Buying a new phone comes with one step most people skip: checking the warranty. An online warranty check tells you if your phone is covered for repairs, how long that cover lasts, and whether the unit you bought is genuine. This guide covers the process for the top brands sold in Pakistan, and explains a few things most warranty guides leave out.
What Is an Online Warranty Check?
An online warranty check is a quick lookup on a brand’s official website. You enter your phone’s IMEI or serial number, and the site shows the activation date and the warranty start and end date. It takes less than a minute once you have your IMEI ready.
What You Need Before You Start
Every brand asks for the same basic detail: your device’s IMEI number. You can find it in three ways.
- Dial *#06# on your phone. The IMEI shows up on screen right away.
- Go to Settings, then About Phone, and look for IMEI or Status.
- Check the barcode sticker on the original box.
Apple also accepts a serial number instead. Write this number down before you start, since a wrong digit is the most common reason a check fails.
How to Check Warranty Online by Brand
Each brand runs its own tool, and the steps differ slightly.
For Samsung phones, you enter your IMEI on Samsung’s official Pakistan support page, which matches it against the activation date on record. Phones sold through Samsung’s official Pakistani channels typically carry a one-year warranty from the date of first activation. We cover the full steps, along with what to do if your IMEI doesn’t show up, in our Samsung warranty check guide.
Apple works a little differently. Its Check Coverage tool mainly asks for the serial number, which you’ll find under Settings > General > About, on the original box, or linked to the IMEI through *#06#. The result shows warranty status, technical support eligibility, and any AppleCare+ cover. Our Apple warranty check guide shows exactly where to find each number and how to read the result.
Oppo runs a dedicated Warranty Check tool on its Pakistan support site. Enter the IMEI, and it returns the activation date along with the time left on your cover. Our Oppo warranty check guide walks through this step by step, including what it means if your phone shows as unactivated.
Tecno and Infinix both use Carlcare as their official after-sales partner in Pakistan. You enter your IMEI on Carlcare’s page, and it shows the activation date, warranty status, and which repairs you qualify for. Our Tecno warranty check guide covers the full process and lists Carlcare’s helpline for when the online check doesn’t work.
Vivo and Realme also run their own tools. Vivo’s page confirms your IMEI is genuine, with full warranty terms listed on a separate page on its site. Realme’s tool shows the activation date and tells you to visit a service center for the final warranty decision. Both are free and only need your IMEI.
Warranty Check vs PTA Check: Don’t Mix These Up
This is where most guides fall short. A warranty check and a PTA check are two different things.
A warranty check tells you if the manufacturer will repair your phone for free. A PTA check tells you if your phone is legally registered to work on Pakistani networks. You can check PTA status by sending your IMEI to 8484 by SMS, dialing *8484#, or visiting dvs.pta.gov.pk. A phone can pass one check and fail the other. A grey-market phone, for example, may carry no local warranty at all, even if it’s PTA registered.
What Your Warranty Usually Covers
Most brands in Pakistan offer a standard one-year limited warranty on manufacturing defects. This generally covers faults in materials or parts that weren’t caused by the user. It usually does not cover:
- Physical damage, cracks, or scratches
- Water or liquid damage
- Repairs done outside the brand’s authorized service network
Always confirm exact terms on the brand’s own warranty policy page, since coverage can change by model.
Common Problems During a Warranty Check
If your check comes back blank or shows an error, it’s usually one of these:
- A wrong digit in the IMEI. Double-check all 15 digits.
- The phone was imported and never activated through the brand’s official local channel.
- The device is too new, and the activation record hasn’t updated yet.
If none of these apply, contact the brand’s support line directly with your IMEI ready.
Final Word
Checking your phone’s warranty online takes a minute and can save you a costly repair bill later. Save your IMEI or serial number somewhere safe, and check it as soon as you unbox a new phone, not after something goes wrong.