An FCC ID lookup takes about a minute: find the code printed on your device (or shown in its settings), split it into the grantee portion and the product portion, and enter both halves in the FCC’s free public search at apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm.1Federal Communications Commission. FCC ID Search The result is the device’s Grant of Equipment Authorization along with lab test reports, internal and external photos, block diagrams, the user manual, and, for phones, Specific Absorption Rate values.
Find the FCC ID on Your Device
The code is usually printed in small type on a regulatory label. Check the underside or back of the product first. On battery-powered gear, pop the battery compartment open and look inside. The label reads “FCC ID:” followed by the full alphanumeric code. These labels crowd several regulatory markings into a tiny footprint, so they are easy to miss.
Phones, Tablets, and Other Screens
Devices with a built-in display are allowed to show the FCC ID electronically instead of on a sticker. Open Settings and look under “About Phone,” “Regulatory,” or “Legal Information.” The rules require the FCC ID to be reachable within three navigation steps from the settings menu, with no special code or accessory needed.2eCFR. 47 CFR 2.935 – Electronic Labeling of Radiofrequency Devices
Even an e-labeled device has to carry a physical identifier somewhere, whether on the device, the packaging, or a removable label meant to survive shipping.2eCFR. 47 CFR 2.935 – Electronic Labeling of Radiofrequency Devices If the box is gone and you can’t find the code on the device, check the user manual or the manufacturer’s product support page online.
Split the Code Into Two Parts
An FCC ID is not a single string. It is built from two pieces, and the search form asks for them separately.
The first piece is the Grantee Code. It is a three- or five-character alphanumeric code the FCC permanently assigns to the company responsible for the product. The company keeps the same code across every device it certifies. Older codes are three characters. Since 2012, the Office of Engineering and Technology has issued five-character codes to keep up with the number of applicants.3eCFR. 47 CFR 2.926 – FCC Identifier
The second piece is the Product Code, chosen by the manufacturer to identify a specific model. It runs up to 14 characters and can include letters, numbers, and hyphens.4eCFR. 47 CFR Part 2 Subpart J – Application Procedures for Equipment Authorizations
So an FCC ID printed as B4Z-34009-PIR breaks into a grantee code of “B4Z” and a product code of “34009-PIR”. If your code doesn’t have obvious separators, try three characters as the grantee first; if the search fails, try five.
Run the Search
Go to the FCC ID Search page at fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid, or straight to the advanced search at apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm.1Federal Communications Commission. FCC ID Search Enter the grantee code in the first field and the product code in the second. You can also search by grantee code alone to see every device a particular company has certified.
What the Results Show
A hit returns the Grant of Equipment Authorization. The grant lists the manufacturer’s name, the authorized frequency bands, and the date certification was issued.
Test Reports, Photos, and Manuals
Below the grant sits a set of downloadable exhibits the manufacturer submitted during certification. These typically include the lab test report showing the device met FCC emission limits, external and internal photos, block diagrams of the circuit layout, and the user manual. The level of detail is unusual for public records.
SAR Values for Phones
One practical reason to run a lookup is to check the Specific Absorption Rate of a phone or another device held against your body. SAR measures how much radio frequency energy the body absorbs during use. After you pull up the grant, scroll to the comments section, which typically lists the highest SAR values recorded during testing.5Federal Communications Commission. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for Cellular Telephones
Missing Exhibits
Some exhibits, often internal photos or schematics, may show as unavailable. Manufacturers can request short-term confidentiality for sensitive documents at filing. The confidentiality lasts 45 days from the grant date and can be extended by another 45 days. Once that window closes the documents become public. Companies use the window to keep competitors from studying a product’s internals before it reaches store shelves.
When a Device Has No FCC ID
Not every electronic product carries an FCC ID, and the absence is not always a red flag. Devices that generate radio frequency energy internally but aren’t designed to transmit wirelessly can use a simpler compliance path called Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity. Under SDoC, the manufacturer or importer tests the device and self-certifies compliance without applying for a formal grant.6eCFR. 47 CFR 2.906 – Suppliers Declaration of Conformity
Products that typically go the SDoC route include power supplies, LED lighting fixtures, monitors, and other electronics with no built-in transmitter. They won’t appear in the FCC ID database because no grant was ever issued. They should still carry a compliance statement on the label, usually the line “This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules,” but there is nothing to search for.7eCFR. Part 15 Radio Frequency Devices
The dividing line is straightforward. If a device intentionally transmits a wireless signal (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, Zigbee, or similar), it needs full certification and an FCC ID. If it only produces incidental radio energy as a byproduct, SDoC is usually enough.
If a Device Seems Unauthorized
Selling, advertising, leasing, importing, or distributing a radio frequency device without proper FCC authorization is prohibited under federal regulations.8eCFR. 47 CFR 2.803 – Marketing of Radio Frequency Devices Prior to Equipment Authorization This matters if you buy cheap wireless electronics from overseas marketplaces. A product with no valid FCC ID that interferes with your Wi-Fi, garage door opener, or other wireless gear is operating outside the law.
If you think an unauthorized or malfunctioning device is causing radio interference, you can file a complaint through the FCC’s Consumer Complaint Center. The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau routes interference complaints to the appropriate FCC Field Office for investigation.9Federal Communications Commission. Interference Resolution