iPhone Serial number linked to a name?

Question

Level 1

5 points

iPhone Serial number linked to a name?

Hi,

my daughter uses an iPhone 5 which we bought second hand from a colleague at work. I went to get the screen repaired today and there was a long delay when I went to collect the phone - even though I had booked the support slot using my daughter's Apple ID and the phone was logged into my daughter's Apple ID account, the repair process somehow logged the phone against the previous owner's name - which is why there was a 45 minute delay while they tracked down the phone. The iPhone is correctly listed as "my daughter's iPhone" in iCloud and on the phone itself it's listed as "my daughter's iPhone" in About.

Is there somewhere else in "Apple Land" where the serial number is registered against the original owner? If so how do I get this changed to reflect the new owner?

Thanks in anticipation,

Rob

iPhone 5, iOS 10.2

Posted on Jan 17, 2017 11:28 AM

Reply

Answer 1

SergZak

Level 6

10,744 points

Jan 19, 2017 10:13 AM in response to sanderr2

Try here:

https://appleid.apple.com/account/manage

You'll need your Apple ID credentials as well as the answers to your security questions

Scroll down to the Devices section.

Reply

Answer 2

sanderr2 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 20, 2017 12:15 AM in response to SergZak

Hi Sergzak, unfortunately the iPhone isn't listed on the original owner's devices in her Apple ID - it IS correctly registered as a device on my daughter's Apple ID. The problem is that it is somehow listed on the Apple Support Profile for the original owner and noone seems able to tell me how anyone can remove this link!

Reply

Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jan 18, 2017 12:54 AM in response to sanderr2

S/Ns are tied to the product, not its owner. Device registration has the owner's information.

Reply

Answer 4

sanderr2 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 18, 2017 12:55 AM in response to Kappy

Hi Kappy, how do I change the name registered to the device - I can't find any info on the web as to how to do this?

Thanks!

Rob

Reply

Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jan 18, 2017 11:40 AM in response to sanderr2

It's done automatically, now, when you purchase it from Apple. You can see the information at: Your Support Profile for Registered Purchases.

Reply

Answer 6

sanderr2 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 18, 2017 12:38 PM in response to Kappy

Yes but how do I get it changed from the original owner to the new owner (my daughter)?

Reply

Answer 7

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jan 19, 2017 9:21 AM in response to sanderr2

That isn't required since registration is for the device. However, in your case, you need your daughter to remove the device from her support profile in order for you to attach it to your Apple ID.

Reply

Answer 8

sanderr2 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 19, 2017 9:23 AM in response to Kappy

Yes Kappy - it's just how to remove it from the support profile. The ability to access your support profile was removed by Apple late 2016.

Reply

Answer 9

sanderr2 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 20, 2017 12:27 AM in response to sanderr2

Hi, finally got through to Apple this morning and they successfully reassigned the IMEI of the device against my daughter's name. This is only something that Apple can do. Problem solved!

Reply