Sometimes there are situations where you need to find the serial number of the device you use most, even though you have no idea where it might be located. Even a simple online product registration would ask you for one, like if you were trying to register your Apple Watch with Apple services.
But do you know how to find the serial number on your Apple Watch? Let’s find out.
Why Would You Need to Find Your Apple Watch’s Serial Number?
The serial number on each Apple Watch is unique, and if you’re looking for the easiest way to determine which watch model you have, you can check for it online via the serial number.
Another reason you would need to find your Apple Watch serial number is if you have a problem with your device and need to request help directly from Apple. You can easily submit a help request through the customer support center, and it is always useful to know your device’s serial number should the customer support team ask you for it.
If you’ve just purchased your Apple Watch and wish to register it with Apple’s services to get the one-year warranty period, you will also need the watch’s serial number. Registering with this service also lets you track your device if you lose it or if it gets stolen.
It’s also a good idea to know the serial number of your Apple Watch because by knowing it, you can check and make sure the watch is original and not fake. There are so many third-party sellers on websites like Craigslist or eBay that you can’t physically tell the difference.
How Do I Find My Apple Watch Serial Number the Easy Way?
You can search for your Apple Watch’s serial number in three simple ways.
First, by checking the back of your Apple Watch case
This is the easiest way to find your Apple Watch serial number if you’re already wearing the watch. All you need to do is take it off and look at the back of the watch case.
The markings on the watch go in a circle around the black cover of the watch. They contain information about the watch’s model, the case’s size, the material of the case, the sensor coating, display material, and of course, the serial number itself.
Physically checking for the serial number directly on your device is the best way to retrieve it.
Second, by checking the watchOS for the serial number
The second best way to find the serial number on your Apple Watch is by looking for it within the watchOS directly. The watch’s menu is almost the same as on your iPhone, so all you have to do is wake it up by pressing the Digital Crown and finding the “Settings” menu. From there, scroll until you find the “General” section; and then you need to find the “About” section.
Within the “About” section of your Apple Watch, there are all kinds of information regarding your device, like software version, model name, model number, and even the serial number you are looking for.
Third, by checking the box of the Apple Watch
The best way to find the serial number is from the device itself, but there are also times when you’ve forgotten it or the device was stolen. Therefore, you can check the box in which you bought the watch and find the serial number.
Different Apple Watch models have different box shapes, as sport’s oriented watches come in rectangular boxes, while classic-looking ones come in square-shaped boxes. No matter the box shape, all the original Apple Watch models have serial numbers imprinted on the back of the box, which is where you should look first.
Checking the back of the box before purchase might be essential, as this is the only way to ensure the device is original and not fake.
Read more: How To Update Apple Watch Without Pairing
How Do I Find My Apple Watch Serial Number Using Alternative Methods?
Sometimes both the watch and the box will be out of your reach but don’t fret, as there are a couple more ways to find your Apple Watch serial number.
One is to access the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, select “My Watch”, and press the “General” tab. Here you will also search for the “About” tab, which contains all the information about your watch, including the serial number. It’s the same as checking the serial number of your iPhone.
You can also find your watches’ serial number using your Apple ID and accessing your iCloud account. The iCloud account holds all the important information about your devices, but it’s not that quick to access, which is why we consider it an alternative.
The Apple ecosystem syncs all your devices seamlessly, which means you can access your iCloud account from any device and find the serial number you’re looking for.
How to Decode Your Apple Watch Serial Number
Each serial number that the Apple devices have is unique, but those aren’t just random numbers; they have their meaning in representing the specific device. This is what the numbers and characters on Apple Watch mean:
- The first three letters represent the location code where your watch was manufactured
- The fourth letter represents the year the watch was manufactured
- The fifth letter represents the week of the year in which the device was manufactured
- The sixth, seventh and eighth letters represent the unique product code
- The last four letters are used to identify the model of the watch
This method of reading and decoding the serial numbers only applies to Apple Watch models that have been produced since 2010, so have that in mind if you own an older model watch.
Read more: Why Is My Apple Watch Dying So Fast?
Conclusion
We hope you can successfully find your device’s serial number with our article’s help. Even if some of your friends ask you, “How do I find my Apple Watch serial number?” you will know the answer and help them immediately, without having to search for the solution online again.