How to Find the IMEI on a Huawei Phone
The dialer code works on every Huawei. The model code beside it tells you the region, and the region tells you what to ask the seller.
Check a Huawei IMEI — free
See device, blacklist and lock status in seconds — no signup. Dial *#06# on the phone to display its IMEI — or scan a photo or screenshot of that screen, or of the barcode on the phone's box or SIM tray.
Check many IMEIs at once — paste, photo or Excel (up to 100) →100% free · no signup · no card needed
Where a Huawei keeps the number
| Where | What to do | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Dialer | Enter *#06#. | Dual-SIM units show two numbers. |
| Settings | Settings, About phone, Status (or Status information). | Foldables list the number per screen configuration in some versions; read the main one. |
| Tray and back | Some older models print the IMEI on the SIM tray or inside the battery bay. | Worn off on well-used units. |
| Box label | Lists IMEI, serial number and the model code. | Boxes get swapped. |
| AppGallery or HiSuite | A phone tied to a Huawei ID can show its details on the account side. | Only works for the account owner. |
Reading a Huawei model code
A Huawei model code is a short puzzle that tells you more than the marketing name. The first three letters name the design (the P30 is ELE, the Mate 20 Pro is LYA, the Mate 40 Pro is NOH). After the hyphen comes the version suffix. International units usually carry L plus two digits, such as L09 or L29. China-market units usually carry AL, TL or AN plus digits, such as AL00 or AN00.
Why you care: a China-market version often arrives with different software, may lack the global apps, and can have a different band list. A seller who calls it the same phone is half right. Take the code from the About page and run it through the model lookup.
| Suffix style | Example shape | What to ask the seller |
|---|---|---|
| L09, L29 | ELE-L29 | Which country it was bought in, and whether it has Google apps. |
| LX1, LX3 | ANE-LX1 | Same question; these are international mid-range versions. |
| AL00, TL00 | LYA-AL00 | Whether it is a China-market phone and whether the language and apps suit you. |
| AN00 | NOH-AN00 | Newer China-market naming; check network bands before you pay. |
Why Huawei buying has its own risks
Since 2019, Huawei phones have been affected by US trade restrictions, and models launched afterward shipped without Google Mobile Services. That one fact explains most of the second-hand questions. The hardware may be excellent while the software leaves you without the apps you rely on. Newer Huawei phones run HarmonyOS, and there is also an account lock tied to the Huawei ID. If it is still switched on, the phone is a brick for you.
Bands are the other half. Huawei phones sold outside the United States are built for the networks in those markets, so a unit that works in Europe may miss a band on your US carrier. The compatibility page compares a model with carrier bands.
A buyer's checklist for a second-hand Huawei
- Dial *#06# with the seller watching and write down every number.
- Open About phone and note the model code and the software version. Compare with the listing.
- Enter the first IMEI in the checker above and read the model line.
- Run it on the blacklist page.
- Ask the seller to sign out of the Huawei ID, turn off Find Device, then reset the phone in front of you.
- Open the app store and ask whether Google apps are present, if that matters to you.
Related guides: Honor, the brand Huawei sold off in 2020, and Xiaomi.
Questions people ask
How do I see the IMEI on a Huawei?
Open the Phone app and dial *#06#. Or go to Settings, About phone, then Status, and look for the IMEI rows. The wording shifts a little between EMUI and HarmonyOS versions.
What do codes like ELE-L29 or NOH-AN00 mean?
They are model numbers. Three letters name the design, then a hyphen and a suffix. In general an L suffix points to an international version and AL, TL or AN suffixes point to China-market versions, but treat that as a clue, not a rule.
Does a Huawei have Google apps?
Phones launched before mid-2019 normally do. Newer ones launched without Google Mobile Services and use Huawei's own app store. That matters for banking and maps apps, so ask what is installed before you pay.
The phone asks for a Huawei ID after a reset. Can I skip it?
No. If the previous owner left their Huawei ID signed in with Find Device on, the phone can ask for it after a reset. The seller has to sign out first. See the iCloud page for how the same idea works on other brands.
Can I unlock the bootloader of a used Huawei?
Huawei stopped issuing bootloader unlock codes in mid-2018, so on newer phones that route is closed. Anyone selling you a "free unlock" for a modern Huawei deserves a hard look.