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Apple Serial Number Decoder

From RetroTechCollection
The rating label of an Apple Color Plus 14" Display. The serial number CY33628T1S2 reads as week 36 of 1993, and the label gives the date of manufacture as September 1993.

Original research by RetroTechCollection.The worked examples, the codes marked below as seen on labels, and the layouts read from 1980s mouse, keyboard and laser printer labels were compiled by this wiki's contributors from photographed labels and museum catalogue records. Everything else on this page is cited to Apple or to the community sources named. This section records work carried out and measurements taken by this wiki's contributors rather than information drawn from a published source. It is offered as first-hand documentation — no external citation exists because the work is the source. Corrections and independent confirmation are welcome.

The Apple Serial Number Decoder is an interactive tool for reading Apple serial numbers. It splits a serial number into its fields and says what each one means: the plant or vendor that built the unit, the year and week of manufacture, and the model or configuration. It covers the layouts Apple used from the Apple II to 2021, and it also looks up bare Apple model numbers such as M0100 or A9M0106. Apple described its serial number layout only in a few service manuals,[1][2] so each table below names its source. Where a code is not in a cited table, the decoder says "not in our table".

The Sad Mac Decoder is the companion tool for Sad Mac Error Codes.

Decoder

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Loading decoder… If this message stays, the Apple Serial Number Decoder gadget is not enabled. Turn it on in your preferences (Gadgets tab) and reload.

How to use

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  1. Find the serial number label on the product. The table under where to find the serial number lists the usual places.
  2. Type the serial number as printed. Leave out the asterisks that frame the text under a bar code; spaces and lower case are ignored.
  3. Press Decode. The decoder shows every reading that fits, with the characters each field occupies, what they mean and where that meaning comes from.
  4. To look up a model number, type it on its own, for example M0110 or A2S4000.
  5. Serials made before 2010 give the year as a single digit, so the decoder lists every decade that fits. Where the model or configuration code is in a table with a known date, it narrows the list; otherwise pick the decade that matches the product.

Adding ?serial= and a serial number to the page address opens the decoder with that serial already decoded, for example F436057M0001.

Where to find the serial number

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Where Apple put the serial number
Product Where the serial number is Source
Apple II Plus Label on the underside, with the model number boxes [3]
Apple IIe Label on the underside [4][5]
Apple IIc Serial number tag on the case bottom, beside the model number [6]
Apple IIc Plus Bottom of the computer [7]
Macintosh 128K, Macintosh 512K The label on the back gives the model number but no serial number. myoldmac.net places the serial number sticker below the lower-left corner of the screen. [8][9]
Macintosh Plus Bottom of the main unit, below the bar code [10]
Macintosh SE, Macintosh SE/30 Left side of the back of the main unit, below the bar code [11][12]
Macintosh II Bottom or back of each component [13]
Macintosh LC III Bar code label on the underside [14]
PowerBook 5300 and PowerBook 190 Underside [15]
Power Mac G4 Cube On the base, near the computer latch [1]
Power Mac G3, Power Mac G4, Mac Pro Back [16]
Power Mac G5 Inside the access panel [16]
iMac, eMac iMac: underside or under the foot. eMac: inside the optical drive flap. [16]
PowerBook G3, iBook, PowerBook G4 PowerBook G3: underside. iBook: under the keyboard and in the battery bay. PowerBook G4: in the battery bay. [16]
MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini Battery bay on models with a removable battery; otherwise etched on the underside. Mac mini: underside. [16]
Current Macs Underside, near the regulatory markings; also on the box beside a bar code, and in About This Mac [17]
Displays Back of the display (rear housing), usually on the rating label or a separate bar code label [2][18][19]
Mice, keyboards, external drives Label on the underside [20][21][22][23]
Scanners Separate serial number label on the underside [24]

A logic board replacement can change the serial number a Mac reports in software, so the number printed on the case may no longer be the active one.[17] Apple's repair procedures move the serial number to replacement housings, either by transferring the original label or by writing the number on a blank one.[15]

How Apple serial numbers are built

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Apple II, Apple II Plus and the first Apple IIe

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The Apple II and II Plus carry a prefix and a running count: A2S1 on the Apple II and A2S2 on the II Plus, whose count started again from the beginning. Bell & Howell units carry A2S3. The number carries no date; the date codes on the boards and the date stamped on the keyboard give the age of the machine.[25] The first Apple IIe units of January 1983 carried A2S2 numbers like the II Plus. A 1 was soon added in front, giving 1A2S2, and later IIe labels changed over to a dated serial number.[4] Disk II drives carry their product number, A2M0003, followed by a six-digit number.[26]

1980s computers: product number at the end

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Serial numbers on the Macintosh from 1984, and on later Apple II models, start with a one-letter plant code, a single year digit, a two-digit week and three characters for the unit, and end with the product number. Apple's owner's guides illustrate the layout with the label *F7268B5M5011*.[10][13] The Apple IIc service manual uses the same kind of number as a cut-off, F6051GFA, for IIc units that already have the new monitor ROM.[6] The meanings of the plant letters come from myoldmac.net's decoder, a community list built from reader submissions.[9]

The number at the end is not always the model number on the regulatory label. A Macintosh II whose AppleCare sticker reads "MAC II HD40 SYST" ends its serial number with M5030,[27] and a Macintosh IIcx in the Computer History Museum ends its serial number with M5680.[28] Where such a number is not in the model table below, the decoder says so.

1980s mice and keyboards

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Macintosh mice and keyboards made in the USA have a different order: plant letter, year digit and week, then the product number, then a sequence number. A Macintosh mouse labelled G433M010009982 and a keyboard labelled G538M01105023 both say "Made in U.S.A." on the same label.[20][21] Apple did not publish this layout; the decoder applies it only when the serial has exactly this shape.

Ten and eleven characters (late 1980s to 2012)

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Apple's service manuals for the Power Mac G4 Cube and the 21-inch Studio Display spell out the eleven-character layout. The Cube manual gives it as PPYWWxxxxxx: PP is the plant or vendor designator, Y the year code (0 for 2000), WW the work week of manufacture, and the last six characters a unique base number and configuration. Its example, SG035MW6JDZ, is week 35 of 2000.[1] The Studio Display manual writes the same layout as aaywwbbbccc and reads its example, WR9451T8HOE, as week 45 of 1999.[2] The Multiple Scan 20 manual tells the two versions of that display apart by the last three characters of the serial number, which shows that the final group identifies the configuration.[29]

Some late-1980s and early-1990s products use the same order with a one-letter plant code, giving ten characters. Apple's Macintosh SE/30 Owner's Guide of 1988 shows the label *F8396F7KH1*: plant F, year 8, week 39, unit 6F7 and configuration code KH1.[12] myoldmac.net lists KH1 as an SE/30 code.[9]

LaserWriter II printers carry an eight-character serial number with a two-letter plant code and no configuration code. Two museum records with a known month of manufacture fit the same reading: CA239B2Q for a LaserWriter II made in September 1992, and CA116XGM for a Personal LaserWriter LS whose label reads April 1991.[30][31]

The year is a single digit, so the decade has to come from the product. The decoder lists every decade that fits, from the 1980s for ten-character serials and from the 1990s to 2012 for eleven-character ones, and narrows the list when the configuration code is in a table with a date.

Twelve characters (2010 to 2021)

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From 2010 Apple used twelve characters: a three-character plant code, one character for the year and half-year, one for the week within that half, three for the unit and four for the configuration.[32] Apple never published this layout. The tables below come from macserial, a tool in the OpenCore project whose authors reverse-engineered the format; the year letters C, D, F and G stand for 2010 and 2011 and again for 2020 and 2021.[33]

Randomised serial numbers (2021 on)

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In early 2021 Apple began issuing randomised serial numbers of 8 to 14 characters, starting at 10. Products already on sale kept the old format. A randomised serial number carries no plant, date or configuration, so it cannot be decoded.[34][32]

Reference tables

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Plant and vendor codes

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Apple calls the first characters the "plant or vendor designator",[1] so a code can name a supplier as well as an Apple plant. The one-letter codes come from myoldmac.net. The two- and three-character codes come from myoldmac.net and from macserial's location lists; macserial's lists were compiled for Intel-era Macs, and some of its two-character codes appear on 1990s labels from other places.[9][35]

One-letter codes (1980s and ten-character serials)
Code Plant Source Notes
F Fremont, California, USA [9]
C Cork, Ireland [9]
E Singapore [9]
G USA [9] Mouse and keyboard labels with G serials read "Made in U.S.A."


Two-character codes (eight- and eleven-character serials)
Code Plant Source Notes
1C China [35]
4H China [35]
7J China (Hon Hai/Foxconn) [35]
C0 China (Quanta Computer, Tech-Com) [35]
C3 China (Shenzhen, Foxconn) [35]
C7 China (Shanghai, Pegatron) [35]
CK Cork, Ireland [9][35]
CY Korea [35] A Color Plus 14" Display label with a CY serial reads "Assembled in Korea".
DL China (Foxconn) [35]
DM China (Foxconn) [35]
EE Taiwan [9][35]
F1 China (Zhengzhou, Foxconn) [35]
F2 China (Zhengzhou, Foxconn) [35]
F7 China [35]
FC Fountain, Colorado, USA [9][35]
FK China (Zhengzhou, Foxconn) [35]
G8 USA [35]
LT Taiwan [9]
MB Malaysia [9][35]
MQ China [35]
MW USA [9]
PK Mexico [9]
PT Korea [35]
QP USA [35]
QT Taiwan (Quanta Computer) [9][35] myoldmac.net gives Taiwan only.
RM Refurbished unit [35] macserial: RM marks a refurbished model.
RN Mexico [35]
SG Singapore [9][35]
SI Mexico [9]
SQ Ireland [9] myoldmac.net gives this for a PowerBook 100.
UV Taiwan [9][35]
VM Czech Republic (Pardubice, Foxconn) [35] myoldmac.net gives China for VM.
W8 China (Shanghai) [35]
WQ China [35]
XA Elk Grove (Sacramento), California, USA [9][35]
XB Elk Grove (Sacramento), California, USA [9][35]
YM China [9][35] macserial adds Hon Hai/Foxconn for the three-character YM0.


Two-character codes seen only on labels
Code Plant Source Notes
F5 Not in the published lists [14] The label of a Macintosh LC III with this code reads "Assembled in U.S.A.".
TF Not in the published lists [24] The label of a Apple Color OneScanner with this code reads "Assembled in U.S.A.".
AL Not in the published lists [36] The label of a AppleDesign Keyboard (Alps) with this code reads "Assembled in China".
M1 Not in the published lists [19] The label of a Macintosh 12" RGB Display with this code reads "Assembled in Japan".


Three-character codes (twelve-character serials)
Code Plant Source
C02 China (Quanta Computer) [35]
C07 China (Quanta Computer) [35]
C17 China [35]
C1M China [35]
C2V China [35]
CK2 Ireland (Cork) [35]
F5K USA (Flextronics) [35]
YM0 China (Hon Hai/Foxconn) [35]


macserial also lists D25, W80, W88, W89, CMV, DGK and FVF with the location unknown; the decoder reports these as not in its table.[35]

Year and week codes for twelve-character serials

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The fourth character gives the year and the half-year; the fifth gives the week within that half, so a week character in the second half adds 26. Week 53 occurs only in the second half and is written Y. macserial reads the weeks as seven-day blocks counted from 1 January, not ISO weeks.[33]

Year and half-year letter (fourth character)
Letter Year Half
C 2010 or 2020 first
D 2010 or 2020 second
F 2011 or 2021 first
G 2011 or 2021 second
H 2012 first
J 2012 second
K 2013 first
L 2013 second
M 2014 first
N 2014 second
P 2015 first
Q 2015 second
R 2016 first
S 2016 second
T 2017 first
V 2017 second
W 2018 first
X 2018 second
Y 2019 first
Z 2019 second


Week character (fifth character)
Character Week in first half Week in second half
1 1 27
2 2 28
3 3 29
4 4 30
5 5 31
6 6 32
7 7 33
8 8 34
9 9 35
C 10 36
D 11 37
F 12 38
G 13 39
H 14 40
J 15 41
K 16 42
L 17 43
M 18 44
N 19 45
P 20 46
Q 21 47
R 22 48
T 23 49
V 24 50
W 25 51
X 26 52
Y not used 53


Configuration codes on 1990s labels

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Apple did not publish its configuration codes. This table combines the codes Apple's own manuals name, the codes seen on labels and museum records in the test set, and myoldmac.net's community list. Some codes were used again for later products: LG0 is an Apple Color OneScanner on a 1994 label and an iMac (Summer 2001) in Apple's product lookup, and L13 and M59 have the same kind of double meaning. Where a code has two meanings the decoder shows both and checks each against the year digit.[24][37]

Configuration codes (last three characters)
Code Product Source
0A1 Macintosh Performa (LC II) [9]
0F1 Apple Adjustable Keyboard [38]
0M2 Apple Adjustable Keyboard [22]
10Y Macintosh Performa 450 [9]
12L Macintosh LC 475 [9]
1GX Power Macintosh 6100/60 [9]
1H2 Power Macintosh 8100/80 [9]
1LZ Macintosh Quadra 650 [9]
1M1 Macintosh Quadra 650 [9]
1PT Macintosh LC (Performa) [9]
1S2 Apple Color Plus 14" Display [18]
1XS Macintosh Quadra 610 [9]
1XU Macintosh Quadra 650 [9]
20C Macintosh Quadra 660AV [9]
2D9 Macintosh Quadra 650 [9]
34G AppleDesign Keyboard (NMB) [39]
35C Macintosh Performa 630 [9]
37R Power Macintosh 6100/60 [9]
38J AppleDesign Keyboard (Alps) [36]
3AM PowerBook 150 [9]
3B1 Macintosh IIvi [9]
3B5 Macintosh IIvx [9]
3BF Macintosh IIvx [9]
41Y Power Macintosh 6100/60 [9]
44D PowerBook 180 [40]
44H Power Macintosh 7100/80 [9]
451 PowerBook 160 [41]
492 PowerBook 160c [9]
4AH Macintosh LC 475 [9]
4RJ Macintosh LC 475 [9]
4ZA Power Macintosh or Performa 5200 [9]
506 PowerBook 100 [42]
599 PowerBook 100 [9]
5B4 Apple Multiple Scan 20 Display, Rev. B [29]
5J2 Apple Multiple Scan 20 Display, Rev. B [29]
5JE Apple Multiple Scan 20 Display, Rev. B [29]
5JF Apple Multiple Scan 20 Display, Rev. B [29]
5P5 Power Macintosh 7200/75 [43]
703 PowerBook 170 [44]
718 Macintosh Quadra 700 [45]
8HA Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh [46]
9CL Power Macintosh 6500/225 [9]
B01 Macintosh SE FDHD [9]
B02 Macintosh SE FDHD [9]
B03 Macintosh SE FDHD [9]
B47 Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh [9]
C22 Apple Desktop Bus Mouse (Macintosh IIsi) [47]
C2A Macintosh Color Classic [9]
C2D Macintosh Color Classic [9]
C40 Macintosh IIfx [9]
C70 Macintosh SE with hard disk [9]
C77 PowerBook Duo 230 [48]
C82 Macintosh Quadra 700 [49]
C82 Macintosh Quadra 700 [9]
CC2 Macintosh Centris 650 or Quadra 650 [9]
CC5 Macintosh Centris 650 [9]
CC7 Macintosh Quadra 800 [9]
D04 Macintosh Classic [9]
D10 Macintosh Classic [9]
D11 Macintosh Classic [9]
D22 Macintosh Classic II [9]
D23 Macintosh Classic II [9]
D24 Macintosh Classic II [9]
D39 Macintosh Performa 200 [9]
D57 Macintosh Performa 400 [50]
DT1 Macintosh 12" RGB Display [19]
F04 Macintosh LC II [9]
G20 Macintosh TV [9]
K01 Macintosh SE/30 [9]
K02 Macintosh SE/30 [9]
KA1 Macintosh SE/30 [9]
KA2 Macintosh SE/30 [9]
KAT Macintosh SE/30 [9]
KH1 Macintosh SE/30 [12]
KH1 Macintosh SE/30 [9]
L02 Macintosh LC [9]
L0Y Macintosh Performa 450 [9]
L13 Macintosh LC [9]
LG0 Apple Color OneScanner [24]
M59 Macintosh Portable [9]
M61 Macintosh Portable (backlit) [9]
T18 Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II (M2706) [51]
V23 Macintosh Classic [9]
VA1 Macintosh LC III [9]
VA2 Macintosh LC III [9]
VA3 Macintosh LC III [14]


Configuration codes from 1999 on

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For products from about 1999 onwards the decoder uses a list of 9,042 configuration codes, the last three or four characters of the serial number, with the product names that Apple's own product lookup service returns. The list was compiled by the macserial project. It covers Macs from the iMac and iBook onwards as well as iPods, iPhones, iPads and AirPort base stations. A random sample of 40 codes checked against Apple's service on 4 October 2026 matched in every case.[37] The list is too long to reproduce here; the decoder loads it from MediaWiki:Gadget-serialdecoder-codes.js only when a serial number needs it.

The two examples in Apple's service manuals agree with it. The Cube example SG035MW6JDZ ends in JDZ, which the list gives as Power Mac G4 (Cube). The Studio Display example WR9451T8HOE ends in HOE, printed with the letter O; read with a zero, H0E is an Apple Studio Display 21 inch CRT in the list.[1][2][37]

Model and product numbers

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Typing a model number on its own looks it up in this table. Apple used several kinds of number: the model or family number on the regulatory label, the product number in its price lists, and the order number with a region suffix.[17] For Apple II products the product number in the 1984 price list is the same number that appears on the product's label; for the Macintosh it is not (the price list sells the Macintosh as M1003, and the label says M0001).[52][53]

Model and product numbers
Number Product Source
A2M0003 Disk II, drive only [52]
A2M0029 Apple Graphics Tablet [54]
A2M0055 Apple Joystick II [54]
A2M0056 Numeric Keypad II+ [52]
A2M1044 Disk II with ProDOS controller [52]
A2M2001 Hand Controllers IIe [52]
A2M2002 Joystick IIe [52]
A2M2003 Numeric Keypad IIe [52]
A2M2007 Apple Graphics Tablet (RFI) [52]
A2M2010 Monitor II [52]
A2M2012 Apple Joystick IIe, IIc [54]
A2M2050 AppleMouse II [52]
A2M2053 UniDisk 3.5 [55]
A2M2070 Apple Mouse IIe [54]
A2M4015 Apple Mouse (IIc) [54]
A2M4035 Apple Mouse (IIc, platinum) [54]
A2M4050 Disk IIc [56]
A2M6014 AppleColor RGB Monitor [57]
A2S1016 Apple II Plus (16K) [3]
A2S1032 Apple II Plus (32K) [3]
A2S1048 Apple II Plus (48K) [3]
A2S2064 Apple IIe 64K system [52]
A2S2128 Apple IIe (128K) [58]
A2S4000 Apple IIc (original, 128K) [6]
A2S4100 Apple IIc (memory-expandable) [6]
A2S4500 Apple IIc Plus [59]
A3M0004 Disk III [52]
A3M0039 Monitor III (12-inch green) [52]
A3S0256 Apple III 256K system [52]
A3S1256 Apple III Plus 256K system [52]
A6MB101 Lisa keyboard [60]
A6S0200 Lisa 2 or Macintosh XL [61]
A6S0300 Lisa [62]
A9M0050 Lisa mouse [63]
A9M0104 UniDisk (5.25-inch) [56]
A9M0106 Apple 3.5 Drive [55]
A9M0107 Apple 5.25 Drive [56]
A9M0108 DuoDisk [56]
A9M0330 Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard [64]
A9M0331 Apple Desktop Bus Mouse [65]
G5431 Apple Desktop Bus Mouse (Macintosh II and SE family number) [54]
H1000 Newton MessagePad [66]
M0001 Macintosh 128K [67]
M0001A Macintosh Plus [67]
M0001AP Macintosh Plus (European) [9]
M0001D Macintosh 512K ED (education) [9]
M0001E Macintosh 512Ke [67]
M0001W Macintosh 512K [67]
M0001WP Macintosh 512K (220-240 V label) [8]
M0100 Macintosh Mouse [20]
M0110 Macintosh Keyboard [21]
M0110A Macintosh Plus Keyboard [68]
M0115 Apple Extended Keyboard [68]
M0116 Apple Keyboard [69]
M0120 Macintosh Numeric Keypad [52]
M0120P Macintosh Numeric Keypad (symbol keycaps) [68]
M0130 Macintosh External Disk Drive (400K) [55]
M0131 Apple 800K External Drive [23]
M0135 Hard Disk 20 [9]
M0156 LaserWriter Plus [70]
M0312 Apple Extended Keyboard II [68]
M0350 Macintosh LC [67]
M0360 Macintosh IIsi [67]
M0420 Macintosh Classic [67]
M0421 Macintosh Classic [9]
M0422 Macintosh Classic [9]
M0435 Macintosh Classic [9]
M0487 Apple Keyboard II [68]
M1205 Macintosh Centris 650 [67]
M1206 Macintosh Quadra 800; Workgroup Server 80 [67]
M1242 Apple Adjustable Keyboard (family number) [22]
M1250 Macintosh Centris 650 [9]
M1254 Macintosh LC III, LC III+; Performa 450 to 467 [67]
M1254 Macintosh LC III [14]
M1296X Macintosh 12" RGB Display (family number) [19]
M1350 Macintosh IIvi, IIvx; Performa 600 [67]
M1420 Macintosh Classic [67]
M1444 Macintosh Centris 610; Workgroup Server 60 [67]
M1476 Macintosh LC 475, Quadra 605; Performa 475, 476 [67]
M1506 PowerBook 100 [67]
M1542 Macintosh Classic II [9]
M1580 Macintosh TV [67]
M1596 Performa 6110CD to 6118CD; Workgroup Server 6150 [67]
M1596 Power Macintosh 6100 [9]
M1600 Macintosh Color Classic, Color Classic II; Performa 250, 275 [67]
M1640 Macintosh LC 520, 550, 575; Performa 520 to 578 [67]
M1688 Workgroup Server 8150 [67]
M1700 Macintosh LC II; Performa 400, 405, 410, 430 [67]
M1700 Macintosh LC II [71]
M1787 Apple Color Plus 14" Display [18]
M2000 Personal LaserWriter LS [31]
M2113 Macintosh Quadra 610 [67]
M2118 Macintosh Quadra 650 [67]
M2391 Power Macintosh 7100 [9]
M2613 QuickTake 100 [72]
M2706 Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II [51]
M2740 PowerBook 150 [67]
M2785 PowerBook 5300 [67]
M3046 Performa 5200CD to 5430 [67]
M3047 PowerBook 190 [67]
M3076 Macintosh LC 630, Quadra 630; Performa 630 to 640 and 6200 to 6320 [67]
M3098 Workgroup Server 9150/120 [9]
M3406 Power Macintosh 5200/75 [9]
M3409 Workgroup Server 8550 [67]
M3457 Performa 5260 [67]
M3459 Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh [46]
M3501 Apple Extended Keyboard II [68]
M3548 Performa 6400 and 6410, 6420 [67]
M3548 Power Macintosh 6500 [9]
M3553 PowerBook 3400c; PowerBook G3 (original) [67]
M3571 PowerBook 1400 [67]
M3872 Macintosh LC 580; Performa 580CD, 588CD [67]
M3979 Workgroup Server 7250, 7350; Power Macintosh G3 desktop [67]
M3979 Power Macintosh 7200 [43]
M4150 Macintosh Classic II; Performa 200 [67]
M4200 Macintosh Quadra 900 [67]
M4300 Macintosh Quadra 950 [67]
M4405 Power Macintosh G3 minitower [67]
M4440 PowerBook 165, 180 [67]
M4550 PowerBook 160 [67]
M4753 PowerBook G3 (Wallstreet and PDQ) [67]
M4787 Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One [67]
M4880 PowerBook 520, 520c, 540, 540c [67]
M5000 Macintosh II [67]
M5010 Macintosh SE [67]
M5011 Macintosh SE FDHD [67]
M5115 Macintosh SE with hard disk [9]
M5119 Macintosh SE/30 [67]
M5120 Macintosh Portable [9]
M5126 Macintosh Portable (backlit) [9]
M5183 Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) [67]
M5343 PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard) [67]
M5392 Macintosh SE/30 [9]
M5409 PowerBook 145, 145b, 170 [67]
M5416 PowerBook 140 [67]
M5433 Workgroup Server 9650 [67]
M5525 Macintosh IIfx [67]
M5650 Macintosh IIcx [67]
M5780 Macintosh IIci [67]
M5813 Apple Color OneScanner [24]
M5840 Macintosh IIx [67]
M5880 Macintosh Plus [9]
M5920 Macintosh Quadra 700 [67]
M6000 LaserWriter II [30]
M7572 PowerBook G3 (FireWire) [67]
M7777 PowerBook Duo 210 to 280c [67]
M7779 PowerBook Duo Dock [67]
M7780 PowerBook Duo MiniDock [67]
M7940 PowerBook 180c [67]
M7940 PowerBook 180c [73]
M9020 Macintosh Quadra 840AV [67]
M9040 Macintosh Centris 660AV, Quadra 660AV [67]


Worked examples

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Each serial number below can be seen on the label, record or manual cited. Where the label or record also gives a date, the decoded week falls in that month. The decoder lists the other decade as well unless the code narrows it; the readings below give the decade that fits the product.

Serial numbers read from labels, records and manuals
Serial number Product Reading Check
F8396F7KH1 Macintosh SE/30[12] Plant F (Fremont), year 8, week 39, unit 6F7, configuration code KH1 (SE/30) Illustration in Apple's 1988 owner's guide
F436057M0001 Macintosh 128K[53] Plant F (Fremont), 1984, week 36, unit 057, model M0001 Museum record: made 1984
E836B7PA2S4500 Apple IIc Plus[59] Plant E (Singapore), 1988, week 36, unit B7P, product A2S4500 Museum record: made 1988
G433M010009982 Macintosh mouse[20] Plant G (USA), 1984, week 33, product M0100, sequence 09982 Label: "Made in U.S.A."
G538M01105023 Macintosh keyboard[21] Plant G (USA), 1985, week 38, product M0110, sequence 5023 Label: "Made in U.S.A."
A2S2-97475 Apple II Plus[3] Prefix A2S2 (II Plus) and unit count 97475; no date Label model boxes: A2S1016, A2S1032, A2S1048
M11171BDDT1 Macintosh 12" RGB Display[19] Plant M1 (not in the published lists), 1991, week 17, unit 1BD, code DT1 Label: "Manufacture Date: April 1991"; "Assembled in Japan"
CY33628T1S2 Apple Color Plus 14" Display[18] Plant CY (Korea), 1993, week 36, unit 28T, code 1S2 Label: "Manufactured: September 1993"; "Assembled in Korea"
CA239B2Q LaserWriter II[30] Plant CA (not in the published lists), 1992, week 39, unit B2Q Museum record: made September 1992
CA116XGM Personal LaserWriter LS[31] Plant CA, 1991, week 16, unit XGM Museum record: label reads April 1991
WR9451T8HOE Studio Display (21-inch)[2] Plant WR, 1999, week 45, unit 1T8, code H0E Apple's own reading: week 45 of 1999
SG035MW6JDZ Power Mac G4 Cube[1] Plant SG (Singapore), 2000, week 35, code JDZ (Power Mac G4 Cube) Apple's own reading: year 0 is 2000


What cannot be decoded

[edit | edit source]
  • Randomised serial numbers issued since 2021 carry no plant, date or configuration.[34]
  • Apple II and II Plus serial numbers are a prefix and a count, with no date.[25]
  • Many products built for Apple by other companies carry plain numbers. Examples are the Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard A9M0330 made in Taiwan (209899) and the Alps-built version made in Japan (010612),[64][74] the Silentype printer made by Trendcom (313690), the Lisa keyboard (1041728)[60] and the DuoDisk, whose serial numbers Apple quotes as plain numbers such as 433754.[75]
  • Some labels use other layouts that no source explains: the Apple 800K External Drive made in Japan (Y6909YG)[23] and the AppleColor RGB Monitor made in Japan (N615640), whose label also prints the date of manufacture, September 1986.[57]
  • The unit characters identify one unit within the week; no source gives them any further meaning. For twelve-character serials macserial suggests a production line and copy number but calls the reading a guess.[33]
  • Most configuration codes from before 1999 are missing from every published list. The decoder shows the code and says "not in our table".
  • The decade of a single-digit year is not encoded, and some plant and configuration codes were reused in later decades.

Where a label prints its own date of manufacture, that date is the better source.

Where sources disagree

[edit | edit source]
Points where the sources differ
Point One source Another source What the decoder does
Plant code VM China (myoldmac.net)[9] Czech Republic, Pardubice, Foxconn (macserial)[35] Shows the macserial reading and notes the other
Plant code F1 and other two-character codes with a digit China, Zhengzhou, Foxconn (macserial)[35] F1 starts the serial numbers of two Macintosh Quadra 700s from the early 1990s[45][49] For a 1990s year, reports the code as not in its table and names the macserial meaning
Decade of ten-character serials myoldmac.net adds ten years to the year digit of any model it marks as a 1990s machine, which reads the SE/30 example as 1998[9] Apple printed the SE/30 example in a 1988 owner's guide[12] Lists both decades; narrows KH1 to 1988 from the date of the manual
Apple II Plus prefix A2S2 (Applefritter forum posts[25] and a photographed II Plus label, A2S2-97475[3]) The Computer History Museum catalogues an Apple II Plus as A2S1-13757[76] Reports A2S1 as the Apple II prefix
Model numbers of the Centris 650 and SE/30 M1250 and M5392 (myoldmac.net)[9] M1205 and M5119 (EveryMac)[67] Lists each number with its own source


See also

[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Apple Computer, Power Mac G4 Cube Service Source (2003), hosted as File:Power Mac G4 Cube Service Source (2003).pdf. Take Apart, General Information p. 1 (PDF p. 3), serial number location; Troubleshooting, Symptom Charts p. 10 (PDF p. 112), serial number format "PPYWWxxxxxx".
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Apple Computer, Studio Display (21" CRT, 19.8" VIS) with ColorSync technology Service Source, hosted as File:Studio display 21.pdf. Troubleshooting, "Two Versions of the CRT/Video Board", p. 18 (PDF p. 48).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Underside of an Apple II Plus, File:Apple-iiplus-bottom.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Akbkuku, CC BY 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Applefritter forum, "Apple IIe serial number variations" (epoxy2600, 6 May 2013, with replies). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  5. ↑ Underside of an Apple IIe assembled in Ireland, File:Iie-bottom.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Apple Computer, Apple IIc Technical Procedures, in Apple Service Technical Procedures: Apple II Family, Volume One (072-0229), hosted as File:Apple IIc Technical Procedures.pdf. Section 1, "Differences Between the Apple IIc's", p. 1.6 (PDF p. 10); Section 6, "UniDisk 3.5 Compatibility", p. 6.10 (PDF p. 69).
  7. ↑ Apple Computer, Apple IIc Plus Owner's Guide, "Unpacking your Apple IIc Plus", p. xv. Internet Archive.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Rear of a Macintosh 512K, File:Mac512k-rear.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  9. ↑ 9.000 9.001 9.002 9.003 9.004 9.005 9.006 9.007 9.008 9.009 9.010 9.011 9.012 9.013 9.014 9.015 9.016 9.017 9.018 9.019 9.020 9.021 9.022 9.023 9.024 9.025 9.026 9.027 9.028 9.029 9.030 9.031 9.032 9.033 9.034 9.035 9.036 9.037 9.038 9.039 9.040 9.041 9.042 9.043 9.044 9.045 9.046 9.047 9.048 9.049 9.050 9.051 9.052 9.053 9.054 9.055 9.056 9.057 9.058 9.059 9.060 9.061 9.062 9.063 9.064 9.065 9.066 9.067 9.068 9.069 9.070 9.071 9.072 9.073 9.074 9.075 9.076 9.077 9.078 9.079 9.080 9.081 9.082 9.083 9.084 9.085 9.086 9.087 9.088 9.089 9.090 9.091 9.092 9.093 9.094 9.095 9.096 9.097 9.098 9.099 9.100 9.101 9.102 9.103 9.104 Oliver, "68k Macintosh Serial Number Decoder v1.2", myoldmac.net, with its lookup tables in decScript.js. Community decoder built from reader submissions. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Apple Computer, Macintosh Plus Owner's Guide, chapter 1, "Unpacking", p. 2. Internet Archive.
  11. ↑ Apple Computer, Macintosh SE Owner's Guide (Z030-3370-A), chapter 1, "Unpacking", p. 2. Internet Archive.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Apple Computer, Macintosh SE/30 Owner's Guide (1988), chapter 1, "Unpacking", p. 2. Internet Archive.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Apple Computer, Macintosh II Owner's Guide (1988), chapter 1, "Unpacking", pp. 2-3. Internet Archive.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Underside of a Macintosh LC III, model M1254, File:Apple-macintosh-lc-iii-bottom.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Akbkuku, CC BY 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Apple Computer, PowerBook 5300/190 Repair Extension Authorization (REA) (1996), hosted as File:PowerBook 5300 and 190 Repair Extension Authorization Program.pdf. Qualifying serial numbers PDF pp. 4 and 8; serial number on the underside PDF pp. 26-27.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 EveryMac.com, "Where can I locate the Serial Number on my Mac?". Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Apple, "Find your Mac model name and serial number", Apple Support article 102767, published 22 September 2026. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Rating label of an Apple Color Plus 14" Display, model M1787, File:Apple-color-plus-14in-display-label.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Akbkuku, CC BY 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Rear of a Macintosh 12" RGB Display, family number M1296X, File:Lcii-rear.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Label on the underside of a Macintosh mouse, model M0100, File:Macintosh 128K - Macintosh mouse underside (3656524628).jpg, Wikimedia Commons (raneko (Flickr), CC BY 2.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Label on the underside of a Macintosh keyboard, model M0110, File:Apple M0110 label.JPG, Wikimedia Commons (seebart, public domain). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Underside of an Apple Adjustable Keyboard, family number M1242, File:Apple Adjustable label.JPG, Wikimedia Commons (seebart, public domain). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Label on an Apple 800K External Drive, model M0131, File:Label on Apple 800K External Drive (M0131) (16609076601).jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Flickr user, CC BY-SA 2.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 Underside of an Apple Color OneScanner, model M5813, File:Apple-color-onescanner-bottom.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Akbkuku, CC BY 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Applefritter forum, "Where did serial numbers start for the II Plus and Bell & Howell models?" (posts by Howie and Mike W.). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  26. ↑ Rear of an Apple II with two Disk II drives, File:Apple II rear.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  27. ↑ Rear of a Macintosh II, File:Apple-macintosh-ii-rear.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Akbkuku, CC BY 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  28. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Macintosh IIcx computer", catalogue number 102662702, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 Apple Computer, Apple Multiple Scan 20 Display Service Source (1995), hosted as File:Multiple scan 20 display.pdf. Basics, "Version Differences", p. 2 (PDF p. 3).
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Computer History Museum, "Apple LaserWriter II Printer", catalogue number 102662107, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Computer History Museum, "Apple Personal LaserWriter LS", catalogue number 102662899, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Chance Miller, "Report: Future Apple products to use randomized serial numbers starting in 'early 2021'", 9to5Mac, 9 March 2021. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 vit9696 and contributors, "Apple Mac Serial Format", macserial, OpenCorePkg (acidanthera). Reverse-engineered community documentation. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Malcolm Owen, "Apple will switch to randomized serial numbers in early 2021", AppleInsider, 9 March 2021. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  35. ↑ 35.00 35.01 35.02 35.03 35.04 35.05 35.06 35.07 35.08 35.09 35.10 35.11 35.12 35.13 35.14 35.15 35.16 35.17 35.18 35.19 35.20 35.21 35.22 35.23 35.24 35.25 35.26 35.27 35.28 35.29 35.30 35.31 35.32 35.33 35.34 35.35 35.36 35.37 35.38 35.39 35.40 35.41 35.42 35.43 vit9696 and contributors, modelinfo.h, macserial, OpenCorePkg (acidanthera): lists AppleLegacyLocations (two characters) and AppleLocations (three characters) with their names. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Serial number label on an AppleDesign Keyboard (Alps), File:AppleDesign Keyboard (Alps,WO) -- serial.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Daniel Beardsmore, public domain). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Configuration-code names as returned by Apple's product lookup service (support-sp.apple.com/sp/product?cc=), compiled in modelinfo_autogen.h (AppleModelDesc, 9,042 codes), macserial, OpenCorePkg (acidanthera, BSD-3-Clause). A random sample of 40 codes was checked against Apple's service on 2026-10-04 and all 40 names matched.
  38. ↑ Underside of an Apple Adjustable Keyboard, family number M1242, File:Apple Adjustable label numeric keypad.JPG, Wikimedia Commons (seebart, public domain). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  39. ↑ Serial number label on an AppleDesign Keyboard (NMB), File:AppleDesign Keyboard (NMB,B) -- serial.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Daniel Beardsmore, public domain). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  40. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Macintosh PowerBook 180", catalogue number 102633266, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  41. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Macintosh PowerBook 160", catalogue number 102628846, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  42. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Macintosh PowerBook 100", catalogue number 102633280, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Computer History Museum, "Power Macintosh 7200/75", catalogue number 102647244, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  44. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Macintosh PowerBook 170", catalogue number 102633068, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Computer History Museum, "Macintosh Quadra 700 computer", catalogue number 102638280, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Computer History Museum, "Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh", catalogue number 102681910, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  47. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Macintosh IIsi Apple Desktop Bus mouse", catalogue number 102647258, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  48. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Apple Macintosh PowerBook Duo 230", catalogue number 102719927, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Computer History Museum, "Macintosh Quadra 700 CPU", catalogue number 102647259, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  50. ↑ Serial number label on a Macintosh Performa 400, File:Apple-macintosh-performa-400-serial.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Akbkuku, CC BY 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Computer History Museum, "Mouse (Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II)", catalogue number 102674306, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  52. ↑ 52.00 52.01 52.02 52.03 52.04 52.05 52.06 52.07 52.08 52.09 52.10 52.11 52.12 52.13 52.14 52.15 Apple Computer, Products Confidential Dealer Price List, 15 February 1984, hosted as File:Apple Dealer Price Lists February 1984.pdf (see Apple Dealer Price Lists February 1984). Macintosh PDF p. 1; Apple // PDF pp. 3-10; Apple /// PDF pp. 15-20.
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Computer History Museum, "Macintosh M0001 computer", catalogue number 102633564, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 54.6 "Apple pointing devices", Wikipedia, revision 1373457534. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 "Macintosh External Disk Drive", Wikipedia, revision 1335975616. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 "Disk II", Wikipedia, revision 1375131788. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Rating label of an AppleColor RGB Monitor, model A2M6014, File:Apple-color-rgb-monitor-label.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Akbkuku, CC BY 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  58. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Apple IIe computer", catalogue number 102633586, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Computer History Museum, "Apple IIc Plus", catalogue number 102633428, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 Underside of a Lisa keyboard, model A6MB101, File:Apple A6MB101 keyboard bottom.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Commons contributor, public domain). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  61. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Apple Lisa 2 - Macintosh XL", catalogue number X2410.2002A, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  62. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Lisa computer", catalogue number 102638282, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  63. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Apple Lisa mouse", catalogue number 102633424, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 Label on an Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard, model A9M0330, File:Apple Desktop Bus keyboard SMK - rear keyboard label.JPG, Wikimedia Commons (snuci, public domain). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  65. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Macintosh LC II mouse", catalogue number 102647327, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  66. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Newton MessagePad Communications System", catalogue number 102678193, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  67. ↑ 67.00 67.01 67.02 67.03 67.04 67.05 67.06 67.07 67.08 67.09 67.10 67.11 67.12 67.13 67.14 67.15 67.16 67.17 67.18 67.19 67.20 67.21 67.22 67.23 67.24 67.25 67.26 67.27 67.28 67.29 67.30 67.31 67.32 67.33 67.34 67.35 67.36 67.37 67.38 67.39 67.40 67.41 67.42 67.43 67.44 67.45 67.46 67.47 67.48 67.49 67.50 67.51 67.52 67.53 67.54 67.55 67.56 67.57 67.58 67.59 67.60 67.61 67.62 67.63 67.64 67.65 EveryMac.com, "Macs By Identifier" model-number lists: compact Macs, Macintosh II, Macintosh LC, Performa, Centris, Quadra, Workgroup Server, PowerBook, PowerBook Duo, PowerBook G3, Power Macintosh G3. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 68.2 68.3 68.4 68.5 "Apple keyboards", Wikipedia, revision 1366303616. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  69. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Macintosh LC keyboard", catalogue number 102647277, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  70. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Apple LaserWriter Plus laser printer", catalogue number 102625368, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  71. ↑ Identification label of a Macintosh LC II, File:Macintosh LC II - 1992 Apple Computer, Inc - Identification Label.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (Wiki.cullin, CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  72. ↑ Label of an Apple QuickTake 100, File:Apple Quicktake 100 Plus Label.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (TKem, CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  73. ↑ Underside of a Macintosh PowerBook 180c, File:Apple Macintosh PowerBook 180c Underside.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (diskdepot.co.uk, CC BY-SA 3.0). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  74. ↑ Label on an Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard, part number 658-4081, File:Apple Desktop Bus keyboard Orange Alps - Rear label.JPG, Wikimedia Commons (snuci, public domain). Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  75. ↑ Apple Computer, Apple 5.25 Drive Owner's Guide, section on connecting drives in a chain (PDF p. 22). Internet Archive.
  76. ↑ Computer History Museum, "Apple II Plus", catalogue number 102647431, identifying numbers. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
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