Before we start the topic, let us tell you what an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is?
It is a 15-digit number that serves as the unique identity for all mobile phones. But why do manufacturers stamp it on mobile phones? Basically, the network service providers use this cryptic number to identify the devices registered on their networks. Furthermore, you will need your phone’s IMEI to share it with the network service provider to render your stolen phone useless.
Now that you know how important it is to know your phone’s IMEI, you should note it down and keep it safe.
Table of Contents
How Do I Locate My Phone’s IMEI?
You can usually find the IMEI printed on the back of your phone’s box. But what if you have already thrown it away?
Even if you have, you need not worry because depending on the type of phone, there are many ways to locate an IMEI.
3 Ways to Find IMEI Numbers on Android Phones
If you have been looking for ways to locate the IMEI on your android phone, you have come to the right place because we’ll show you the most common and easy ways to find it.
1. Use Your Phone App
Finding IMEI is easy, but the quickest way to find it is by dialling the USSD code. All you need to do is follow the steps listed below to make the number pop up on your phone’s screen:
- Open the ‘Phone’ app.
- Enter *#06# and tap ‘Dial’.
As soon as you tap ‘Dial’, you should see a pop-up displaying your phone’s IMEI. However, the pop-up format may vary from device to device, depending on the OS.
2. Go to your Phone’s Settings
It is the most common way of checking IMEI. However, the steps may vary depending on the OS you’re using and the make and model of your phone.
The standard steps to find IMEI on any Android device would be to:
- Open the phone’s ‘Settings’.
- Scroll up or down to find ‘About Phone’.
- Tap ‘Status’.
Under ‘Status’, you should find the option to view your device’s IMEI. However, we’ll give you an example of Samsung Galaxy phones to make things easier for you.
- Access your phone’s ‘Settings’.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap ‘About Phone’ or ‘About Device’.
Upon accessing the ‘About Phone/Device’, you should be able to see your phone’s IMEI, among the other information.
3. Look at the back of your phone
Almost all Android phones come with non-removable batteries nowadays. Therefore, they have the IMEIs printed on their backs.
So, you can turn your phone around and use the magnifying glass to find the number because it is written in tiny letters.
You may also use another phone to take a picture of your phone’s back and zoom in on it to see your phone’s IMEI easily.
5 Ways to Find IMEI Numbers on iPhones
Find your iPhone’s IMEI with ease by using any of the following ways:
1. Make a Call
As we said before, dialling a USSD code is the quickest way to find the IMEI of any phone. As in the case of Android phones, a pop-up will display your iPhone’s 15-digit IMEI as soon as you punch in the code and tap ‘Dial’.
The steps for displaying the pop-up containing the IMEI are the same as well. All you need to do is:
- Launch the ‘Phone’ app.
- Enter the USSD code, i.e., ‘*#06#’.
- Tap ‘Dial’.
2. Go to Settings
Like any Android phone, you can find an iPhone’s IMEI in the settings. The steps to find it are pretty simple:
- Tap the ‘Settings’ icon.
- Scroll down a bit to find the ‘General’ options and tap it.
- Tap ‘About Phone’.
On the ‘About Phone’ screen, you will find your iPhone’s IMEI listed among the other information.
The best thing about finding the IMEI from iPhone’s settings is that you can touch and hold the number to copy it.
3. Turn Your Phone Over
You won’t find the IMEIs printed on the back of new iPhones. However, if you have an iPhone 5 or 6, you can turn your phone over and look closely to find the IMEI.
4. Pull the SIM Tray Out
All iPhone 6s or newer models have IMEIs printed on their SIM trays, so if you need your device’s IMEI urgently but are unable to unlock your phone for some reason, you can simply pop the SIM try out and locate the number on the tray’s underside.
5. Get the IMEI via Finder
You can connect your iPhone to a Mac and use the Finder app to find the IMEI. But this method will only work on laptops or computers that are at least running macOS Catalina 10.15.
So, if you’re already running macOS Catalina 10.15, all you have to do is:
- Connect your iPhone to the laptop/computer.
- Open the Finder app.
- Select your phone from the left menu.
- Once you are in the General tab, click on the iPhone model or the mobile number to view the IMEI.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Is There a Way to Find the IMEI Number if the iPhone is Stolen or Lost?
How often do you back up your iPhone on Finder? Because if you did, even once, you can find your phone’s IMEI even if it is stolen or lost.
To find the IMEI of such phones, all you have to do is:
- Open the Finder App.
- Go to Preferences and click the ‘Devices’ tab.
Upon clicking the ‘Devices’ tab, you will see the list of device backups. Hover the cursor on your phone’s backup to view the IMEI, among other information.
For Android users, you can visit the Google Settings page and log into your Google account. Once you log in, all you need to do is expand the Android tab to view the details of your device. The details will also include your device’s IMEI number.
2. Is IMEI Linked to Phone or SIM?
People often mix the UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) number with the IMEI. However, from this point on, it should be evident that a device’s IMEI has nothing to do with the SIM card. In simple words, the IMEI number is just a unique phone identification number. That’s it.
3. Are there any Alternative Terms for IMEI numbers?
MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier) and ESN (Electronic Serial Number) are the two alternative terms for IMEIs. Two devices can’t have the same numbers. You will find 14-digit MEID numbers on old phones and 15-digit MEID numbers on the latest phones.
So, did you find the information you were looking for? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think. We at Talk Home appreciate any input we can get from our audience.
Furthermore, if you want to read more valuable posts like how to turn off safe search on iPhone or how to speed up your Android phone, then develop a habit of visiting our blog from time to time.
