Manual used-device checklist

Why some checks are by hand

Some things a browser can never read: the IMEI, an iCloud or Google account lock, battery wear, replaced parts, the health of the drive. These are often the most expensive faults in a used device, so this checklist sits alongside the automatic tests. Each item gives the settings path so you can look on the device yourself.

The most serious problems

• An iCloud or Google account still signed in: after a factory reset, the device locks and is unusable without the previous owner's password.
• An IMEI that differs from the box or SIM tray: the board may have been replaced, the device may be assembled from parts, or its origin is unclear.
• "Unknown part" warnings (iPhone): a non-genuine screen, battery or camera. The device still works but is worth less and may lose some features.
• Laptops: a drive with many errors, loose hinges, or cracks in the case around the hinges.

After the checklist

• For anything that fails, ask the seller or use it to negotiate. An iCloud or Google account still signed in is a reason not to buy.
• Save the PDF report as a record of the condition when you received the device.
• Detailed guides by device: iPhone, Android, laptop, MacBook.
• Selling or sending it for repair: see before you sell and before a repair.