You can see if the device can be activated, or if it's locked. Related: How to Check the Activation Lock Status of an iOS DeviceĪpple also allows you to check an iPhone or iPad's 'Activation Lock' status using just its serial number. But this isn't exactly very private information. If you give Apple the serial number, they can trace when you purchased the device. For example, if you have an Apple product, you can use a serial number to check whether a device is still within its warranty period and whether you can purchase AppleCare coverage. Serial numbers are generally used for warranty service and repairs, but not for much else.
