August 11, 2025
If you’ve ever browsed eBay, Swappa, or Facebook Marketplace for a used phone, chances are you’ve seen the phrase “bad ESN” in the listing. Usually, the phone is cheaper than the same model with a “clean ESN.”
So, is a bad ESN a deal-breaker?
The short answer: yes, it’s a disadvantage—but not always the end of the road.
In this updated 2025 guide, we’ll break down exactly what bad ESN means, how it affects iPhones and Androids, how to check ESNs, and what you can (and can’t) do with a bad ESN phone.
An ESN (Electronic Serial Number) is a unique identifier once used primarily on CDMA networks (like Verizon and Sprint). Globally, most networks now use IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers, but ESN is still used interchangeably in the U.S. when discussing phone blacklisting.
👉 In 2025: If you hear “bad ESN,” it usually means the same thing as “blacklisted IMEI.”
Pretty much the same thing. IMEI and ESN mean the same thing – simply unique identity numbers- regardless of the brand in which they appear.
When a device is declared to have a clean ESN, it means that it is 100% ready to be activated with its intended carrier. It means that the device has never been reported stolen or missing, and there are no outstanding payments due. In either case, the phone would have a bad ESN.
First off, you’ve got to know what it is. By simply placing a call, you could know your ESN. Here’s some information on how to find your ESNs for popular mobile carriers:
Once you have gotten your ESN, it is easy to check if it is clean or not. The blacklist directory is open to everyone to make inquiries.
Gotten your ESN? Head onto Swappa or CheckESN to check your ESN’s state for free.
If a phone is said to have a bad ESN, it could be due to one of these three reasons:
Similarly, a bad ESN iPhone is one in which the user cannot activate his/her phone with the carrier.
Based on the severity of the issue, the iPhone may be blocked on one or all carriers. Also, if your iPhone is not unlocked, you cannot simply flip-the-switch on carriers. So, be sure your iPhone is unlocked for international use.
Can we use iPhones with a bad ESN? Well, yes. Once you fix it, you are good to go!
If a phone is said to be blacklisted, it simply means the device was reported stolen. However, a blacklisted phone can be removed from the blacklist- but only by the person who reported it stolen.
To check if your phone is blacklisted or has a bad ESN, the first step is finding out your unique IMEI number. For most phones, simply typing out *#06# on your keypad would display it.
Once you’ve got this, there are two ways through which you can confirm the state of your phone:
A bad ESN doesn’t always mean the phone is junk. Options include:
Yes, you can! While some local stores would prefer buying it in parts, some online buyback stores will buy financed phones you still owe money on. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to sell a stolen phone.
What do you do if your phone is stolen?
Simple: Report your IMEI/ESN number to your carrier as soon as possible. Doing so would make it difficult for the stolen phone to be resold.
👉 In practice, most people now use “blacklisted” when talking about unusable phones.
Sometimes. If only blocked in the U.S., it may work with international SIMs—once unlocked.
No. Sprint merged with T-Mobile in 2020. If you see Sprint phones, they now run on T-Mobile’s network.
Not really—most carriers rely on IMEI now. But in resale markets, “bad ESN” is still widely used to mean “blacklisted.”
In 2025, the phrase bad ESN is essentially a red flag for a blacklisted or carrier-locked phone. While not always a deal-breaker, it does limit resale value and activation options.
✅ Always check an IMEI before buying.
✅ Avoid stolen devices.
✅ Know your options for repair, resale, or repurposing.
If you’re shopping for a secondhand phone this year, understanding bad ESN vs clean ESN could save you from a costly mistake.
We accept phones that are re-financed or not paid off as long as they are not blacklisted.
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