iPhone IMEI: how to find it and verify a phone isn't blocked
IMEI is a unique fifteen-digit number identifying a phone. The fastest way to find it is by dialling 06 on the phone's keypad, or via Settings → General → About. Using the IMEI, you can verify whether a phone has been reported stolen, blocked by a carrier, or locked to a single network. However, IMEI won't reveal an iCloud lock (Find My) — that can only be discovered by turning the phone on and going through activation. Every iPhone we sell has its IMEI checked during the inbound inspection and is always a unit unlocked for all carriers.
IMEI is a unique fifteen-digit number identifying a phone. The fastest way to find it is by dialling 06 on the phone's keypad, or via Settings → General → About. Using the IMEI, you can verify whether a phone has been reported stolen, blocked by a carrier, or locked to a single network. However, IMEI won't reveal an iCloud lock (Find My) — that can only be discovered by turning the phone on and going through activation. Every iPhone we sell has its IMEI checked during the inbound inspection and is always a unit unlocked for all carriers.
In this article
- What IMEI is and what it's for
- How to find an iPhone's IMEI — five methods
- How to use the IMEI to verify an iPhone isn't blocked
- Types of iPhone blocking and how to recognise them
- What IMEI won't reveal: iCloud lock
- Warning signs in an iPhone classified ad
- How we handle phone verification
- Summary
What IMEI is and what it's for
IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique fifteen-digit number that every phone with a cellular modem has. It functions like the device's ID number: it doesn't depend on the SIM card, it doesn't change when the system is reinstalled, and it's written directly into the phone's hardware.
Mobile carriers use the IMEI to identify a specific device on the network. When someone reports a phone stolen, the IMEI is added to a blocklist, and that unit can no longer connect to the mobile network in that country (in some databases, internationally too) — it can't make calls or use data, even though it otherwise looks perfectly fine.
An iPhone with eSIM has two IMEIs: one for the physical SIM and one for the eSIM. Models sold in Europe with two slots display both numbers plus a so-called MEID. For verification purposes, the first one is enough.
How to find an iPhone's IMEI — five methods
These work on all models from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 17. The first method is the fastest.
Dial *#06#
Open the Phone app, go to the keypad, and enter *#06#. The IMEI appears immediately — there's no need to place a call. It even works on the lock screen on a phone without a SIM card.
Settings → General → About
Scroll down to the IMEI entry. Press and hold the number to copy it to the clipboard, so you can paste it straight into a message to a seller.
On the SIM tray
On older models (iPhone 6s through iPhone 13), the IMEI is often engraved in small print directly on the metal SIM tray. Useful when the phone won't turn on.
On the box
On the original box's label, the IMEI is printed next to the serial number. Note — the box may not belong to the phone, so always compare it with the number on the device itself.
Via Apple ID or Finder
On appleid.apple.com, in the Devices section, or after connecting the phone to a computer via Finder (macOS) or the Apple Devices app (Windows), you'll see the IMEI and serial number.
How to use the IMEI to verify an iPhone isn't blocked
Checking the IMEI is the cheapest insurance before buying a second-hand phone. Proceed as follows:
1. Ask for the IMEI before meeting up. An honest seller will send it without hesitation. A refusal is itself a warning sign.
2. Check the checksum. The IMEI has 15 digits, and the last one is a check digit based on the Luhn algorithm. A made-up number won't pass this test, and any online IMEI calculator will reveal it.
3. Verify the status with a carrier. Czech carriers maintain a database of devices reported stolen. Ask on the customer service line or in a shop whether the given IMEI is blocked.
4. Check Apple's warranty status. On checkcoverage.apple.com you enter the serial number (on newer models, also the IMEI) and see whether the device is registered, when its support ends, and whether it has been activated. If Apple doesn't recognise the number at all, it's almost certainly a counterfeit or an altered IMEI.
5. Compare three numbers on the spot. The IMEI from *#06#, the IMEI in Settings, and the IMEI on the box or SIM tray must all match. A discrepancy means a replaced motherboard or an attempt to tamper with the phone's identity.
Types of iPhone blocking and how to recognise them
The word "blocked" means several different things in classified ads. The distinction matters — some situations can be resolved, others turn the phone into a useless piece of glass.
| Blocked IMEI (reported theft) | The phone won't connect to a mobile network, but Wi-Fi works. You can find out by checking with a carrier. Unsolvable without the original owner's consent — don't buy a unit like this. |
|---|---|
| iCloud lock / Find My | The phone asks for the previous owner's Apple ID during activation. You'll notice this when turning it on or after a reset. Only the original owner can unlock it, by removing the device from their account. |
| SIM lock (locked to a carrier) | The phone only works with a specific carrier's SIM, and shows an invalid SIM with any other. Common with units imported from the US. Unlocked by the carrier that sold the phone. |
| Locked passcode / Apple ID after inheritance | The phone works, but nobody knows the passcode or the Apple ID password. A reset doesn't help — the activation lock reappears. |
| MDM profile (corporate management) | A phone from a corporate deployment shows "Remote Management" and part of the settings are locked. Only the administrator of the original organisation can remove it. |
What IMEI won't reveal: iCloud lock
The most common and most expensive trap when buying from a classified ad isn't a blocked IMEI, but the iCloud activation lock. This is tied to the previous owner's Apple ID, and the IMEI reveals nothing about it.
The phone can look completely normal until you reset it — then, during activation, a prompt appears asking for the Apple ID password, which you don't know. Without the original owner, nobody can unlock it, not even Apple or any service centre. Ads like "iPhone for parts, iCloud locked" are exactly these units.
How to protect yourself:
- Ask for the phone to be handed over signed out of Apple ID, and in Settings check that there's no account at the top and that Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone offers the option to erase content.
- Ideally, have the seller wipe the phone in front of you and go through initial activation up to the home screen.
- Check that in Settings → [account name] → Find My, the Find My iPhone feature is turned off, or that the entire Apple ID is already signed out.
With us, you don't need to worry about this step: every phone goes through a complete wipe, sign-out from Apple ID and a test activation, so once you turn it on you can set it up with your own Apple ID without any lock.
Warning signs in an iPhone classified ad
Five things that in practice most often accompany a blocked or stolen phone.
- The seller refuses to send the IMEI: Without the IMEI, nothing can be verified. An honest seller will send it within a minute.
- A price far below market value: A unit that's 40% cheaper than comparable listings tends to be blocked, stolen, or have a serious fault.
- The phone is dead on handover: A classic trick to prevent checking activation, IMEI, and battery health. Insist on a charged and powered-on phone.
- Photos downloaded from the internet: Ask for a current photo of the phone with today's date on the display, or with a piece of paper next to it.
- No receipt and rushing you: Without a receipt you have no rights regarding a faulty item. Pressure for a quick handover is a pressure tactic.
How we handle phone verification
Every iPhone you buy from us goes through a thorough inbound technical inspection before it's listed. This includes the phone's identity:
- we check that the phone isn't locked to a single carrier,
- we sign the unit out of Apple ID and completely wipe it,
- we carry out a test activation, so we know the phone starts up without any lock,
- we measure battery capacity.
You get a receipt, a 2-year warranty, and 30 days to return the phone with no reason needed. You can also file a warranty claim in person at selected iLoveServis stores. That's the main difference compared to a classified ad — the risk of a blocked unit is on our side, not yours.
Summary
You can find the IMEI in five seconds by dialling *#06#, and it's the first thing you should ask for with a second-hand phone. It lets you check whether the device is reported stolen or locked to a carrier. However, IMEI won't reveal an iCloud activation lock — the only way to spot that is to take the phone through a reset all the way to the home screen.
If you'd rather not deal with all this, choose a vetted unit: every pre-owned iPhone in our range is unlocked for all carriers, signed out of Apple ID, with a verified battery at 86–100%, a 2-year warranty, and delivery in 2 business days or free in-person pickup. Before buying, it's also worth reading what to ask the seller and about battery health.