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You may have heard by now that Samsung Galaxy Note 7s are catching fire. Unlike other phones exploding or bursting into flames in the past, this is not an isolated event and Samsung urges customers to turn in their Note 7s.
Yesterday, with a total of 92 incidents received, Samsung finally issued an official recall.
Samsung notes that Note 7s purchased after September 15 in the US should not be affected by the battery issue which is causing the fires. This does create some gray area, however. So Samsung has also provided an IMEI checker tool, which you can find here.
Is your Note 7 safe?
First, to check if your Note 7 is safe to continue using, find your device’s IMEI or serial number. To do this, go to Settings > General Management > Status > IMEI information. There, you should see your IMEI or serial number.
The IMEI is also located on the back of the phone, near the bottom.
Josh Miller/CNET
If you have trouble locating it in Settings or you don’t want to risk powering on the phone, you can also check for the IMEI or serial number under the Note 7 logo on the back of the phone.
The IMEI checker will tell you if your phone is affected by the battery issue and eligible for return. If your phone is not eligible, your phone is not affected by the battery flaw and you don’t need to exchange the phone.If your Note 7 is eligible for replacement, by no later than September 21, you should power down the phone immediately and make your way to the carrier or retailer from whom you purchased it for a full refund.
You can also exchange your Galaxy Note 7 with a new Note 7 which has been approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge. If you exchange for a device of lesser value, you will receive a refund for the price difference.
AT&T, Best Buy, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon have landing pages to help you through the exchange or return process. If you purchased the phone from Samsung directly, call 1-844-365-6197.
Customers who exchange a Galaxy Note 7 will receive a $25 incentive in the form of a gift card, in-store credit, accessory or bill credit from their carrier or retailer.
Samsung says replacement stock of new Galaxy Note 7 will be available no later than September 21.
