What this IMEI check does
Every phone has a 15-digit IMEI. The last digit is a check digit calculated from the other 14 with the Luhn formula, so a mistyped or invented number almost always fails. This tool checks that in your browser and splits the number into its parts: the TAC (first 8 digits, the brand and model), the serial number (next 6) and the check digit.
It does not know whether a phone is stolen. Blacklists are kept by networks and governments, and there is no free database for the whole world. After the number passes, use the official check for your country, shown above.
How to use it before buying a used phone
- Ask the seller to dial *#06# in front of you and type the number here.
- Compare it with Settings, the SIM tray and the box. All should match.
- Run the official check for your country. Where the reply names a model (India, Pakistan), make sure it is the phone in your hand.
- Make sure the seller signs out of iCloud or Google and resets the phone: an IMEI check doesn’t see account locks.
- Test the hardware with the free phone diagnostic and follow the used phone checklist.
More detail, including how to read each country’s result: how to check if a phone is stolen with the IMEI.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries have a free official IMEI blacklist check?
The US (CTIA Stolen Phone Checker), Canada (Device Check Canada), Australia (AMTA), India (KYM SMS and Sanchar Saathi), Pakistan (PTA DIRBS), Bangladesh (BTRC NEIR), Turkey (e-Devlet) and Indonesia (Kemenperin). Pick your country above to see how to use it.
Is this IMEI checker free?
Yes. It checks the number in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere. The official country checks it points to are free too, except CheckMEND in the UK.
Can it tell me if a phone is stolen or blacklisted?
No website can do that for every country. This tool tells you whether the number is a real, correctly formed IMEI and which official check to use for your country. Only those official databases know if a phone is reported lost or stolen.
What does “valid IMEI” mean?
The number has 15 digits and its last digit matches the Luhn check digit computed from the first 14. A typo or a made-up number almost always fails. A valid number can still belong to a blacklisted or different phone, so also run the official check and compare the model.
What is the TAC?
The Type Allocation Code: the first 8 digits of the IMEI, which identify the brand and model. If an official check names a different model from the phone in front of you, the IMEI was changed or the phone is a clone.
How do I find a phone’s IMEI?
Dial *#06#. It is also in Settings › General › About on iPhone and Settings › About phone on Android, on the SIM tray of many phones and on the box. All of them should match.
The seller sent a screenshot of the IMEI. Is that enough?
No. A screenshot can come from another phone. Ask them to dial *#06# while you watch, in person or in a MxMob live inspection, where the IMEI is typed live and checked again when the phone arrives.