Buying a Used Phone in India: Sanchar Saathi IMEI Check, Bill, Locks and Hardware

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1. Check the IMEI with Sanchar Saathi before you meet

The Department of Telecommunications runs a free check called Know Your Mobile (KYM) on the Sanchar Saathi platform. Ask the seller for the IMEI first; an honest seller will share it.

1. On the phone, dial *#06# to see the IMEI. Dual-SIM phones have two; check both.
2. Send an SMS: KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422. You get the status back by SMS.
3. Or use the Sanchar Saathi app or website (sancharsaathi.gov.in), which asks for your mobile number and an OTP.

The reply should show the brand and model of the phone you are buying. If it says the phone is blacklisted, duplicate or already in use, don’t buy it. A blacklisted phone was reported lost or stolen through CEIR and won’t work on Indian networks. If the brand or model in the reply doesn’t match the phone, the IMEI has probably been changed.

2. Bill and box

• Ask for the original purchase bill (GST invoice) and the box. The IMEI printed on both should match *#06#.
• A phone with no bill isn’t always stolen, but it should be cheaper, and you’ll have no warranty. Be very careful with a recent flagship sold without a bill at a low price.
• Check whether the phone was bought on EMI and is fully paid. Some EMI phones can be locked remotely by the lender if payments stop.
• Imported (non-Indian) units may not get warranty service in India. The model number in Settings › About phone tells you which region it was made for.

3. Account locks

• Android: ask the seller to remove their Google account (and Samsung, Xiaomi or other brand account) in Settings › Accounts, then factory reset the phone in front of you. If you skip this, the phone will ask for their Google password after a reset (FRP lock).
• iPhone: the seller must sign out in Settings › [name] › Sign Out so Find My and Activation Lock are off, then erase the phone. Our used iPhone guide covers the rest.
• The phone should restart to the welcome screen and let you set it up with your own account.

4. Test the hardware in five minutes

Open mxmob.com/check in Chrome or Safari on the phone and tap Test all. It checks the screen, touch, speakers, earpiece, microphones, cameras, sensors, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, buttons and charging. Then:

• Put in your own SIM, make a call and use mobile data. Check both SIM slots if it is dual-SIM.
• Plug in a charger and make sure it starts charging and doesn’t stop when you move the cable.
• Check battery health: iPhone in Settings › Battery › Battery Health; Samsung in the Samsung Members app; other brands vary. Our battery health guide explains where to look.
• Lay the phone flat. If it rocks, or the back or screen is lifting, the battery is swollen. Don’t buy it.

If the seller already sent you an MxMob report link, read how to check a seller’s report, and still rerun the test yourself on the spot.

5. Pay safely

• Meet in a busy public place in daylight. Many buyers meet outside a mobile shop so they can get a second opinion.
• Never pay an “advance”, “token amount” or “courier charge” for a phone you haven’t seen. This is the most common OLX scam.
• Pay by UPI or cash only after the phone is reset and set up with your account.
• If you are the seller: you never need to scan a QR code or enter your UPI PIN to receive money. Check that the payment arrived in your bank app, not in a screenshot.
• Get a short written note with the IMEI, price, date and the seller’s name and phone number.

Selling your phone?

Run the test on the phone, create a report link, and add the link and badge image to your OLX or Facebook listing. Buyers can see what works before they travel. Our selling guide walks through it, including what to do at handover.