One simple trick can increase your chances of scoring an iPhone X pre-order (AAPL)

iPhone X

iPhone X preorders start on Friday.
The iPhone X will likely be hard to find and in short supply.
The best way to improve your chances of obtaining a pre-order is to prepare ahead of time and use the Apple Store app.

Apple's most advanced iPhone goes up for pre-order on Friday.

Good luck if you want one. All signs point to the iPhone X being in short supply this year because of production issues.

The best chance to score one will be to pre-order as soon as Apple's online store opens on Friday at 12:01 a.m. PT.

Make sure you've figured out exactly when that will be in your time zone — pre-orders start at 3:01 a.m. on the East Coast, for example. So set an alarm.

When the time comes, your best bet for scoring an iPhone X is through the Apple Store app for iPhones and iPads. Apple's head of retail, Angela Ahrendts, said it will be the fastest way to pre-order.

Here's what to do:

• Download the Apple Store app if you don't have it.

• Log into your Apple account on the Apple Store app and make sure your credit card or Apple Pay is working.

• Figure out which iPhone X model you want — which color, which carrier, and how you plan to pay for it.

• Tap the heart in the corner to add it to your Favorites. You can add multiple models to your Favorites in case one is sold out.

favorite button

• Use the Favorites menu under "Account" to quickly get to your iPhone X model as soon as pre-orders open.

my favorites

• Hope you get lucky!

In previous years, people using the app have had more success than people who have tried to pre-order through apple.com.

Apple also recommends that if you're part of Apple's subscription program the iPhone Update Program, you can get pre-approved to buy the iPhone X, further accelerating the process.

Real pros will also have a second laptop or desktop with tabs set to the iPhone X product pages on apple.com, retailers like Best Buy, and carriers like AT&T or Verizon in case the Apple Store app doesn't work the first time.

And if you don't score a pre-order, you can always line up at an Apple store.

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