The vital setting you MUST check when buying a second hand iPhone 

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The essential setting you MUST check when buying a second-hand iPhone

  • A built-in iPhone setup is a great way to make sure pre-owned phones work
  • The vital sign shows if parts are fake and potentially scammers can reveal

Looking out for the latest iPhone can be a costly endeavor, but opting for a pre-owned mobile may not be the smart cost-cutting move many think.

Looking for obvious signs of wear, such as chips and cracks, is a good first step when inspecting a potentially used model, but there is one essential feature that users would also find wise to check.

While the outside of your new iPhone may look good, this setting helps you make sure everything on the inside works as well.

Aside from making sure your iPhone turns on, this expert feature is a great way to make sure everything is working as it should

All iPhones updated after iOS15.2 contain a built-in setting that tells you if original parts are fitted.

If your second-hand iPhone has been tampered with or has replacement parts, this feature will let you know.

Checking if an iPhone has genuine parts

To verify that all components are working properly, go to the Settings app, scroll down to General and tap About.

If there are parts that iPhone doesn’t recognize, an “Unknown Part” message appears under the “Parts & Service History” tab.

The message will let you know if any components are not working correctly and specify what they are.

You can tap the message for more details.

If your iPhone has been serviced and replaced with a genuine Apple part, it will appear in the Parts & Service History tab

If your iPhone has been serviced and replaced with a genuine Apple part, it will appear in the Parts & Service History tab

When you are connected to the internet, you can tap the item to learn details about the maintenance history

When you are connected to the internet, you can tap the item to learn details about the maintenance history

An Unknown Part message appears if the part malfunctions or has been replaced with a non-genuine Apple part

An Unknown Part message appears if the part malfunctions or has been replaced with a non-genuine Apple part

Which features can I check?

This feature only works to control certain functions depending on which generation of iPhone you have.

For iPhone XR, XS, XS Max and later, you can check if the battery has been replaced. For iPhone 11 models, you can check the battery and screen, and for iPhone 12, 13, and 14, you can check the back system, front and back cameras, battery, and screen.

If a part is replaced with a non-genuine part, it may not function properly.

In a statement, Apple said, “Visiting a professional repair shop with certified technicians using genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair.”