4 Ways to Check the Activation Date of Android Devices

You can find out how old your mobile phone is using the IMEI, Serial Number, dialer code, and apps. However, no app tells you the purchase date of your device. However, there are still a few ways to check the activation date of an Android phone or tablet. Usually, the IMEI activation date is the same as a phone’s activation. However, you can also find it in your Google Dashboard and the Play Store.

Typically, a smartphone or tablet is considered new until it’s packed inside the box and has not been activated by inserting a SIM card and registering with a Google account. Therefore, we must consider two things to check how old a phone is: its date of manufacture and activation. We already have a tutorial describing 4 methods to check the manufacturing date of Android devices.

Checking Phone Activation and Registration Date

In most cases, the activation date of a phone is its purchase date and IMEI activation date too because people register it the same day. The purchase date is often also the date of activation.

1. Via Google Dashboard

A smartphone or tablet device is activated when we insert a SIM and sign in with a Google account. Fortunately, Google records when a phone or tablet is activated using a Google account.

1. 1. Open your Google Account by clicking the link on your desktop or mobile browser.
   2. Click the Security option on the left navigation panel.
   3. Select the Manage all Devices option under the Your Devices panel.
   4. You’ll now see all the devices you’re currently signed into your Google Account. Go to the Android section and select the Android device.
   5. You’ll see your Android phone or tablet’s last use and activation date or First sign-in date. If you want to customize this name, check out my guide on changing the Android device name.

2. Via Play Store

You can also check the unboxing date of an Android device via the Google Play Store. Open the Play Store in a web browser on your computer or smartphone. Click your profile picture and select Library & Devices option from the menu.

Click the Devices tab to view the registered devices. You’ll find your devices’ activation or registration date under the Registered on section.

As you can see, the phone activation date of my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is February 01, 2024. This way, you can find out easily how old your phone is.

3. Via Find My Device Service

Google’s Find My Device is a great service that helps Android users track, secure, and reset devices remotely. Moreover, you can use it to check the phone’s activation date and the IMEI number.

1. Open the Find My Device website in a mobile or desktop browser. You must be logged in with the Google account your device is registered with.
2. Select the device you want to check the activation date of.
3. Then click the Settings (gear) icon.
4. You’ll find the activation date of your Android phone, tablet, or Wear OS watch mentioned next to the “First Registered” section.

4. Using IMEI Number

If you own a Realme smartphone, you can use the OEM’s Phone Check service to get all information about your phone including its activation date and time by entering the IMEI number. Xiaomi offers a similar product authentication service but does not give information about the purchase date of Mi phones for all models. Moreover, you can check if a phone is reported as blacklisted or stolen using the IMEI number.

1. Visit imei.info by clicking the link.
2. Open your phone’s dialer and type *#06# to find out the IMEI number of your device. You can also find the IMEI by going to Settings > About phone. Alternatively, you can use the following ADB command to get the IMEI number on your Android device.

   adb shell service call iphonesubinfo 1
   

3. Type your phone’s IMEI number in the ‘Enter IMEI‘ box.
4. Click the Check button.
5. On the next page which shows all basic information about your Android device, click Warranty Check.
6. On the next page, you’ll find the activation date of your Android phone.

Alternatively, you can go to IMEI24 to check the purchase and IMEI activation date of any Android or iOS device.

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