Hosted by site sponsor WebMate.
Mac Identification Q&As (Identify Different Macs)
Also see: Mac Identification (Main) | iPod, iPhone & iPad Identification
To be notified of site updates, sign up for EveryMac.com's email list.
Where can I locate the Order Number for my Mac? Are Order Numbers unique? What are the limitations identifying a Mac using Order Numbers?
Apple Order Numbers -- which also are referred to as Model Numbers, Part Numbers, or Marketing Numbers -- look like MB467LL/A in the US and Canada. Sometimes an Order Number will end in just an "LL" (i.e. MA877LL) and occasionally will end with a "/B" in lieu of "/A."
Order Number Locations
Order Numbers can be found in many places including some receipts, invoices, packaging, shipping information, product information sheets, brochures and other assorted documentation.
Consequently, because Order Numbers are available in a variety of different places, they commonly can be quite helpful to uniquely identify a particular Mac.
Order Number Limitations
Unfortunately, Order Numbers cannot be found on the hardware itself nor can they be found in the "About This Mac" section of OS X, and this is the primary limitation of the identifier. They also are not present on some receipts, packaging, and other paperwork related to a Mac purchase.
In general, Order Numbers are quite unique and almost always refer to a specific configuration rather than just a series or a case type. However, Order Numbers are not entirely unique, either.
For example, as the Mac mini G4/1.5 formally was not introduced (or even officially acknowledged by Apple), it shares the same M9687LL/B Order Number as one configuration of the Mac mini G4/1.42 that came before it.
Furthermore, some BTO (Build-to-Order) or CTO (Configure-to-Order) models do not have Order Numbers and will have to be pinpointed using another method, as well.
However, duplication or absence of Order Numbers is fairly rare and they are one the best identifiers to distribute as they are almost always unique and are safer to share than Serial Numbers.
Global Order Numbers
One more minor limitation of Order Numbers is that the numbers can vary in different countries. Apple has dozens of different formats for different countries and different regions of the world and even has had different formats for the same country at different times.
A handful of examples of Order Numbers in different countries include:
| The Americas | Order No. | System |
| United States & Canada | MC374LL/A | MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13-Inch (Mid-2010) |
| Mexico | MD093E/A | iMac "Core i5" 2.7 21.5-Inch (Late 2012) |
| Brazil | ME253BZ/A | Mac Pro "Quad Core" 3.7 (Late 2013) |
| Europe | ||
| United Kingdom | MA970B/A | Mac Pro "Eight Core" 2.8 (Early 2008) |
| Germany | MC438D/A | Mac mini "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 (Server) |
| France | M9592F/A | Power Mac G5 "Quad Core" 2.5 |
| Asia & Australasia | ||
| Japan | M2158J/A | Macintosh Color Classic II |
| China | MA876CH | iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 20-Inch (Al) |
| Southeast Asia | MD223ZP/A | MacBook Air "Core i5" 1.7 11-Inch (Mid-2012) |
| Australia & New Zealand | ME864X/A | MacBook Pro "Core i5" 2.4 13-Inch (Late 2013) |
EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup can easily identify all of the above Macs using their Order Numbers along with thousands of others.
Using EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup
Mac specs pages on EveryMac.com list the most common Order Number for applicable Macs in the United States and Canada or in the case of models that are not sold in North America, a common Order Number from a relevant country.
However, EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup can identify the system from its Order Number in dozens of countries, regions, and more.
Basically, if you find an Order Number for a Mac -- which, again, also are referred to as Model Numbers, Part Numbers, or Marketing Numbers in some places -- and type it into EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup, it should be able to properly identify the system.
A list of the most common Order Numbers/Part Numbers in the US and Canada for each model from the By Identifier section of the site also may be useful. Please be mindful of asterisks, as this indicates that additional order numbers are applicable to a particular Mac as well.
Also see:
- Where can I locate the Model Number or Family Number on my Mac? Are they unique? What are the limitations identifying a specific Mac using this identifier?
- Where can I locate the EMC Number on my Mac? Are EMC Numbers unique? What are the limitations identifying a specific Mac using EMC Numbers?
- Where can I locate the Model Identifier (Model ID) or Machine Model for my Mac? Are Model Identifiers unique? What are the limitations identifying a specific Mac using the Model Identifier?
- Where can I locate the Serial Number on my Mac? Are Serial Numbers unique? What are the limitations identifying a specific Mac using the Serial Number?
If you cannot find a Mac using its Order Number, but are able to track it down using another identifier, please share any missing information with EveryMac.com. The Ultimate Mac Lookup feature already is quite comprehensive, but it will become even more so with your additions. Thank you.
Established in 1996, EveryMac.com has been created by experts with decades of experience with Apple hardware. EveryMac.com includes, and always has included, original research incorporating detailed, hands-on inspection of packaging, computers, and devices as well as extensive real-world use. All information is provided in good faith, but no website or person is perfect. Accordingly, EveryMac.com is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind whatsoever. EveryMac.com, and the authors thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright information please read and understand the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy before using EveryMac.com. Copying, scraping, or use of any content without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.