IMEI is directly related to the user’s specific mobile device, as it is its unique identifier, which is not repeated anywhere. You can change your name, view it on your phone and tablet, and even register your own version of the mobile device identifier.
In many cases, knowing your IMEI of a phone or tablet will be useful and necessary, so first of all, the article is devoted to how to find out the IMEI on Android if there is no box or it was stolen. It also talks about where this data is stored, how it can be changed, why the identification number was lost and how to restore it.
Important! All information is relevant only for smartphones and tablets running the Android operating system. In Windows and iOS, such actions are performed completely differently.
What it is?
The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a unique 15-character number that each mobile device has. In particular, these are smartphones, satellite phones and tablets.
International Mobile Equipment Identity can only be assigned to a device by an authorized organization. An example of this would be the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications (BABT).
Back in 2002, it was found out that using some types of software it is possible to replace the IMEI of a device with a different number. By the way, in some countries (Belarus, Great Britain, Latvia) such actions will be criminally punishable. In Russia and Kazakhstan, harsh penalties were also applied against “craftsmen” who reprogram IMEI.
In modern times, it is believed that without replacing or reprogramming microcircuits, it is not possible to change the identifier. It is sewn into the device at the factory into a ROM chip.
Changing ID
I would like to warn you that in some countries changing IMEI is prohibited by law. Therefore, traveling abroad with such a gadget can cause some difficulties. Also, if you are a novice user, it is better to leave the idea of changing the IMEI, as there is a chance of inadvertently damaging the device, or turning your gadget into a brick.
Technically, you can change the ID. However, the complexity of the change depends on the device itself:
- on older devices you can change it using simple programs and manipulations;
- on new devices (from most well-known manufacturers), to change the IMEI you need to replace the smartphone chips (processor, controllers, flash memory, etc.), which is not possible in software.
Let's look at two ways to change the Android ID.
Engineering menu
Calling the engineering menu is different for each gadget manufacturer. You can view yours in this table, on the Internet, or in the documentation for your device.
After entering the menu, go through the following thread:
Connectivity – CDS Information – Radio Information Phone 1
If the smartphone is designed for 2 SIM cards, then the Phone 2 section will be displayed.
In Phone 1, after the letters AT+, enter EGMR = 1.7,"your_IMEI" .
In Phone 2 (if there is one) we write EGMR = 1.10,"your_IMEI" .
Press SEND AT and reboot the device. If it doesn't work, put a space after AT+.
Using Root rights
First, you need to root your device. Then you need to install the Mobile Uncle program (Works only with MediaTek processors). You can see your processor in the “About phone” settings. Now:
- In the “Engineering Mode” tab, go to “MTK Engineering Mode”.
- Follow the path “Connectivity Testing – CDS information – Phone information – Phone 1, 2”.
- On the line, enter the same commands as in the section above.
- When finished, press SEND AT COMMAND.
What is it for?
This code is stored in the firmware of your smartphone. The main purpose of IMEI is to identify the gadget on the cellular network. Acts as the serial number of the device when authorizing the device on the network. If your smartphone supports working with several SIM cards at once, then, accordingly, it will have several such identifiers.
Therefore, you can block the network access of a lost or stolen phone by simply telling your operator's IMEI support specialist. And even if attackers decide to use this device by replacing the SIM card, it will be useless to them. After all, the phone will be on the “black list” of all telecom operators (as you remember, the device is authorized on the network using this identifier), which will deny it access to their services.
Note that the IMEI on the network is determined by the gadget itself (that’s why the phone is searched by it), and not by its owner. Another number helps to find out the owner of the device and SIM card - International Subscriber Identity (IMSI, International Mobile Subscriber Identity).
Another important purpose of IMEI is to help track the location of the phone. This facilitates the work of law enforcement agencies: thanks to the identifier, police quickly find out where the stolen device is located.
What is a phone's IMEI? This is the same combination of numbers that will help you personally learn more about your gadget (its model and place of assembly).
Using third-party programs to check
As mentioned above, you can also use third-party software to check your code. It is able to fully determine the unique identifier and display it on the screen. The operation of such programs is similar to standard tools, so they are often useless, but some people find it convenient to check through such applications. Below are two popular solutions as an example.
IMEI application
A free application that is available for download from the official Play Market store. It is intended for those who want to quickly find out what IMEI code their phone or tablet running on the Android operating system has. You can also copy the ID to check on a special website for illegal purchases or share it via WhatsApp or email.
Check IMEI
This solution helps not only to find out the unique identifier, but also to check its authenticity using a special service. People often buy stolen gadgets, so this functionality is more useful than ever. All you need to do is download and install the application and run it. It will determine the code itself and show it. All that remains is to copy it and paste it into the appropriate field. As a result of the check, the system will notify the user whether the IMEI is fake or real.
You can view Android IMEI using special software
Therefore, now the user knows how to check IMEI on Android. It doesn’t matter what kind of phone it is – Samsung Galaxy, Honor, Asus or Xiaomi, because each manufacturer necessarily adds functionality that allows you to view the combination and restore it if the code is lost.
Where can I find IMEI?
Having understood what a phone’s IMEI is, it’s a good idea to decide where to find it on your gadget. As a standard, it is indicated in four places at once:
- In the device itself. Regardless of the model and manufacturer of the smartphone, you can find out the identifier by clicking on the symbols *#06# on the dialing screen.
- The second location is the place under the phone battery.
- You will also find the IMEI next to the barcode on the branded box of your gadget.
- The last location of the ID is the warranty card. The seller must put the IMEI sticker there.
Question answer
Let's consider a couple of questions that most often interest our readers on this topic.
If the screen does not turn on or is broken
Try connecting the gadget to your PC. Perhaps the smartphone is still alive, and the system will detect it. Look at the model on the box, on the back cover, under the battery. Look for the number on the warranty card or receipt. Sometimes this information is indicated there.
Find out by photo or screenshot
It is possible to find out what kind of device it is by appearance or photograph, but it is not always possible. Take a photo of your smartphone using another phone. Use branded services from search engines:
- Yandex Pictures. Click on the “camera” icon in the search bar, then upload the photo using the “select file” button.
- Google image search. Click on the “camera” image in the search bar, then on the “Upload file” tab, and “select file”.
Both search engines will find matches based on the uploaded photo. With a high degree of probability they will be able to identify the smartphone.
It is much more difficult to identify equipment from a screenshot, since now manufacturers make displays with approximately the same resolution. By the number of pixels vertically and horizontally, you can only understand the class of the device, but not the specific model.
Checking ID by check digit
Finding a phone is not the only thing that IMEI can help the owner of a gadget with. Using the ID, you can also find out whether the device is original or counterfeit. To do this, you need to use the Luhn algorithm:
- Sum all even digits of the identifier (except the check digit).
- Numbers in odd positions must be converted as follows:
- Add all the odd and already converted digits (except the check digit).
- Sum up the values from step 1 and step 3.
- If the check digit is 0, then the resulting number is a multiple of ten.
- In other cases, the control number is a number that, when added to the result from step 4, will result in the nearest round (multiple of 10) number.
Let’s take “have” 35-209900-176148-2 as an example. So, according to the Luhn algorithm:
- Add even symbols: 5 + 0 + 9 + 0 + 7 + 1 + 8 =30.
- Convert odd numbers: 3 = 6, 2 = 4, 9 = 9, 0 = 0, 1 = 2, 6 = 3, 4 = 8.
- Add up the resulting numbers: 6 + 4 + 9 + 0 + 2 + 3 + 8 = 32.
- Addition: 30 + 32 = 62.
- The nearest round number is 60.
- We count: 62-60 = 2.
- The control number is also 2. That’s right, the product is genuine!
How to check IMEI using service code
How to change the name on Android - all the ways to change the identifier
Every owner of any cell phone can find out their unique device identifier. On Android, as on most other operating systems, this can be done using the built-in command. To do this, go to the dialing menu (Phone application) and sequentially enter the command *#06#. Owners of push-button gadgets can immediately start typing and not have to look for an application.
Important! After typing the service command, a window will immediately open in which there is only one line containing the word “IMEI” and 14 digits. If it does not open, then you need to press the “Call” button (green handset).
You can check IMEI on Android through the service combination
How to track a phone by IMEI?
Many people are interested in whether it is possible to independently find a missing or stolen gadget using IMEI. Unfortunately, it's not that simple:
How to track a phone by IMEI? Unfortunately, this is impossible for a private person to do. But you can protect your device from intruders and help yourself in your search by activating the “Find iPhone” or “Remote Android control” option in advance.
Now you know what IMEI is. We also know how it can be useful to the user.
Phone IMEI: what is it, why is it needed, how to find it? on News4Auto.ru.
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How to find out your IMEI on Android through the phone options menu
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The first thing that comes to mind when a person is looking for how to find out his IMEI on an Android phone is the standard settings menu, and for good reason. This method is the most popular among inexperienced users. When using it you need:
- Unlock or turn on your gadget.
- Go to the main menu and find the “Settings” item there.
- Scroll up all the main parameters and configurations.
- Find the “Phone Information” section and enter it.
- Find out IMEI Android and all the necessary data.
How to recognize him
Finding the universal code for your device is far from a difficult task. In fact, there are several methods more or less applicable to all types of mobile phones or mobile devices.
- Remove the back of the phone, lift up the battery and look in the label on the battery compartment for the 15 digit code.
- If the phone's battery is not being replaced, a code will be printed on the removable carriage (such as iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4) or on the cover (such as iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPad, iPod touch and Nexus).
- Enter the code *#06#, the code will be displayed immediately on the phone display.
- In the sales package of the device, find the identification label (usually used as a packaging seal) and read the code under the “IMEI” label.
- If you have Android, simply enter Phone Settings, open the Phone Info section (usually the last menu item) and go to State. Here, among the various information you will find, you will also find the code you are looking for.
- If you're on iOS, tap Settings, go to General, and tap Info to view serial numbers, IMEI/MEID, and ICCIDs.