How to Track a Phone Using IMEI: What Actually Works in 2026

Trying to track a phone using IMEI for free? The important thing to know is that an IMEI identifies a mobile device, but an IMEI number by itself is not a public GPS tracking tool. In most cases, consumers cannot enter an IMEI into a website and see a phone's live location.

For a lost or stolen phone, use your device maker's official location service first: Google Find Hub for Android or Apple Find My for iPhone. Your carrier or a government lost-device service may also use the IMEI to block or identify a device on mobile networks. In India, for example, the CEIR/Sanchar Saathi service can block a lost or stolen handset's IMEI.

This guide explains what an IMEI can and cannot do, how to find it, how to use official lost-device tools, and when your carrier or CEIR may help.

Quick Answer:

• Can an IMEI number show a phone's live location? Not by itself. IMEI identifies the cellular device; it is not a public GPS coordinate.
• What is IMEI useful for? Your carrier can use it to identify or block a lost/stolen handset, and some official lost-device systems use it during a report.
• Best way to find Android: Use Google Find Hub with the Google Account linked to the missing phone.
• Best way to find iPhone: Use Apple Find My or iCloud Find Devices.
• Can Android be found offline? On supported devices, Find Hub can use encrypted recent locations and its offline-finding network; some supported phones can remain findable for several hours after power-off.
• Should you trust “free online IMEI GPS trackers”? Be cautious. A site that only asks for an IMEI normally cannot independently reveal the phone's live GPS position.

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Table of Content

Part 1: What Is an IMEI Number?

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It is a device identifier used by mobile networks to distinguish compatible phones and other cellular devices. A dual-SIM phone may have more than one IMEI.

The IMEI is different from your SIM or phone number. A SIM identifies your mobile subscription, while the IMEI identifies the handset. Carriers can use an IMEI to help block a lost or stolen device from accessing mobile networks, but that does not mean the IMEI itself exposes the phone's live GPS location to the public.

Part 2: How to Find the IMEI on Android or iPhone

You may need the IMEI when reporting a stolen phone to your carrier, police, insurer, or an official lost-device service.

Method 1: Dial *#06#

On many phones, open the Phone app and dial *#06#. The device's IMEI number or numbers should appear on screen.

Method 2: Check device settings

Android: Open Settings and look under About phone or a similar device-information section. Menu names vary by manufacturer.

iPhone: Open Settings > General > About, then scroll to IMEI.

Method 3: Check an official lost-device service

Google Find Hub can display the IMEI for supported Android phones linked to your Google Account. This can be useful if the device is already missing and you did not record the number in advance.

Part 3: Can You Track a Phone Using IMEI?

Not directly as a normal consumer. An IMEI is useful for identifying a device on cellular networks, but it is not a public GPS coordinate. A legitimate live-location service normally relies on a device account, location permission, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular-network data.

Android: use Google Find Hub instead of an "IMEI tracker" app

Google's current lost-device service is Find Hub. If the Android phone is linked to your Google Account and the required settings are enabled, Find Hub can show a current or recent location, play a sound, mark the device as lost, or erase it. Supported Android devices can also use encrypted recent locations and the Find Hub network for offline finding.

Note: the screenshots above are retained from an older version of this guide and may not match the current Find Hub interface.

iPhone: use Apple Find My

For iPhone, use Find My, which is tied to your Apple Account rather than the IMEI. If Find My and the Find My network were enabled, supported iPhones may remain findable for a period after they are powered off or disconnected.

1. On another Apple device, open Find My and choose the Devices tab, or use iCloud Find Devices in a browser.
2. Select the missing iPhone.
3. Review the available current or last-known location.
4. Use Play Sound or Mark as Lost if appropriate.
5. Erase the device only if recovery appears unlikely and you understand the consequences.

Here are more articles about the same topic: 

5 Methods to Track a Lost Phone

How to Track an Android Phone for Free 2023?

Top 10 best SMS Trackers for Android and iPhone

Part 4: What to Do With an IMEI if Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen

Method 1: Contact your mobile carrier

Give your carrier the IMEI and explain that the device is lost or stolen. The carrier may be able to suspend service or block the handset's IMEI from mobile-network access. Availability and procedures vary by carrier and country.

Method 2: Use CEIR / Sanchar Saathi in India

India's Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), available through Sanchar Saathi, lets eligible users report a lost or stolen phone and request that its IMEI be blocked across participating mobile networks.

1. Go to the official CEIR/Sanchar Saathi lost-mobile service.
2. Submit the requested mobile number, IMEI, loss details, identity information, and supporting documents.
3. Keep the request ID so you can check status or request unblocking if the phone is recovered.

Method 3: Check IMEI status, but do not confuse status with location

Some public tools can check whether an IMEI is reported lost, stolen, or blacklisted. That can be useful when buying a used phone or documenting a theft, but it does not normally reveal the device's current GPS position.

Part 5: Other Ways to Locate a Phone

Cell phone tracking apps are available for phone tracking purposes and have a wide range of features that cover tracking alert services, keeping a record of online activities, etc. Usually, cell phone tracking apps are network-based, handset-based, and SIM-based. They operate over Wi-Fi and hot-spot networks also.

Mobile phone tracking apps help in monitoring and tracking the location and position of destination mobile phones using radio signals via GPS access. When these types of apps are installed on your destination mobile phone, they keep you up-to-date about the current position of the respective phone.

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