How to find IMEI number on iPhone, Samsung and Pixel (even if it is off)

The IMEI is the ID your carrier uses to recognize your phone. You need it to unlock a phone, check a used phone before you buy it, report a lost phone, file an insurance claim or check carrier compatibility. The quickest way is a single dial code, but the phone may not turn on, so this guide covers every method, including the ones that work when you are locked out or the screen is broken.

The fastest way: dial *#06#

This works on iPhone, Samsung, Pixel, Motorola and most other phones sold in the US. If nothing appears, use one of the Settings paths below.

How to find the IMEI on an iPhone

• SIM tray: some iPhones have the IMEI printed on the SIM tray. Newer US models have no tray.
• Back of the phone: older iPhones, up to the iPhone 7, have it engraved on the back.
• Apple Account: sign in at account.apple.com and open Devices, then select your iPhone to see its IMEI and serial number.
• Finder or iTunes: connect the phone to a computer and click the phone's summary to see the serial number and IMEI.

How to find the IMEI on a Samsung Galaxy

The IMEI is also printed on a sticker on the box and on the SIM tray of some models. You can find it in your Samsung account too, under the registered devices, if you signed in on the phone.

How to find the IMEI on a Pixel and other Android phones

• Pixel: open Settings › About phone, then scroll to IMEI. Pixels with two lines show a number for each SIM.
• Motorola, OnePlus and others: go to Settings › About phone and look for IMEI or Phone identity.
• Google Account: go to your Google Account's device list. Some devices show their IMEI in the device details.
• Under the battery: on older phones with a removable battery, the IMEI is on a sticker beneath it.

How to find the IMEI if the phone will not turn on

IMEI, serial number and EID: which is which?

• IMEI: 15 digits, identifies the phone to carriers. Used for unlocking, blacklist checks, reporting a theft and carrier compatibility.
• Serial number: a mix of letters and numbers, assigned by the maker. Used for warranty, repairs and AppleCare.
• EID: 32 digits, identifies the eSIM chip. Used when a carrier activates an eSIM.
• MEID: a hexadecimal ID used on older CDMA phones. Modern phones show it too, but the IMEI is what you will usually be asked for.

Why you might need the IMEI

• Buying a used phone: run the IMEI through a blacklist check and an unlock check before you pay.
• Switching carriers: the new carrier uses the IMEI to check that the phone works on its network.
• Reporting a lost or stolen phone: the carrier uses it to block the phone, and police may ask for it.
• Insurance and warranty claims: you may need the IMEI or serial number to file.
• Requesting a carrier unlock: most carriers ask for it in the unlock form.

Two guides cover the used-phone checks in detail: how to check whether a phone is stolen and how to tell whether a phone is unlocked.

How to read the numbers you see

An IMEI has 15 digits. The first eight identify the phone model, and the rest are specific to your phone, ending with a check digit. Some screens show it with a slash, such as IMEI/SV, where the last two digits are a software version, so use the first 15 digits only. If you see two IMEI numbers, that is normal on a dual SIM phone. For a blacklist check, either one will work, though some tools ask for the first. Do not confuse the IMEI with the long number next to it, which may be the EID or the ICCID of your SIM card.

Dial code does not work? Try this

• Dial *#06# on the keypad inside the Phone app, not in a messaging app or a browser.
• On some tablets and Wi-Fi-only devices, there is no IMEI, so look for the serial number instead.
• If the phone is a clone or a fake, the numbers may not match the box. Compare the screen, the box and the Settings numbers, and do not buy a phone where they differ.
• On a phone that was repaired, the IMEI in Settings should still match the one on the back or the box. If it does not, the board may have been replaced.

How to find the IMEI on a tablet, smartwatch or hotspot

Cellular iPads show the IMEI in Settings › General › About, the same place as an iPhone. Wi-Fi-only iPads have a serial number but no IMEI. An Apple Watch with cellular shows its IMEI in the Watch app, under General › About, or in Settings › General › About on the watch itself. Samsung and other Android tablets use Settings › About tablet. Mobile hotspots and cellular routers usually print the IMEI on a label under the cover or on the back, and some show it on the device's admin page. If you are activating one of these devices, use the IMEI for that device, not the number from your phone.

When you copy the number, write all 15 digits with no spaces. Many carrier forms reject a number with a typo, and a single wrong digit can make a stolen phone check come back clean when it should not. Read it back once against the screen before you submit it.

How to check that the IMEI matches the phone

Always compare at least two places: the dial code or Settings, and the label on the phone or box. A mismatch can mean a replaced part, a fake phone or a phone that has been tampered with. If you are buying, ask the seller to show the number on the phone and on the box. If the numbers differ, ask why, and walk away if you do not get a good answer. Once you have the number, check whether the phone works on your carrier and check its warranty status.