How to Find Your IMEI Number on Any Device
Your IMEI number (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit code assigned to every mobile device. It's the digital fingerprint of your phone — no two devices share the same IMEI. Knowing where to find it matters more than most people realize, and the method varies depending on your device, operating system, and what you have access to at the time.
What Is an IMEI Number and Why Does It Matter?
The IMEI is used by mobile carriers to identify devices on their networks. It's separate from your SIM card and separate from your phone number — it belongs to the hardware itself. Swap your SIM into a different phone, and the IMEI changes. Keep the same phone with a new SIM, and the IMEI stays the same.
Common reasons you might need it:
- Reporting a stolen or lost phone — carriers and police use the IMEI to flag devices
- Unlocking your phone from a carrier
- Checking if a used phone is blacklisted before buying
- Warranty claims and insurance filings
- Verifying a device hasn't been tampered with
The Universal Method: Dial a Code 📱
On virtually every mobile phone — Android, iPhone, or otherwise — you can retrieve your IMEI by opening the Phone dialer and entering:
*#06# You don't press call. The IMEI (or multiple IMEIs, on dual-SIM devices) appears on screen immediately. This works on the vast majority of GSM-based devices regardless of brand, carrier, or operating system version.
How to Find Your IMEI on iPhone
Apple provides several built-in paths to find your IMEI:
Through Settings:
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Tap About
- Scroll down to find IMEI
You can tap and hold the number to copy it directly.
On the physical device:
- On iPhone 6s and earlier, the IMEI is printed on the back of the device
- On iPhone 7 through iPhone X and many later models, it's engraved on the SIM tray
- On iPhone XS and later (depending on region), it may only appear in Settings or on the original box
Through iTunes or Finder (on a computer): Connect your iPhone, open iTunes (Windows/older macOS) or Finder (macOS Catalina and later), select your device, and click on the serial number field — it cycles through to display the IMEI.
How to Find Your IMEI on Android
Android paths vary by manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others each arrange their menus slightly differently — but the general route is:
Through Settings:
- Open Settings
- Go to About Phone (sometimes under General Management on Samsung)
- Look for Status or IMEI Information
- Your IMEI is listed there
On dual-SIM Android devices, you'll see IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 — one for each SIM slot.
On the physical device: Many Android phones still print the IMEI on a sticker inside the SIM tray slot or, on older models with removable backs, underneath the battery.
Where Else Your IMEI Appears
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Original device box | Printed on a barcode label — useful if phone is inaccessible |
| SIM tray or back of device | Hardware-engraved on many models |
| Carrier account portal | Log in to your carrier's website or app |
| Purchase receipt or invoice | Retailers often record it at point of sale |
| iCloud (Apple) | Sign in at icloud.com, go to Find My, select your device |
| Google account | myaccount.google.com → Security → Your devices |
Dual-SIM Devices Add a Layer of Complexity 🔍
If your phone supports two SIM cards — whether physical or eSIM + physical SIM — it will have two IMEIs. Each slot has its own identifier. This matters when:
- Reporting one SIM slot's activity to a carrier
- Verifying which IMEI corresponds to which network
- Unlocking a specific SIM slot
The *#06# method will typically display both on dual-SIM handsets. Settings menus on Android and iPhone will label them separately.
What If You Can't Access the Phone?
If your device is lost, stolen, locked, or broken, your options shift:
- The original packaging is often the fastest fallback — the IMEI is printed on the box barcode label
- Your carrier can look it up tied to your account
- Your email — if you registered the device or have a purchase confirmation, the IMEI may be recorded there
- Apple ID or Google account — both platforms store device identifiers for enrolled devices
Factors That Affect Which Method Works for You
Not every method is available to every user. A few variables determine your best path:
- Device age and model — older phones may only have a printed sticker; newer ones may have no physical engraving at all
- Operating system version — menu locations shift between major OS updates
- Carrier relationship — some carriers display IMEI in account portals, others don't
- Dual-SIM configuration — physical dual-SIM vs. eSIM setups display IMEI information differently
- Access to the device — if the screen is functional, Settings is fastest; if not, physical or account-based methods take over
- Whether the box was kept — surprisingly relevant when the device itself isn't available
The *#06# shortcode cuts through most of these variables for anyone who can still dial on their device. But beyond that, the right method depends entirely on what you have in front of you — and what you have access to right now.