Bulk Checks for Businesses
How to Keep Every IMEI Digit Intact in Excel
An IMEI is an identifier, not a value for arithmetic. Format the column as Text before import to preserve it.
Step 1: Recognize when Excel changed an IMEI
The safe example 350000000000001 may appear as 3.5E+14. Scientific notation can be display-only, but digits may already have been rounded if the file passed through a formula, Number formatting or a faulty export.
Widening the column does not prove that the original identifier survived.
Step 2: Format the IMEI column as Text before pasting
- Select the full IMEI column.
- Choose Home → Number Format → Text.
- Paste into the formatted column.
- Spot-check rows at the start, middle and end.
For manual entry, prefix the safe example with an apostrophe: '350000000000001.
Step 3: Import CSV without conversion
Do not double-click the CSV. In Excel, choose Data → From Text/CSV and assign Text to the IMEI column before loading. In Text to Columns, select Text at the final step.
Download the IMEI/serial CSV template for a consistent column structure.
Step 4: Validate and repair an imported file
Use =LEN(B2) and filter values whose length is not 15. A formula such as =AND(LEN(B2)=15,ISNUMBER(--B2)) can flag non-digit characters in compatible Excel versions.
If digits were rounded, they cannot be reconstructed reliably. Re-import from the device, box label or original source file.
Step 5: Save and verify before upload
Keep the working copy as .xlsx. If CSV is required, export a separate copy and inspect it in a text editor. Keep an asset ID column so every result maps back to the correct device.
See the IMEI/serial workbook template and the bulk checking guide.
Daily operations checklist
- Normalize serial/IMEI columns before upload (uppercase, dedupe, drop blanks).
- Split batches to ≤1,000 codes; watch the 5,000/day user limit.
- Store OUTPUT files with intake/delivery records for later disputes.
- Check Activation Lock on-device — Coverage is not a substitute.
- Quick filters: Not Actived, Day warranty left < 30, mismatched model.
See the business hub and glossary.
For large volume, also read checking 10,000 serials in Excel.
Summary & CTA
An Excel workflow lets stores and warehouses verify Apple activation/warranty faster than one-by-one checks. Start with 5 free checks after email verification, then scale with your real inbound volume.
Operational goal: every inbound lot has an OUTPUT file attached — which units are activated, how many warranty days remain, whether models match — before you pay or put stock on the shelf.
Frequently asked questions
Does 3.5E+14 mean the IMEI is already damaged?
Not necessarily; it may be display-only. Convert carefully and compare with the source.
Can I use Number format with zero decimals?
Do not. An IMEI is an identifier and should be stored as Text.
Can a rounded final digit be recovered?
Not reliably. Re-import the identifier from its original source.
Does CSV preserve leading zeros?
The file can, but Excel may remove them on automatic open. Import the column as Text.
References
- Apple Support — Find the serial number, EID, or IMEI — Official instructions for iPhone and iPad
- Apple — Check Your Service and Support Coverage — Apple's official serial-number coverage checker
Stop checking Apple identifiers one at a time
BatchIMEI accepts an Excel/CSV file of Apple IMEIs or serial numbers, processes up to 1,000 identifiers per batch, and exports activation and warranty results. The current price is 500 VND per successful check.