Mac serial number. Finding a MacBook by Serial Number

Not every user of an Apple computer can accurately name the model of their Mac, especially if several years have passed since the purchase. In the article below, we'll show you how to find the model and model ID of your MacBook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, iMac, or Mac mini.

The nuance is that it is not necessary to know the Mac model immediately after purchase, but over time this information may come in handy when installing, contacting technical support or a service center.

How to find the model, model ID, and part number of your MacBook Pro, Air, iMac, and Mac mini

So, the easiest way to find out the model of any Mac is using the serial number, it can be found in the " About this Mac» main menu  operating system.

This number must then be entered on the maintenance eligibility check page (link)

or in the search field on the specifications page (link) of the official Apple website to get the full model name of the computer in the form of "MacBook Air (13-inch, mid-2011)".

If, for some reason, it is not possible to determine the model using the serial number, then alternative identifiers can be used. To do this, you need the model number of the device, you can find it on the packaging in which the computer was delivered. Next, you just need to find this article in the table below and determine the model of your MacBook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, iMac or Mac mini. Please note that the two "XX" characters before the "/" may differ depending on the country in which the device was purchased.

In addition, there is one more additional possibility of determining the Mac model. To do this, you need to find out the model ID (displayed in the main menu section  → « About this Mac» → "System Report" → « Hardware”) or model number (shown on the packaging from the computer or on the receipt).

This data should be compared with the table below and thus determine the model of MacBook Pro, Air, iMac and Mac mini.

I don't think anyone needs to be told how expensive Apple technology can be. And if on a budget iPad you can still " save up from lunch”, then you can’t buy a MacBook in this way. For most people, new Apple laptops cost a fortune.

It’s not worth solving the problem with another loan, perhaps the best-priced option is already waiting for a new owner on secondary market. But then the question immediately arises, how to properly check the MacBook before giving money for it?

Important: testing a MacBook is a long process with many nuances. It is better to make an appointment with the seller in some cafe with free Wi-Fi. Be prepared to spend half an hour of your time.

The most reliable option is to take your MacBook to a good service center for a detailed check. After all, the video chip that was being covered could have been warmed up, and the laptop itself might have been flooded and poorly cleaned. Such sores are not immediately noticeable, but emerge only during use.

But this payable service, and not every seller agrees to open his laptop in an incomprehensible place. So, you have to put up with the risks and manage on your own. Here is a list of problem areas that you should pay attention to before buying.

Step 0: prepare the flash drive

We cannot do without preparation. You need to get a flash drive with a minimum set of programs and files. Useful for verification: color pictures (black, white, RGB), movie, Heaven Benchmark, Macs Fan Control, Coconut Battery, Geekbench, Blackmagic Disk Speed Test and MacTracker. It's great if you have time to create a bootable USB flash drive with Apple Service Diagnostic installed.

Throw the whole kit at once, you will need it at various stages of the test.

First things first: passwords

Three passwords must be missing on a MacBook prepared for sale: in iCloud, in user accounts, in the firmware itself (EFI).

If the seller finds it difficult to remove one of the passwords - leave, you will not be able to fully use such a MacBook.

The simplest: appearance

Alas, but anodized aluminum cannot be polished, so other people's scratches on the case will be an eyesore all the time. Decide to what degree killed» you are ready to accept.

You also need to pay attention to the top cover: it can be easily folded back with one hand and held in any position, and when closed, there should be no distortions or shifts.

Turn the MacBook over and inspect the bolts. These tricky pieces of iron must be unscrewed with a special screwdriver at the right angle. If the repair was carried out in artisanal conditions, then extra marks will appear on the bolts. Small round bulges-dots on the back indicate that the wrong size bolt is screwed in.

Battered chargers can also fail at any time. Check the complete set of wires for tears and frayed wires.

Main consumable: battery

The battery in modern MacBooks is rated for approximately 1,000 recharge cycles. That's almost three years of normal use. After the battery loses its capacity, it will have to be changed.

"Mileage" can be viewed in the system report. The required line is hidden here: "About this Mac -> System Report -> Power Options". True, it can twist”, just like on an old car. This is where the prepared flash drive with the Coconut Battery application comes in handy.

We launch the utility and see detailed information about the battery. Do not be alarmed if its capacity drops to 80-90%. If the age of the laptop is comparable, then this is normal natural wear and tear.

Everything according to the passport: MacBook configuration

Issuing a younger model as an older one is the most common way of cheating when selling a MacBook. Especially true on the pumped "proshki". Of course, you can try to check with MacTracker, but in some cases even it will not save.

What's the catch: unscrupulous sellers edit information in "About This Mac", turn off extra lines in the "System Report", put a back cover with a serial number from a donor and block access to EFI with a password. Or they program the microcircuit by entering a new number there. The output is a top model, the serial hits the Apple base - you can’t dig.

The real configuration will come out when you reinstall the system. An unpleasant surprise that can be avoided.

In 90% of cases, it is enough to restart the MacBook while holding down the Option + D keys. The laptop will conduct internal diagnostics, after which it will issue an error report. You can see the decoding of all codes. The same screen will show the serial number. This is what we break through the Apple database, comparing the device model. It must match the number on the lid, from About This Mac, and on the box.

If you think that you are “lucky” to run into virtuoso scammers, then you can check the real hardware configuration using the Apple Service Diagnostic utility launched from a bootable USB flash drive.

There is another way: just run a Geekbench test and compare the resulting value with a reference figure from the Internet. It turns out not very accurately, but in general the situation reflects.

Speed test: hard drive

Older MacBooks with an HDD on board turn on in 40-90 seconds, and new laptops with SSD drives will start in 5-25 seconds.

Accurate read and write speed data can be obtained by running the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. The utility is already on the flash drive, remember? Click Start and check the numbers. The HDD should give out about 90 Mbps, and SSD drives show almost 250 Mbps. In general, the program is designed to work with video, but it reflects the situation as a whole.

Picture check: video under load and display

This is where color pictures and film come in handy. Open images in full screen one at a time and look for possible dead pixels or glare. The film, in turn, should be played without brakes, even with a sharp change in the location of the window or its size.

You can also run the Heaven benchmark along with the Mac Fan Control diagnostic utility. Thus, we will kill two birds with one stone - we will load the video core more seriously and measure the temperature of the iron in stressful situations. In idle mode, the normal indicator will be 40-50 degrees, and under load - 85-95. Sudden jumps or going beyond indicates an unreliable cooling system. Perhaps the thermal paste has long fallen into disrepair or the coolers are completely clogged with dust. You should not mess with such a MacBook.

Input devices: keyboard and trackpad

It's the turn primitive but effective methods.

The keyboard is checked in an elementary way - TextEdit opens and all the buttons are slowly pressed. It’s not enough just to see all the pressed characters, you need the buttons to be pressed clearly, without clicks and squeaks.

The trackpad needs a lot of attention. Try different gestures with several fingers, check the entire area of the panel. Only a narrow strip on top should not respond to touch. The trackpad itself is always pressed without unnecessary crackling, with approximately the same sound.

Newer MacBooks don't have a physical button under the trackpad. The Taptic Engine is responsible for the return, and the sensor itself recognizes the force of pressing. This also needs to be checked immediately.

Almost there: wireless and ports

Do not forget to pay attention to the performance of wireless communications. Check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. To do this, just go to the local network or connect to your phone.

More difficult check ports. If the new MacBook Pro has only four USB Type-C connectors, then in the old ones you can find a card reader and Thunderbolt and HDMI. The bulk of the connectors are checked by an external hard drive with adapters, but with HDMI you have to come up with something.

Small things: camera, microphone, speaker, sensors

The last, but no less important step is checking the peripherals. You can check everything at once in the Photobooth application, it shoots video, writes sound, and plays previews. Do not forget to cover the sensor near the camera with your hand to check whether auto brightness works or not.

When choosing a computer, we usually carefully study all existing types and characteristics in order to. But after a long use, we forget such details and remember only the name of the brand. In some cases, this is not enough, for example, if you want to upgrade, or check the possibility and cost of repairs at a service center, or sell your MacBook, then you will need to know the exact model of the MacBook.

Apple beeches are available in different variations, each of which has its own model, plus they differ in configuration from each other. The case usually displays only the type of Mac, the rest of the information can be obtained from documents, receipts, or on the laptop itself.

If you forgot what model your Mac is, we'll tell you how to determine it

Varieties of Macbooks

Macbooks come in Classic, Pro, and Air versions. They differ both externally and technically. All modern Macbooks run Mac OS Sierra.

MacBook - compact on the sixth generation Intel processor with a 12-inch display (2016 models) with a resolution of more than 3 million pixels, 1.3 cm thick. Able to work up to 10 hours without recharging. Focused on maximum wireless operation, equipped with a universal high-speed USB-C port.

Pro - faster and more powerful, has a screen with the best color reproduction. Equipped with a glass touch panel, 13" or 15" display (2016 models), Touch ID (not available on all configurations), high-speed Thunderbolt 3 port, powerful GPU and improved speakers.

Air - light and thin, with 5th generation Intel processors, capable of working up to 12 hours on a single charge, 1.7 cm thick case, 1.35 kg weight, support for the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology, fast flash storage instead of a traditional one hard drive.

The MacBook Air is midway between the regular and Pro in terms of specs, which is why the Air is very popular with Apple enthusiasts.

Methods for determining

Apple releases MacBook, Pro and Air. They differ in technical characteristics and appearance, but they are similar in management and the ways to check the model are the same:

The downside of using an identifier is that you won't know the exact configuration. And the same MacBook Air is available in different processor and memory options.

Therefore, it is best to find out this information by the serial number on the Apple website by entering it in a special search field.

Any device that was released by the American company Apple can be checked using a unique code assigned during manufacture and find out its entire history. This feature can be very useful for those who want more. For example, the verification procedure will be relevant when buying a Macbook from hand. Let's see how the macbook is checked by serial number and what needs to be done for this.

Stages

So that you can get all the necessary information, follow these steps step by step:

Find out the serial number of the Macbook;

Go to the official website in a special section and paste the code;

Get information.

Let's take a look at each step in more detail.

There are several ways to get a unique code assigned to each computer model from the factory.

Click the apple icon and select About This Mac. Here you will see a line with a serial number;
In addition, you can use the System Information utility. In the "About This Mac" section, click the "More Info" button. Next, select "Hardware" from the menu on the left side of the window. In the right half, find the line with the desired combination of characters and numbers.

Now you need to check the serial number of macbook pro or air. Let's take it step by step.

Third Party Resources

It is strongly not recommended to check on third-party sites. On the Internet you can find a number of links that offer such services. However, the device information you enter can work against you. Not all such sites belong to scammers, but it is advisable to protect yourself from risk.

Therefore, open the link checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru. In the only field, enter Serial number. Next, enter the numbers from the picture to confirm and click the "continue" button. The computer information page will appear on the screen. Now you know how Macbook is checked.