According to one study, up to 70 million phones are lost each year worldwide. If a smartphone falls into the hands of a criminal, it becomes more difficult to find it. Experienced criminals remove the SIM card, disable GPS location tracking, and disable Internet access. But did you know that you can find a phone by IMEI? Here are step-by-step instructions on how to do this.
Listen, have you seen my phone number?
What is IMEI
If you decipher the abbreviation IMEI, you get “International Mobile Equipment Identity.” This is a unique 15-character code authorized by the GSMA, similar to a smartphone identification certificate. Whenever a phone connects to a particular network to make a call, sends or receives SMS, its IMEI is automatically sent and tracked.
The police have access to a database in which all identification numbers are blacklisted or whitelisted. Therefore, the owner of the phone can provide his number to be blacklisted.
Some people use a clever device - a Bluetooth tracer - to find a smartphone when it gets lost somewhere nearby. But this approach has distance limitations.
If the phone is more than 10 meters away from you, then it is better to use the IMEI number to find out where it is and turn the device into a “brick” in case of theft.
Is it possible to change IMEI? And for what?
The last thing worth clarifying is the possibility of changing the unique identifier. In fact, everything is simple here: you can change the IMEI, but in some countries this is considered illegal and, accordingly, such an initiative will be punished. So far we are talking about a small list of states - so far only the preventive measures for such an “event” are known in the Republic of Belarus and Kazakhstan.
For technical reasons, it is easiest to change IMEI on devices running the Android operating system, but more difficult on iOS. This may be needed, for example, if your smartphone was stolen (or lost) and you blocked your previous ID so that no one could access the network.
And even in this case, when there seems to be a real reason and motive for such an action, it is better to contact the service center to clarify the possibility of changing IMEI and get some useful information from official support.
In addition, it is worth mentioning one more reason why you can change the ID of your device. If you become a little paranoid, you can justify this process by saying that you are simply trying to get rid of wiretapping. It is for these reasons that some users change SIM cards, but as noted at the beginning of the article, the “bug” in your phone is not the SIM card, but rather the IMEI.
As soon as you contact your mobile operator immediately after purchase and purchase a SIM card with your unique number, your mobile identifier will already be known. And even if you decide to change the number itself, the numeric code “sewn” into the equipment will still “give” you away.
How to find out IMEI
It's always best to make sure to save your ID number somewhere in advance. If you know him, then finding a stolen smartphone will not be difficult. But without this number there is practically no hope of returning the phone.
If you have access to a phone
Most modern smartphones provide easy access to IMEI and MEID information. To find out this data, just enter a five-digit number: *#06#. Most likely, you won’t even have to click on CALL - the data should automatically appear on the screen immediately after entering this code.
Take a screenshot of the screen and save it to your computer and other electronic devices. This way you can always find the code, even if you lose access to your phone.
If your phone is lost or stolen
In this case, it is useful to keep the packaging and all documentation that you received when purchasing the device. As a rule, the identifier information should be reflected somewhere on the box. Examine it carefully from all sides. The IMEI is usually located below the barcode of the label.
More ways to find out IMEI will be published in our next guide on TelecomDom.COM
Where else can you watch
There are a number of other ways that will help you find out the unique identifier of a smartphone or tablet running Android. Their essence is that you don’t have to use third-party software or physically interact with the OS.
Phone packaging
How to check your phone for wiretapping on Android - learn about surveillance
Any phone purchased second-hand or officially must have packaging or a box with it. In addition to the image of the phone and its model, it should contain a detailed description of the technical characteristics or a serial number encrypted in the IMEI code. It is usually located near the barcode on a special sticker.
Sticker under the smartphone battery
There is another simple way to view IMEI on Android. It is located on the back panel, under which the motherboard is located. To see it, you need to remove the case cover and remove the battery. Below it will be the number, as well as other information. If the lid is not removable, then this method will not work.
Warranty card
In addition to the phone itself, power supply and USB cord, the purchase package includes user documentation and a warranty card. If the phone was purchased in an official store, then there must be a coupon. In addition to the warranty expiration date, it should reflect the main characteristics of the phone, its model and IMEI number.
Important! Each of these methods will allow you to compare the presented code with the one produced by the operating system when entering commands and checking through the settings. If the codes do not match, then the phone is most likely stolen.
The package may also contain IMEI
How to find a phone by IMEI yourself via the Internet
So, let's figure out how to track a phone by IMEI in case of theft or loss.
Finding a lost phone is easy if you know its identification number. There are many applications on Google Play that allow you to find your phone, for example:
- IMEI Tracker – Find My Device
- Find Lost Phone
- How to find a phone
- Geotracker phone tracking
- Find my android
- Find My Device.
Most of them can be activated using a sent SMS.
Let's look at one example.
- Find AntiTheft App & IMEI Tracker All Phone Location on Google Play. Install it on your smartphone.
- Once the installation is complete, launch the application. Agree to all permissions requested for IMEI tracking. The program will ask for access to contacts, calls, storage, SMS and location. If you want to track your phone in the future, all of these permissions will be required to fully take advantage of the app's features.
- Watch a short advertisement. This is a free app, so developers are forced to show ads in order to receive compensation for their work. Unfortunately, there is no option to skip ads. Until the video is completely downloaded, you will not be able to proceed to device tracking.
- Enter the IMEI of the phone you lost. Check that the entered data is correct and click on the button Track. You'll see a window showing locations near your phone.
By the way, having a number not only helps you find a phone via satellite for free, but also provides the opportunity to take advantage of other important anti-theft functions.
For example, you can set a PIN and save it somewhere. This way, you can monitor your phone if it is stolen by sending specific codes that trigger alarms from the smartphone, sending SMS messages about its location in real time, synchronizing data and other important functions.
First way
This is the most convenient way for the device owner, since all he needs to do is just dial the code on his smartphone or phone *#06#
. As soon as the user dials the specified number, the IMEI will immediately appear in front of him. This method is supported by the vast majority of devices, including iPhone.
Go to the Phone application.
Enter a code *#06#
.
Here we have two IMEIs:
Why two? The phone uses two SIM cards and needs two IMEIs to register each SIM on the network. If you have a single-SIM device, there will be one IMEI.
How to find out IMEI on iPhone? In the same way: enter the desired combination and see the result.
IMEI is in front of you.
Question answer
If the screen does not turn on or is broken
If the screen does not turn on, you should check the smartphone case. Perhaps the model will be indicated there. You can try checking the box or looking under the battery if it is removed. Another option is to connect the device to your computer via a USB cable. Information about the connected device will appear on the laptop display.
Find out by photo or screenshot
You can find out more information about the phone by searching the image by appearance. Useful if the device does not turn on and shows no signs of life.
For this, various services for searching by image (photo) are suitable - for example, Yandex. After uploading the photo, the search engine will return similar pictures, and you can find the brand in the description. But this method does not always give an accurate result.
Serial number: what is it and where to find it
We offer several options on how to do this quickly and effortlessly.
On the package
The back side of the package contains information, where between the Part No - the batch number - and the IMEI there is an 11-12-digit Serial No - the serial number - of the device, consisting of letters and numbers:
That is why it is important to buy a mobile phone in “store” packaging, which guarantees its original origin. To verify the data on the packaging, you need to activate your smartphone and open its “Settings”.
Through iPhone Settings
Another option to find out or check Serial No is to use the built-in functions of the gadget. You need to go to “Settings”, then – “General” – “About this device”:
Another interesting article for you: How to recover deleted notes on iPhone
Record the “series” and take another important control step.
Via the official Apple website
You can determine whether the iPhone in your hands is “real” in the “Check Your Service and Support Coverage” section at https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru/:
- Open. On the Russian version of the site you can see the following picture:
- Enter the device serial number, verification code, and click “Continue.”
- Wait for the test results and review them.
If you enter an incorrect serial number, a corresponding message will appear. It is recommended to retest and see the result. If the correct entry of the “serial number” is confirmed, it turns out that the iPhone is “gray”.
The buyer must carefully read the response received from the site to ensure the legality of the transaction. An important fact that deserves careful study is the provision of a one-year warranty, its expiration date, and the ability to use technical support services for three months. This information is indicated in the relevant sections:
Please note that the “Valid Purchase Date” field is marked with a green checkmark. This is an indisputable fact that the iPhone is an “Apple” original.
If there is no activation, the buyer will be notified on the same page of the need to take the specified action.
Good to know. The serial number also provides the ability to identify a Refurbished iPhone by the manufacturer or seller. This “serial” always starts with “5K”.
Checking the iPhone for the presence of the RosTest (PCT) mark
A preventive measure to avoid buying a “gray” phone is a PCT check. Control of compliance with established standards of goods imported into Russia is carried out by a special certification center “RosTest”. Products that successfully pass the examination receive the PCT badge. It is located under the cover of the iPhone, under the battery on a sticker. SSE and PCT markings are next to the number. iPhone packaging must also be marked with a certification badge.
For several years now, instead of the PCT logo, iPhone packaging has been marked EAC. For us, as consumers, this is the same “RosTest”.
When purchasing an iPhone, it is better and more reliable to check its authenticity using the serial number and IMEI. It is unlikely that this measure will be useful in an Apple store, but sales of the device through second hands must undergo a full compliance testing procedure. Recommended methods are described in this article.
A visual inspection of the device should also not be neglected; the Internet offers a lot of detailed information on how to do this correctly.
Second way
Let's find the IMEI through the phone menu. To do this, go to settings.
We find the section “About phone” or “Phone information” - usually it is the last one in the menu, or the penultimate one.
We see IMEI.
Above is an example based on Samsung, and this is what the page looks like on a Huawei smartphone:
