When you register your phone or try to sell your old phone online, you may be asked for your IMEI number. If you’re stuck in a blank space trying to figure out what that number is, don’t worry. IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique number assigned to every mobile phone sold through official channels. This number is useful if you lose your phone or it is stolen. Police will typically ask you to provide your IMEI number when reporting your phone as stolen, and then, depending on local laws, your phone may be blocked from accessing the web or making calls by blacklisting its IMEI.
Note that the IMEI is associated with the SIM slot, so a dual-SIM phone will have two IMEI numbers. Likewise, tablets with cellular connectivity will also have an IMEI number.
This makes this number very important in an emergency. If the device is found, you can use the IMEI number to confirm that it is indeed your phone. Here’s how to find your phone’s IMEI number.
When you have a call:
How to check the IMEI number of your phone using USSD code
This is the easiest way to find the IMEI number of your mobile phone. The nice thing about this approach is that it’s more or less universal. It works with almost all feature phones and smartphones, so give it a try before looking for your cell phone bill.
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dial *#06# on your phone.
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The IMEI number will now be displayed on the screen. You should write it down somewhere safe, or you can take a screenshot at any time.
How to check the IMEI number on your phone
If you have an iPhone 5 or newer, the IMEI is also engraved on the back panel. Just flip your phone to take note. On iPhone 4s or older iPhones, the IMEI is printed on the SIM card tray.
How to check your phone’s IMEI number through settings
On Android, go to Settings > About > IMEI Check the IMEI number. tap status And scroll down to view the IMEI information.
On iPhone, tap Settings > General > About and scroll down to International Mobile Equipment Identity Number.
On most other phones with removable batteries, the IMEI is printed on a sticker underneath the battery inside the phone. Take the battery out and check it.
When you don’t have your phone:
Check the phone’s IMEI number on the retail box or bill
Retail boxes and bills have IMEI numbers written on them, which is a good reason to protect them instead of throwing them away. At least keep the box safe, as it can be useful if you need to check the IMEI, or if you choose to resell the phone later. The IMEI number is located on a sticker on the side of the box.
How to check your phone’s IMEI number on Android
Even if Android users lose their phones, they can check the IMEI number of their devices. All of the above methods work perfectly and are faster, but this can still help you out if you lose your phone and don’t keep the box.
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Sign in to Google Dashboard using the Google account associated with your Android phone.
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Click Androidnext to the green robot logo.
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This will display a list of devices registered to the account and their IMEI numbers.
For more tutorials, visit our how-to section.
