Buying a used phone from a private seller? What to photograph at the meet-up, in case it turns out locked, faulty or not as described
Updated · 4 min read
When you buy a used phone from a private seller, check it in person and take dated photos before you pay: every side of the phone, the screen switched on, the About screen with the model and IMEI or serial number, the battery health screen, and the box and accessories. Keep the listing and the chat too. If the phone later turns out to be locked, faulty or different from the listing, you have a record of what you were shown and what was promised.
Photos do not settle a dispute and they do not make a bad phone good: the checks matter more than the pictures, and a private sale often carries few or no promises, especially if it is sold as seen. If anything feels wrong, the safest answer is to walk away before paying. This is general advice, not legal advice.
Which photos should I take at the meet-up?
1. The phone from the front, back and all four edges, with the screen off and then on, so scratches, dents and cracks show.
2. The screen on a plain white or bright image, to show dead pixels, burn-in or marks.
3. The About screen (on an iPhone, Settings > General > About), showing the model, storage, serial number and IMEI. Compare the number with the one on the box or the SIM tray if it has one.
4. The battery screen. On an iPhone, Settings > Battery > Battery Health shows maximum capacity on many models; where it is on the screen depends on your iOS version and the model.
5. The box, charger, cable and anything else the seller promised.
6. Anything you point out to the seller as a flaw, close up.
What should I check on the phone itself?
- That it is not tied to the seller: the seller should have signed out of their Apple Account or Google account and turned off Find My (or its Android equivalent) before you pay, and an iPhone should start up at the setup screen after it is erased. If it asks for the previous owner's account, do not buy.
- That it is not network-locked if it was advertised as unlocked: put your own SIM in and make a call.
- That the camera, speakers, microphone, charging port, buttons and Face ID or fingerprint work.
- That the IMEI on the screen matches the box or the tray.
Meet in a busy public place, in daylight, and take your time. A seller who refuses to let you check is a warning sign.
What about the seller and the payment?
Keep the listing (a screenshot with the date), the chat, the seller's name and a way to reach them, and a written receipt with the price, the model and the serial number or IMEI. Prefer a payment method that leaves a trace, and be careful with cash for an expensive phone. A buyer's protection on a marketplace or payment service, where it exists, has its own rules and time limits, so read them before you pay.
What should I write down?
- The date, time and place of the meet-up.
- What the seller said about the phone: battery, repairs, a replaced screen, unlocked or not, warranty.
- The model, storage and IMEI or serial number you saw on the screen.
- The price paid and how.
- Any flaw you noticed and whether the seller accepted it at the time.
What if it goes wrong afterwards?
Message the seller in writing, calmly, with your photos from the meet-up, and say what is different from what was shown or promised. Whether you can get a refund depends on what was agreed, the platform and the law where you live, and for a private sale it can be hard. A clear record of how the phone looked and what you were told helps, but it does not guarantee a refund.
How do I show when my photos were made?
The iPhone Camera saves the date and time inside each photo, but a chat app or an email may strip it. Check that your phone's date and time are set automatically so the saved time is right. A date printed on the image itself stays visible wherever the picture goes.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I photograph when I buy a used phone in person?
- The phone from every side, the screen on, the About screen with the model and IMEI or serial number, the battery health screen, the box and accessories, and the seller's details, before you pay.
- How do I check a used iPhone is not locked to the previous owner?
- Ask the seller to sign out of their Apple Account, turn off Find My and erase the phone in front of you. It should then start at the setup screen. If it asks for the previous owner's account, do not buy it.
- Where do I find the IMEI on an iPhone?
- In Settings > General > About. It is also printed on the box and, on some models, on the SIM tray. Check that they match.
- Can I get a refund if the phone is not as described?
- It depends on what was agreed, the platform or payment service and the law where you live, and a private sale can offer little protection. Photos and the chat help you explain, but they do not guarantee a refund.
- Is it safe to pay in cash for a used phone?
- Cash leaves no trace and little recourse. Prefer a payment that leaves a record, meet in a busy public place, and walk away if the seller will not let you check the phone.