If you are wondering how to find IMEI number of lost phone, the answer is in things you kept when you bought it: the box, the bill and the account the phone was logged in to. You need this number for the police complaint and for blocking the handset on CEIR.
The usual trick of dialling *#06# only works when the phone is in your hand. Below are all the other places to look, roughly in the order most people find it, and what to do if none of them work.
Quick facts
Length
15 digits; dual-SIM phones have twoBest source
Sticker on the phone boxNext best
Purchase invoice or warranty cardOnline
Device list in the account used on the phoneNeeded for
Police complaint and CEIR block formCheck digits
Why this number matters after a loss
The IMEI identifies the handset itself. Your mobile number moves with the SIM, but the IMEI stays with the device. That is why the police write it in the complaint and why the CEIR block form asks for it. Without the correct IMEI, the wrong device could be blocked, or the form will reject your entry.
Most phones today are dual SIM and carry two IMEIs. Try to find both, because the block form has a place for each. For background, read our IMEI basics page.
How to find IMEI number of lost phone at home
Here is how to know the IMEI number of your lost phone quickly. Start with paper and packaging. Most people find the number within a few minutes here.
- The phone box. A printed sticker on the side or back lists IMEI 1 and IMEI 2, often with barcodes.
- The purchase invoice. Shop bills and online order invoices usually print the IMEI next to the model.
- Warranty card or extended warranty papers. These often record the IMEI or serial number.
- EMI or finance papers. Loans taken to buy the phone often note the IMEI.
- Insurance documents for the handset, and repair job sheets from a service centre.
- Photos. Check your gallery backup for a photo of the box or bill.
How to get the IMEI number of your lost phone from your account
If the phone was signed in to an account, you can often see the IMEI from another device.
- Android phones: sign in to the same account on a computer or another phone and open the device list in its security or devices section. Open your lost handset there; details shown can include the IMEI.
- iOS phones: sign in to the same account on another device or the web and open the list of devices. Select the lost phone to see its serial number and IMEI, as shown.
- Online shopping account: for phones ordered online, the order details or downloadable invoice may show it.
Menu names differ by phone maker and change over time, so follow the labels you see. While you are signed in, use that account's remote lock and erase option on the missing handset, if it was enabled.
Check that the IMEI you found is correct
Copying 15 digits by hand invites mistakes. The last digit of every IMEI is calculated from the other 14 using the Luhn method, so a typo usually shows up. Our IMEI number check does this for you.
Example. The box shows 356721098451231. Take the first 14 digits. Double every second digit (5, 7, 1, 9, 4, 1, 3) to get 10, 14, 2, 18, 8, 2, 6. Where a result has two digits, add them: 1, 5, 2, 9, 8, 2, 6, which totals 33. Add the digits that were not doubled (3, 6, 2, 0, 8, 5, 2), which total 26. 33 + 26 = 59. The next multiple of 10 is 60, so the check digit is 60 minus 59, which is 1. That matches the last digit, so the number was copied correctly.
A matching check digit proves only that the digits are consistent. It does not tell you whether the phone is blocked or genuine.
Can you track IMEI number of lost phone?
People often ask how to track IMEI number of lost phone. As a private person, you cannot. Many websites claim to show a location from the IMEI. They cannot. Network location data is held by operators and shared with the police under law, not with the public.
What you can do is block the handset on CEIR. If anyone then uses it with any SIM, the details go to the police, who can follow up. Read more in track a lost phone, and then block the lost mobile using the IMEI you found.
Never pay a website or caller who offers to find your phone from its IMEI or number. Do not share OTPs or account passwords with them.
If you cannot find the IMEI anywhere
Sometimes the box is gone, the bill was never taken and the phone was not signed in to any account. Do not guess digits.
- File the police complaint anyway, giving the phone's make, model, colour, the mobile numbers used in it and when you bought it.
- Ask the police station how to proceed with blocking, since the CEIR form needs the IMEI.
- Contact the shop that sold it; some shops keep copies of bills with the IMEI.
- Block or replace your SIM through your telecom operator straight away, whatever happens with the handset.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Box shows two numbers | Dual-SIM phone | Note both as IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 |
| Bill shows a serial number only | Some bills print serial, not IMEI | Try the box or your phone account |
| Account shows no IMEI | Not shown for every model | Use the box, bill or finance papers |
| Number has 16 or 17 digits | It may be IMEISV or include extra digits | Take the 15-digit number printed on the box or bill |
| Check digit does not match | A digit was copied wrongly | Compare again with the source |
Save it now for your next phone
Losing a phone is a good reminder to prepare for the next one. On your new or current handset, dial *#06#, take a screenshot and keep it somewhere outside the phone, such as email or a printed note at home. Keep the box and bill in one folder.
Also turn on the remote locate and lock option in your phone settings and link it to your account. Readers in Hindi can follow IMEI number kaise nikale. When you are ready, the CEIR portal guide walks through the full process.
Frequently asked questions
I have no box. Where else can I see the IMEI of the missing phone?
Check the purchase bill, warranty or finance papers, and the list of devices in the account the phone was signed in to. Photos of the box in your gallery backup also help.
Can my telecom operator give me the IMEI?
Operators do not normally share this with customers on request. Tell the police in your complaint that you cannot find the IMEI and ask how to proceed.
Can I find IMEI number of lost phone by its mobile number?
Not as an individual. The mobile number belongs to the SIM, and no public service links it to the handset for you. Use the box, bill or your account instead.
Do I need both IMEIs to block a dual-SIM phone?
Give both if you can, because the form has a field for each. If you have only one, enter it and mention this to the police.
Will finding the IMEI help me see where the phone is?
No. The IMEI helps you block the handset. After a block, the police and operators handle any tracing.