Check if an iPad or Tablet Is Stolen
Check a used iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab or other tablet before you buy it. Look up the serial number for theft reports, then make sure it is free of the owner's account locks.
2 free checks · No credit card · Updated October 7, 2026
Quick answer
How do I check if an iPad is stolen?
Open Settings > General > About on the iPad and enter the serial number on SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/check-tablet-stolen), which searches theft reports and public web results in a few seconds. Cellular iPads also show an IMEI there. Then have the seller sign out of their Apple Account and erase the iPad in front of you. If setup shows "iPad Locked to Owner", it is still tied to someone's account. Don't buy it.
Where to find the serial number and IMEI
| Tablet | Serial number | IMEI (cellular models only) |
|---|---|---|
| iPad | Settings > General > About. Also printed in small text on the back of many models, and on the box. | Settings > General > About, below the serial |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab | Settings > About tablet (on some versions under Status information) | Settings > About tablet |
| Other Android tablets | Settings > About tablet, or a label on the back or the box | Settings > About tablet |
| Amazon Fire tablets | Settings > Device Options > About Fire Tablet | Most Fire tablets are Wi-Fi only |
Account locks: the check that matters most on a tablet
An iPad with Find My turned on is protected by Apple's Activation Lock. After it is erased, the setup screen says "iPad Locked to Owner" and asks for the owner's Apple Account password. Without it, the iPad can't be set up. Apple doesn't offer a public lookup for Activation Lock, and SafeOrStolen doesn't check it either, so you have to see it on the device.
Android tablets have a similar lock. If a tablet is reset without removing the Google account, setup asks you to sign in with a Google account that was previously synced on the device. Samsung tablets can also be tied to the owner's Samsung account.
- iPad: have the seller go to Settings > [their name] > Sign Out, then Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content and Settings. Wait for the Hello screen and start setup yourself.
- Android: have the seller remove their Google and Samsung accounts in Settings > Accounts, then do a factory reset. Start setup yourself and make sure it doesn't ask for a previous account.
Signs a used tablet may be stolen
- The seller can't get past the lock screen, or says they "forgot the passcode"
- Setup shows "iPad Locked to Owner" or asks for a previously synced Google account
- A school or company asset sticker, an engraved name, or a "Remote Management" screen during setup
- The serial in Settings doesn't match the box or the receipt
- A low price with a story about a "locked" or "iCloud" iPad that only needs a simple fix
What a Tablet check looks for
A tablet stolen check has two parts: a serial or IMEI check for theft reports, and a check that the tablet is not still locked to someone's Apple or Google account. For a cellular iPad you can also check the IMEI with the IMEI check, which includes an optional paid carrier blacklist check.
Step by step
Ask the seller for a screenshot of Settings > General > About (iPad) or About tablet (Android).
Check the serial number, and the IMEI on a cellular model, on SafeOrStolen.
At the meetup, match the serial on screen to the screenshot and the box.
Watch the seller sign out of their account and erase the tablet, then start setup yourself.
If it comes back reported stolen or setup asks for the owner's account, don't buy it, and give the listing to your local police.
Type the serial number or IMEI into the search box. SafeOrStolen searches its own theft reports and public web results, including listings and posts that mention the number, and returns reported stolen, possible match, or no report found in the records searched, with every source listed. It doesn't see Apple or Google account status, so do the account steps above with the seller.
Why check before you buy
A tablet that is still locked to the owner's account can't be set up, and a stolen one can be taken back by the police. The serial check catches reported thefts; watching the seller sign out and erase it catches the locked tablets that a serial check can't.
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