You just unboxed a new GPS tracker, opened the activation page, and the form will not move forward until you enter one thing: the IMEI number. Type it in wrong by a single digit and the activation simply fails, leaving you with a device that will not connect. Carriers and device makers confirm that one incorrect digit is enough to block registration entirely, which is exactly why so many people get stuck at this step.
The good news is that the IMEI is not hidden. It is a 15-digit code permanently assigned to every cellular device during manufacturing, and there are several quick places to find it. The fastest takes about four seconds. Below, we walk through what an IMEI actually is, why you keep getting asked for it, and six proven ways to locate yours on a phone, a tablet, or a GPS tracker.
What Does IMEI Stand For and How Does It Protect Your Device?
IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It is a unique 15-digit code that identifies your specific device and acts as its fingerprint for activation, theft recovery, and verification.
Every device that connects to a cellular network gets one, including smartphones, tablets, LTE smartwatches, and cellular GPS trackers. No two devices in the world share the same IMEI, which is what lets a carrier tell your exact unit apart from millions of others.
Those 15 digits are not random. According to mobile industry references, the IMEI breaks into three parts: the first eight digits identify the make and model, the next six are the unique serial number for your specific unit, and the final digit validates the whole number. A dual-SIM phone carries two IMEI numbers, one for each SIM slot.
Here is the part that protects you. Because the IMEI is tied to the hardware and not the SIM card or phone number, it stays the same even if a thief swaps the SIM. That permanence is what allows a carrier to blacklist a stolen device by its IMEI, cutting it off from cellular networks and making it far less useful to steal. The same number lets you confirm a used device is clean before you buy it.
Why Do I Need My IMEI Number? (Device Activation, Blacklisting & Stolen Recovery)
You need your IMEI to activate cellular devices, register a GPS tracker to your account, blacklist a stolen device, unlock it for a new carrier, and verify a used device before buying it.
Most people go years without thinking about their IMEI, then suddenly need it at the worst possible moment. Here are the situations where it becomes essential:
- Activating a GPS tracker or new device. Cellular trackers register to your account using the IMEI. The platform uses it to link the hardware to your live tracking dashboard, so the number has to be entered exactly right.
- Reporting a lost or stolen device. Carriers can blacklist a device by its IMEI, which cuts off its access to cellular networks and makes a stolen phone or tracker far less valuable to a thief.
- Unlocking for a different carrier. Switching networks usually requires the IMEI so the new carrier can confirm the device is compatible and clear to use.
- Buying a used device on the secondary market. Before you pay for a used GPS tracker or phone on eBay or a marketplace, run the IMEI through a checker to confirm it is not carrier-locked, financed, or reported stolen. A clean IMEI is the difference between a working device and an expensive paperweight.
- Warranty and technical support. Manufacturers pull up your exact unit and its history from the IMEI when you call in for help.
- Insurance claims. Many carriers and insurers ask for the IMEI to verify the specific device on a claim.
In short, the IMEI is the one number that proves which physical device you own. Keeping it recorded somewhere safe saves you a real headache later.
How to Find Your IMEI Number on Any Device (Phones, Tablets & GPS Trackers)
The fastest way to find your IMEI is to dial *#06# on a phone. If that is not an option, you can read it from your settings, the device label, the SIM tray, the box or your carrier account, or your tracker app.
You do not need any special tools or apps. Run through these six methods in order, and one of them will work no matter what device you have or what condition it is in:
- Dial *#06# (the 4-second method). Open your phone or dialer app and type *#06# (star, pound, zero, six, pound). The IMEI appears on screen instantly, and you do not even need to press call. As major carriers confirm, this code works regardless of brand or model. On dual-SIM phones, both IMEI numbers show up at once.
- Check your device settings (About phone). On iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then About, and scroll to the IMEI field. On Android, open Settings, then About phone, sometimes listed under Status or Device information. Press and hold the number to copy it. On newer phones you may see two entries, one for a physical SIM and one for an eSIM.
- Look on the physical device or under the battery. The IMEI is often printed right on the hardware, on the back of a phone near the bottom, or on a label on the back panel of a GPS tracker just above the serial number. If the device has a removable battery, pop it out and check for a sticker underneath. This is a lifesaver when a device will not power on.
- Check the SIM card tray. On many iPhones and some Android phones with a physical SIM, the IMEI is laser-etched onto the tray itself. Slide the tray out with the ejector tool, turn it over, and look for the tiny 15-digit number. This only applies to devices that still have a physical SIM slot.
- Check the box, receipt, or carrier account. The IMEI is printed on a label on the original packaging next to the barcode, and it lives in several digital places too: your wireless carrier account or app, your bill of sale, and any linked Google or manufacturer account tied to the device. This is the go-to path when the device is lost, dead, or far away, which is often exactly when you need it.
- Send an SMS command or check the tracker app and web portal. Most cellular GPS trackers will report their own IMEI if you text a command (often the word IMEI) to the SIM number inside the device. Check the manual for the exact command. Easier still, the IMEI for an activated tracker is displayed inside the tracking app or web portal under your device details.
| Method | Where to Look | Works Best For | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dial *#06# | Phone or dialer app | Any working phone or tablet, including dual-SIM and eSIM models | About 4 seconds |
| Device Settings | Settings, then About phone | iPhone and Android, especially eSIM-only devices where *#06# is your only option | Under 1 minute |
| Physical Device or Battery | Back panel or under the battery | GPS trackers, dead phones, and older devices with removable batteries | 1 to 2 minutes |
| SIM Card Tray | Etched on the tray | Phones with a physical SIM slot, especially older iPhones | 1 minute |
| Box, Receipt, or Carrier Account | Box label, bill of sale, account portal | Lost, stolen, or dead devices, or when the hardware is not with you | 2 to 5 minutes |
| SMS Command or Tracker App | Text the tracker or open the portal | Cellular GPS trackers without a screen, including covert and asset trackers | 1 to 3 minutes |
IMEI vs ICCID: Why Most GPS Activations Fail
The number one reason activations fail is entering the SIM card number (ICCID) instead of the IMEI. They look similar but do two completely different jobs.
When you open a tracker and see several long numbers printed on the label, it is easy to grab the wrong one. The IMEI identifies the hardware and is exactly 15 digits. The ICCID identifies the SIM card and is usually 19 to 20 digits. Activation almost always wants the IMEI. Here is the quick way to tell them apart:
| Detail | IMEI | ICCID (SIM Number) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 15 digits | 19 to 20 digits |
| Identifies | The device hardware | The SIM card |
| Used for activation | Yes, in most cases | Rarely |
One more rule that saves hours of frustration: an IMEI contains only the numbers 0 through 9, never any letters. If a character looks like the letter O, it is a zero. If it looks like the letter I or l, it is the number 1. Read it slowly and you will avoid the most common activation error there is.
Can’t Find Your IMEI? How to Locate It on Dead Phones, Broken Screens, or Lost Devices
If the device will not turn on or the screen is broken, skip the dialer and pull the IMEI from the box, the SIM tray, your carrier account, or a computer connection.
Most of the time one of the six methods works on the first try. When it does not, it is almost always one of these snags:
- The screen is broken or the device is dead. Check the original box label, the SIM tray on phones that have one, or your carrier and manufacturer accounts. For an iPhone, connect it to a Mac or PC and read the device info in Finder or the Apple Devices app.
- The dial code does nothing. A small number of carrier-locked or older devices block the *#06# shortcut. When that happens, the settings menu or the box label is your backup.
- The phone is eSIM only. Newer iPhones and many flagship Androids have no SIM tray to flip over. Use Settings or your carrier account instead.
- The printed label is worn off. On older trackers and well-used phones, the tiny printed IMEI can rub away over the years. The original box or the device app usually still has it.
- Two numbers are showing. Dual-SIM and eSIM devices list more than one IMEI. Match the number to the SIM type the activation form is asking for.
- You lost the box and the device will not turn on. This is the toughest case. Your carrier account, receipt, or linked manufacturer account is the way back in.
How to Find the IMEI on a GPS Tracker, Not Just a Phone
A GPS tracker has no dialer, so its IMEI lives in three dependable spots: on the device label, on the box, and inside your tracking app once it is activated.
Finding the IMEI on a cellular GPS tracker follows the same logic as a phone, with a couple of practical differences. First, check the hardware itself. On devices like the Mobile-200 and the AssetTrack Mini, the IMEI is printed on a label on the device, usually above the serial number, and inside the battery compartment on models that open. Second, look at the original packaging, where the IMEI is printed on the box label right out of the gate. Third, once a tracker is activated, the IMEI shows up inside your Logistimatics account and tracking dashboard, so you can read it any time without handling the device.
Getting this number right is what links your hardware to live tracking, so it pays to record it the moment you unbox a new tracker. Snap a photo of the label and save it with your account details. If your device is ever lost or stolen, that number is one of the first things support will ask for.
The Future of IMEI: eSIMs, EIDs, and 5G GPS Tracking Technology
As physical SIMs disappear, your IMEI is moving into software, joined by a new identifier called the EID that signals which eSIM is inside your device.
The IMEI is not going anywhere, but how we find and use it is changing fast. Three shifts are already underway:
- eSIM is moving identity into software. As physical SIM trays vanish, the IMEI is increasingly something you read from a screen or an account rather than a sticker. Expect more devices to surface it digitally first.
- The EID is the new number to know. An EID, or eSIM Identifier, is a 32-digit code tied to the embedded SIM inside modern phones and trackers. As eSIM trackers grow, you will see the EID listed right next to the IMEI during setup, so it helps to know which is which.
- 5G trackers raise the stakes on accuracy. Faster networks and always-on cellular trackers mean device registration databases are bigger and more automated, so a clean, correctly entered IMEI matters more than ever for both activation and theft recovery.
For everyday users and small business owners, the practical takeaway is simple: know where your IMEI lives, and keep a record of it. The technology around it keeps evolving, but the number itself remains the anchor of your device identity.
How to Know You Have Found the Right IMEI Number
A valid IMEI is always exactly 15 digits with no letters. The surest confirmation is to pull it from two sources and check that they match.
Once you have a number in hand, a quick check confirms it is the correct one. Count the digits first. A real IMEI is exactly 15 digits long, contains only the numbers 0 through 9, and never includes a single letter. If you found a 14-digit number you likely grabbed an MEID, and if you found a 19 or 20-digit number you grabbed the ICCID from the SIM card. Look again for the 15-digit code.
The most reliable confirmation is consistency. Pull the number from two different sources, the device label and the *#06# code, or the box and your account, and make sure they match. When you enter it during activation, go slowly and double-check each character, since a single mistyped digit is the number one reason activations fail.
If you are choosing a new cellular device or tracker, favor one that makes its IMEI easy to find in more than one place: on the hardware, on the box, and inside the app. That redundancy is what saves you when a device is lost, dead, or far away, and it is the mark of a product built with real-world ownership in mind.
Whether you are activating a tracker, registering a phone, or reporting a stolen device, having your IMEI ready turns a frustrating dead end into a two-minute task. Logistimatics builds that simplicity into every device, printing the IMEI clearly on the hardware and surfacing it inside your account so activation and recovery stay quick and stress free. Explore the Logistimatics tracker lineup to find the right fit for your vehicle, asset, or loved one.
For larger operations tracking dozens or hundreds of assets at once, fleet-focused platforms such as GPX Intelligence and Samsara manage device IMEIs in bulk through a central dashboard, so teams can register and monitor entire fleets without checking each unit by hand.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can someone track me with my IMEI number?
Generally no. Everyday people cannot pull your location from an IMEI. Only cellular providers and law enforcement can approximate a device location using cell tower triangulation, and carriers typically do this only after a theft report and a legal request. For most purposes the IMEI lets a carrier blacklist a device, not pinpoint it on a map.
How do I find the IMEI on an iPhone without a screen?
If the screen is broken or the phone is dead, check the SIM tray, which is etched with the IMEI on many iPhone models, or read it off the original box label. You can also connect the iPhone to a Mac or PC and view the device info in Finder or the Apple Devices app. Your Apple account and carrier account list it as well.
Is an MEID the same as an IMEI?
Not quite. An MEID is 14 digits and was used on older CDMA networks, while an IMEI is 15 digits and is the standard on today’s GSM, LTE, and 5G networks. If an activation form asks for an IMEI, use the 15-digit number.
How do I find the IMEI on a device with only an eSIM?
On eSIM-only devices like recent iPhones, there is no SIM tray to check. Dial *#06#, or open Settings, then General, then About on iPhone, or Settings, then About phone on Android. The IMEI also appears in your carrier account and on the original box.
Why does my GPS tracker activation keep failing after I enter the IMEI?
The top cause is a typo or the wrong number entirely. Confirm you are using the 15-digit IMEI and not the longer 19 or 20-digit SIM card number (ICCID). Remember the IMEI contains only the digits 0 through 9 and never any letters, so a character that looks like the letter O is actually a zero. Re-enter the number slowly and it usually goes through.
