IMEI Validiation Information

This page is going to be dedicated to finding out all there is to know about the IMEI system.

How do I get the IMEI number?

You can obtain your IMEI number by pressing *#06# on your mobile phone, or some phones have it etched into the back of the phone or under the battery.

Luhn's Proof

Interactive example of how we did the validation above using Luhn formula.

As an example since you have not tried to validate an IMEI yet we will use 35780502 398494 2 as the test number to demonstrate how to use Luhn's formula.

The check digit (x) is obtained by computing the sum of digits then computing 9 times that value modulo 10 (so that is: (68 * 9 mod 10)).

In summary:

1. Compute the sum of the digits (68).
2. Multiply by 9 (612).
3. Take the last digit (2).
4. The result is your check digit.

Composition of IMEI

The IMEI is composed of the following elements (each element shall consist of decimal digits only):

1. Type Allocation Code (TAC). Its length is 8 digits;
2. Serial Number (SNR) is an individual serial number uniquely identifying each equipment within the TAC. Its length is 6 digits;
3. Spare digit: this digit shall be zero, when transmitted by the MS.

• The IMEI (14 digits) is complemented by a check digit. The check digit is not part of the digits transmitted when the IMEI is checked, as described below. The Check Digit is intended to avoid manual transmission errors, e.g. when customers register stolen MEs at the operator's customer care desk.
• The Check Digit is defined according to the Luhn formula, as defined above.
• NOTE: The Check Digit is not applied to the Software Version Number.