Apple to Begin Using Randomized Serial Numbers in Early 2021 [Report]

Apple has informed employees that it will begin using randomized serial numbers for future products.

According to an internal AppleCare email obtained by MacRumors, Apple says the new serial number will be a randomized alphanumeric string of 8-14 characters that no longer includes manufacturing or configuration information. IMEI numbers will not be affected.

The change will not include currently shipping Apple products; however, future products will use the new format. Initially, serial numbers will be ten characters long.


Previously, the first three characters of a serial number determined the location where a product was manufactured. The following two character indicated the year and week it was manufactured and the last four characters were a configuration code revealing mode, color, and storage. Unfortunately, users will no longer be able to glean this information from Apple's new serial numbers.

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