What is the serial number of a Mac

In addition to our physical features, people differentiate ourselves by identity card. In each country we have a special nomenclature with which to identify ourselves legally and with electronic devices something similar occurs. In the case of Macs we find that each one has a different serial number , so you will not find two that are the same. In what perhaps if they can coincide is in the model number, which is evident that it is not exclusive because there are thousands of units of each one.

The serial number of your Mac can be used to verify if it is original when it comes to a second-hand purchase or similar, but above all it is important when accessing to repair the device. If you are going to take it to an Apple Store or SAT (Authorized Technical Service), this code will be required to verify that it is associated with your name and for the company to obtain more information about it. These data, although there may be websites that give more information, are really closed to the company and indicate, among others, the date of manufacture or the batch number in which it was located.

When accessing the Apple coverage website, the serial number of the device is required. Once you enter it, you can check the warranty of the device, thus knowing what type of support and repairs you have covered. This is very useful when you have contracted Apple Care + or you are not sure that the legal warranty period for the product has passed.

Find the serial number on any Mac

There are several ways to find the serial number on a Mac, regardless of whether it is older or a portable or desktop model.

From “About this Mac”

This is probably the fastest and easiest way to find out the serial number of your equipment, since you only have to follow this simple route:

• Go to the toolbar at the top of the screen and click on the Apple menu . You will be able to distinguish it for having the apple logo.
• Tap on About this Mac.
• Go to the Overview tab .

In this section you will not only find the serial number of your equipment, but you will also be able to obtain other interesting data such as the Mac model you have, the processor, the RAM or the graphics. You can also access more system information and even update the software.

If your Mac is old, it is likely that instead of a macOS version it has an OS X version, since that was the name of its operating system a few years ago. In this case, you may find a screen like the one shown in the previous image. All you have to do to see the serial number is click below OS X and the serial number of your computer will appear.

From “System Information”

There is a utility in macOS that allows you to access relevant information on your computer, including its serial number. We refer to System Information, which can be opened from the previous About this Mac window. The other method to open it is by doing a search in Spotlight, for which you must press command + space on your keyboard. Once you are in this utility you must click on Hardware in the left part of the window, then you will see that Hardware Information has appeared on the right, showing data such as the one you are looking for.

Serial number on the Mac case and chassis

If for any reason you cannot access the Mac operating system, but you need the information of its serial number, you can easily find it in its original box . It usually appears on a sticker at the bottom of the sticker , along with other information such as computer components. Keep in mind that if they have had to give you a replacement kit, the serial number will no longer match, unless they gave you the original box of this one.

If you don’t have the box either or the serial number has been erased, you can see the number printed on the Mac’s chassis.

MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

In any of the versions of Apple notebooks, regardless of the year of this, you can locate the serial number at the bottom of this . A legend will appear in which, in addition to saying the famous “Designed by Apple in California”, you will be able to find what is the identification code of the Mac.

iMac and iMac Pro

Full versions of the Apple computer also have the serial number on their chassis. You ‘ll have to look out at the back of the monitor, in which the regulatory marked are printed, along with a bar code label and the corresponding serial number.

Mac pro

If you have a 2009, 2010 or 2012 Mac Pro you will see that the serial number is screen printed at the bottom of the tower . In the event that your team is from 2013 you can also locate it at the bottom. For the latest Mac Pro of 2019 you can find it at the bottom of the tower , since the design of this is very similar to the first generation of these teams.

Mac mini

Regardless of the year of your device, the serial number is printed on the bottom of the box along with other regulatory indications that must be included by law.

If you don’t have the Mac or its original box

Unfortunately, not always when we need the serial number of the Mac we have access to the original equipment or box, but this is not an impediment to know its serial number. Some of the alternatives that we recommend to find it are the following:

• From an iPhone or iPad , for which you must be logged in with the same Apple ID as on the Mac. If you click on your name in Settings and go to the list of devices, you can click on the Mac and see its serial number .
• From another Mac in which you have accessed with the same Apple ID as the other. Going to your Apple ID in System Preferences you will be able to find this equipment, click on it and see its serial number.
• From the browser of a Windows PC, Android or another device. You can go to the Apple ID website and in the device part you can see the serial number.
• Purchase invoice , if you still keep it, the terminal serial number must appear.
• If it is second hand, you can contact the company or individual who sold it to you in case they still have the data of the equipment.

If none of these options works for you, you should contact Apple through any of the channels you have available, explain the situation and request your data to provide the serial number of the equipment.