Free tool · no sign-up
Free IMEI checker.
Check that a phone's IMEI number is valid before you buy, sell or repair it. The check runs on your device; nothing is sent anywhere.
Type or paste a 15-digit IMEI.
- TAC · model
- ········
- Serial
- ······
- Check
- ·
Step one
How to find
the IMEI.
- DIAL*#06#
Dial *#06#
Works on almost every phone. The IMEI shows on screen straight away, no call is made.
- SETTINGSAbout phone
Open the settings
Android: Settings › About phone. iPhone: Settings › General › About.
- BOXLabel sticker
Read the box
The label on the original box lists the IMEI, usually next to a barcode.
- HANDSETSIM tray
Look at the phone
Some iPhones print it on the SIM tray; older phones have it under the battery.
What the 15 digits mean
Three parts,
one check.
An IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is the 15-digit number that identifies one handset. No two phones should share one.
The first 8 digits are the Type Allocation Code, which identifies the brand and model. The next 6 are the handset's serial number. The last digit is a check digit, worked out from the other 14 with the Luhn formula: double every second digit, add up all the digits, and the check digit is whatever brings the total to the next multiple of 10.
That is why one mistyped digit almost always fails the check, and why this tool can spot a typo without looking anything up.
Buying a used phone?
Valid is only
the start.
A valid IMEI does not prove a phone is genuine or that it is not stolen. Before you pay, check that:
- The IMEI passes this check.
- *#06#, the settings screen and the box all show the same IMEI.
- A dual-SIM phone shows two IMEIs, and both pass.
- The seller gives you a receipt, or you record their name, phone number and ID.
- You keep a record of the IMEI with the date and price you paid.
For phone shops
Check every IMEI
at the counter.
Rekordu scans the IMEI with the phone camera and checks it against your shop's own history and a stolen and lost list shared by Rekordu shops, before the sale goes through.
IMEI questions
IMEI questions.
Does this IMEI checker tell me if a phone is stolen?
No. It checks that the number is a correctly formed IMEI, which catches typos and many made-up numbers. It cannot see whether a phone has been reported stolen or lost. Shops that use Rekordu also check every IMEI against Rekordu's shared list of phones reported stolen or lost by other shops.
Is the IMEI checker free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no limit. The check runs in your browser, so the IMEI you type is not sent to Rekordu or stored anywhere.
Why does my phone have two IMEI numbers?
Dual-SIM phones have one IMEI for each SIM slot. Both are shown when you dial *#06#, and both should pass the check.
Can a fake or cloned phone have a valid IMEI?
Yes. A valid IMEI only proves the number is well formed, and numbers can be copied from real phones. Compare the IMEI from *#06#, the settings screen and the box: they should all match.
What should I do if the IMEI check fails?
First type it again: almost every failure is a mistyped digit. If the number shown by *#06# itself fails the check, be careful, because the phone's IMEI may have been changed.
What do the first 8 digits of an IMEI mean?
They are the Type Allocation Code (TAC), which identifies the brand and model. The next 6 digits are the handset's serial number, and the last digit is a check digit calculated from the other 14.