Your refurbished iPhone has arrived: a first-day checklist

The box is on the table. Before the phone disappears into daily life, a short routine confirms three things: it is the phone you ordered, everything on it works, and nothing from a previous owner is still attached to it. All of it fits into the first ten minutes, while the phone is charging.

1. Check the outside against the listing

• Model, storage and colour: Settings → General → About shows the model name and capacity.
• Cosmetic grade: compare the phone with the grade description on your order. Our condition grades page says what each grade allows.
• In the box: our phones ship with a charging cable. Chargers, earphones and SIM tools are not included unless the listing says so.

2. Confirm the IMEI

Dial *#06# or open Settings → General → About. The 15-digit IMEI should match the label on the box and, if you asked for it, the number on your order. This is the phone’s fingerprint; matching it is the surest sign you have the right device.

3. Make sure no one else is still signed in

A refurbished phone should arrive reset, at the “Hello” setup screen. If it instead asks for a previous owner’s Apple Account, activation lock is still on and the phone cannot be used: contact the seller straight away. Every phone we sell is reset and checked for activation lock before dispatch, so you should never see this screen; if you ever did, our support team would sort it out.

4. Confirm it is unlocked

Insert your SIM or add your eSIM. Then check Settings → General → About → Network Provider Lock: it should read No SIM restrictions. Our guide on checking an iPhone is unlocked covers this in more detail.

5. Read the battery figure

Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Every phone we sell has 85% or more unless the listing said otherwise; Premium grade phones usually 90% or more. If a new non-Apple battery has been fitted, iOS may show “Unable to verify” instead of a percentage; that is expected and explained in our article on the “Unknown Part” message.

6. Look at the parts history

Settings → General → About → Parts and Service History. A replacement battery, screen or housing shows here as “Unknown Part”. We state replacement parts on the listing, so this screen should hold no surprises.

7. Run the five-minute test

• Make a call and use the speaker. Record a voice memo to test the microphones.
• Take a photo with each rear lens and a selfie; check that focus locks and Face ID (or Touch ID) enrols.
• Press every button and the Ring/Silent switch or Action button.
• Plug in the cable and confirm charging. Try a wireless charger if you have one.
• Connect to Wi-Fi and pair a Bluetooth device.
• Turn the brightness up on a white screen and look for uneven patches or dead pixels.

8. Move your data across

The setup assistant offers Quick Start: hold your old iPhone next to the new one and it transfers everything directly, including apps, photos and most settings. Coming from Android, the Move to iOS app does the same over Wi-Fi. Either way, keep both phones plugged in until the transfer finishes, then sign in to your own Apple Account and turn on Find My.

Our step-by-step guide to moving your data to a refurbished iPhone covers each method in more detail.

9. Update iOS

Settings → General → Software Update. A phone that has been in stock for a few weeks may be one or two versions behind. The update takes a few minutes and brings the latest security fixes.

If anything is not right

You have 30 days from delivery to return the phone for any reason, with free tracked return shipping, and a 12-month warranty against hardware faults after that. Before sending anything back, sign out of iCloud, turn off Find My and erase the phone, otherwise the refund cannot be completed. Full terms are in our returns and warranty policy.

Common questions

The phone arrived with a low charge. Is that normal?

Yes. Phones are stored at a partial charge, which is best for the battery. Charge it fully on the first day.

Should I do a full reset before using it?

Not necessary. The phone has already been erased and reset in our workshop. Setting it up as new, or restoring from your backup, is all that is needed.

Can I keep my old phone number?

Yes. Move your SIM across, or ask your provider to transfer your eSIM to the new phone.

What if the grade looks wrong to me?

Email a photo to us within 30 days. We either agree and adjust, or you return the phone for a full refund.