How do I find my iPhone's IMEI number? And what is an IMEI, for that matter? Every has a unique identifier code, known as an IMEI number. The letters IMEI stand for International Mobile Station Equipment Identity, and the number is used to identify each mobile phone. The IMEI number is used by your mobile phone company to match the phone to the networks, so it can figure out who is making calls. It is also used to maintain a blacklist of stolen mobile phones. In the UK a database is publicly maintained by a charity so stolen phones cannot be moved from one network to another. Getting to know the IMEI of your iPhone is a useful trick - and if you're you may need to know the IMEI - but it became slightly more difficult with the launch of the iPhone 6s: Apple stopped printing the IMEI on the back of the phone. Still, there are several different ways to find the IMEI of an iPhone, and in this article we show the 6 simplest and most useful ways of finding your iPhone's IMEI. You'll only need one, of course, so pick the method that's easiest for you. For our definition of IMEI and more Apple-related tech terms, check our. The IMEI code will appear on the screen. Dialling a code is the most commonly described method of finding the IMEI number, but we don't think it's the best because you can't copy the number. Instead of being able to copy and paste the code you have to write it down and it's long enough - 15 digits - for this to be annoying. See also: How to find your iPhone's IMEI: Look on the back of the iPhone... The IMEI number is usually written on the reverse of your iPhone. The IMEI text is incredibly small, though, so you may need a magnifying glass. And once again you'll need to write it down manually. One option is to photograph the code using another iPhone or iPad. This will enable you to zoom into the text so you can see it more clearly. We say 'usually', because Apple when the iPhone 6s came out: if you've got an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, you'll find that only the model number, FCC ID and IC are listed. How to find your iPhone's IMEI:... Get out your SIM removal tool the metal spike that came with the iPhone , poke it into the little hole on the right-hand edge of the iPhone and remove the SIM tray, carefully take out the SIM card and turn the tray over. The IMEI will be written on the underside of the SIM tray, rather small. Once again, you'll obviously need to write it down laboriously by hand, and again, it's written very small. Let's find a method that's easier on the eyes. How to find your iPhone's IMEI: Use iOS Settings The IMEI number is also located in the iPhone's Settings app. Using Settings is the best option because it enables you to copy and paste the number. Now you can paste the IMEI code into another app, such as Notes. How to find your iPhone's IMEI: Use iTunes to display your iPhone's IMEI number You can also find the IMEI number using iTunes. Click on the Phone Number in the top box below Capacity, and above Serial Number. It will change to display the IMEI number. You can then right-click this and choose Copy. How to find your iPhone's IMEI if your phone is lost or stolen When we first published this article, Kirk McElhearn, an iTunes expert who writes for Macworld in the US, responded by pointing out a final scenario that we missed: what about if you haven't got the iPhone any more, and therefore can't look at the back, can't dial the code and so on? After all, one of the principal situations in which an IMEI is needed is when you're reporting the theft of the device. Fortunately, as Kirk points out, it's still easy to find the IMEI number of an absent iPhone, provided you've in iTunes. All you need to do is open iTunes and go to Preferences, then select the Devices tab second from the right. You'll see a list of device backups. Hold your cursor over one of the backups that relate to the iPhone that's lost, and you'll see various details including IMEI. Our thanks to Kirk for pointing this out. For a longer description of the method, as well as lots more Mac-related writing, visit.
