How to Find IMEI on Android Phone

Why You Need Your Android IMEI

Your Android phone's IMEI is a 15-digit number that uniquely identifies your device on cellular networks. You'll need it for:

• Checking warranty status (e.g., Xiaomi, Huawei, OPPO)
• Verifying if a used Android phone is genuine and not blacklisted
• Unlocking your phone from a carrier
• Reporting a lost or stolen device
• Checking for refurbished or tampered devices

For general IMEI information, see our guide on how to find IMEI number on any device.

Method 1: Dial *#06# (Universal Method)

The fastest way to find the IMEI on any Android phone is the universal dial code:

1. Open the Phone or Dialer app
2. Enter *#06# on the keypad
3. The IMEI number(s) will appear automatically on screen

For dual-SIM phones, both IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 will be displayed. You can long-press the number to copy it or take a screenshot.

This method works on virtually all Android phones regardless of brand, including Xiaomi, Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, OnePlus, Realme, Google Pixel, Motorola, and more.

Method 2: Check in Settings

The IMEI can always be found in the phone's settings. The exact path varies by manufacturer:

Stock Android / Google Pixel

1. Open Settings
2. Tap About phone
3. The IMEI is displayed on this page

Xiaomi (MIUI/HyperOS)

1. Open Settings
2. Tap About phone
3. Tap Status information or scroll down to find IMEI
4. Tap IMEI information for details

Huawei (EMUI)

1. Open Settings
2. Tap About phone
3. Tap Status → IMEI information

OPPO (ColorOS)

1. Open Settings
2. Tap About phone
3. Tap Status → IMEI information

Vivo (OriginOS/Funtouch OS)

1. Open Settings
2. Tap About phone
3. Tap Status information → IMEI

Samsung (One UI)

1. Open Settings
2. Tap About phone
3. The IMEI is displayed directly, or tap IMEI information

For Samsung-specific details, see our guide on how to find IMEI on Samsung.

Method 3: Check the SIM Tray

Many Android phones have the IMEI engraved or printed on the SIM card tray:

1. Use a SIM ejector tool to remove the SIM tray
2. Inspect the tray for engraved numbers
3. The 15-digit number is your IMEI

This is common on Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, and some Xiaomi and Huawei models. Not all manufacturers engrave the IMEI on the tray, so this method may not work for every phone.

Method 4: Check the Original Packaging

If you have the original retail box, the IMEI is printed on the barcode label:

1. Find the original phone box
2. Look for the barcode label (usually on the side or bottom)
3. Find the "IMEI" or "IMEI 1/IMEI 2" field

This method works for all brands and is especially useful when the phone won't turn on or is lost. Always compare the packaging IMEI with the one shown in Settings—if they don't match, the phone may have been tampered with.

Method 5: Check Under the Battery (Older Phones)

On older Android phones with removable batteries, the IMEI is printed on a label inside the battery compartment:

1. Power off the phone
2. Remove the back cover
3. Remove the battery
4. Look for the IMEI on the label inside

This applies to older models from Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Motorola, and other brands manufactured before approximately 2015.

Method 6: Google Dashboard (For Lost Phones)

If your Android phone is lost or stolen and was connected to your Google account, you can find its IMEI through Google Dashboard:

1. Go to myaccount.google.com/dashboard on a computer
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Scroll to the Android section
4. Click on your lost phone to see its IMEI

Alternatively, visit google.com/android/find to see your registered devices. Note that Google may not display the IMEI for all devices—only those that were properly registered.

Method 7: Use ADB (For Developers)

If you're comfortable with developer tools and have USB debugging enabled, you can find the IMEI using ADB (Android Debug Bridge):

1. Connect your phone to a computer with USB debugging enabled
2. Open a terminal/command prompt
3. Run: adb shell service call iphonesubinfo 1
4. The IMEI will be displayed in the output (you may need to decode it from the raw output)

On newer Android versions, you may need: adb shell getprop ro.serialno (this gives the serial number, which is related but not the IMEI).

Brand-Specific Tips

Xiaomi

Xiaomi phones (including Redmi and POCO) display the IMEI in Settings > About phone. You can also use the Mi Account to find registered device IMEIs at i.mi.com. For warranty checks, use Xiaomi IMEI check.

Huawei

Huawei phones show the IMEI in Settings > About phone > Status. For Honor devices (post-2020), the process is the same. You can also find the IMEI in the My Huawei app under device information. For warranty checks, see our Huawei warranty check guide.

OPPO and Vivo

OPPO and Vivo phones display the IMEI in Settings > About phone > Status. The HeyTap Cloud service (for OPPO) and vCloud (for Vivo) also list registered device IMEIs. For OPPO verification, see our OPPO IMEI check guide.

Google Pixel

Pixel phones show the IMEI in Settings > About phone. You can also find it in the Google Store order confirmation email or through your Google account dashboard.

What If the IMEI Shows "Null" or "Unknown"?

If your Android phone shows "null," "unknown," or an empty string where the IMEI should be, this indicates a problem with the EFS (Encrypted File System) partition. Common causes include:

• Flashing custom ROMs or firmware
• Failed OTA updates
• Rooting and modifying system files
• Hardware damage to the modem/baseband chip

A phone with a null IMEI cannot connect to cellular networks. You'll need to visit an authorized service center to restore the IMEI. Always check the original packaging for the correct IMEI number.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

When dealing with Android-related matters, you may encounter these common issues:

Issue 1: Inaccurate or Missing Query Results

Possible causes and solutions:

• Database update delay: GSMA and carrier databases may have a 24-48 hour update delay. Try querying again later.
• IMEI input errors: Ensure you enter the 15-digit numeric IMEI without spaces, letters, or special characters.
• New device models: Recently released models may not yet be in all databases, resulting in limited information.

Issue 2: Inconsistent Results Across Platforms

Different IMEI checking platforms use different data sources (GSMA, carrier databases, manufacturer databases), which may yield varying levels of detail. Recommendations:

1. Use GSMA database results as the authoritative source for model identification
2. Use carrier database results for blacklist status verification
3. Use manufacturer official results for warranty status
4. Cross-reference multiple data sources for comprehensive assessment

Issue 3: Abnormal Status in Results

If query results show "unknown" or abnormal status, it may indicate:

• The device may be a grey-market or refurbished phone from unofficial channels
• The IMEI may have been tampered with or cloned (common in counterfeit phones)
• The device is from a different region not covered by local databases

Real-World Case Studies

Advanced Knowledge

Understanding these advanced concepts will help you better understand Android-related topics:

IMEI Number Structure

The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) consists of 15 digits divided into three parts:

• TAC code (first 8 digits): Type Allocation Code, identifying the device model and allocator
• SNR code (middle 6 digits): Serial number, identifying the specific device
• Check digit (last digit): Validates the IMEI number's legitimacy

The TAC code precisely identifies the phone's brand, model, and production batch. GSMA manages all legitimate TAC codes globally.

IMEI and Phone Security

The IMEI serves as a phone's "ID number" and plays a crucial role in:

• Anti-theft protection: When a phone is stolen, carriers can blacklist the IMEI to prevent network access
• Authenticity verification: Genuine phones have IMEI records in the GSMA database; counterfeits often use cloned or invalid IMEIs
• Warranty verification: Manufacturers use IMEI to check activation date and warranty status
• Used phone transactions: Buyers verify the device isn't blacklisted via IMEI

Practical Tips and Precautions

Here are practical recommendations regarding Android:

1. Backup your IMEI: Record your phone's IMEI in a safe place for future reference
2. Always check before buying: Whether new or used, verify the device status via IMEI before purchase
3. Keep purchase receipts: Purchase receipts and warranty cards are important for consumer protection
4. Protect your privacy: Don't enter your IMEI on untrusted websites; choose reputable checking platforms
5. Understand regional differences: IMEI registration and blacklist rules may vary by country

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Finding the IMEI on an Android phone is simple and can be done through multiple methods. The universal dial code *#06# works on virtually all devices, while the Settings menu provides additional details. For lost phones, Google Dashboard and brand-specific cloud services can help you retrieve the IMEI. Always keep a record of your IMEI in a safe place—it's your device's most important identifier.

Once you have your IMEI, run a comprehensive check at IMEICheck to verify your device's warranty, carrier status, and blacklist.