Guide
How to find your phone's IMEI number — every method that works
Quick answer
Open your phone app and dial *#06#. Your IMEI appears on screen instantly — on iPhone, Android, and just about every cell phone made in the last two decades. No call is placed and it costs nothing.
Every phone that connects to a cellular network carries a 15-digit ID called the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). Carriers use it to allow your phone on their network, blacklist databases use it to flag lost and stolen devices, and anyone buying, selling, insuring, or unlocking a phone will eventually be asked for it. Here is every reliable way to pull it up — including for a phone that's dead in your hand.
Method 1: Dial *#06# (works on almost everything)
Open the dialer and type the code
Enter *#06# exactly as shown. You don't press call — the moment you type the final #, a window pops up with the IMEI (and on newer phones, a barcode plus the serial number). Screenshot it or write it down.
If your phone supports dual SIM — a physical SIM plus an eSIM, or two SIM slots — you'll see two IMEIs. That's normal: each cellular slot gets its own. When a carrier or buyer asks for "the IMEI," give them IMEI1.
Method 2: The settings menu
iPhone
Go to Settings → General → About and scroll down. The IMEI is listed below the serial number — press and hold it to copy. iPhones sold with dual-SIM show IMEI and IMEI2.
Android (Samsung, Pixel, Motorola, OnePlus, TCL)
Go to Settings → About phone. Depending on the brand you'll see the IMEI right there or under a Status information submenu. Samsung and Pixel phones list IMEI1 and IMEI2 separately.
Method 3: On the hardware itself
Manufacturers etch or print the IMEI in a few physical spots, which saves you when the screen is shattered or the phone won't boot:
- SIM tray — pop it out with an ejector pin and check the flat edge. Most modern iPhones and many Androids laser-etch the IMEI there in tiny print.
- Back of the phone — older devices (and many budget models) print it on the rear panel or under the battery on removable-battery phones.
- Original retail box — the barcode sticker on the box lists the IMEI alongside the serial number. This is the easiest source for a phone that's lost or stolen.
Method 4: Your Apple or Google account (no phone needed)
Lost the phone entirely? Both ecosystems keep the IMEI on file:
- Apple: sign in at appleid.apple.com, open the Devices section, and select the phone — the IMEI is listed. On another iPhone signed into the same Apple ID: Settings → your name → tap the device.
- Google/Android: open Find My Device (android.com/find) or your Google account's device list under Security → Your devices. Tap the info icon on the phone to see its IMEI.
- Your carrier account: the online dashboard for your line shows the IMEI of the device currently (or last) active on it. Useful for insurance claims and police reports.
IMEI vs. serial number vs. MEID — quick sort
| Identifier | What it is | Who asks for it |
|---|---|---|
| IMEI | 15-digit global cellular ID tied to the phone's radio hardware | Carriers, blacklist checks, unlock requests, buyers |
| Serial number | Manufacturer's internal ID for the whole device | Apple/Samsung support, warranty claims |
| MEID / ESN | Older CDMA-era equivalents of the IMEI (legacy networks) | Rarely today; "ESN check" now just means an IMEI history check |
The IMEI never changes — not with a factory reset, an OS update, or a new SIM. That permanence is why every stolen-phone database keys on it.
Why you'd need your IMEI in the first place
- Before buying a used phone — an IMEI check reveals if it's blacklisted, still being financed, or reported lost or stolen. Never hand over cash without one.
- Selling or trading in — buyers and shops (ours included) verify the IMEI is clean before paying out.
- Unlocking — carriers process unlock requests against the IMEI.
- Insurance claims and police reports — both require the IMEI to identify the exact device.
Got the number? Check it free.
Paste any IMEI into our checker and see the device details behind it in seconds.
Check an IMEI freeFAQ
What is the fastest way to find my IMEI?
Dial *#06# from the phone app. The IMEI displays instantly on virtually every iPhone and Android — no call is placed and nothing is charged.
Why does my phone show two IMEI numbers?
Dual-SIM phones (physical SIM + eSIM, or two slots) have one IMEI per cellular slot. Both are valid; IMEI1 is the one carriers and buyers usually want.
How do I find the IMEI if my phone won't turn on?
Check the SIM tray, the original box's barcode label, or your account — appleid.apple.com for iPhones, Google Find My Device for Androids, or your carrier dashboard.
Is it safe to share my IMEI?
With your carrier, insurer, repair shop, or a buyer verifying a purchase — yes, that's what it's for. Just don't post it publicly online.
Is the IMEI the same as the serial number?
No. The serial number is the manufacturer's internal device ID; the IMEI is the cellular identifier used by networks and blacklist databases. Checks always use the IMEI.
Does a factory reset change the IMEI?
No. The IMEI is burned into the hardware and survives resets, updates, and repairs — which is exactly why blacklist databases rely on it.
Where can I check what an IMEI says about a phone?
Use our free IMEI checker — paste the 15 digits and get the device details back in seconds.
Related reading: What an ESN / IMEI check actually tells you · The no-regrets guide to buying an unlocked phone
Need hands-on help? Walk into BK Wireless, 1054 Beach 20th Street, Far Rockaway — we'll pull the IMEI and run the check at the counter. Trading in? We test your phone in front of you and pay cash on the spot.