Recently, I wrote a tutorial describing 4 methods to check the manufacturing date of Android devices. You can find out how old your mobile phone is using the IMEI, Serial Number, dialer code, and apps. However, there is no app that tells you the purchase date of your device. However, there is still one way to check the activation date of an Android phone or tablet. Usually, the IMEI activation date of a mobile phone is the same as its activation date.
It’s doesn’t matter whether you own a device from Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Huawei, Vivo, Realme, Nokia, Motorola, Asus, or Oppo, it’s very easy to check the activation date of any Android phone or tablet.
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 it with a Google account. So, if you want to check how old your phone is, it’s up to you to choose because it can be determined on two factors: its manufacturing date, and the activation date.
In most cases, the activation date of a phone is its purchase date and IMEI activation date too because most of us tend to register it the same day. The best way to find out the purchase date of your phone or tablet is to check the purchase receipt or bill.
In case you bought your device from an online store, you can check your order history to know about the date you ordered and received it. You can also make a search in your Email inbox using the device name keyword. Usually, online stores send emails when your order your device and also when it’s delivered to you.
Checking the Activation Date of Android Devices
Anyway, there is yet another way to check the mobile activation date of an Android device. As we know, a smartphone or tablet device is activated as soon as we insert a SIM in it and sign with a Google account. Fortunately, Google keeps a record of the date when we activate a phone or tablet.
Via Google Dashboard
- Open your Google Account Dashboard by clicking the link on your desktop or mobile browser.
- Click on the Android card under Your Google services section.
- You will find the activation date of your Android mobile or tablet right below the device name. If you want to customize this name, check out my guide on changing the device name of Android.
Via Google Play Store
You can also check the unboxing date of an Android device via the Google Play Store. Open the Play Store Settings page on your computer or smartphone. You’ll see the registration date under the My Devices section. This is the activation date of your Android phone or tablet.
As you can see, the phone activation date of my Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is August 23, 2019, and that of my Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro is August 31, 2019. This way, you can find out easily how old your phone is.
Check Phone Activation Date by IMEI
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 it does not give information about the purchase date of Mi phones for all models. If got an Oppo phone, you can check its warranty status simply by providing the IMEI.
Anyway, if you are an Android user, you can easily check your phone’s activation date using its IMEI.
- Visit imei.info by clicking the link.
- Type your phone’s IMEI in the box that says ‘Enter IMEI‘.
- Click on the Check button.
- On the next page that shows all basic information about your Android device, click on the Warranty Check button. Please note that the name of the button might differ for devices from OEM to OEM.
- On the next page, you’ll find the activation date of your Android phone. Below, is an example of my Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro activation date and time.
Alternatively, you can go to IMEI24 to check the purchase and IMEI activation date of any Android or iOS device.
