Find the IMEI code to block your cellphone if it is stolen

IMEI is the acronym for International Mobile Equipment Identity and is that unique code made up of 15 numbers, which is assigned to each mobile phone to identify it. In a nutshell, it is the phone's identity card, which allows you to recognize it from everyone else (even from identical models). Every new mobile phone or smartphone that is sold, must have an identification IMEI number that remains the same and cannot be changed (at least if you are not a big hacker!).
IMEI, as you can easily imagine, is important for tracking down a mobile phone or for blocking it in the event of theft or loss. In fact, in this guide we will show you all the methods to find the IMEI code of any modern phone, including Android and iOS smartphones; after finding the IMEI, it is advisable to write it on a few sheets of paper and keep it carefully, so that you can use it at the right time (hopefully never!).
READ ALSO: Making your stolen phone unusable (Android and iPhone)

How IMEI works

The IMEI number is very important to identify the mobile phone and it is worth noting it to block it in case you lose your mobile phone or if it is stolen. When a mobile phone attaches to a mobile network (even without the Internet, it is sufficient that there is a SIM inserted inside and that there is a field), it registers itself to the operator's antenna by sending the identification number. If this number is part of the black list of cell phones stolen or reported as missing, the phone will never be able to connect to any antenna, of any operator: in fact we have a phone that cannot be used to make calls!
As mentioned at the beginning, you can also track or intercept a cell phone via IMEI code, although the police will usually engage in this work only for investigations into crimes or serious crimes (do not expect them to use resources to find any cell phone). !).

Where to find the IMEI

The IMEI of your smartphone or phone can be found in various ways, all valid (since the IMEI is only one, it is not necessary to find them all, just use the method we prefer).
If we have an Android smartphone, we can find the IMEI by clicking on the Settings app, going to About phone or System info and clicking Status . Among the various items we will also find IMEI Data, which allows you to see the code for the assigned SIM slot. If we have a Dual SIM phone, the IMEI codes will be two (we will have to register both even if we do not use two SIM cards at the moment).
If, on the other hand, we have an iPhone, we open the Settings app, select the General item and open the Info menu. There is nothing left to do but scroll the screen until you find the code, next to the IMEI item.
On any traditional mobile phone (but can also be used with smartphones), you can retrieve the IMEI by opening the telephone dialer (i.e. the classic numeric keypad for making calls) and entering the code * # 06 # . A window in the foreground will automatically open, with the IMEI code or codes associated with the device.

To track down the IMEI we do not recommend the use of specific apps, since we cannot know how it is made (there is a risk that the app developer uses the IMEI data collected with it to clone or recycle old smartphones stolen). Since the methods to recover the IMEI are simple and do not require much effort, we avoid using any app designed to display the IMEI of the smartphone.

Lost or stolen phone: what to do ">
The code is the same that we can also find in the operating system, so we can use it to report and block services from the operator. If we no longer have the box, there is nothing we can do, unless we have been foresighted to keep the IMEI as recommended in the first part of this guide.
After recovering the IMEI, we contact our telephone operator and provide the SIM number and IMEI code, so that we can block both. If we do not know how to contact the operator, please read the following guide -> Request Operator Assistance TIM, Wind, 3, Vodafone, Fastweb .
After contacting the operator, go to a Carabinieri or State Police command and report the theft, bringing with you the IMEI, an identity document and any sheets or contracts signed to have the SIM (so you can verify the stolen phone properties). After filing a complaint, we can do very little: we just have to wait and hope that at least the thief or whoever has found our phone can no longer use it or, with a little luck, can use the GPS long enough to be able to track down quickly.

If we find an abandoned or lost phone, what should we do?

If by chance we come across a phone abandoned or lost on the street, the first thing to do is to turn it off and bring it directly to the police: clearly say you have found it on the street and want to report it for the find. If the legitimate owner has filed a complaint (or will do so shortly), it will be very simple for the police to check and get the phone back, after comparing the IMEI.
We strongly advise you not to give in to the temptation to keep your cell phone for us: on modern smartphones you just need to turn it on to start geolocation and we risk being tracked and photographed by the front camera (without our knowledge), especially if the phone is equipped with some very powerful anti-theft apps (and difficult to delete from phones).

Conclusions

In this guide we have shown you what the IMEI code is, how to recover it and how to use it to report a theft or loss to the authorities.
If our phone is still on, we can also try to track it using the tracking tools provided by Google and Apple, as described in our guide to apps to find stolen or lost mobile phone . If, on the other hand, we want to make life really difficult for the thief, we recommend you read our guide to security apps, available here -> Anti-theft app for Android to control and block your mobile phone remotely from your PC .
To learn more about the whole topic, we can also read the guide on how to find a stolen or lost mobile phone .