Where Do I Find My IMEI Number? Every Method Explained

Your IMEI number (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a 15-digit code that uniquely identifies your phone. You'll need it to report a stolen device, unlock your phone for a different carrier, make an insurance claim, or verify a used phone before buying. The good news: there are several reliable ways to find it, and at least one will work regardless of your device or situation.

What Is an IMEI Number and Why Does It Matter?

Every cellular device — smartphones, tablets with mobile data, some smartwatches — is assigned a unique IMEI at the factory. Think of it as a serial number that networks can read. When a phone is reported stolen, carriers and law enforcement use the IMEI to flag and block the device on cellular networks, making it essentially unusable for calls and data even if someone swaps the SIM card.

Because the IMEI is tied to the hardware itself (not the SIM or your account), it stays the same even if you factory reset the device or change carriers.

The Fastest Method: Dial a Code 📱

On virtually any phone — iPhone, Android, or even a basic feature phone — open your Phone/Dialer app and type:

*#06# 

You don't need to press call. The IMEI (or multiple IMEIs if your phone has dual-SIM capability) displays on screen immediately. This works across operating systems and carrier configurations, making it the most universal method.

Finding the IMEI on an iPhone

Apple gives you several access points:

• Settings → General → About — Scroll down and you'll see the IMEI listed directly.
• iTunes or Finder (Mac) — Connect your iPhone, select the device, and click the phone number shown in the summary panel. It cycles through serial number, UDID, and IMEI.
• The physical SIM tray — On older iPhone models (prior to eSIM-only designs), Apple printed the IMEI directly on the SIM card ejector tray itself.
• The original box — Apple prints the IMEI on a label on the back of the retail packaging.

If you're running iOS 16 or later, the About screen also shows the IMEI for each physical SIM slot and any active eSIM separately.

Finding the IMEI on Android Devices

Android paths vary slightly by manufacturer and OS version, but the most common routes are:

On dual-SIM Android phones, you'll typically see IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 listed — one for each SIM slot. Each has its own unique number.

Checking the Physical Device and Packaging 📦

If your phone is powered off, damaged, or you can't access the software:

• Removable back/battery compartment — Many older Android devices have the IMEI printed on a sticker inside the battery bay.
• SIM card tray — Some manufacturers etch the IMEI directly onto the tray or the inner slot housing.
• Retail box — Nearly all manufacturers print the IMEI on the barcode label on the outside of the box. If you kept your packaging, this is a reliable backup source.
• Original purchase receipt or carrier paperwork — Carriers often log the IMEI at point of sale and include it on your purchase documentation.

Finding the IMEI Without the Physical Phone

This situation comes up often after theft or loss. Your options depend on what you have access to:

• iCloud (for iPhones) — Log in to icloud.com, go to Find My, select your device, and the IMEI is visible in the device details.
• Google account (for Android) — Visit google.com/android/find or check Google One device backup details, though IMEI visibility varies by Android version and backup settings.
• Carrier account — Your mobile carrier has the IMEI on file from when the device was activated. Log in to your carrier account online or call customer support with your account credentials.
• Apple ID device list — Go to appleid.apple.com, scroll to the Devices section, select your iPhone, and the IMEI is listed there.
• Insurance documentation — If you enrolled the phone in a protection plan, the IMEI is almost always recorded at enrollment.

IMEI vs. Serial Number vs. MEID — What's the Difference?

These identifiers are often listed together, which creates confusion:

• IMEI — 15 digits. Used globally for GSM network identification. Most common.
• MEID — 14 digits (hex). Used on older CDMA networks (historically Verizon and Sprint in the US). Being phased out.
• Serial number — Manufacturer-assigned identifier for warranty and repair tracking. Not used by cellular networks.

For carrier unlocking, stolen phone reports, and network blacklist checks, you need the IMEI specifically.

Dual-SIM Phones and eSIM Devices

Modern flagship phones increasingly ship with either dual physical SIM slots or a combination of a physical nano-SIM and an eSIM (embedded SIM). Each active SIM connection has its own IMEI. When you're checking for a carrier unlock or filing a report, confirm which IMEI corresponds to which SIM — the Settings screen on both iOS and Android will label them accordingly.

On eSIM-only devices (certain newer iPhone models sold in the US, for example), there is no physical SIM tray to check, which makes the Settings menu, original box, and Apple ID account the primary fallback options.

Why You Should Save Your IMEI Now

Most people only look up their IMEI after something goes wrong — a theft, a lost phone, an insurance claim. The simpler move is to find it now and store it somewhere safe: a note in your email, a password manager, or a physical copy at home. The retail box is useful to keep for exactly this reason.

How straightforward the retrieval process turns out to be depends largely on whether you have the physical device in hand, which OS version you're running, whether you kept your original packaging, and whether your account backups captured the relevant device details. Each of those factors shifts which of the above paths is actually available to you.