Where and how to sell a used iPhone in Colombia: iCloud, IMEI and safe handover

Short answer: you can sell your iPhone when you, the owner, sign out of your Apple Account, turn off Find My, confirm the IMEI is not reported, and let the buyer see the clean setup screen. Here you won't find how to bypass an iCloud lock or how to sell a device that isn't yours: if the phone has another person's account, stop there.

We already have a general guide on selling a used phone in Colombia; this one stays with what is specific to the iPhone: the Apple account, the IMEI, and the handover. The most common problem is that the buyer pays, gets home, and the phone asks for an account they don't know. That means returns, disputes, and a bad reputation, and it's avoided with ten minutes of preparation.

What the owner should get ready before posting

Apple explains it in its article What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone, published on May 29, 2026. The order is: back up, sign out, and erase. The exact steps on screen differ between iOS 26 or later and iOS 18 or earlier, so follow Apple's page and not an old video tutorial.

• Backup: do it first, because there's no going back afterward.
• Find My off: in Settings > your name > Find My > Find My iPhone. That removes Activation Lock. Erasing all content and settings also turns off Find My and Activation Lock.
• eSIM: if the erase asks about the eSIM and you're handing over the device, choose to erase that plan too.
• Physical SIM: if it has a SIM tray, take the SIM out.

Already handed over the phone and Find My is still on? Only the owner's account can remove it from Find Devices and then choose Remove This Device, according to Apple's iCloud guide. Don't pay anyone who offers to "unlock" it outside your account.

IMEI and type approval, without getting tangled up

Dial *#06# to see the IMEI. If more than one appears, check each one in the public IMEI query for Colombia, which tells you whether it is on the negative list and for what reason. Don't post the full number in the listing, in the photos, or in chat screenshots.

There are two very different cases here:

• Theft or loss: that IMEI can't be "cleaned" to sell it. If it shows up that way, don't list it.
• BLOCKED/NOT REGISTERED: is not the same as theft or loss. According to CRC Concept 520234 of 2026, if the block is only for not being registered, the operator has a maximum of 60 continuous hours, counted from when the user starts the procedure, to move it to the positive list.

When someone reports a theft or loss, the operator must request the block on the negative list within a maximum of 25 minutes; the CRC does not block or unblock IMEIs on its own, according to the CRC.

Regarding type approval: since October 1, 2025, operators do not block a device, nor announce that they will, just for not being approved. The obligation to use terminals approved by the CRC still applies, and the buyer can check the model in the public query of approved devices. The buyer registers the IMEI with their own operator and asks what proof of ownership they require today. Don't pay a street agent for the query.

How to describe the iPhone so nobody wastes the trip

A clear listing filters out the curious. Include: exact model, storage, the real condition of the screen and edges, replaced parts, whether it comes with box, cable, and invoice, and whether it is carrier-unlocked.

Battery is read in Settings > Battery > Battery Health (iPhone 15 and later) or Battery Health & Charging (iPhone 11 to 14). Copy the percentage exactly as it appears, and if a service warning appears, say so. Apple doesn't set a percentage that determines the price, so be wary of magic rules.

About value: there is no official price for a used iPhone. Compare current listings of your same model that same week; in this guide to used electronics pricing you have the method to compare. My advice: if your phone has something unsightly, like a worn battery or a replaced part, put it in the title and lower the price a bit. It sells faster than a "perfect" one that turns out not to be.

On the platform, according to active listings on Colombia Move (October 2026), there are 19 phone listings and 18 are recent. There is competition, so sharp photos and honest details matter.

About warranty: the three-month rule for used goods under Law 1480 applies to a habitual supplier toward a consumer, and the SIC applies it to mobile terminals. An occasional sale between two people is not automatically that. Even so, say it's used and list its faults.

Safe handover

My rule: in person, in a public and busy place, during the day. The buyer dials *#06#, compares the IMEI with the one you showed them, and sees the welcome screen with no prior Apple Account. Only after that do you accept payment and hand it over. It's a selling practice, not a rule, but it protects you from accusations of "he sold me a locked phone".

Be careful with cash on delivery: for a device of this value it's a bad idea, because if the buyer returns the package, you don't know what condition it comes back in. We already explained why returns hurt in how to sell cash on delivery. Also don't close the payment in a loose Facebook thread; better to have direct contact and a clear meeting.

Handover during the October 12, 2026 holiday

Under Law 2347 of 2024, October 12 is the Day of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity of the Colombian Nation and is a national holiday (many people still call it Día de la Raza). A long weekend brings more curious buyers and more people who don't show up. Keep the handover in a public place, in daylight, and don't send the phone before the IMEI and the welcome screen have been verified.

If you want to browse more technology categories, go to electronics, and for other used items there is the guide where to sell used things.

Frequently asked questions

❓ Can I sell the iPhone if Find My or iCloud is still on?

No: the buyer won't be able to activate it until you, as the owner, sign out and erase the device to remove Activation Lock. If you've already handed it over, remove it from your own account in Find Devices, never with an outside unlocking service. (verify on the official source)

❓ Where can I check whether the IMEI is reported in Colombia?

Dial *#06# and check each IMEI at imeicolombia.com.co, which shows whether it is on the negative list and the reason. Don't put the full number in the listing. If the reason is theft or loss, don't sell it. (verify on the official source)

❓ Does "BLOCKED/NOT REGISTERED" mean the iPhone is stolen?

No, the CRC treats it as a different reason from theft or loss. If it's only for not being registered, the operator has a maximum of 60 continuous hours, counted from when the user starts the procedure, to move it to the positive list. (verify on the official source)

❓ Will my iPhone be blocked if it isn't approved?

Since October 1, 2025, operators must not block a device just for not being approved. Even so, the obligation to use approved terminals still applies, and the buyer can check the model in the CRC's public query. (verify on the official source)

❓ How much should I charge for my used iPhone?

There is no official price. Compare current listings of the same model and storage that week, and show the battery percentage that Settings displays. If you hide the battery or iCloud status, you'll have to lower the price to sell. (verify on the official source)

❓ How do I sell safely and avoid scams?

Hand it over in person, in a public and busy place. The buyer dials *#06#, compares the IMEI, and sees the welcome screen with no prior Apple Account; only then do you accept payment and hand it over. Avoid sending the device before those checks. (verify on the official source)

❓ Where can I post my iPhone to sell it?

You can use groups, Facebook Marketplace, MercadoLibre, or the phones category on Colombia Move. Choose where you can show clear photos, battery, condition, and accessories, and talk directly with the buyer before agreeing on a meeting.