Free Carrier Lock & IMEI Check Online
Enter a phone's 15-digit IMEI to see the exact model, whether it is network-locked, and its blacklist status where carrier data is available — free, no sign-up.
Run your free IMEI & carrier check
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
How the check works
- The number is validated first. An IMEI is 15 digits and the last one is a check digit calculated from the other 14 (the Luhn formula). A mistyped digit almost always breaks that sum, so the page tells you before anything is looked up. Our IMEI validator shows the same test step by step.
- The device is identified. The first eight digits are the Type Allocation Code (TAC), issued to the manufacturer for one specific model. That is how the result names the exact device, and how you can tell whether it matches the listing.
- Carrier databases are asked about lock and blacklist status. The lookup asks carrier eligibility systems — the same kind of check a carrier runs when you bring your own phone — whether the handset is locked and whether it is reported lost, stolen or unpaid.
- You get one line per fact. Device, lock status and blacklist status, each with the answer that came back. A field nobody could answer says unknown; it is never filled in as clean.
Where the data comes from, and what it cannot see
against how the check behaves today. If a source stops answering, this section changes.
Being exact about the limits matters more than a long list of features, because a used-phone purchase is decided on them.
- Lock status answers most reliably for phones sold through T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. AT&T, Verizon and other carriers do not always answer, and then the lock line reads unknown.
- Blacklist status comes from US carrier data. A phone reported stolen in another country may not appear in it, so an imported phone that reads clean here is only clean for the databases that answered.
- Not covered by the free check: iCloud / Find My and Samsung or Google account locks, warranty or AppleCare status, and instalment-plan balances that have not been reported yet. Check those on the phone and with the seller.
- The result is a snapshot. It is true at the time of the check; a report can be filed later. Re-run it right before money changes hands.
What a result looks like
Device: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Carrier lock: Locked — accepts SIM cards only from its network until it is unlocked
Blacklist: No lost, stolen or unpaid record in the carrier databases that answered
Illustrative example. The full sample result walks through every line and what to do with it.
How to read it: a locked phone is fine to buy if you are staying on that network or the seller can get it unlocked first; a flagged blacklist line is a reason not to buy at all; an unknown line means verify that fact another way before you pay.
Who runs FullIMEI
FullIMEI is operated by StandupCRM LLC in Rhode Island, which makes software for phone repair shops. The checker grew out of the same routine a repair counter follows before it buys, sells or repairs a used phone: confirm the device, the lock and the blacklist status first. About us and how to reach us.
IMEI check FAQ
How do I find a phone’s IMEI?
Dial *#06# on the phone and the IMEI appears on screen. It is also under Settings › General › About on an iPhone and Settings › About phone on Android, on the SIM tray of many iPhones, and on the barcode label of the original box. A dual-SIM or eSIM phone shows two IMEIs; check IMEI 1.
What does a blacklisted IMEI mean?
Someone — usually the carrier on the owner’s or insurer’s request — has reported that handset lost or stolen, or flagged it over an unpaid balance. US networks share those reports, so a blacklisted phone can refuse to activate on any of them even though it powers on and looks perfect. Do not buy a phone that comes back flagged.
What does “unknown” mean in a result?
It means none of the databases we can query answered for that field. It is not a pass. The lock line answers most reliably for phones sold through T-Mobile or Metro; for other carriers, and for most phones sold outside the US, the lock or blacklist line can come back unknown. Treat unknown as “not verified” and check with the carrier or by testing a SIM.
Does a clean blacklist result mean the phone is unlocked?
No. Blacklist status and lock status are separate facts. A phone can be clean (not reported) and still locked to its original network, or unlocked and blacklisted. Read both lines of the result.
Does the check tell me which carrier the phone is from?
No. The free check shows whether the phone is locked, not which network it was sold on. If you need the original carrier, the seller’s receipt or the carrier’s own unlock-status page is the reliable source.
If the phone is unlocked, will it work on my network?
Usually, if it is a US model: phones sold for the big US networks support the bands the others use. Imported models are the exception — they can be unlocked and still miss US bands, or carry a region lock. Our guide to SIM lock vs carrier lock covers the difference.
Can a phone pass the check today and be blacklisted later?
Yes. A report can be filed at any time, including after a sale if the seller stops paying an instalment plan or reports the phone stolen. Run the check right before you pay, not days earlier, and keep the result and the seller’s details.
Can I check a phone that is dead or will not turn on?
Yes, if you can read the IMEI elsewhere: the SIM tray, the box label, the back of some phones, or the device list in the owner’s Apple or Google account. The check reads the number, not the phone, so the handset does not need to power on.
Can the check confirm the phone is the model in the listing?
Yes, this is one of its most practical uses. The result names the device the IMEI was issued to. If a listing says “iPhone 15 Pro” and the IMEI comes back as an iPhone 13, or the IMEI on screen does not match the box, walk away.
Is an iCloud / Find My or Samsung account lock part of the check?
No. Activation locks are tied to the owner’s account, not to carrier databases, and the free check does not read them. On an iPhone, open Settings and make sure no Apple ID is signed in and Find My is off before you pay.
Is it safe to enter an IMEI here?
An IMEI identifies a handset, not a person: it does not reveal your name, location, accounts or messages, and nobody can unlock or take over a phone from the number alone. Share it with a buyer the same way you would share a model number. Our privacy policy lists exactly what is logged when you run a check.
Why is the check free?
FullIMEI is run by a company that builds software for phone repair shops, and checking a device before buying, selling or repairing it is something those shops do every day. Keeping the check free and fast is the point. There is no sign-up, no card and no paid upsell.