How to Verify a Phone Before Buying: IMEI, PTA, Account Lock and Battery

12 Oct 2026 · 3 min read

You've found a good deal and you're meeting the seller. Before any money changes hands, spend 10 minutes running these checks. They work for iPhones and Android phones alike, and they're the same checks a good shop does.

Step 1: Get the real IMEI

Dial \*#06# on the phone. The IMEI number (15 digits) appears on screen. Dual-SIM phones show two.

Compare it with the IMEI printed on the box.
Compare it with Settings > About phone (Android) or Settings > General > About (iPhone).

All three must match. If the box has a different number, the box belongs to another phone, which is a common trick to make a phone look genuine.

Step 2: Check PTA status

Send the IMEI by SMS to 8484, or check it on PTA's DIRBS website. The reply tells you whether the phone is approved, blocked or unregistered.

Compliant / approved: works with any SIM, permanently.
Non-compliant / not registered: will stop working on Pakistani SIMs unless tax is paid.

Read the full difference in PTA approved vs non-PTA phones.

Step 3: Make sure it isn't stolen

Ask for the original purchase receipt or the box. Be very careful if the seller has neither, wants to meet somewhere dark or rushed, or the price is far below every other ad. Our guide on how to check a stolen phone in Pakistan covers the warning signs.

Step 4: Check the account lock

This is the check most buyers forget, and the one that hurts most.

iPhone: go to Settings and tap the name at the top. If someone's Apple ID is signed in, ask the seller to sign out and turn off Find My in front of you, then erase the phone.
Android: go to Settings > Accounts. The seller should remove their Google account, then factory reset.

A phone that's still locked to the old owner's account can't be set up by you, and the seller may be unreachable afterwards.

Step 5: Check battery health

iPhone: Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Above 85% is good; below 80% will need a new battery soon.
Android: many Samsung, Xiaomi and Infinix phones show it in Settings > Battery or Device care. If not, watch how fast the percentage drops while you use the camera for a few minutes.

Step 6: Test the hardware

Insert your own SIM and make a call. Then test the speaker, both cameras, the charging port, fingerprint or Face ID, Wi-Fi and the buttons. Look at the screen on a white background for spots or lines.

Quick checklist to save

IMEI on screen, box and settings all match
8484 says PTA approved
Box or receipt present
iCloud or Google account signed out
Battery health checked
SIM, calls, cameras, speaker and charging work

For a longer list, see our 12-point used phone checklist.