Apple Serial Number Lookup
※ Download: Identify macbook pro by serial number
In the About This Mac window, click System Report. The serial number is roughly three-quarters of the way down the page. This tool is required to locate the Apple computer below.
This page also tells you current warranty coverage situation and gives you the actual name to search for when you want to find out specifics about this particular model and revision. Find a lost or stolen MacBook beyond Apple support hotline How do I know? Over 500 load cycles and you will be experiencing a battery that quickly drains and before not too long will require constant power cable. Japanese Layout Used in Japan.
Apple Serial Number Lookup - Match that number to one in the table below to find your MacBook Pro model.
Buying a used Macbook is very different than the purchase of a used Windows PC. While many people refresh their PCs and Windows-based laptops on a regular basis, Mac Fans are typically slow with their upgrades. Macs and particularly, MacBooks, are built sturdier, and the high quality of these machines is hardly a point that needs discussion or debate. When Apple releases new Macbook and Macbook Pro, you will often be able to secure pretty good bargains if you are shopping for a used MacBook. In this article, we will cover some of the essential things to consider when you are sourcing a used Macbook. The tips are classified into two distinct categories, Hardware and Software. Certain aspects are not quite apparent from pictures or videos. If you can examine the device carefully, try closing the Macbook and then opening it to make sure that the hinges are not loose on the Macbook. That could cost you some dime if you had to take it to a repair center to replace the faulty hinges. The other important aspect from a hardware perspective is to examine all the external ports of the MacBook. Make sure that these ports are in a working condition and are clean. Also look for any big dents on the surface of the machine. Small dents due to routine wear and tear are okay, but if you see a larger dent on the body, that might point to serious internal problems. Serial Number This number is another important aspect of the machine that is often overlooked by the buyer. It is important that you examine the serial number of the Macbook. This number is found on the bottom of the Macbook towards the hinge. The last field shows the serial number. Please make sure that the serial number shown here is the same as the one that is printed on the surface of the machine. The serial number is also a critical asset when it comes to tracking the service and warranty information of the Macbook that you are trying to purchase. If the laptop is a few years old, the chances are that it may be covered under warranty or an Apple care agreement. To find this information, click on site. Enter the serial number in the input box verify the current owner purchased the Mac via Apple. If there is any warranty remaining on the machine, it displays that information here. Hardware Test The next step is to conduct a hardware test on the computer. Apple Hardware Test AHT contains a suite of diagnostics that verify the hardware of your computer. Make sure that you connect to AC Power when running the on a Mac notebook. Remove any external devices such as USB drives etc. If you can, please make sure that you perform Extended Testing as opposed to the Necessary Testing when trying the AHT. Battery Condition This is another important aspect that one should dig in a little before taking on that sweet deal. Replacing batteries can be an expensive affair. Please make sure that status says Normal, and there is ample count remaining on the device. For example, in this case, the battery is half way through its life. You can click on the following that shows you the maximum battery cycle counts based on different Macbook models. In this 2010 Macbook Pro model, the max count is 1000 cycles, and we are 429 cycles in. Macbook Camera The best way to check if the camera on Macbook is working is to open the Photo booth on the computer. You can also use the Facetime app to see if the camera is in a working condition. Now that the basic hardware features including appearance, sight, heart and sound are examined, the next steps focus on some of the software aspects of the device. Buying a Used Macbook: Software It is important that you make sure that the seller has removed his or her iCloud account from the Macbook. Pay particular attention to the find my Mac feature to make sure that it has been disabled. Many users protect their Macbook with an extra layer of security using the firmware password. Make sure that the seller has removed the firmware password. Try booting the machine to recovery command r, to invoke a firmware password if there is one associated with the computer. You can find additional details around the firmware password from. Resetting the PRAM and NVRAM is always a good step when testing out an older machine. Sometimes you may need to do an SMC reset if there are weird issues with the display or keyboard backlight. Where To Shop The Apple store is a good place to look for refurbished units at bargain prices. Apple says all of its refurbished hardware is tested and certified with a standard 1-year warranty. SquareTrade is another internet vendor that sells warranties for Mac products and other electronic products. You can always check them out. The other online retailer with a strong reputation in the Mac business is Powermax. Check their site out for some good deals. They carry a pretty decent inventory when it comes to used Macs and Macbook. There is also Mac Mall and Mac of All Trades. We have also tried Small Dog Electronics in the past and like their customer service. Craiglist or Similar If you do decide to pursue that deal on Craigslist, please make sure that the seller is local so that you can check the condition of the MacBook before you actually purchase it. If meeting a seller in-person and paying cash, that person knows you have a lot of money in your pocket. So be smart and take a friend or two and meet at a public place. Do not make any exceptions. Walk away, no run away and find another dealer. Additionally, be ready to walk away. And ask lots of questions such as — when did you buy it yourself? Why are you selling it? Ask questions via e-mail, ask those SAME questions via phone, and ask those SAME question in-person. If that person is lying, they will likely have a different story when the same question is asked multiple times. We also urge you to be cautious if the seller is in a foreign country. Often you will find emails that suggest that the vendor is proposing to use a third party shipping service. The best deal is one where you can examine the machine yourself. Second, to that, your sourcing should be via reputable online vendors that have been around for years. Trust your own instincts. Got Used MacBook, What About Privacy? If you went ahead and found a great deal and seller and now you have a new-to-you MacBook or Mac, the next step is setting it up as your own. Depending on where you purchased it and whom from, you might need to perform some additional steps. Check out this for in-depth steps on how to do that. We highly recommend you do this if it was not completed by the seller. After you Factory Reset, upgrade to the macOS or OS X version you want. Summary We hope that the pointers provided in this article serve as a good starting point for you to explore before you get yourself that sweet deal on a used Macbook. And remember, if the seller can not furnish you with the original receipt or the packaging of the MacBook with the serial number on it, that speaks volume of the condition of the Macbook. If you think that we are missing some of the other standard tests, please feel free to share it in the comments below. Is it a problem to update software in the future if the original purchaser has the passwords? Or is this not a problem? Hi Max, Be skeptical. Instead, get the best MacBook model for your budget—forget about these added inticements! Liz Not sure we follow. What is a MacBook Pro 9. If you are buying a MacBook Pro with a damaged hard drive, it should nt be an issue since you can replace the hard-drive with a new SSD easily. The challenge is however since you are unable to get the machine up and running before you buy, you wouldnt know how the other components are such as the Battery, Video cards etc. Be aware of the risks. Thank you and Good Luck with your purchase. Do you think the price is ok? But specially, is it worth to buy a 2011 product in 2018? Do you think I could have problems later on? Mike, Thanks for the feedback. The specs are good but it depends upon what you want to use the machine for. However if you need a machine for video editing using Finacl Cut or other editors, this may be pretty slow. The price seems a little on the high side. If you do decide to move forward, make sure of the following 1 The hinge of the display is in good condition 2 Battery cycles are good 3 No Video card issues. It depends on what version of Office, Adobe, and Garageband you want to use. Then make your choice based on those specs and affordability. The advantage of Apple refurbs is they always come with a 1-year product warranty and you have the option to purchase Apple Care as well for an additional fee, depending on the model. Depending on your budget, a refurbished MacBook might also do the trick and meet your budget. But, if refurbs are also out of range, a pre-owned is a great budget-friendly option, just make sure you run through a thorough health check! And verify that iCloud and Find My Mac are turned off by the current original owner. Keep us posted and happy MacBooking! This would be my first MacBook if the laptop condition is ok and yeah, will run through the checklist. Thanks for this informational articles. I need your opinion, sir. I planning to buy used MacBook Pro Retina late 2012, 8gb ram, 256gb SSD, i5, 13inch and the cycle count around 700++. The price is 684. Is it worth it or not considering everything is fine? It would be a great pleasure if you reply, thanks! Zam Hi Zam, Thanks for your comment. It really depends on what you want to use the MacBook for. If CAD or video editing, then this machine is probably not the best fit. That said, the 2012 MacBook Pro is a solid machine. My main objective is just to use the basic student softwares like microsofts, adobe and safari to do my assignment. On a side note, I think it would be a great bonus if I can use the iMovie. Follow the same checklist for the older iMac as you would a MacBook. Check the function of the DVD Drive called the SuperDrive. Make sure this is operational—reads and writes to DVDs and CDs 2. Open System profiler and check through each item, like the Hard Drive, RAM, etc 3. Check the startup and shutdown. Unplug it and then plug it back in before starting it up. Check for any errors or dialog boxes that pop up during startup 4. Open Disk Utility to check the health of the Hard Drive 5. Make sure it connects to both WiFi and ethernet reliably 6. Check each USB port, FireWire, SD card slot, and any other ports, including headphone jack 7. Liz Hi Skyfire, Congrats on your New-To-You upcoming purchase. Disk Utility and Apple Diagnostics are the two Apple provided products but there are a bunch of third-party health checkers out there. Keep us posted on your New-To-You MacBook experience. Cheers, SK HI Shaunak, Wonderful question! For the most part, open box, display units, or demo items are a good deal. Many times for open box items, someone just opened the box and then returned the item, never actually using it. Most of the time, nothing wrong with the item at all. All you need to do is send in your recipet to Apple and they will allow it to start warranty from day you purchased it. And for refurbished models, these refurbished sales are different from the sale of a used model. Apple provides new warranties on refurb models. Hope this helps your decision. Cheers, SK Hi Vincent! Glad you liked the article. If considering purchasing a new-to-you MacBook or Mac, your best bet is to go back to factory settings to erase and then install macOS or whatever operating system you use. We have an about that too! And we need to add that into the article as a reminder. So it depends more on a budget than anything else. Best of luck with your new-to-you MacBook!!! SK Shashin, Thank you for taking the time to let us know this article was helpful. Hope you get and really enjoy a new-to-you Macbook! Have a grand adventure with your new Mac, Cheers, Liz.
Keep us posted on your New-To-You MacBook experience. Also see the official page from apple support —. MacKeeper — tracking of your stolen MacBook While searching for additional solutions on how to find my computer should it disappear again, I stumbled upon MacKeeper. A Lithium-Ion battery which is what Apple uses counts load cycles. Other problems are tricker to resolve. Note 2: If your laptop was not configured-to-order: The full model number is not located on the case of the computer. Could you clarify this discrepancy in you, otherwise excellent explanation?.