IMEI Number on Locked Phone: Get Your Number Without the Passcode

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Find your IMEI number even if you’re locked out of your device

Co-authored by Megaera Lorenz, PhD Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: December 20, 2025 Fact Checked

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On a Phone with a Locked Screen

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On Carrier-Locked iPhones

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On Carrier-Locked Android Phones

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Tips

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Video

Trying to activate a smartphone and can't find the IMEI code? This 15-digit code is easy to find if you know where to look—even if your phone's screen is locked. This wikiHow article will teach you how to retrieve your Android or iPhone's IMEI number on a phone with a locked screen, plus how to find the IMEI on a phone that's locked to a certain carrier.

Check IMEI Even If Your Phone Is Locked

Many phones have the IMEI number printed on the back of the phone. If your phone has a removable SIM tray, the number may be engraved inside it.
You can also find your IMEI by logging into account.apple.com if you have an iPhone, or www.google.com/android/find if you have an Android.
If you’re able to log into your carrier-locked iPhone or Android, you can find the IMEI in your phone’s settings.

Section 1 of 4:

On a Phone with a Locked Screen

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1
Check the back of your phone. If your phone's screen is unresponsive or you don't know the password, you may be able to find your IMEI on the phone itself, depending on the model. If you have an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation only), iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, or the original iPhone, your IMEI will be on the back of the phone.^{[1]
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Research source} Some Android models, including some types of Samsung phone, may have the IMEI printed on the back as well.^{[2]
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- If the IMEI is printed on your phone, you’ll typically find it near the bottom of the back panel, along with other information such as your phone’s serial number and place of manufacture.
2
Check the battery compartment (Android only). Some Android models with removable batteries have the IMEI printed on a sticker in the battery compartment.^{[3]
X
Research source} You may even find the IMEI under the battery cover.
- Switch off your phone, remove the back cover, pop out the battery, and check to see if the IMEI number is in the battery compartment or on the inside of the battery cover.
- This will not work if your phone does not have a removable battery.
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3
Pop out the SIM Tray. Many Phone models with removable SIM cards have their IMEI numbers engraved on the SIM tray. For a full list of iPhone models with the IMEI printed in the SIM tray, check out this guide from Apple. Unfortunately, there’s no equivalent list of all Android models with the IMEI printed in the SIM tray. To pop out your SIM card and check for the IMEI:
- Get a SIM tool or bend a paperclip.
- Locate the hole on the SIM tray.
- Gently insert the SIM tool or paperclip into the tray.
- Remove the paperclip or SIM tool, and the tray should eject.
4
Use your Apple Account (iPhone) or Find Hub (Android). Even if you can’t unlock your phone to check the settings, you might still be able to look up the IMEI remotely using a linked Apple or Google account. You’ll need to know the login information for the account associated with your locked phone.
- iPhone:^{[4]
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  - Go to account.apple.com/ on a computer or in a mobile browser. Click Sign In and log in with the same Apple Account you use on your locked iPhone.
  - Click Devices. It’s in the menu on the left side of the page.
  - Select your locked iPhone from the list of connected devices.
  - Scroll down to find the IMEI number.
- Android:^{[5]
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  - Visit www.google.com/android/find in a desktop or mobile browser. Sign in with the same Google account you use on your locked Android phone.
  - Click the Devices tab on the left side of the page (if it’s not already selected).
  - Click Settings next to your locked Android phone.
  - Locate the IMEI number.
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Look up your phone’s IMEI on a connected device. If you have another device that’s logged into the same Apple Account (iPhone) or Google account (Android) as your locked phone, you might be able to see the IMEI for the locked phone from that device.
- iPhone:^{[6]
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  - On an iPhone or iPad that’s logged into the same Apple Account as your locked iPhone, open the Settings app. If you’re on a Mac, go to
    Apple menu > System Settings.
  - Tap or click your name at the top of the Settings menu to open the Apple Account screen.
  - Scroll down to the section of the menu that lists your other Apple devices. On a Mac, you’ll see a Devices header at the top of this section.
  - Tap or click your locked iPhone in the list of devices.
  - Find your phone’s IMEI number near the bottom of the menu.
- Android:^{[7]
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  - On an Android device that’s logged into the same Google account, open the Find Hub app.
  - Select your locked Android phone.
  - Tap Settings (with the gear icon).
  - Locate your phone’s IMEI number.
If you didn't see the IMEI on the phone itself, and/or if you aren’t able to look it up on a linked device, you can check the box that your phone came in (if you still have it). Often, the IMEI will be printed on the outside of the box or in the owner's manual.
Sometimes your phone provider will give you access to an online portal that might have your IMEI number. If you explain your situation, you may also be able to verify your identity to get your IMEI number over the phone.

Section 2 of 4:

On an iPhone Locked to a Carrier

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1
Dial *#06# on your phone. Just open the Phone app on your home screen and enter this special code on the dial pad. After a few seconds, you'll see a screen containing your IMEI.
- If you were unable to find the IMEI this way, continue with this method.
2
Find your IMEI in the Settings app
. It's the gray gear icon you'll find in your app list.
- Tap General. It's in the third group of settings.
- Tap About. This is the first option at the top of the menu.
- Scroll down to find the IMEI. You'll see the number next to "IMEI."
- Note that if you’re setting up your iPhone for the very first time, you can also find the IMEI before you start setup by tapping the
  info button at the bottom right corner of the Hello screen!^{[8]
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3
Plug your iPhone into a computer. You can also see your IMEI in Finder on a Mac, in iTunes on a PC or a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier, or Apple Devices on a PC. Plug your phone into your computer using a USB or USB-C cable. Then:^{[9]
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- If you’re using a Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, open a Finder window and click your iPhone in the left-hand menu bar. Make sure you’re in the General tab. Click Phone Number under your device’s name to see the IMEI number and other related information.
- On a Windows PC or a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes. You can also use Apple Devices on a Windows PC. Click your iPhone in the menu bar, navigate to the General tab, and click Phone Number. You should see your IMEI number.

Section 3 of 4:

On an Android Locked to a Carrier

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1
Dial *#06# on your phone. Just open the Phone app on your home screen, dial this special code on the dial pad, and then tap the Call button. After a few seconds, you'll see a screen containing your IMEI.
- If you were unable to find the IMEI this way, continue with this method.
2
Look up the IMEI in the Settings app. You can find this by swiping up to the All Apps screen and tapping Settings, which has a cogwheel symbol. From there:
- Scroll down and tap the About Phone setting. You may have to scroll down pretty far to find it.
- Find the IMEI under the "IMEI" heading. You may have to tap IMEI first to see the number.

Section 4 of 4:

Tips

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- If none of the options listed here work to access your locked phone’s IMEI number, you might need to reset your phone’s passcode. Here’s how to get into a locked iPhone or Android.