Were you aware that, in America, 113 cellphones are lost or stolen every minute? This is a startling statistic, though it’s important to be aware of the value of your phone.
Knowing your IMEI can help prevent thieves from using your stolen smartphone, as you can blacklist it. New SIM cards won’t work for blacklisted IMEI numbers.
You can also track your phone through the IMEI number, so if you lost it or it was stolen, you would be much more likely to track it down.
But what even is an IMEI, and how can you find it on your phone? Keep reading to learn more.
What Is an IMEI?
IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. This is like your phone’s fingerprint. It’s a 15 digit number unique to your particular phone.
It is standard across the phone industry, with manufacturers and phone carriers sharing the IMEI numbers to enable smartphone tracking capabilities.
This is the difference between serial numbers and IMEI numbers, as serial numbers are only used internally.
Knowing your IMEI number before purchasing a device can ensure that your device is not blacklisted or locked. If this occurs, you’ll have to notify the phone carrier to see if they can unlock it.
Keeping your IMEI number on hand can give you peace of mind that your phone is safe and secure, even if you lose it or it gets stolen.
Checking IMEI on iPhone
Doing an iOS device or iPhone IMEI check is quite simple. Follow these steps below:
- First, open your settings
- Tap General then About
- Scroll down until you see a bunch of numbers under the header Primary
- Locate the number that is labeled IMEI
- Tap and hold to bring up the Copy bubble
- Copy, and save in your notes app, or write it down somewhere safe
If you have an older iPhone, the IMEI may be printed on the back of the phone. You can also log on to your Apple account, click on devices, and select your phone. The IMEI should be located there as well.
Newer iPhones also have the IMEI printed on the SIM tray, though the print is tiny and hard to read.
Checking IMEI on Samsung or Android
Samsung and Android devices are not as uniform, so the steps are a bit different.
When you go to your Settings, you should click on the menu option that says either “About Phone,” “About Device,” or “Status.” From these menus, you should be able to locate the IMEI number.
Some Samsung Galaxy devices also have the IMEI printed on the back of the phone. You may also locate the IMEI on the Samsung or Android phone’s box.
Save Your IMEI
Once you locate your IMEI, put it somewhere for safekeeping. Hopefully, you’ll never have to use it, but if you do, you’ll be glad you checked it when you did.
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