LocateKit

Tools

IMEI check, free and private

Verify any 15-digit IMEI in seconds: structure, check digit, and type allocation code. The whole check runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.

How to find your IMEI number

The fastest way on any working phone: open the dialer, type *#06#, and the IMEI appears on screen without pressing call. Every method below gets you the same 15-digit number.

  1. On the phone: dial *#06#. Works on iPhone and Android, no call needed.
  2. iPhone: Settings, General, About. Scroll to IMEI. Dual-SIM iPhones list two.
  3. Android: Settings, About phone, then Status or IMEI depending on brand.
  4. SIM tray: many phones print the IMEI etched on the tray itself. Pop it with the ejector tool.
  5. The box: the original retail box label lists the IMEI alongside the serial number.
  6. Phone won't turn on? The SIM tray and the box are your options, or your carrier account if the device was bought on contract.

What an IMEI check can and cannot tell you

An IMEI is the phone's hardware identity: 15 digits fixed at manufacture, independent of the SIM card and the phone number. A structural check like the one above confirms the number is real and reads its type allocation code, the first 8 digits that identify the model and its regulatory approval.

What a structure check cannot do is look the device up in a stolen-phone blacklist. Those databases belong to mobile operators and national registries, and access is limited to carriers and law enforcement. When buying a used phone, the practical equivalent is meeting the seller at a carrier store and asking staff to verify the IMEI against their blocklist before money changes hands.

If your own phone was stolen, the IMEI works the other direction: you report it to your carrier, they blacklist it, and the phone becomes worthless on any network in the participating countries. Our guide to IMEI tracking covers what the police can do with it and what they cannot.

Questions & answers

IMEI check questions

What is an IMEI check?
An IMEI check verifies that a 15-digit IMEI is structurally valid: the length, the digits, and the Luhn check digit must all match the standard. Our tool also reads the type allocation code (first 8 digits), which hints at the manufacturer allocation. A structural check is free and instant; a stolen-device blacklist lookup is a separate service run by carriers and registries.
How do I find my IMEI number?
Dial *#06# on the phone and the IMEI appears on screen instantly. Other ways: iPhone Settings, General, About; Android Settings, About phone; the SIM tray on many phones; or the original box label. If the phone will not turn on, the SIM tray or the box is usually the fastest option.
Does an IMEI check tell me if a phone is stolen?
Not by itself. A structural check only confirms the number could be real. Whether a specific device is reported stolen is recorded in blacklist databases run by carriers and national registries, and access to those is limited to operators and official services. Buy used phones from sellers who agree to meet at a carrier store, where the IMEI can be checked against the carrier blocklist on the spot.
Is it safe to check an IMEI online?
The IMEI alone is not a secret in the way a password is: it is printed on the box, the SIM tray, and often the receipt, and anyone nearby with the phone can display it with *#06#. Still, enter an IMEI only into tools that run locally in your browser or services you trust. This page runs the entire check on your device and uploads nothing.
Why does my IMEI show as invalid?
The most common cause is a typo: one wrong digit fails the Luhn check. Second most common is reading the IMEI from the wrong field, for example the serial number or MEID. Check that you entered exactly 15 digits. Dual-SIM phones have two IMEIs, so make sure you are checking the one you intended.