The SMARTDrop Kiosk won't read my IMEI number. What can I do? – paolomologni2

It's essential that the SMARTDrop Kiosk cameras are able to read your phone's IMEI number to complete the security check against CheckMEND's register. It usually only takes a few seconds to complete this step during the Quality Assessment procedure.

The camera's inability to read your phone's IMEI number is usually due to a couple of reasons:

Screen glare against the camera due to high screen brightness
The phone's Auto-Lock feature timer is too short. This leads to the screen going black before the IMEI number can be scanned by the camera

Before placing your phone into the valuation chamber, ensure you complete the following steps:

✔ Ensure that your phone is face-up when placed into the valuation chamber.
✔ Ensure that your screen is on and that your phone hasn't entered 'sleep mode'.
✔ Ensure that your IMEI number is visible on-screen before being placed into the valuation chamber.
✔ Ensure that your screen protector and phone case (if applicable) have been removed so that your IMEI number can be scanned.

For both iPhone and Samsung phones, have a read of our tips below to make sure the screen brightness is optimal and active for long enough to be scanned by the SMARTDrop Kiosk!

iPhone Tips 📱

If you have not factory reset your iPhone, you'll need to first remove your iCloud account before being able to sell via the SMARTDrop Kiosk.

Once you've removed your iCloud account, follow these tips below to ensure your IMEI can be scanned:

Tip #1 💡 - Change the Auto-Lock feature in your iPhone settings so your screen stays on for longer. This will ensure that the SMARTDrop Kiosk cameras have ample time to scan your device's IMEI number.

To change the Auto-Lock feature, follow the below instructions:

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness
Tap Auto-Lock
Change your auto-lock time to 3 minutes

Tip #2 💡 - Adjust your iPhone's screen brightness to 50% which is optimal to avoid screen glare against the SMARTDrop Kiosk cameras. Screen glare can obstruct the view of the IMEI number.

To adjust your screen's brightness, follow the steps below:

On iPhone X or later, you can adjust your brightness via the Control Centre by swiping down in the top right-hand corner. On iPhone 8 or earlier, you can swipe up from the bottom edge of your display to adjust the brightness slider.
Alternatively, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and adjust the brightness slider to around halfway.
Turn off any adaptive brightness settings to maintain optimal screen brightness.

Tip #3 💡 - If you have one enabled, remove your passcode lock from your iPhone.

Here's how to do it:

For any iPhone models with Face ID (iPhone X or later), go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode and then tap Turn Passcode Off. Enter your passcode again to confirm the action. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password.
For iPhone models with Touch ID (iPhone 8 or earlier), go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode and then tap Turn Passcode Off. Enter your passcode again to confirm the action. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password.

If you have already factory reset your iPhone, follow the below tip:

Tip 💡 - There isn't a way to adjust any settings once your phone has been factory reset unless you recalibrate it. As a standard, an iPhone's screen will stay lit for ~25 seconds before the screen auto-locks.

To surface your iPhone's IMEI number after a factory reset, follow either of these instructions:

Click the information icon ("i") in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. This will bring up your iPhone's system information, including the IMEI number. It will display on your screen for ~30 seconds.
Dial *#06# on your iPhone's keypad. This will also bring up your iPhone's system information and display it on your screen for ~30 seconds.

As the IMEI check only takes a few seconds in the valuation chamber, this should be ample time for the cameras to capture the IMEI number.

Samsung Tips 📱

If you have not factory reset your Samsung, you'll need to first remove your Samsung account before being able to sell via the SMARTDrop Kiosk.

Once you've removed your iCloud account, follow these tips below to ensure your IMEI can be scanned:

Tip #1 💡 - The same as iPhones, you can adjust your Samsung's Secure Lock Settings. Lengthening your screen lock timer will ensure the cameras can scan your IMEI number before the lock activates.

To change the Secure Lock Settings, follow the steps below:

Go to Settings > Secure Lock Settings
Tap Auto-Lock Settings
Adjust your screen's auto-lock to 5 minutes

Tip #2 💡 - Adjust your Samsung screen brightness to 50%. Screen glare can obstruct the view of the IMEI number.

To adjust your screen's brightness, follow the steps below:

Go to Settings > Display
Adjust the screen brightness slider to around halfway.
Turn off any adaptive brightness settings to maintain optimal screen brightness.

If you have already factory reset your Samsung, follow the below tip:

Tip 💡 - On your Samsung's screen, you can surface your IMEI number by doing the following:

Dial *#06# on your Samsung's keypad. This will display your phone's system information including the IMEI number for more than ~3 minutes. This is more than enough time for the cameras to capture your phone's IMEI number for the security check.