Method 4 of 7: Looking Under the Battery (IMEI or MEID)

1

Power down your phone. Before removing the battery, power down your phone using the Power button. This will prevent any data being lost and keep apps from being corrupted when the power source is removed.

2

Remove the back from your phone. This method only works for phones with removable batteries. It is not possible with iPhones or other phones with affixed batteries.

3

Take out the battery. Gently remove the battery from the phone. Generally, you will need to push it slightly towards the bottom of the phone before pulling it out.

4

Find the IMEI/MEID number. The location of this will vary from phone to phone, but the IMEI/MEID number is usually printed on a sticker that is affixed to the phone underneath the battery.

• If the phone has an IMEI number but you are on a network that uses MEID numbers, ignore the last digit (IMEI is 15 digits, MEID is 14 digits).
• GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile use IMEI numbers. CDMA networks such as Sprint, Verizon, and US Cellular use MEID numbers.

Tips:

• Write your IMEI down before your phone gets lost or stolen.
• If your mobile phone is stolen, you can call or go to the nearest service center of your mobile network and give that IMEI number to staff to block your phone.
• Most pre-paid and non-contract phones in America don't have IMEIs; the same applies to disposable phones throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• If you are South African, you are required by law to report the theft to your service provider and to the police (either SAPS or your local Metro Police). It will be blacklisted across ALL networks so that it can't be used for criminal activities. If it is recovered, it is possible to remove from the blacklist it provided that you have proof of ownership.

Warning:

• Blocking a stolen or lost phone via the IMEI will cut off all communication between your phone and your carrier, making it impossible for the phone to be recovered via tracking. Only do this as a last resort if your phone contains sensitive information.
• Some thieves replace the IMEI numbers of phones they steal with the IMEIs of other devices. If you purchased a phone from someone or someplace you don't quite trust, try to research whether or not your supposed IMEI actually goes with that model of phone.

You have some illegal fraudulent companies that will replace your IMEI code so that the carrier like AT&T can't track it. AT&T will tell you, that's impossible but it's happening to me. They manipulate the code so it's telling AT&T it's black listed but the code is changed and can not be traced (IMEI) so even if you do put it on the block list. It will still work, It is happening as we speak