Which iPhone do you actually have?
Identify the exact model from the A-number, without needing to unlock it.
4 min read · Beginner
Every recovery step depends on knowing the exact model, and you can get it from a locked phone. The A-number printed on the device or the SIM tray identifies it precisely — and it matters, because the button sequence for recovery mode changed across generations.
Where to find it without unlocking
- Look at the back of the phone. Older models print the model number directly.
- Check the SIM tray — many models print an identifier on it.
- Check the original box, which shows the model and serial.
- Check any receipt, carrier account page, or the device list of an Apple Account you can still reach.
Why it matters
The way you put an iPhone into recovery mode differs by generation. Getting it wrong wastes attempts and, on some models, triggers an unwanted restart or emergency call.
Models with a Home button, models with Face ID, and the transitional iPhone 7 all use different button combinations. So do the second and third generation SE.
Identifying the model first is thirty seconds that prevents an hour of confusion.
What not to share
Phones this covers
Stuck on your specific phone?
Ask on the community board — real people, owner-to-owner.