How to Find the IMEI Number on Any Phone (Even Without the Phone)

You need the IMEI when you unlock a phone, report it stolen, claim insurance, or check a used phone before you buy it. The good news: there are at least seven places to find it — and several of them work even when the phone is lost, broken or locked.

Start with the fastest method below. If the phone isn’t in your hands, jump to the section on finding the IMEI without the phone.

Method 1: Dial *#06# (works on almost every phone)

This is the universal code defined by the GSM standard. Open the phone app, type the code below on the keypad, and the IMEI appears on screen immediately — you don’t need to press call, and no SIM is required.

*#06#

On a dual-SIM or eSIM phone you’ll see two IMEIs, and on many newer iPhones and Pixels the screen also shows the EID (the eSIM chip number) and sometimes the MEID. Either IMEI identifies the phone; note both. Our guide to phones with two IMEI numbers explains why.

Method 2: Phone settings (iPhone and Android)

iPhone and iPad

Go to Settings › General › About and scroll down. You’ll find IMEI (and IMEI2 on dual-SIM models), MEID on older models, plus the serial number and EID. Press and hold the number to copy it.

Samsung Galaxy

Go to Settings › About phone. The IMEI is shown on the main page; for more detail open Status information › IMEI information.

Google Pixel and most other Android phones

Go to Settings › About phone and scroll to IMEI (tap it to see both slots). On Xiaomi, Tecno, Infinix and some others the path is Settings › About phone › Status or All specs › Status. Menu names vary by brand and Android version, so if you can’t spot it, search “IMEI” from the Settings search bar.

Method 3: The SIM tray, the back of the phone or the box

• SIM tray: many iPhones (iPhone 6s through iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 and later sold outside the US) have the IMEI laser-engraved on the SIM tray. Pull the tray with a SIM tool and read it under good light. US iPhone 14 and later models are eSIM-only and have no tray.
• Back of the phone: iPhone 5, 5c, 5s and 6 have the IMEI engraved on the back case. Some Android phones print it on a label under the removable back cover or battery.
• Original box: the IMEI is printed on the barcode label, usually on the side or bottom of the box.

Method 4: Find the IMEI without the phone

If your phone is lost or stolen, you’ll need the IMEI to report it to your carrier and the police. Try these, in order:

Apple: your Apple Account

• On another Apple device signed in to the same account: Settings › [your name], scroll to the device list and tap the missing iPhone. The serial number and IMEI are shown.
• On a computer: sign in at account.apple.com, open Devices and select the iPhone.
• If you ever backed up the iPhone to a computer, open Finder (Mac) or iTunes / Apple Devices (Windows), go to Manage Backups and hover over the backup — on many versions the phone number, IMEI and serial number appear.

Android: your Google account

• Open Google Find My Device, sign in, select the phone and tap the info (ⓘ) or settings icon next to its name. The IMEI is listed there for registered devices.
• Samsung owners can also check the device details in their Samsung account or Samsung Find (SmartThings Find).

Your carrier account, bill or receipt

Most carriers list the IMEI under device details in your online account or app, and it often appears on the purchase receipt, contract or insurance documents. If you bought the phone on a plan, customer service can read it to you after verifying your identity.

IMEI on tablets, smartwatches and other devices

Only devices with a cellular modem have an IMEI. Here’s where to look on the less obvious ones:

• Cellular iPad: Settings › General › About, or engraved on the back near the bottom. Wi-Fi-only iPads have no IMEI — use the serial number instead.
• Android tablets: Settings › About tablet › Status. Wi-Fi-only models show only a serial number.
• Apple Watch (cellular): in the Watch app on the paired iPhone, go to General › About; the IMEI is listed for cellular models. Settings › General › About on the watch shows it too.
• Galaxy Watch (LTE): Galaxy Wearable app › Watch settings › About watch, or Settings › About watch on the watch itself.
• Mobile hotspots and 4G/5G routers: printed on the label under the battery or on the base, and usually shown in the device’s admin web page.

Method 5: Use the terminal shortcut on this page

Can’t remember the code for a particular brand? Type dial in the terminal below and press Enter to see every way to display the IMEI. Once you have the number, type imei followed by it (for example imei 356938035643809) to check that it is valid.

A valid number means the 15 digits pass the Luhn check digit — see how the check digit works. If you get “INVALID”, re-read the digits: 0 and 8, and 1 and 7, are the most common mix-ups.

What to do with the IMEI once you have it

• Buying a used phone: run a blacklist status check and an All-in-one check (iPhone) or All-in-one by IMEI/serial to see the model, lock and Find My status. Confirm the brand with a manufacturer + model lookup.
• Phone lost or stolen: give the IMEI to your carrier and the police so the device can be blocked. Read how to report a stolen phone and block its IMEI.
• Unlocking: carriers and unlock services need the IMEI to process a SIM unlock.
• Write it down: keep a copy of both IMEIs and the serial number somewhere other than the phone.

Ready to see what the records say? Enter the IMEI below, or use our IMEI check page.