Why a report link sells phones faster
Most buyers of used phones have the same fears: the battery is worn, a speaker or camera doesn’t work, or the phone is locked or stolen. A photo of the phone answers none of them. An MxMob report link shows every hardware test, the date it ran, and the last 4 digits of the IMEI, so a buyer can see what works before they travel and match the phone when you meet.
The report is honest about what it is. Results the browser measured (touch, sensors, charging, cameras) are labelled separately from results you marked yourself (such as “speaker sounds clear”). Failed tests appear too. If you retest after a repair, create a new link.
Before you list it
- Back up your photos, chats and two-factor authenticator codes. Move your authenticator app to your new phone first.
- Note the IMEI: dial *#06#. Serious buyers will ask for it to check it isn’t reported stolen.
- Check battery health so you can state it in the listing (iPhone: Settings › Battery › Battery Health; Samsung: Samsung Members › Diagnostics). See how to check battery health.
- Run the test at mxmob.com/check, then create the report link. Copy the listing text and save the badge image from the same panel.
- Take photos in daylight: front with the screen on, back, each edge, and any scratches. Add the badge image as the last photo.
Where to sell, and what to watch out for
United States
- Where: Swappa (phones only, with an IMEI check on every listing), eBay, Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. Trade-in offers from Apple, carriers and buyback sites are quicker but usually pay less.
- The buyer’s check: buyers can enter the IMEI on the free CTIA Stolen Phone Checker (stolenphonechecker.org). Make sure your phone is fully paid off: a phone with an unpaid installment plan can be blacklisted later.
- Scams to avoid: never read out a verification code sent to your phone (“to prove you’re real”): it is used to take over your number or accounts. Refuse overpayments, cashier’s checks and “I’ll send a courier”. In person, take cash or a payment that has cleared in your own app.
- Where to meet: many police stations have a safe exchange zone with cameras.
United Kingdom
- Where: eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree for the best price; trade-in sites for speed.
- The buyer’s check: careful buyers run a paid CheckMEND report, which shows whether the IMEI is blocked by UK networks, reported to the police or still under finance. Paying for one yourself and mentioning it in the listing builds trust.
- Scams to avoid: emails that look like PayPal or eBay saying a payment is “pending until you send the tracking number”. Check your balance in the app itself. For bank transfers, wait until the money shows in your account before handing over the phone.
Europe
- Where: the big classifieds sites in each country, such as Kleinanzeigen (Germany), Leboncoin (France), Wallapop (Spain), Subito (Italy) and Marktplaats (Netherlands), plus eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Refurbisher buyback offers are faster but pay less.
- The buyer’s check: most EU countries have no free public stolen-phone lookup. Networks share blocked IMEIs through the GSMA database, so a buyer can ask a network shop, or use a paid IMEI check.
- Scams to avoid: a “buyer” sends a link in chat or by SMS to “receive the payment” or “confirm shipping”. These are phishing pages that ask for your card details. You never need to enter your card to receive money. Prefer cash in person, or an instant transfer you can see in your banking app.
India
- Where: OLX and Facebook Marketplace for the best price; instant-sell sites and brand exchange offers for speed.
- The buyer’s check: buyers can SMS KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422, or use the Sanchar Saathi app or website, to check the phone isn’t blacklisted. Keep the original bill and box: buyers ask for them, and the IMEI on the box should match the phone.
- Scams to avoid: you never need to scan a QR code or enter your UPI PIN to receive money. A “buyer” who asks you to is trying to take money from you. Check the payment in your bank or UPI app, not a screenshot or SMS they show you.
Handover checklist
Do these in front of the buyer, after they have checked the phone and before you take the money. If you skip them, the buyer can’t use the phone and you may still be linked to it.
- iPhone: Settings › [your name] › Sign Out, which turns off Find My and Activation Lock. Unpair your Apple Watch first.
- Android: remove your Google account (and Samsung account on Galaxy phones) in Settings › Accounts. Otherwise the phone asks for your password after the reset (FRP lock).
- Remove the eSIM or take out the SIM and any memory card.
- Factory reset: iPhone: Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings. Android: Settings › General management (or System) › Reset › Factory data reset.
- Wait until the phone shows the Hello / Welcome screen. The buyer should be able to start setup without your password.
- Give the buyer the box, the bill if you have it, and a short written receipt with the IMEI, price and date.
What the buyer sees
The link opens a page at mxmob.com/r/… with a score, each test result, the phone model the browser reported, and your own description marked as yours. It never shows your full IMEI, your name or your location. You can delete the link at any time from the same browser. Buyers can learn how to read it on our checking a report page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prove my used phone works when selling it?
Run the free diagnostic at mxmob.com/check on the phone, then tap Create report link. Buyers get a link and QR code showing every test result, the date, and the last 4 digits of the IMEI so they can match the phone in person. Results the browser measured are labelled separately from ones you marked yourself.
What should I do before handing over a phone I sold?
Sign out of iCloud (which turns off Find My and Activation Lock) or remove your Google and Samsung accounts, remove the eSIM or SIM and memory card, then factory reset the phone in front of the buyer. It should restart to the welcome screen without asking for your password.
Does the report link show my personal details?
No. It shows the test results, the model the browser reported, and anything you typed in the optional details box, with only the last 4 digits of the IMEI. It never shows your name or location, expires after 30 days, and you can delete it from the same browser.