Losing access to a phone often means losing access to the Settings screen where its identifying details are normally stored. The IMEI may still be available elsewhere, even if the device is missing, damaged, or will not turn on.
If you need to know how to find IMEI number without phone, start with records already connected to the device rather than paying an unfamiliar lookup service. Your online account, packaging, carrier profile, computer, or purchase documents may contain the number you need.
1. Can You Find an IMEI Number Without Having the Phone?
Yes, you can find your phone’s IMEI number without having the device. Check the original packaging, purchase receipt, carrier account, or previously saved device information. Some manufacturers also display IMEI details in online account records.
An IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is usually a 15-digit number used to identify a device’s cellular equipment. Phones with multiple SIM capabilities may have more than one IMEI.
You may need this number to report a lost or stolen phone, file an insurance claim, check a used phone’s status, or request carrier assistance.
Note: Wi-Fi-only tablets generally don’t have IMEI numbers because they lack cellular connectivity.
2. How to Find IMEI Number Without Phone in 5 Places
Check the following locations in order. Account and packaging records usually provide the fastest results.
Check the Apple or Google Account
For an iPhone:
- Open account.apple.com in a browser.
- Sign in with the Apple Account used on the missing iPhone.
- Open Devices.
- Select the relevant iPhone.
- Look for its IMEI or IMEI/MEID.
You can also open Settings on another Apple device signed in to the same account, tap your name, and select the missing iPhone from the device list.
For an Android phone:
- Go to android.com/find.
- Sign in with the Google Account connected to the phone.
- Select the correct device.
- Open Settings or the device information option.
- Copy the displayed IMEI.
Find Hub can display the IMEI even when the phone is offline, provided the device remains associated with the account.
Review the Original Phone Box
Find the barcode label on the original retail box. It may list:
- IMEI or IMEI1
- IMEI2
- Serial number
- EID
- Model number
- Storage capacity
- Color
Match the model and serial number with your purchase records before using the IMEI. This is especially important when several phone boxes are stored together.
Do not confuse IMEI with ICCID. The IMEI identifies the phone hardware, while ICCID identifies a physical SIM card.
Use a Previously Connected Computer
A computer that previously managed or backed up the phone may retain identifying information.
For an iPhone, check:
- Finder on a Mac
- Apple Devices on Windows
- iTunes on an older Mac or Windows PC
- Existing local backup details
If the device still appears, select it and click the displayed phone number, model, or serial information to cycle through available identifiers. An old backup may confirm which device was connected, although the IMEI is not guaranteed to remain visible after the phone is disconnected.
For Android, check any manufacturer software, device-management tool, or saved backup report previously used with the phone. Avoid editing local backup files merely to retrieve an identifier.
Sign In to the Carrier Account
Open the carrier’s website or mobile app from another device and review sections such as:
- My Devices
- Manage Lines
- Device Details
- Equipment
- Installment Plan
- Upgrade Information
Select the affected line and look for IMEI, IMEI1, IMEI2, or Device ID.
If the number is not shown, contact customer support. Be prepared to verify the account holder’s name, account PIN, billing address, and the phone number assigned to the missing device.
Check the Receipt or Purchase Records
Search both paper and digital records, including:
- Store receipt
- Order-confirmation email
- Online retailer account
- Carrier installment agreement
- Trade-in documentation
- Insurance policy
- Repair invoice
- Device inventory maintained by an employer
Search email for the model name together with “IMEI,” “device ID,” “serial number,” or “order details.”
Some receipts show only the serial number. That information can still help the carrier, retailer, or manufacturer locate the correct transaction record, but a serial number should not be submitted as an IMEI.
>>> Read more: How to Record a Phone Call: 3 Safe Methods for Any Phone
3. Which IMEI Should You Use on a Dual SIM Phone?
A dual-SIM phone may display IMEI1 and IMEI2 because it supports two cellular lines. The identifiers belong to separate SIM slots or digital line configurations.
Use:
- IMEI1 for the primary physical SIM or first configured line.
- IMEI2 for the second SIM or eSIM where assigned.
- Both IMEIs when reporting the entire phone as lost or stolen.
- The IMEI linked to the affected line for a carrier support request.
The exact mapping varies by model. Compare the IMEI shown in the carrier account with the device account or box rather than assuming the first number always corresponds to the missing service.
An EID is not another IMEI. It identifies the phone’s eSIM hardware and may be requested separately during eSIM activation.
4. What to Do With the IMEI of a Lost or Stolen Phone
Once you know how to find an IMEI number without your phone, keep the number secure and take these steps to protect your device and personal information:
- Locate or lock your phone. Use Apple’s Find My or Google’s Find Hub to check its last known location and mark it as lost when supported.
- Contact your carrier. Report the loss, suspend your cellular service, and ask whether the device can be blocked using its IMEI.
- Report the theft. If your phone was stolen, file a police report and provide the IMEI, device model, and serial number if available.
- Contact your insurer. Submit the IMEI and supporting documents if you have lost or stolen phone coverage.
- Secure your accounts. Review account access, change compromised passwords, and consider remote erasure if recovery is unlikely.
TheFCC recommends reporting lost or stolen phones to your carrier promptly. Avoid sharing your full IMEI publicly.
5. What If You Still Can’t Find Your IMEI?
If none of the five sources contains the number, gather any related information you do have:
- Phone number associated with the device
- Account holder’s name
- Model, color, and storage capacity
- Serial number
- Purchase date and retailer
- Order or installment-plan number
- Insurance policy details
Give this information to the carrier or original seller and ask whether it can retrieve the device record after verifying your identity.
Avoid websites claiming they can generate an IMEI from a phone number, email address, or person’s name. These details do not provide a legitimate mathematical method for reconstructing the device identifier.
>>> Helpful blog: How to Use Google Authenticator Transfer: Move Your Codes to a New Phone Safely
6. FAQs
How can I find my IMEI number from another phone?
Sign in to the relevant Apple Account or Google Find Hub from another phone and select the missing device. You can also access the carrier account through its app or mobile website.
How can I track my lost phone if I don’t have the IMEI number?
Use Find My for an iPhone or Find Hub for Android; neither requires you to type the IMEI before locating an already connected device. How to find IMEI number without phone is mainly relevant for carrier reports, insurance claims, and device identification.
Can I get my IMEI number online?
Yes, when the number remains available in the device account, carrier account, retailer record, or digital receipt. Only sign in through an official website or app and avoid public IMEI lookup services requesting account passwords.
How to find IMEI number from Gmail account?
Gmail itself does not store an IMEI as an email-account setting. Use the same Google Account to sign in to Find Hub, select the Android phone, and open its device information.
7. Conclusion
Your Apple or Google account is usually the quickest place to recover a missing device identifier. Other options for how to find IMEI number without phone include the original box, carrier profile, computer records, and purchase documents.
Verify the correct number on a dual-SIM model, then share it only with a trusted carrier, insurer, retailer, or authority when reporting a lost or stolen device.
