How to find out the second one. Checking ID by check digit

Almost every mobile phone owner comes across the abbreviation IMEI. If you haven't encountered it yet, it's only a matter of time. Each smartphone or even a push-button one has its own identifier (read IMEI). In other words, this is the number of the mobile device in the operator’s network.

What is it for?

At a minimum, to identify the device. If someone steals the phone, the owner will be able to contact the police. Those, in turn, will be able to find the stolen phone by checking its IMEI. They will be able to manually dial a combination of numbers to find out the number, or they can determine it with the help of a cellular operator. As soon as the user makes a call, the IMEI of the mobile device automatically enters the operator’s network. Having found out who the SIM card is registered to, the police can easily identify the attacker.

If we draw an analogy, the IMEI of a mobile phone is like a car license plate. By this sign, traffic police officers can identify who the car is registered to. It's the same with the phone's IMEI.

How to check IMEI on Samsung?

Usually the IMEI of all phones is checked the same way, but there are exceptions. For example, let’s take a smartphone, which is very popular today. The first obvious way to check is to look it up on the box or in the documentation. It must be indicated. The number is also written down in the warranty card. And if it is not indicated on the coupon, the guarantee will be invalid. But the third way is to dial the key combination *#06#.

The last method allows you to check the IMEI not only on Samsung, but also on phones from other manufacturers. After entering this code, the serial number is immediately displayed on the screen. There are rarely exceptions. In 90% of cases this combination works.

How to check Samsung authenticity by IMEI?

Let's say you entered the key combination *#06# and the code was displayed on the screen. What to do with it next? Its presence does not mean anything, because this code is easy to fake. It is more important to determine whether the code matches the phone itself. That is, it must be checked for authenticity.

It's easy to do. The official Samsung website has a special identification form with which you can easily check Samsung IMEI. Just enter it in the line and click "check". If the code is found and confirmed on the official website, then this means that you have a genuine Samsung smartphone in front of you. Otherwise, the response on the site will be: “Electronic guarantee not found.”

If someone offers you to buy such a phone, be sure to find out the serial number and check it. Perhaps they are trying to deceive you. Fortunately, now you know how to check Samsung Galaxy by IMEI.

What do all these numbers mean?

The serial number can consist of 11-20 characters. Most often these are 15 digits, which mean the following:

  1. The first 6 are the phone model code (the first 2 digits of which are the country code).
  2. The next 2 digits are the country code where the phone was assembled (FAC or Final Assembly Code).
  3. The next 6 digits are the serial number.
  4. The last digit is almost always 0. It stands for SP (Spare).

Do IMEIs change?

Yes, you can change it, which is why phone manufacturers have special services for checking IMEI authenticity. There are special programs that can be used to change the serial number, but the developers are not asleep. Every year, manufacturers are improving protection against IMEI changes, but hackers are also doing the same thing - improving their software for hacking serial numbers. This war goes on forever.

How will IMEI help if your phone is stolen?

If your phone is stolen, then, first of all, you should go to the police and write a statement. You must indicate its serial number in the statement. We already wrote above how to check the IMEI on Samsung, and if you really are the buyer of the phone, then you should keep the box or warranty card, technical documentation.

Law enforcement agencies will accept the statement and begin searching for your device. Ideally, they should contact telecom operators and send them the IMEI in order to identify the person using the phone. This would speed up the search process. But in reality it won't be like that. They will simply check personally the IMEI of the phones of people they think are suspicious. The likelihood that they will be able to find your specific phone in this way is low. Therefore, we recommend simply not losing your gadget. Operators are extremely rarely involved in the search for a lost or stolen phone. This is logical, because this is what the police should do.

In the meantime, there is no law that would oblige them to do this. So the police can check the IMEI on a Samsung or any other phone, but nothing more. Only in this case will the serial number of your smartphone save you.

Therefore, we can only recommend that you do not lose your gadget. Alas, the modern legislative framework does not allow law enforcement agencies to effectively search for a phone. In some advanced countries this is easy for the police, but not here. Still, if your mobile phone is stolen, then go to the police using the IMEI of the device. There is no alternative today. So we can only rely on law enforcement agencies.

Owners of Android mobile devices will hear about IMEI at least once in their lives, however, not everyone knows what it is and what it is used for. In fact, IMEI is a mobile equipment identifier that is assigned to a device at the development stage. It is a set of 15 digits and ensures that your gadget is linked to the mobile operator’s network, allowing you to determine its location and block the device if it is lost or stolen. This identifier is also used to determine the authenticity of the device and its “criminal history,” which is very important if the device was purchased secondhand. Do not know how to view IMEI on Android? Then this article will be very useful for you!

How to find out the IMEI of your Android smartphone?

There are several simple methods to determine the identification number of your Android device.

  1. With the help of a special team.

Dial *#06# on the keyboard of your device, and the IMEI information will immediately appear on its display.

  1. Information on the box from the mobile device.

Manufacturers often place IMEI information next to the barcode.

  1. Under the battery.

After removing the back cover of the phone/tablet and taking out the battery, you will find an IMEI label on its body. If your phone supports dual SIM cards, there will be 2 IMEIs displayed on the label.

  1. Through the main menu of the device.

To do this you need to go to the menu Settings, select section "About the phone" or "About the tablet", and then select the sub-item "Device Identifiers". Here you will also find information about the model of the mobile device, its serial number, etc. Sometimes, in order to view the IMEI, you need to go to the section "State".

As you can see, everything is quite simple and clear, even if you have just started using Android devices. Thanks to this simple knowledge, you can easily verify the authenticity of the phone you are purchasing and protect yourself from unscrupulous sellers.

How to view IMEI on Android updated: January 22, 2019 by: Anatoly Buzov

IMEI[ay-em-ee-ay] from English. International Mobile Equipment Identity - an international mobile equipment identifier - a number (usually 15-bit decimal) unique for each device using it. You can read it on Wikipedia.

As soon as they don’t call it: imy, emey, emey, have and even email (in the sense of e-mail) of the phone :)

Find out the IMEI code by phone command

This method is the fastest and also the most convenient.
In order to find out IMEI you need to enter the following command: *#06#
After this, the IMEI code will appear on the screen of your mobile phone.

Find IMEI in the phone settings

For any phone, imei must be listed in the phone settings menu. Let's look at the location of imei using the example of the Samsung GALAXY POCKET Neo GT-S5310 phone.

Go to the menu: “Settings? About the device? Status" and you will see your imei.

IMEI number on the phone box

If you still have a cell phone box, you can look at imei on it. As a rule, it is located next to the barcode and serial number.

IMEI on the warranty card

Sometimes IMEI can be found on the warranty card of your device.

IMEI on stickers

As a rule, additional stickers with the IMEI of the phone are placed in the phone box.


They are glued to the warranty card or to the replaced case when the phone is repaired.

Dial IMEI numbers inside the phone

This method is perhaps the most inconvenient, since you will have to partially disassemble the phone: you need to turn off the device and remove the battery. And only after that you can get to the sticker on the phone case with imei numbers.

We look at the IMEI of your phone via the Internet in your Google account

Attention! Google admin has changed not for the better, I couldn’t find information about imei - now this method doesn’t work!

The advantage of this method is that even if your phone was stolen or you lost it, and there is no box with documents left, you can still find out the imei via the Internet in your Google account.

I’ll warn you right away that this method only works if your phone is Android.

To fully use your phone (Google apps), you probably connected it to your Google account (Googl +). If yes, then your phone data was saved on the Google server automatically (without your knowledge).

In order to find out imei, go to “Account (Account Settings)? (Tools) Personal Account (Overview of your account statistics). Or follow the link directly: personal account on Google

In your personal account, find the third item “Android” with a green robot icon (your devices), click on it, a pop-up submenu will appear with imei and other data of your phone.


By the way, in this menu “Android?Manage active devices” there is just a mega-cool function! You can look on the map where your phone is now and call it, and even if the SIM card on the device has already been changed, the main thing is that the Internet is turned on. Cool! But this is a topic for another article; if you want, you can figure it out yourself, it’s nothing complicated.

What is a serial number?

The manufacturer assigns each released device a unique serial number, which encrypts all information about the device model, country, and release date. The serial number is unique for each device from the same manufacturer.

What is IMEI?

Mobile phones, in addition to the serial number, have a so-called IMEI code. IMEI is an international identifier unique to each mobile phone. IMEI is a generally accepted standard for all mobile devices, which is “sewn” into the phone during manufacturing at the factory. This is something like a serial number that is broadcast to the operator when authorizing the phone on the network. The IMEI code format is the same for all phones, regardless of manufacturer. The IMEI code is also used to track and block stolen phones at the level of the cellular operator, which subsequently prevents the use of such a device in the network of this operator. However, blocking the IMEI code with one operator does not prevent it from being used in other networks.

How can I find out the device serial number?

As a rule, the serial number is printed on the packaging and duplicated on the device body; in most cases, the serial number is accessible through the software shell.

How to find out the IMEI of a phone?

To check your phone's IMEI, dial *#06# and the call button on your phone. The phone's IMEI looks like a 15-digit digital code. The IMEI code is duplicated under the battery of your phone, on the packaging and in the warranty card.

Why do I need this?

SNDeepInfo is the most affordable way to find out all the information about a device before you pay money for it. Enter the device serial number or phone IMEI in the input field and get accurate information about the phone model. Apple users receive extended information indicating physical and technical characteristics (device color, memory size, production date, firmware version when selling the device, unlocking and jailbreak methods).

What is this all for?

SNDeepInfo will protect you from buying a fake device. If, when checking, the serial number is not in the system, think about whether you are buying counterfeit equipment.

SNDeepInfo protects you from buying stolen goods. Each user who has become a victim of theft or lost a device has the opportunity to leave the stolen phone number or device serial number in the IMEI database. Therefore, SNDeepInfo is not only a service for checking IMEI and serial numbers, but also a database of stolen phones and devices.

SNDeepInfo helps you find stolen and lost items. Enter the code of the stolen phone or the serial number of the missing device into the IMEI database and increase the chances of finding the loss. If upon inspection the device is found to be listed as stolen, you can return it to its rightful owner and receive a reward if nominated by the owner.

SNDeepInfo is not just a phone IMEI database and serial number check, it is an in-depth device quality check service, a seller integrity test, and a search service for stolen phones and lost devices.

Currently, the service supports checking IMEI codes of all phones, including IMEI Apple iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, as well as Samsung Galaxy S8, and Galaxy Note 8! It is planned to expand the service for checking device serial numbers for any electronic equipment.

First, let's find out the meaning of this abbreviation. IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)- personal 15-digit mobile device number. It is unique and assigned at the factory upon release. IMEI allows identify the phone, establish its authenticity and detect it if necessary, even when changing SIM card. This often helps to find the device after it is stolen and return it to its rightful owner.

Older models used a phone certificate - a unique electronic document that was assigned to devices based on the Symbian OS. He also determined the authenticity of the smartphone, allowing or blocking the installation of additional applications and providing access to the full functionality of the device. Now for these purposes there is only IMEI.

This digital code is actively used by cellular operators. The 15-digit number is needed for authorization on the network. The company can block the device in case of theft and the corresponding statement from the owner. It is stored in memory and is almost impossible to change on modern devices. You can find out the phone model by IMEI, its origin, year of manufacture, market for which the device was manufactured, as well as other data.

Methods for determining IMEI

The simplest and most common way IMEI check is by dialing the combination *#06#, after which the number appears automatically on the phone screen. Some models may display two numbers. There is no need to be alarmed, this is quite normal for devices with two SIM card slots. What to do if your smartphone cannot be turned on or is locked?

An ordinary user will not be able to find out IMEI by phone number. As a rule, most devices have this information in the following places:

  • the internal panel of the phone under the battery;
  • SIM card slot (if there are two of them, then each must have its own number);
  • packaging box (if the smartphone is certified and is of original origin);
  • warranty card.

For smartphones based on the Android operating system, there is another very convenient way to determine IMEI. If the device is unlocked and access to its menu is open, then in the “Settings” section there is an “About phone” item. By clicking on it you will see “Device Identifiers”, where basic information about the gadget will be collected, including the identification number.

If your phone is turned off or is missing, you can use your Google account. Once logged in, you will find a complete list of devices ever associated with this user. Having selected the desired model, you will see brief information about it and the IMEI itself. Using this service you can even determine the location of your smartphone.

Determining IMEI on iPhone, iPod touch or iPad

Searching for a 15-digit IMEI in gadgets based on the iOS operating system has its own characteristics. If the device is working normally, you can find out the identification number in the settings by going to the “Basic” section and then “About this device”.

On new iPhone models that are turned off or locked, you can see the 15-digit number on the back cover. For older models, the IMEI is located on the SIM card slot. This applies to the series:

  • iPhone 4s;
  • iPhone 4 (GSM model);
  • iPhone 3G;
  • iPhone 3GS;

IMEI in iPad or iPod touch devices is engraved on the outside of the back cover, directly under the Apple logo. You can also find this number in the iTunes online service; to do this, you need to connect the device to your computer. In the window that opens, you need to click on the phone icon and select the desired model from the list provided. Then click the “Browse” tab and all the necessary information will be displayed.

In the event that the device is not accessible, you can find the IMEI on the original packaging box. If it is not saved, you should use your Apple ID account (through a browser on your computer or using another Apple device running iOS 10.3 or later). Then, in the Settings menu, scroll down to the Devices tab and select the desired model.

These methods should help even an inexperienced user find out the IMEI of a phone.