How to Find the IMEI on an iPhone
Settings, General, About has it. If the phone is off, the box and your Apple account do. A few tips on reading the model number too.
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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.
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Where to look, by what the iPhone can do
| Situation | Where the IMEI is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Phone works | Settings, General, About, scroll to IMEI. Or dial *#06#. | Press and hold to copy, so there is no typo. |
| Dual SIM or eSIM | The same About screen lists IMEI and IMEI2. | Check both if you will use both lines. |
| Older model with a tray | Some models have the number engraved on the SIM tray. | Look with a torch. The engraving is tiny and the tray is easy to swap, so trust the screen first. |
| Phone is off or broken | The retail box label, or the receipt. | The box may not belong to this phone. |
| Phone is not with you | Sign in to your Apple account in a browser, open the devices list, and choose the phone. | Only works if the phone is still on the account. |
| Phone is connected to a computer | Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (Windows) shows it in the summary. | Useful when the screen is cracked. |
The model number is a code you can read
In About, tap the Model Number line once. It flips between the part number, which starts with a letter, and the shorter A-number. The first letter of the part number says how the phone reached you, and that is useful when you are buying second-hand.
| Starts with | Means | So what |
|---|---|---|
| M | Sold new | Normal for a retail phone. |
| F | Refurbished | Fine if disclosed. Not fine if the listing says new. |
| N | Replacement unit | Issued by Apple against a repair. Warranty rules can differ. |
| P | Personalised (engraved) | Check the back. An engraving explains why it starts with P. |
The letters after the slash are a region code: LL/A is the United States, J/A Japan, B/A the United Kingdom, KH/A Korea, CH/A China. Region matters for bands and for physical SIM trays: some markets sell models with different SIM arrangements. It does not by itself tell you whether the phone is locked to a carrier.
When the numbers do not agree
Compare the IMEI in Settings with the one on the box and with the one the seller gave you in the listing. Agreement is a good sign, not a proof. A mismatch means a replaced phone, a swapped box, or a listing typed by hand. Ask for a live screen share of the About page rather than a screenshot, because screenshots are easy to edit.
Once you have the number, run it in the checker for the model name and carrier-lock line. Apple's own pages answer the questions we cannot: whether the phone is still tied to someone's Apple account, and what coverage it has.
- Open Settings, General, About on the phone while you watch.
- Read IMEI, and IMEI2 if shown. Compare with the box.
- Check the model number letter: M, F, N or P. Match it to the listing.
- Run the IMEI above.
- Open Settings, tap the name at the top. A name there means the phone is still signed in to someone's account. It must be signed out before you pay.
Questions people ask
Where is the IMEI on an iPhone with no SIM tray?
Settings, General, About. On a phone with eSIM only there is no tray to look at, so the screen, the box or your Apple account are the places to read it.
Why does my iPhone list two IMEIs?
A dual-SIM iPhone has one for the physical SIM and one for the eSIM. Both are valid and belong to the one phone. The labels read IMEI and IMEI2 on the About screen.
What is the difference between the IMEI, the serial number and the model number?
The IMEI is the 15-digit network identity. The serial number is Apple's own identifier and is used for warranty and repair. The model number says which version was sold. Our <a href="/guides/imei-vs-serial-number">IMEI vs serial number</a> guide shows the differences.
Can I see the IMEI of an iPhone I no longer have?
Yes if it is still signed in to your Apple account: open your account page in a browser, look under devices, and pick the phone. The IMEI is part of the details. The original box and the receipt are the other source.
Does the IMEI show whether Find My is on?
No. The IMEI names the phone, it does not carry the lock. Read <a href="/check/icloud">the iCloud check page</a> for how to find out.