How to Find the IMEI Number on a Mobile Phone

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers are used to help mobile phone companies and you keep track of mobile phone usage. If your phone is lost or stolen, the phone company can enter the IMEI number into the database and permanently deactivate the phone. Even if the SIM card is changed, the mobile phone will not work. There are a few things you can do to find the IMEI number on a mobile phone.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mobile phone

1. Open the battery cover on your mobile phone and remove the battery. The IMEI number should be located on the white label under the battery. It will be 15 to 17 digits long with no letters or slashes. You only need the first 15 numbers.

2. Replace the battery and power the phone on. If the IMEI number is not located under the battery, there are other ways to find it. Wait for the phone to initialize before continuing.

3. Enter *#06# on your phone's key pad. When the final # is entered, a 15-digit number with the title "IMEI number" will appear. Copy the number down and keep it for future reference.

4. If that didn’t work you have still more options. If your phone is made by Motorola, you need to press #,*, (menu) and then press the right arrow very quickly. Do not pause when pressing the keys. The IMEI number will appear on the screen.

5. Check the phone's menu if you have a SIM card. Scroll through the menu until you find IMEI or SIM ID. Press enter to display the phone's IMEI number.

6. If you have an older phone with a SIM card, you can press the right arrow until you see IMEI. Press the Enter key to see the IMEI number. If there are only seven digits shown, you can hit the Menu key and then the Next key to see the remaining digits.

Tips & Warnings

• Write down your IMEI code so you have it in case your phone is lost or stolen.
• Report your phone lost or stolen immediately and give the phone company your IMEI number so they can disable your phone.
• The IMEI number retrieval code (*#06#) does not work for all phones.
• Don’t purchase a used phone until you are sure the IMEI number has not been reported. You can get this information by checking out the IMEI Analyzer.

[kevinu78]

on 8/15/2009 I need to unlock my LG PM 225 cell phone. I cant get the *#06# code to work on my phone. I forgot the unlock code and need to get the service code or a way to get into it, and I dont want to buy the cable.

[sanjaybarma]

on 8/11/2009 Please I have Lost my Nokia Phone set with sim no. [phone]. But I do not know IMEI number.Please help me for find out it.

[bmine4ever]

on 7/22/2009 MY PHONE WAS STOLE AND I DONT KNOW THE IMEI NUMBER PLEASE HELP ME TO BLOCK MY PHONE

[cody1990]

on 12/7/2008 my phone got stolen and i dont have the box or the imei number how do i deactivate without them