Check a gadget
Check any gadget in six steps.
The same checks for everything, plus extra ones for power banks, smart home devices, e-bikes, wireless gadgets and refurbished buys. Every step links to the official tool.
Six checks for every gadget
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Find out who made it
- The FCC ID label. A certified device has to carry a label showing its FCC Identifier, printed after the words "FCC ID." The label has to be readily visible to the buyer at the time of purchase. (eCFR, 47 CFR 2.925 (FCC rules))
- What the FCC ID tells you. An FCC ID has two parts: a grantee code the FCC assigns permanently to the company that applied, and a product code that company chooses. That's why the ID points back to the applicant, not just the product. (eCFR, 47 CFR 2.926 (FCC rules))
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Look for a real safety mark
- What an NRTL is. OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program recognizes private organizations to test and certify certain products. Each lab uses its own registered certification mark. (OSHA, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory Program)
- The CE mark isn't a US safety mark. OSHA says the CE mark is unrelated to US product safety requirements. It's a European Union mark showing the manufacturer declared the product meets EU rules, which may or may not cover safety. (OSHA, NRTL Program Frequently Asked Questions)
- Check a UL file number. A UL mark may include a unique identifier or file number. You can type it into the keyword search in UL Product iQ to pull up the certification record. (UL Solutions, FAQ on the Enhanced and Smart UL Certification Mark)
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See who owns the brand
- Who owns a brand name. The USPTO's Trademark Search system supports owner searches, so you can see which trademarks a specific company holds, plus lookups by serial or registration number. (USPTO, Federal trademark searching: Getting started (handout))
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Check for recalls and reports
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Be wary of a price that's too low
- Buy from the brand or authorized sellers. CBP advises buying directly from the trademark holder or an authorized retailer, and knowing an item's market value, since a price far below it can signal a counterfeit. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, news release (May 2025))
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Read the warranty and return window first
- See the warranty before you buy. If a product has a warranty, the law says you must be able to read it before you buy, in a store or online. (FTC Consumer Advice, Warranties)
- Return windows. Many stores won't take returns or exchanges after a set time, like 30 or 90 days. After that, you might have to contact the manufacturer about a defective product. (FTC Consumer Advice, Solving Problems With a Business: Returns, Refunds, and Other Resolutions)
Extra checks by type
Extra checks: Power bank or charger
- How to find watt hours. Newer lithium-ion batteries have their Wh rating marked on them. If yours doesn't, multiply the battery's voltage by its amp hours. (FAA, PackSafe: Lithium Batteries)
- Power banks go in carry-on bags. Spare lithium batteries, including power banks and phone charging cases, can only go in carry-on bags. If your bag gets checked at the gate, you have to take them out and keep them with you. (FAA, PackSafe: Lithium Batteries)
- A safety standard for power banks. UL 2056 is the safety outline for power banks, and it's one of the battery standards CPSC staff take part in. (CPSC, Batteries (voluntary standards topic page))
- Fake electronics can be dangerous. The National IPR Center warns that counterfeit electronics can overheat and explode. (National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, Holiday Shopping Tips)
Extra checks: Smart home device or camera
- Status as of August 2026. As of August 11, 2026, the label administrators the FCC had conditionally approved still weren't authorized to approve any product's use of the label. (FCC, Public Notice DA 26-834 (August 2026))
- Basic steps for each device. The FTC says to change default usernames and passwords, turn on two-factor authentication when it's offered, keep firmware updated, and turn off features you don't use. (FTC Consumer Advice, Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home (August 2022))
- Baby, pet and security cams. The FTC says many IP cameras are vulnerable to snooping, and suggests checking the camera's access logs for unfamiliar IP addresses or odd access times. (FTC Consumer Advice, Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home (August 2022))
- Start with the router. The FTC says your router is the key to smart home privacy, since your connected devices likely reach the internet through it. (FTC Consumer Advice, Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home (August 2022))
Extra checks: E-bike, scooter or hoverboard
- Use the right charger. For e-bikes, e-scooters, and hoverboards, CPSC says to use only the charger that came with the device or one its manufacturer recommends. (CPSC, Micromobility Information Center)
- Stay nearby while charging. CPSC says to be present while charging e-bikes, e-scooters, and hoverboards, and never to charge them while you're asleep or away from home. (CPSC, Micromobility Information Center)
- Don't trash lithium batteries. Lithium batteries don't belong in the trash or regular recycling. Take them to a battery recycler or a hazardous waste collection center. (CPSC, Micromobility Information Center)
Extra checks: Earbuds, speaker or other wireless gadget
- FCC authorization before sale. In the US, no one may market a radio frequency device unless it's covered by a valid FCC equipment authorization. Marketing includes selling, advertising, and importing for sale. (eCFR, 47 CFR 2.803 (FCC rules))
- FCC ID on the screen. Devices with a display can show the FCC ID on screen instead of a printed label. If they do, it must be reachable in no more than three steps from the settings menu, with no special codes. (eCFR, 47 CFR 2.935 (FCC rules))
- An FCC ID can't be borrowed. An FCC ID belongs to the company that holds the grant, and it can't be put on equipment without that company's authorization. (eCFR, 47 CFR 2.926 (FCC rules))
Extra checks: Refurbished or used gadget
- Used or refurbished has to be disclosed. The FTC has determined it's unfair or deceptive to advertise used or reconditioned merchandise without clearly saying so in the ad. (FTC, Notice of Penalty Offenses Concerning the Sale of Used and/or Rebuilt Merchandise)
- Implied warranties. State laws create implied warranties that cover products even without a written warranty, unless the seller gives written notice there's no warranty or sells "as is" where state law allows. (FTC Consumer Advice, Warranties)