How to Check iPhone Parts and Service History Before Selling
To check if your iPhone has original parts, open Settings > General > About. If a part has ever been replaced, a Parts and Service History section shows up there, with each part marked Genuine Apple Part, Unknown Part, Used or Unverified. No section means no recorded repairs. Check it before you sell, because every serious buyer in Dubai will.
Want to know what your iPhone is worth with or without a replaced part? Get a free quote or send a screenshot of the screen onWhatsApp. We collect free anywhere in Dubai and pay on the spot.
A lot of sellers only find out about a replaced screen or battery when the buyer is standing in front of them, phone in hand, pointing at the words "Unknown Part". It's an awkward moment, and it usually ends with a lower offer. Spending one minute on this screen before you list your phone saves you that surprise.
Key Takeaways
- Where to look: Settings > General > About. The section only appears if a part was replaced.
- Genuine Apple Part is fine. Unknown Part usually means a lower offer.
- Resetting the phone won't clear the message. It comes from the part itself.
- Dubai traders take off about AED 350 for a replaced screen and AED 300 for a replaced battery.
- Be upfront. A buyer who finds an Unknown Part you didn't mention will trust nothing else you say.
How to Check Your iPhone's Parts and Service History
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then About.
- Scroll down. If you see Parts and Service History, tap it to see which parts were replaced and how each one is labelled.
- If the section isn't there, your iPhone has no recorded part replacements.
You need iOS 15.2 or later. If a part was serviced more than once, only the most recent repair is shown.
Tip: take a screenshot of this screen now. You'll want it when you ask for quotes.
What Each Label Means
Label
What it means
Effect on your price
Genuine Apple Part
Replaced with a genuine Apple part using Apple's process
Little or none
Unknown Part
May be non-genuine, faulty, modified or not linked after repair
Usually lower
Used
A genuine Apple part taken from another iPhone
Can be slightly lower
Unverified (logic board)
The logic board was replaced or came from another iPhone. Apple Pay may be affected
Usually much lower
Finish Repair
The repair wasn't completed in Repair Assistant
Finish it first
Apple itself says an Unknown Part "may affect trade-in value". Private buyers on Dubizzle think the same way, and many walk away completely when they see it.
Which Parts Does Your iPhone Show?
Not every iPhone tracks every part. Here's what each model shows:
iPhone model
Parts shown
iPhone XR, XS, XS Max, SE (2nd and 3rd gen)
Battery only
iPhone 11
Battery and display
iPhone 12 and later
Battery, display, logic board, front camera and rear cameras
So an iPhone 11 with a third-party camera won't show anything for the camera, but a buyer can still spot it in the camera quality. On iPhone 15 and later with iOS 18, genuine parts taken from another iPhone are also labelled "Used".
Why Does My iPhone Say "Unknown Part"?
There are a few reasons, and not all of them mean the part is fake:
- The part isn't genuine. This is the most common reason after a cheap screen or battery replacement.
- The repair wasn't finished properly. Genuine parts have to be linked to your iPhone after they're fitted. If the shop skipped that step, even a real Apple part can show as Unknown.
- The part was modified or isn't working as it should.
You'll get a notification the first time you unlock the phone after the repair, and again five days later. After that, the label stays in Settings.
Can you get rid of it?
Not with a factory reset. The message comes from the part, not from your data. Your only options are to have it replaced with a genuine Apple part at an Apple Authorised Service Provider, or to complete the repair in Repair Assistant if the screen says Finish Repair.
Before you spend money on a new screen just to sell, ask for a quote first. The repair can cost more than the price difference you'd get back.
How a Replaced Part Changes Your Price in Dubai
WhenKhaleej Times asked phone traders in Deira in September 2026, they put rough numbers on it:
Repair
Typical cut to the offer
Replaced screen
About AED 350
Replaced battery
About AED 300
Battery health around 80%
Offer 15 to 20% lower
An Unknown screen usually hurts more than an Unknown battery, because buyers worry about colour, brightness and touch problems. A genuine Apple replacement done at an authorised centre hurts the least, especially if you still have the receipt.
Other Checks Buyers Do That This Screen Doesn't Show
Parts and Service History doesn't track everything. A careful buyer will also check:
- Battery health: Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If it says it can't verify a genuine battery, the health number may not be accurate.
- Face ID: a damaged or badly repaired front camera can stop Face ID working. Lock and unlock the phone a few times.
- True Tone and brightness: a non-genuine screen often looks slightly different. Turn True Tone on and off in Settings > Display & Brightness.
- Back glass and frame: these aren't tracked at all, so buyers look for uneven gaps or glue around the edges.
Since iOS 18, Apple also links parts to the owner's Apple Account. If a part came from a locked or lost iPhone, its functions can be restricted. That's one more reason buyers want to see a clean history.
Should You Tell the Buyer About a Replaced Part?
Yes, always. They'll see it in Settings within a minute anyway. Saying it upfront keeps the deal honest and stops a buyer from wondering what else you haven't mentioned.
When you ask us for a quote, just tell us which parts were replaced and what the label says, or send us the screenshot. We'll price it in from the start, so the number doesn't change when we arrive.
Got other damage too? Read whether you can sell a broken phone in Dubai. And before you hand the phone over, run through ourchecklist before selling your phone in Dubai.
How to Sell Your iPhone With Us
- Check Parts and Service History and take a screenshot.
- Get a free quote. Use thefree quote form or send your model, storage and the screenshot on WhatsApp.
- Pick a time. We collect free from anywhere in Dubai, including Dubai Marina, Downtown, JLT, Deira and Silicon Oasis.
- We check the phone with you and pay. If it matches what you told us, the price stays the same. Cash or bank transfer, on the spot.
Selling privately instead? Our guide on how tosell your phone in Dubai safely and avoid scams covers the meeting and payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if my iPhone has original parts?
Go to Settings > General > About. If any part has been replaced, a Parts and Service History section appears there, showing each part as Genuine Apple Part, Unknown Part, Used or Unverified. If you don't see the section at all, your iPhone has no recorded repairs. You need iOS 15.2 or later.
What does "Unknown Part" mean on an iPhone?
It means iOS couldn't confirm the part is a genuine Apple part working as it should. The part may be non-genuine, faulty, modified, or simply not linked to your iPhone after the repair. Apple says it may affect trade-in value.
Can I remove the "Unknown Part" message?
Not by resetting the phone. The message stays because iOS reads it from the part itself. The only way to change it is to have the part replaced with a genuine one, or to finish the repair in Repair Assistant if the label says Finish Repair.
Does an Unknown Part lower the resale price in Dubai?
Usually, yes. Dubai traders quoted by Khaleej Times said a replaced screen takes about AED 350 off and a replaced battery about AED 300, and non-genuine parts can cut more. Buyers check this screen before they pay.
Will you still buy my iPhone if it has a replaced part?
Yes. We buy iPhones with replaced screens, batteries and cameras. Tell us what the Parts and Service History screen says when you ask for a quote, and the price we give you is the price you get if the phone matches.
Which iPhones show Parts and Service History?
iPhone XR, XS and SE (2nd and 3rd generation) show the battery only. iPhone 11 shows the battery and display. iPhone 12 and later also show the logic board and the front and rear cameras.
What does "Used" mean in Parts and Service History?
It means the part is a genuine Apple part that was taken from another iPhone. It may work fine, but Apple says quality and performance can vary. It's shown on iPhone 15 and later running iOS 18 or newer.
