Find your IMEI number: *#06# and every method on iPhone & Android
· TR Vertriebs GmbH
Where do I find my IMEI? With *#06#, in settings, on the box or the SIM tray – how to read the IMEI on any phone.
In short: where do I find the IMEI?
Dial *#06# on the phone keypad — the 15-digit IMEI appears instantly, on any phone, without placing a call or digging through menus. A dual-SIM device shows two numbers, one per slot.
- Open the phone app — Open the phone app as if you were about to dial. The keypad is all you need — no call is placed.
- Enter *#06# — Type star, hash, 0, 6, hash. The IMEI appears on screen right away, without pressing call.
- Save the number — Screenshot it or write down the 15 digits. When buying second-hand you need them before you pay.
IMEI and serial number are not the same thing: *#06# shows the IMEI, the 15-digit identifier a device carries on the mobile network. The serial number is a different, shorter number from the manufacturer — on iPhone under “Settings → General → About”, on Samsung under “Settings → About phone”.
Without the device at hand: the IMEI is on the sticker of the original box next to the barcode, on the purchase invoice, and for Apple devices in your Apple Account under registered devices.
On many iPhone models the IMEI is also engraved on the SIM tray, and on very old models on the back of the housing.
The number on its own tells you nothing about the device. Only a check reveals whether it is reported lost or stolen, network-locked or iCloud-locked — when buying second-hand, the only way to find out before you pay.
The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is your phone's unique 15-digit serial number. You need it to check a device, block it after theft, or verify it when buying second-hand. There are several ways to read it – here are all of them.
The fastest way works on any phone: open the Phone app and dial *#06# on the keypad. The IMEI appears instantly, no menu digging required. If your device has two SIM slots, two IMEI numbers show up – one per slot. That's perfectly normal.
On the iPhone you can also find the IMEI under Settings → General → About. Scroll down to the device information. On many iPhone models the IMEI is also engraved on the SIM tray – on very old models even on the back.
On Samsung and other Android devices you'll find the number under Settings → About phone → Status (on Samsung sometimes under 'About phone → IMEI information'). The exact label varies by manufacturer and Android version, but it's always in the device information section.
If you don't have the device at hand, the original box helps: the IMEI is almost always printed on a sticker next to the barcode. It's also on the purchase invoice and – for Apple – in your Apple account under your registered devices.
A valid IMEI has exactly 15 digits, and the last one is a check digit calculated using the Luhn algorithm. If a claimed IMEI has more or fewer digits or fails the check-digit calculation, it is invalid or manipulated – a warning sign when buying used.
Once you have the IMEI, you can check the device's status: blacklist (stolen/blocked), SIM lock, on iPhones the iCloud Activation Lock, plus model and warranty. That's exactly what the IMEI is for – it's the key to the full device history.