Tools

IMEI checker

Verify any IMEI's Luhn check digit and split it into TAC (type-approved model), serial number and check digit. Accepts 15-digit IMEIs, 16-digit IMEISVs and 14-digit bodies (computes the missing digit). Everything runs in your browser — nothing is stored.

How to read an IMEI

The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity, 3GPP TS 23.003) identifies the equipment — the modem or terminal — not the SIM or the line. Its first 8 digits are the TAC (Type Allocation Code), which the GSMA assigns to each type-approved model through regional reporting bodies; the TAC's first two digits identify that body. Then come 6 factory serial digits and a Luhn check digit. The IMEISV variant replaces the check digit with two software-version digits. In IoT projects the IMEI matters twice over: many platforms use it as the device identity, and IMEI-SIM locking is a standard anti-theft measure in M2M card deployments.

Related

Glossary: ICCID vs IMSI vs IMEIICCID decoderMCC-MNC lookup & IMSI decoderIndustrial M2M SIM

Frequently asked questions

What is the IMEI and how does it differ from ICCID or IMSI?
The IMEI identifies the physical equipment (phone, modem, router), while the ICCID identifies the SIM card and the IMSI the subscriber on the network. A device keeps its IMEI when you swap SIMs, and a SIM keeps its ICCID and IMSI when you move it between devices.
Does this checker tell me the device brand and model?
No. The full TAC database mapping each code to brand and model is owned by the GSMA and not freely redistributable, so this tool validates structure and checksum and identifies the reporting body, but doesn't query commercial registries. For IoT, structural validation covers the main use case: catching mistyped IMEIs before registering them on a platform.
Does a valid IMEI mean the device isn't blacklisted?
No. The Luhn checksum only confirms the number is well-formed; blacklist status (stolen or blocked equipment) lives in the GSMA's and operators' EIR/CEIR databases, which aren't public. An IMEI can be structurally perfect and still be blocked.
What is IMEI-SIM locking on M2M cards?
It's a standard anti-fraud feature on IoT SIMs: the SIM binds to the IMEI of the first device it's used in (or an authorized one), and if someone extracts it and puts it in another device, it stops working or raises an alert. If it matters for your deployment, write to us and we'll walk you through enabling it.

Deploying devices by the thousands?

M2M SIMs with IMEI lock, private APN and a portal to manage the whole fleet. Start with the test kit.

Buy the test kitTalk to the team