status before something breaks saves money. It tells you whether a battery fault, a dead speaker or a screen that flickers on its own will be fixed for free, or whether you should shop around. It also matters when you buy a used phone, since some of the original coverage may remain. This guide shows the quickest check for each brand, explains what a warranty does and does not cover and lists what to do if the coverage has ended.

Step 1: find the serial number or IMEI

• iPhone: Settings › General › About shows the Serial Number and IMEI.
• Samsung and Pixel: Settings › About phone shows the serial number and IMEI, sometimes under Status information.
• Without the phone: use the box, the receipt, your online order or the account on the maker's site.

Dial *#06# to see the IMEI on any phone. There are more ways in how to find an IMEI number.

How to check iPhone warranty status

How to check Samsung warranty

Samsung's US support site has a warranty lookup where you enter your product's serial number or IMEI, and the Samsung Members app can show coverage for phones registered to your account. Samsung also gives Care+ plans through its own and partner channels, and those have separate terms. Menu and page names change, so search for warranty on Samsung's US support page if you do not see a link. If you bought the phone from a carrier, the carrier may handle the first-year claims. Keep the receipt, because proof of purchase date is often needed.

How to check Google Pixel warranty

Google's Store support pages let you check a Pixel's warranty status by IMEI or serial number. You can also sign in to your Google Account and open the device details, where the warranty or Preferred Care status appears for phones bought from Google. Pixels bought from a carrier or a retailer usually need the original receipt to prove the date. A Pixel may also show repair options and Google-approved providers in Settings, depending on the version.

What a phone warranty covers

• Covered: manufacturing defects such as a dead pixel line, a faulty battery that fails early, a speaker or microphone that stops working, or a camera that fails without damage.
• Usually not covered: drops, cracks, liquid damage, unauthorized repairs, theft, loss and normal wear.
• Battery: most warranties cover a battery that falls below a set capacity, such as 80 percent for Apple, within the warranty period.

Extended coverage and other ways to be covered

For a wider comparison, see whether phone insurance is worth it.

Checking warranty when you buy a used or refurbished phone

Ask the seller for the serial number and run the check yourself. A used phone may still have part of the original warranty left, and a manufacturer-refurbished one often has its own new warranty. Check that the phone's status is not marked as replaced, and compare the date with what the seller says. Be careful if the lookup says the serial number is invalid or shows a different model, since that can mean the phone is fake or has been tampered with. For the whole checklist, read how to buy a used phone.

How to make a warranty claim

What can void a phone warranty?

A warranty does not disappear because you used a third-party case or changed a setting. It can be limited by damage that the maker says caused the fault: liquid damage, a cracked frame, signs of an unauthorized repair or opening, and use of non-genuine parts that damaged the phone. In the US, a store or maker generally has to show that your action caused the problem before refusing a claim for something unrelated. If a claim is denied, ask for the reason in writing and the part of the terms that applies.

Liquid contact indicators inside the phone are one thing makers use to judge water damage. Even phones that are rated for water resistance are not covered for liquid damage under most standard warranties, because the rating fades as seals age. If your phone got wet, see what to do if your phone gets wet before you contact the maker.

Does the warranty depend on where you bought the phone?

Mostly no. The maker's limited warranty applies to a new phone no matter where it was bought, but you may need the retailer or carrier's proof of purchase to show the start date. Phones bought from a carrier on a payment plan can have the same maker warranty, and the carrier may also offer its own return window. Gray-market phones, those imported from another country, can have a limited or no warranty in the US, and the lookup may show a different region. Check this before you buy a phone that is much cheaper than the same model at a US store.

If you bought your phone from a carrier and want to switch networks, remember that warranty and carrier lock are separate things. A phone can be under warranty and still locked, see how to tell if a phone is unlocked.

What to do if your warranty has ended