How To Find Your Mobile Phone's IMEI Number

Know your cellular phone's IMEI serial number

Example of IMEI number on mobile phones. Photo from http://www.amitbhawani.com

Imagine your mobile phone was stolen. Of course you were devastated thinking that you spent 2 months living in crackers and cheese just to have the cell phone of your dreams. Maybe, just maybe, before that damn thing happened, you were able to find out what your mobile phone's IMEI number is. AND knowing your phone's IMEI number MIGHT save you.=)
You see, IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. IMEI number or the serial number is on all GSM and UMTS mobile phones, given that they are the original thing. Mobile phone companies can use the IMEI number to identify valid subscribers and the type of equipment used. The carrier will use the number to disable the phone in the event it is stolen or reported lost and customize data content to be compatible with the type of equipment used, among other things. It is a MUST to find or know your IMEI number and write it down just in case.

How to find the IMEI serial number of your mobile phone?

Here's the Step-by-step guide on how to know your IMEI number:

1. Ensure your phone is powered on.
2. Return to the "idle" screen, or your "desktop". If you were in the middle of a call, end it, and clear any numbers you pressed while making that call.
3. Press the following keys one by one: * # 0 6 #
4. As you press on the last #, a number will appear with the title, IMEI number, or similar.

Another method of knowing your IMEI number:

1. Turn off your phone.
   
2. Remove the battery.
3. Look on the phone for a white sticker/label, which would be now exposed after removing the battery, for the IMEI. It would be 15 or 17 digits not including a few forward slashes included and without any letters. Only the first 15-digits are needed.
4. If the phone is not available or if the label is unreadable then have a look at the phone manufacturer's packaging for a white sticker/label. Near one bar code or another the IMEI would also be printed.

Note: The * # 0 6 # process does not work with the original iPhone, LG-WX3200 and LG-LX160 phones, or all Nextel (iDEN) handsets, or a RAZR V3m.

In case your mobile phone's stolen or you lost it, and you are lucky enough to find your phone's IMEI number and write it down before it happened, call or go to the nearest service center of your mobile network, and give that IMEI number to staff and ask them to block that number for a period of time, so no one can use your mobile phone for any illegal purpose.