To check if a phone is blacklisted, find its IMEI by dialing *#06#, then enter it in the free Stolen Phone Checker at stolenphonechecker.org and in a carrier's bring-your-own-phone check. A blacklisted phone has been reported lost or stolen, or blocked for an unpaid balance, and U.S. carriers won't activate it. Both checks are free and take about two minutes, so run them before you pay for any used phone, and again on the day you meet the seller.
What blacklisted means
U.S. carriers share a list of phones that have been reported lost or stolen. A phone on that list is blocked by its IMEI, the unique number for the phone's cellular radio, so it won't connect to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or the prepaid carriers that use their networks, whatever SIM you put in. Carriers can also block a phone whose payment plan was never paid off, often called a bad ESN or financial block.
| Why a phone gets blocked | Who can clear it |
|---|---|
| Owner reported it lost or stolen | Only the owner, through the carrier that blocked it, once it's recovered |
| Unpaid device balance at the original carrier | The account holder, by paying the balance |
| Fraud on the account it was bought on | The original carrier, after its investigation |
| Reported by mistake | The carrier that reported it, when the owner calls |
Step 1: Find the IMEI
- Dial *#06# on the phone. The IMEI appears on screen: a 15-digit number. Phones with eSIM or two SIMs show two; check both.
- iPhone: Settings, General, About (scroll to IMEI).
- Android: Settings, About phone (sometimes under Status).
- On the box label or SIM tray, on many phones. If the box and the phone don't match, walk away.
- Buying online? Ask the seller for the IMEI before you pay, then check it again on the phone itself when it arrives.
Step 2: Run two free checks
| Check | Where | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Stolen Phone Checker | stolenphonechecker.org (run by CTIA, the U.S. wireless industry group) | Whether the phone has been reported lost or stolen to participating carriers |
| Carrier bring-your-own-phone check | The carrier you plan to use: T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, Visible, Mint and others all have one | Whether that carrier will activate it, including financial blocks, plus 5G and eSIM compatibility |
Run both. The Stolen Phone Checker won't show every unpaid-balance block, and a carrier's check only tells you about its own network. For Visible, use Visible's compatibility check.
Step 3: Check the locks blacklist checks miss
| What it means | How to check | Can it be fixed? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklisted | Reported lost or stolen, or blocked for an unpaid balance | The two checks above | Only by the owner or the carrier |
| Carrier-locked | Works only on one carrier until it's paid off and unlocked | iPhone: Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock should say No SIM restrictions. Android: try another carrier's SIM | Yes, once the carrier's unlock rules are met |
| Activation Lock (iPhone) or Google lock (Android) | Still signed in to the previous owner's Apple or Google account | Ask the seller to sign out and erase it in front of you | Only the previous owner can remove it |
A phone can pass the blacklist check and still be useless to you if it's carrier-locked or Activation Locked. Check all three before money changes hands. Unlock rules for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile are in our guide to switching while you still owe on a phone.
Buying a used phone: a 7-point checklist
- Get the IMEI before you meet, and run both checks.
- On the day, dial *#06# and confirm the IMEI matches what you checked.
- Confirm it's carrier-unlocked, or locked to the carrier you'll use.
- Have the seller sign out of their Apple ID or Google account and erase the phone in front of you.
- Put in your SIM, or test with a carrier's free trial, and make a call.
- Check the battery health and that the cameras, speakers and Face ID or fingerprint reader work.
- Pay with a method that has buyer protection, and keep the listing and messages.
A phone that's clean today can be blocked later if the seller stops paying the original carrier. Buying from a seller who shows the phone is paid off, or from a refurbisher with a return policy, lowers that risk.
If the phone is blacklisted
- Bought it used: ask the seller for a refund, and open a claim with the marketplace or your card if they won't. Most marketplaces cover a blacklisted phone.
- It's your phone and it was reported by mistake: call the carrier that reported it, with proof of purchase.
- It was blocked for an unpaid balance: the account holder can pay the balance with the original carrier, which usually clears it.
- Don't try to change the IMEI. It's illegal in many places, and phones with altered IMEIs are blocked again.
If your own phone is lost or stolen
- Call your carrier to suspend the line and ask them to block the phone.
- Use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) to locate, lock or erase it.
- File a police report; carriers and insurers may ask for it.
- If it turns up, ask the carrier to remove the block.
Then bring it to a cheaper plan
A clean, unlocked phone works on prepaid carriers that cost far less than the big three. Mint and Metro use T-Mobile's network; Visible, Total Wireless and Straight Talk use Verizon's. See how to switch from postpaid to prepaid.
Mint uses T-Mobile's network. Unlimited is $30/mo on a 12-month plan; smaller plans start at $15/mo. Paid upfront, taxes and fees extra.
See Mint plans →Prices checked October 31, 2026. We may earn a commission if you sign up through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a phone is blacklisted for free? +
What does it mean if a phone is blacklisted? +
Can a blacklisted phone be used on another carrier? +
Is blacklisted the same as locked? +
Can a phone be blacklisted after I buy it? +
Does a factory reset remove a blacklist? +
Where is the IMEI on an iPhone? +
Can I check an iPhone's Activation Lock before buying? +
- CTIA: Stolen Phone Checker
- FCC: Protect your smartphone and the data it holds
- Apple Support: Activation Lock
Keep reading
All guides
Jean has tested carrier plans independently since 2019, running SIMs on all three networks and paying for every line himself. He ranks carriers on the bill you actually get, taxes and fees included, not the price on the ad.