IMEI Status Check
Paste any phone's 15-digit IMEI to check status across the GSMA registry, US carrier blacklists, and financing-block databases. Used by buyback resellers and individual buyers before paying for a used phone.
What this tool checks
- GSMA Blacklist: the international standard for lost / stolen reporting. Devices flagged here can't activate on any major carrier in the US.
- Carrier financing block: Verizon Device Payment Plan, AT&T Device Protection, T-Mobile blacklist. Devices with unpaid balances get blocked at the device level.
- Manufacturer + model: the IMEI reveals the device family. A mismatch with the seller's claim is a red flag.
- IMEI format validity: the IMEI is checksummed (Luhn algorithm). Invalid IMEIs are usually typos, sometimes spoofed values.
What this tool does NOT check
Account locks (iCloud Activation Lock, Google FRP, Samsung Reactivation Lock) are tied to the previous owner's account, not the IMEI. A phone can have a clean IMEI but still be account-locked. Verify those separately:
- iPhone: how to clear iCloud Activation Lock
- Android: how to clear Google FRP
- Samsung Galaxy: how to clear Samsung Reactivation Lock
How to find the IMEI
Three ways, in order of speed:
- Dial
*#06#on the phone — IMEI displays instantly. Works on every GSM phone. - Settings → General → About (iPhone) or Settings → About phone (Android).
- Pull the SIM tray — the IMEI is laser-etched on most newer iPhones.