How to Find the IMEI on a Samsung Galaxy
Dial *#06# or open Settings, About phone. If the phone is dead, the box label and the receipt have it. Here is each route, and what to do with the number.
Check a Samsung 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
Every place a Galaxy keeps its IMEI
| Place | How to get there | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Dialer code | Phone app, type *#06#. Nothing to press afterwards. | The quickest read, and the best proof when a seller does it on camera. |
| Settings | Settings, About phone, then Status information (the label varies by One UI version). IMEI information lists each slot. | When the dialer is blocked, for example on a work-managed phone. |
| Retail box | The white label on the box, next to the barcode, lists the IMEI and the model code. | A phone that is dead or locked. Remember: it matches the box, not necessarily the phone. |
| Back or under the battery | Older models with a removable battery print it on the sticker under the battery. | Very old Galaxies only. |
| Receipt or carrier account | Invoices and the device list in your carrier account usually show it. | Proof of purchase, and when you lost the phone itself. |
What the model code on the box tells you
Right below the IMEI, Settings shows a model number that starts with SM-. The letters at the end say which market the phone was built for, and that matters for locks: a US carrier version is a different animal from an unlocked one.
| Ending | Usually means | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| U | Sold through a US carrier | Often locked to that carrier until the contract or installment plan is cleared. |
| U1 | US unlocked | Sold without a carrier lock. Still worth a check. |
| W | Canada | Canadian bands. Carrier locks follow Canadian rules. |
| B | Europe and many other markets | International version, often dual-SIM. |
| N | South Korea | Korean bands and software; not made for most foreign networks. |
These are Samsung's market letters as buyers usually see them. They describe the version sold, not the lock state of one unit.
Dual SIM and eSIM: more than one IMEI
A dual-SIM Galaxy has an IMEI per slot, and a model with eSIM has one more for the embedded SIM. All of them belong to one device and begin with the same eight digits, the model code. When you check a phone you plan to buy, read them all. If the second one is missing, or does not start with the same eight digits as the first, the phone has probably had its board changed.
Before you pay: a six-step routine
- Have the seller dial *#06# while you watch, or on a video call.
- Write down every IMEI shown, not just the first.
- Compare with the box label and with Settings, About phone.
- Type the number into the checker above. Look at the model name and lock line.
- On the phone, open Settings and look for a Google account or Samsung account still signed in. Ask the seller to remove both.
- Ask for a factory reset in front of you. A phone that asks for the previous owner's account afterwards is not ready to buy.
If the phone was bought on installments, also read locks on financed phones and the Knox Guard page. For the model-code part see what phone is this.
Questions people ask
Which number do I use if my Galaxy shows IMEI 1 and IMEI 2?
Either. Both belong to the same phone and both start with the same eight digits. Check IMEI 1 first. If you plan to use two SIMs or an eSIM, note both so you can check each one.
The dialer shows one number and the box shows another. Is that a problem?
It deserves an explanation. The box label is printed at the factory, the dialer reads the phone. They differ when the box belongs to a different unit, or when the main board was swapped in a repair. Ask the seller why, and trust the number the phone itself shows.
My Galaxy will not turn on. Where is the IMEI now?
On the retail box label, on the receipt or invoice, in your carrier account under the device, or, on older models with a removable battery, on the sticker under the battery. Some Galaxy models also show it on the back panel in small print.
Does the IMEI tell me if a Galaxy is Knox Guard locked?
No. The IMEI identifies the phone; the lock lives in Samsung's systems. Our <a href="/check/samsung-kg">Samsung KG page</a> explains how to see the lock on the phone itself.
Is it safe to type my IMEI into a website?
An IMEI identifies a device, it is not a password, and sellers show it to buyers all the time. Do not share it together with account passwords or one-time codes.