Apple devices

Apple serials are 10 or 12 characters, and every Apple device signed into an Apple Account also reports its serial at account.apple.com (opens in new tab) → Devices — the route that works when the device is dead, locked, or missing.

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

In macOS: Apple menu → About This Mac lists the serial with the model. Or in Terminal:

system_profiler SPHardwareDataType | grep -E "Model Name|Model Identifier|Serial Number"

On the hardware: printed in very small type on the bottom case, near the regulatory markings. Angle the light — it’s low-contrast on the darker finishes.

If it won’t boot: hold the power button (Apple Silicon) to reach startup options → Options → Recovery → Utilities → Terminal, then run the system_profiler line above. See BIOS and boot menus .

Mac mini and Mac Studio

Same software paths. On the hardware, the serial is etched on the underside of the enclosure near the regulatory marks.

iPad and iPhone

On the device: Settings → General → About — serial, model number, and (on cellular models) the IMEI.

On the hardware: on the back of the device, engraved into the aluminum or printed on a label, depending on the model and generation.

From a Mac, with the iPad plugged in over USB — the one that works on a locked or non-booting tablet:

system_profiler SPUSBDataType | grep -A 6 -i "ipad\|iphone"

On a Windows PC, the Apple Devices app (or Finder’s equivalent) shows the same information once the tablet is trusted.

Our iPads span several generations (iPad Pro 5th gen, iPad Pro 3rd gen, iPad 9th gen, iPad 8th gen). They look nearly identical — the model number on Settings → General → About, an A-number like A2378, is what distinguishes them. Record it alongside the serial; the generation name alone leads to mix-ups.

Apple Vision Pro

On the device: Settings → General → About, while wearing it.

On the hardware: take the Light Seal off and look at the left side of the aluminum enclosure (left as you’d wear it), between the left audio strap and the black fabric around the display. The serial is printed vertically.

Apple Watch

Settings → General → About on the watch itself, or the Watch app on the paired iPhone → General → About. Scroll for the serial.

On the hardware, it’s on the back of the case or in the band slot — slide a band off and look inside the channel.

Model field

Use the marketing name plus the identifying detail people actually need: MacBook Pro 14" (M3), Mac mini (M2), iPad Pro 12.9" (5th gen), Apple Watch Ultra 2. Keep the A-number in the asset notes.