Sealed Mac mini M4 shows activated, no warranty

I see a lot of similar posts and they seem limited to stores not signed on as Apple-authorized resellers. When non-member sellers buy the device to add to their inventory, the warranty clock starts.I have not Checked B&H status.

This page may help with this: Update your purchase date with your proof of purchase

Ian R. Brown wrote:

I get the feeling that almost everyone is missing the point.

The OP bought the M4 mini on December 18th. 2024 . . . almost 15 months ago!

It is immaterial whether the warranty was activated on the 19th. December or 5th.January (last year) as those dates are both well over a year ago and the mini is clearly out of warranty.

The OP was obviously under the misapprehension that the warranty would not start until the box was opened . . . big mistake.

You are absolutely correct.

There used to be a way to update your purchase information with Apple in case the website doesn't have the correct information. I don't see any way to do that at this time. Your only option would be to contact Apple Support directly to see if they can update your purchase information.

If you do need a warranty repair (at least in the US), the Apple Store or an AASP should be able to upload a copy of your purchase receipt to Apple....at least they used to be able to do this at the time of a repair. Things are constantly changing at Apple so it is hard to say if this is possible due to privacy, security, & theft/fraud concerns (the miscreants out there make things difficult for the rest of us).

You can also contact B&H support to see if they can send your purchase information to Apple so Apple's records are up to date. If B&H is an Apple authorized reseller, this should have already been done, but things happen. At least B&H should be able to work with Apple on your behalf to get things right.

yeah you can try to check the serial on apples site

Country Selection - AppleCare & Warranty

if it was me then I would reach out to their official support channels

Get Support (apple.com)

And or Contact - Official Apple Support

And or https://www.apple.com/contact/

Or Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

You appear to be checking for an Apple warranty at a site: Imei24.com ….. why?

Why would you not contact Apple or the retailer directly for such issues?

Also note: If it was purchased in Dec 2024, the warranty should have expired on Dec 2025.

Allan Jones wrote:

I see a lot of similar posts and they seem limited to stores not signed on as Apple-authorized resellers. When non-member sellers buy the device to add to their inventory, the warranty clock starts. I have not Checked B&H status.

B&H PhotoVideo is a very reputable dealer and has been an Authorized Apple Reseller for a very long time.

I have been a B&H customer for over 30 years for both business & personal purchases. They are my top-ranking supplier. I have never had even a single problem with B&H in all my years buying from them. And that includes a lot of Apple products.

olexandrua wrote:

As far as I know, Apple warranty begins after activation? Or am I wrong?

Apple Warranty begins on the date of purchase. It has always been this way.

From Apple One (1) Year Limited Warranty:

WHAT IS COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY?

Apple warrants the Apple-branded hardware product and Apple-branded accessories contained in the original packaging ("Apple Product") against defects in materials and workmanship when used normally in accordance with Apple's published guidelines for a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the date of original retail purchase by the end-user purchaser ("Warranty Period").

It is very simple . . . the serial number appears on the outside of the box and the retailer (aka reseller) starts the warranty on the day of purchase.

So whether you open the box or not your one year warranty will end in 12 months from the purchase date.

I had a friend who bought an iMac and didn't open it for over 5 years! Obviously the warranty had long since expired but in his case it didn't really matter as he was a multi-millionaire.

Agreed, Ian. But the OP also said:

"But it is still in its original packaging, sealed.

Why was it activated and no longer under warranty? "

It appears the OP is under the misconception that the warranty doesn't start until the item is unsealed and installed ... that the warranty should not have been activated on Jan. 5 2025 because the item is still in its original packaging today, sealed.

That's why so many have responded that the warranty begins on the date of purchase.

Apple warranty starts on the first day of purchase from Apple or other authorized dealer. If it did start on the first day of activation, you stated it was activated in January 2025, which is just over 1 year ago.

I'm not sure about Apple but it's normal for warranty to be activated on the day you purchase (or receive) an item.

You can't buy something, leave it lying around unopened for several years and then expect it to have any warranty.

The world doesn't work like that.

It's not apples logic, as such, it is the general warranty laws as they are implemented in most countries around the world, for all products that have warranties. These warranty laws are made by the various governments and legally enforced for companies to comply by, sure if apple wanted to give life time warrenty on all their products they could, but need just comply with the laws of the land.

The logic is based on the fact that things go obsolete. If the warranty started when you opened the box and turned it on then that would mean that I could buy an iPhone 17e next week, open it in 2046, find the battery had gone U/S and Apple would be legally required to replace or repair a phone that they hadn't made for 20 years. They'd have to keep spares and manufacturing going for all models for ever, as they would with maintaining the activation servers for the software. If you think phones are expensive now they'd cost a lot more if Apple had to warrant products from the date you activate them.

Up in the loft I've got a Superdrive, BNIB and sealed. It's been there for ~15 years and in all probability it's knackered because the lubricants have been through 15 years of hot/cold cycling. When I eventually open it and find that it's not working do you think I should be able to take it back to Apple for a replacement?

I get the feeling that almost everyone is missing the point.

The OP bought the M4 mini on December 18th. 2024 . . . almost 15 months ago!

It is immaterial whether the warranty was activated on the 19th. December or 5th.January (last year) as those dates are both well over a year ago and the mini is clearly out of warranty.

The OP was obviously under the misapprehension that the warranty would not start until the box was opened . . . big mistake.