Have you ever found yourself in a situation where someone asks for your phone’s IMEI number and you don’t know what it is? That may happen when you’re trying to register your phone or sell an old one.
The IMEI number is a unique identifier that can be used to track down lost or stolen phones. It’s also useful for finding out which carrier a phone is locked into, and it can even help with warranty issues.
If you want to learn more about what an IMEI number is, why it’s important and how to check the IMEI number, keep reading! I’ll explain everything in detail below.
So if you’re ready to get started checking your own device’s IMEI number right now, just scroll down until you see our step-by-step instructions!
IMEI Number Explained
IMEI is a popular acronym that stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It’s a 15-digit number that can be used to identify individual mobile devices and it doesn’t matter if it is a feature phone, smartphone, or tablet. It uniquely identifies your mobile device on any network around the world that uses GSM technology.
It is an incredibly important number to keep a note of considering it can bail you out from difficult situations i.e. in case your phone gets stolen.
More often than not, police and officials use this number to track a phone down in case you have registered a theft for example.
The IMEI number is not linked to a particular SIM card but rather to the phone or device. If the SIM card is changed, the number will remain the same for that particular device. That is why it can be used to identify lost or stolen phones even if the SIM is switched out.
A key thing to note is that the IMEI number is directly associated with SIM card slots in a phone and, therefore, the phones that have dual SIMs are going to have two IMEI numbers.
If you’re like most people and only have a single SIM card slot in your smartphone, then you’ll find the IMEI number for that particular SIM.
You might have also heard about a MEID number for mobile devices. It is similar to the IMEI … but different! I have an article called MEID vs IMEI you should check it out alongside this one.
How to Check the IMEI Number on Android Phones?
If you are struggling to locate your IMEI number, follow these steps if you have an Android phone:
- Go to the Settings option on your phone.
- Choose the About Phone option.
- Scroll down and you should find the IMEI number there.
How to Find the IMEI Number on an iPhone?
Your iPhone’s settings app should give away the IMEI number. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Go to Settings.
- Choose the About option.
- Scroll down and you will find the IMEI number. It is a good idea to take a screenshot of the number so that you are able to find it almost instantaneously whenever you need it.
Other Ways to Find the IMEI Number
In case your phone is stolen, you can still find the IMEI number. One way is to check the box your phone came packed in to locate the number.
Check the box thoroughly and you will find the IMEI number on it. It is for this reason one must never throw away the box that their phone came in. You never know when you will need it.
If you don’t have the box you could get the IMEI by contacting your service provider such as AT&T or Verizon Wireless. They should be able to give you the device IMEI.
There is a USSD code to check the IMEI number that works for some phones (not on Verizon Phones). Simply dial *#06# in your phone’s keypad and it should display your unique number.
Parting Words
Your IMEI number is important. Make sure you keep a safe copy somewhere. Finding your IMEI number is really easy.
Whether on an Android or iPhone device, the process should be simple if you follow our step-by-step instructions. It’s also worth taking a screenshot of this information so that way when needed it can quickly be located without having to search through all apps again.
The bottom line? Knowing how to check the IMEI number will come in handy at some point so be sure not to forget about it when buying a new mobile phone!
