It’s easy to find your device’s IMEI number, particularly on a phone or a tablet . All you have to do is type the USSD code “*#06*” and your phone will display its IMEI number. Dual-SIM phones have two IMEI numbers.

Besides the USSD code, the IMEI number can be found in the device settings. It’s typically present under the “About device” option. Some manufacturers also print the IMEI number on the back of the phone or engrave it on the SIM card tray. Moreover, the device packaging typically includes the IMEI number.

For other devices, you can look at any stickers on the device’s body, the packaging, or the supplied documentation to find the IMEI number. If you are unable to get the IMEI number, you can ask the device manufacturer for help.

IMEI numbers come in handy when your phone is lost or stolen. You can report the number to your carrier to blacklist it. This way, the thief or anyone who finds your lost phone won’t be able to use it, even after inserting a new SIM from a different cell operator. It’s possible because carriers use something called an Equipment Identity Register (EIR). It’s a database that keeps information about valid and blacklisted IMEI numbers.

Although each carrier has its own EIR, different countries also have a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), and GSMA maintains a global IMEI Database (IMEI DB). The GSMA database has information about valid and blacklisted IMEI numbers.

By blacklisting the IMEI number of your lost or stolen phone, you reduce the chances of it being misused or used by anyone else. This acts as a deterrent for thieves.

Law enforcement can also use IMEI numbers to track and recover stolen mobile devices. While this does not guarantee recovery, it can help. However, the mobile device needs to be switched on and connected to a cell network for this to work.

Moreover, while buying a pre-owned mobile device, you can use its IMEI number to confirm it’s not stolen and blacklisted. Several online tools are available that can offer this information for free. One such free tool is IMEI Pro.

The IMEI number can also be used to confirm whether a phone is compatible with a cell carrier. Many carriers, including Verizon and T-Mobile, have an IMEI lookup on their website to check compatibility.

In other use cases, you may need the IMEI number when placing a smartphone unlock request, getting it insured, filing an insurance claim, or switching mobile carriers.

Privacy Concerns?

Although IMEI numbers are essential for device identification and security, there are a couple of privacy concerns associated with them. For example, as an IMEI number is unique, your cell carrier, law enforcement, or government authorities can potentially use it to track your location by combining it with cell tower data. Regular folks can’t use it to track anyone. So, for most people, it’s not a major concern.

Additionally, some folks fear that mobile OS developers, such as Apple and Google, have the capability to query IMEI data from your smartphone, which can be used to help them build a profile of you for any number of reasons, including advertising purposes. However, there seems to be no evidence of this being done.