Here’s how you can find the IMEI number of your lost Android, iPhone, or even feature phone.


Knowing the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number can be helpful, sometimes even crucial, to help the authorities find or block the device quickly when your phone is lost or stolen.

Many of us are probably familiar with at least a few methods to check the IMEI number of a phone, including the one involving dialing the USSD code *#06#. But how do you get the IMEI of a device that’s lost or not with you?

 
Find IMEI number without phone (Android & iPhone)

When you activate your smartphone, Google (in case of Android) or Apple (in case of iPhone) both keep a copy of your device details on their respective servers, including the IMEI number.

Provided the device is already linked to your Google Account or Apple ID, you can retrieve the IMEI number of your Android or iPhone online, without having physical access to it.

 
Android

Prerequisite: The Android phone should be linked to a Google account that you have access to.

Steps:

  1. Open the Find My Device website and log in with your linked Google Account.
  2. Select the Android device for which you want to find the IMEI number.
    Find IMEI of lost phone - Android
  3. Tap on the “i” icon next to your device name to get its IMEI number.
    Find IMEI number without phone - Android

Tip: If your Android phone is lost or stolen, you can try to Play a Sound on the device from the Find My Device app to attempt to locate the device in case it’s nearby. Alternatively, you can also attempt to remotely lock the device and sign out of your Google account, or erase the phone entirely.

Find IMEI number without phone

 
iPhone

 
Method 1: Using Apple ID

Prerequisite: The iPhone should be linked to an Apple ID account that you have access to.

Steps:

  1. Open the Apple ID website.
    Find IMEI number of lost iPhone without iTunes
  2. Click on the Sign In button.
    Find IMEI number of lost iPhone using iCloud
  3. Click or tap on the Devices tab.
    Find IMEI of lost iPhone
  4. Tap the device for which you want to know the IMEI number.
  5. On the next page, scroll to the About section to get the IMEI number.
    Check IMEI of lost or stolen iPhone

Note: In rare cases, if you have lost the only Android or iPhone that you use to log in to your Google or Apple account, you may now face problems logging in from new devices due to 2-factor authentication. In such cases, if you’ve lost your linked SIM card, you may contact your cellular carrier to issue a replacement SIM, so that you can receive the OTP for 2-factor authentication via SMS.

 
Method 2: From iPhone backup on Mac

Prerequisites:

  1. A backup for the specific iPhone device should be available on your Mac.
  2. A second iPhone which you can unlock (maybe from a friend or family member) to access the iPhone Management UI in Finder.

Steps:

  1. Borrow a second iPhone from a friend or family member.
  2. Connect it to your Mac via USB, where the backup is located.
  3. Open Finder on Mac, and wait for it to detect your iPhone (left pane, under Locations).
    Find IMEI of lost or stolen iPhone using Mac
  4. When the iPhone appears in Finder, click on the iPhone icon, and select the General tab. Here, click Manage Backups… in the “Backups:” section.
    Find IMEI of lost or stolen iPhone using Mac Finder
  5. Click or hover over an existing backup of your lost iPhone to reveal the device details including the IMEI number.
    Find IMEI of lost or stolen iPhone from Finder backup - Mac

 
Method 3: From iPhone backup on Windows PC

Prerequisite: A backup for the specific iPhone device should be available on your Windows PC, along with iTunes.

Steps:

  1. Launch iTunes on your Windows PC where the backup is located.
  2. Click on the iTunes Menu >> Preferences.
  3. Click on the Devices tab. Your iPhone backups will be displayed under the Device Backups section.
  4. Click or hover over an existing backup of your lost iPhone to reveal the device details including the IMEI number.
    Find IMEI number of stolen iPhone

 
Other places to find the IMEI

If you’re looking for the IMEI number of a phone that isn’t linked to your Google or Apple ID account, or if the phone isn’t a smartphone, there are some places where you can look for the IMEI number without physical access to your phone.

If you have the box or the original packaging in which your phone shipped, there might be a possibility that the IMEI number is listed outside the box, or within the product info, user guides, or other paperwork that comes along with the packaging.

Find IMEI number of lost or stolen phone

Alternatively, you may also be able to find the device’s IMEI number on the purchase receipt, if you still have it.

If you aren’t able to find the IMEI using the above methods, you can check with your cellular carrier if they can share it with you. Depending on the carrier’s policies in your country, they might share the IMEI information based on the proof of ownership and/or clearance from the legal department or any relevant authority.