What Is an IMEI Number? How to Find It and Check It
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Every phone with a cellular radio carries a 15-digit IMEI that identifies the hardware itself — not your SIM, not your number. Here is what it is, where to find it, how it differs from a serial number or MEID, and how to check that yours is genuine.
Check your IMEI with our free IMEI checker →IMEI in plain English
IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. The GSMA allocates IMEI ranges to manufacturers, who burn one number into each cellular modem at the factory. When your phone attaches to a mobile network, it reports this number so the network knows exactly which device is connecting.
Because the IMEI belongs to the handset, it stays the same when you change SIM card, carrier or country. That is why carriers and police use it to block lost or stolen phones, and why insurers and repair centres put it on every claim and invoice.
Wi-Fi-only tablets, laptops without a modem and most smartwatches without LTE have no IMEI at all.
How to find your IMEI (4 reliable ways)
- Dial *#06# — works on Android, iPhone, feature phones and cellular tablets. The IMEI (or two, on dual-SIM phones) appears instantly; nothing is sent to the network.
- Settings — Android: Settings > About phone (the exact label varies by skin, e.g. 'Status' or 'Status information'). iPhone: Settings > General > About, then scroll to IMEI.
- SIM tray or casing — many iPhones engrave the IMEI on the SIM tray; some older Android phones print it under the battery or on a rear label.
- Retail box — the packaging label shows the IMEI with a barcode. On a used phone, compare it with *#06#: a mismatch is a red flag.
IMEI vs serial number vs MEID
The IMEI is a worldwide standard: always 15 digits (8-digit TAC, 6-digit serial, 1 Luhn check digit), used by networks to identify the device.
The serial number is the manufacturer's own identifier. Its length and format differ by brand, and it is mainly used for warranty, support and repairs — networks never see it.
The MEID was the equivalent for older CDMA networks (14 hex characters). Modern multi-mode phones may show both an IMEI and an MEID; the MEID is usually the first 14 digits of the IMEI.
IMEISV is a 16-digit variant: the first 14 IMEI digits plus a 2-digit software version instead of the check digit.
Dual-SIM and eSIM phones
Each cellular radio slot needs its own identity, so dual-SIM phones — including those that combine a physical SIM with an eSIM — show two IMEIs. Both are legitimate. Carriers register whichever slot your line uses; when reporting a theft, give both.
An eSIM itself also has an EID (a 32-digit identifier for the embedded SIM chip). The EID is not an IMEI and cannot be checked with an IMEI checker.
How to check that an IMEI is real
A genuine IMEI always passes the Luhn checksum. Our free IMEI checker recomputes it in your browser and splits the number into TAC, serial and check digit, so you can spot typos and obviously fabricated numbers in seconds.
Passing the checksum proves the number is well-formed — not that the phone is clean. For stolen or blacklisted status, see our guide on how to check if an IMEI is blacklisted.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IMEI the same as the phone number?
No. Your phone number belongs to the SIM/line; the IMEI belongs to the device hardware and stays the same when you change SIM.
Can an IMEI be changed?
Changing an IMEI is illegal in many countries, including the UK, and is a common sign of a stolen or counterfeit phone. A legitimate repair that replaces the main board may give the phone a new IMEI, which the repairer should document.
Why does *#06# show two numbers?
Your phone is dual-SIM (physical + physical or physical + eSIM). Each radio has its own IMEI; both are valid.
Where is the IMEI on an iPhone?
Settings > General > About, by dialling *#06#, and on many models engraved on the SIM tray.