macOS · System Info
Find Your Mac's Serial Number & AppleCare Status
This is where you locate your Mac's serial number and check whether it's still covered by Apple's limited warranty or an AppleCare+ plan. You'll need the serial number for support calls, insurance claims, or verifying coverage before a repair.
How to open Serial Number & Coverage
- Click the Apple menu → About This Mac to view the serial number.
- Copy the serial number, or click it to reveal more identifying details.
- Go to Apple's 'Check Coverage' website and enter the serial number.
- Review the warranty, AppleCare+, and repair program status shown.
What you should know
- Find the serial number under About This Mac or physically on some Mac models' underside or box.
- Use the serial number to check warranty and AppleCare+ status on Apple's coverage site.
- See the original purchase and estimated coverage expiration dates.
- Confirm eligibility for free repairs on specific known issues covered by Apple's repair programs.
Why it matters
Knowing your coverage status before a hardware problem happens saves time and money — you'll know immediately whether a repair is free, discounted, or full price. The serial number is also required for insurance claims, trade-ins, and verifying a used Mac's authenticity and history before buying it.
Best practices
- Write down or screenshot your serial number somewhere safe in case the Mac won't turn on later.
- Check coverage status right after buying AppleCare+ to confirm it was applied correctly.
- Verify a used Mac's serial number and coverage status before buying it secondhand.
Common problems and fixes
- The Mac won't turn on, so you can't find the serial number in About This Mac.
- Check the original packaging, purchase receipt, or the bottom of older Mac models, which often have it printed physically.
- Apple's coverage checker shows unexpected or no coverage.
- Confirm you entered the serial number correctly, and contact Apple Support directly if you believe the coverage shown doesn't match your purchase.
Tips and tricks
- Right-click (or Control-click) the macOS version number in About This Mac to quickly copy the serial number to your clipboard.
Frequently asked questions
Where else can I find my Mac's serial number besides About This Mac?
It's often printed on the original box, the receipt, or physically on the Mac itself depending on the model, and it's also listed in System Report under Hardware Overview.
Does checking my coverage status cost anything?
No, checking your warranty or AppleCare+ status on Apple's site is free and just requires your serial number.
Related settings
- About This MacAbout This Mac (accessible from the Apple menu) shows your Mac's model, chip or processor, memory, macOS version, and serial number at a glance, plus a detailed system report and storage breakdown for deeper troubleshooting.
- System ReportSystem Report (opened via the System Information app) provides a full technical inventory of your Mac — every connected device, installed application, network configuration, and hardware component — far beyond the summary shown in About This Mac. It's the tool Apple Support usually asks you to check when diagnosing hardware issues.
- macOS RecoverymacOS Recovery is a built-in set of utilities for reinstalling macOS, restoring from a Time Machine backup, repairing a damaged disk, and resetting a forgotten password — all accessible without needing a working copy of macOS already running.
More System Info guides for macOS
- Date & TimeDate & Time settings keep your Mac's clock accurate by syncing automatically with a network time server, or let you set the date, time, and time zone manually when automatic detection isn't appropriate.
- Startup DiskStartup Disk lets you select which internal or external bootable volume your Mac uses when it powers on, useful if you have multiple macOS installations, a bootable backup, or a Windows partition via Boot Camp on an Intel Mac. Apple silicon Macs manage most of this through Startup Security Utility instead.
- Sharing & Computer NameView and change the name your Mac uses on local networks and AirDrop, and manage which sharing services like File Sharing or Screen Sharing are enabled.
- Profiles (Device Management)See configuration profiles installed on your Mac by an employer, school, or manually, which can enforce settings like Wi-Fi configurations, restrictions, or MDM enrollment.
- macOS Version & Build NumberClicking the macOS version number in About This Mac reveals the exact build number, useful when a support agent, developer, or compatibility check needs more precision than the marketing version name.
- Legal & RegulatoryThe Legal & Regulatory page contains the macOS software license agreement, open-source acknowledgments, and regulatory certification marks required for different countries and regions.