Smart phones have become our constant companions these days, no matter where we are or whatever we are doing, we always have our phones with us. One can’t stand even the thought of losing a phone. However, no matter how attentive or prudent you are it can just happen with the blink of an eye. As per the data about 70 million smartphones are lost/stolen each year and out of which only about 7 per cent are recovered.
But here’s the catch you can still track your phone if you’ve lost it or got it stolen even if it is on silent! And this you can do easily with IMEI Number. So, in this article we’ll discuss in brief about IMEI Tracker- what is IMEI Number, where to find it, how to use it and much more.
INTRODUCTION
An IMEI or in other words International Mobile Equipment identity is a unique 15–17-digit number used by service providers which helps to uniquely distinguishes a device from others by giving it a unique identity. There cannot be any other device with the same IMEI number. Devices with Dual SIM slots have two IMEI numbers. Unlike SIM card number it cannot be changed. Sim card can sometimes be used to find the owner specific details while IMEI it rather provides the access to track hardware information even if the SIM card is changed. Incase of theft or lost IMEI allows GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication to identify the valid device and block it from accessing the network
If you have lost your smart phone or got it stolen you don’t have to worry anymore as IMEI Tracker is a very efficient way of tracking a device even if the you don’t have the access to the sim card or it’s been changed. The moment a phone uses any network to initiate or receive call or a message it IMEI number can be tracked automatically. Now a days to curb the increasing mobile thefts many countries have acknowledged the use of IMEI tracking.
ABOUT ONLINE IMEI TRACKERS
In era of smart world, today it is possible to do almost everything and anything online. The constant development in the field of modern technologies it is now possible to track a device online that too for free. All you have to do is to enter the IMEI number and you will be able to access your device’s location without getting into technological complexities. It could be a life saver in delicate situations. Online IMEI trackers provide quick service just with a click you can locate a stolen, misplaced or a lost device. The fact that the procedure of changing an IMEI number is a very difficult and complex adds to its efficiency.
Online IMEI Trackers generate a precise geolocation and besides the location it also displays your device on map so that one can navigate to the accurate location.
HOW TO FIND AN IMEI NUMBER?
The IMEI or International Mobile Equipment identity number is different for all devices. Every mobile or GSM device with built-in phone has this Unique identity number. the unique 15-digit IMEI Number comes handy with most of the devices. The IMEI number can be easily found using multiple ways:
In case you have lost the mobile phone you can still access the IMEI number as it can be easily found on box of your device. It number comes handy with the device check for the sticker containing the IMEI number and other specifications inside the box or at its back side.
Check the sim tray or back side of the battery
Another way to find IMEI number of your device is to check the sim tray or remove the battery as manufacturers engraves it or prints the sticker inside the phone as well. However, it is no more an efficient way of finding the IMEI number as now-a-days most of the latest launched smart phones don’t allow the access to remove the battery. It is a complicated process to remove the battery from most of the latest smartphones.
This is the most commonly used method to find the IMEI number as it works on almost all devices. USSD Codes also known as secret codes are used to unlock hidden actions on your device. The USSD code to find IMEI number is *#06#. You can follow the followings steps to access the IMEI CODE on your device
Step 1: open the dial app of your phone
Step 2: dial the USSD Code *#06#
The IMEI number of your device will appear.
Find IMEI number of your android Device .
To find the IMEI code of your Android device
Open the setting app-scroll down to the bottom- select about phone
and you will find the IMEI number of your android device
Find IMEI Number using your IOS Device.
The IMEI number in an IOS is located in the iPhone settings App
Open Setting-Tap General-open about
Scroll down and you’ll find the IMEI Number of your IOS device.
How is IMEI number useful
The Primary and the most vital use of IMEI number is to keep a track of the hardware devices. Using IMEI number any stolen / lost or misplaces mobile phone can be tracked easily.
However, IMEI number hold all device specific detailed information which can be useful in many ways.
If you are buying a new smartphone, you can use the IMEI number to check its specifications, manufacturing details and whether the product is genuine or not. It becomes more vital if you are purchasing it from an online website or a local store.
In case you are buying an used phone, IMEI number could be the saver as checking the IMEI number can enable the user to access the information like the country or network from where the device originated, when was it activated, carrier information and more such specific details. Such details can help you evaluate your decision of buying the used device.
IMEI number is used by many Governments, law enforcements and national securities in order to track the devices and maintain the law and order.
It holds importance for network providers as well based on reports they can blacklist/block or unblock a device.
How to use IMEI number to locate Lost/stolen phone online
With an increase in theft of smart phones the need of efficient trackers has also increased. Constant enhancements as per the upgraded technologies have provided us many efficient online IMEI tracker tools. These enable us to track lost, stolen and misplaced devices without installing applications, all you need to know is your IMEI number.
Search for IMEI tracker – choose the appropriate website – you’ll find a form to enter the IMEI number- choose the correct country- That’s it!
It might take up to 2 minutes to show the result or track the lost or stolen mobile.
Once it displays the results, you’ll be able to locate the device’s location on map to get the directions to recover your phone. It will make it certain whether its stolen or lost. These Online trackers are the most hassle-free way to track your lost or stolen phone. It does not involve any legal formalities to be completed and it is completely free of cost. Moreover, you don’t have to enter any personal details just the IMEI number and the country.
Other ways to track lost or stolen device
Phone finder applications
There are many applications easily available to locate lost or stolen phones on android as well as IOS. These apps are user friendly and provide an inexpensive way of tracking stolen devices. Find my iPhone, mspy iPhone tracker Google find my device, find my phone, IMEITracker, etc. are a few commonly used phone finder applications. Here’s how you can use these applications to track a lost or stolen device:
Find my iPhone is the most commonly used iPhone tracker app. It was an app developed by Apple to make it easier to locate all apple devices even if they are offline. It later got enhanced and merged into app Find my. icloud. It not only allows the users to locate the device on map but also enables the user to play a sound, display message and even erase the data from the lost or stolen iPhone. To get started:
Open the Find my iPhone app on other device- Go to the devices tab- Find the device in the list. That’s it
Now you can locate it on map, play sound on it, mark it lost or even erase its data
Phone finder apps are easily available on google play store which allow the users to find their android devices using IMEI number. Most of these provide tracking service free of cost. You can simply install them and get started here’s how
Open google play store-Search for IMEI tracker or Find my Phone-choose a good rating app- Install the app- Once installed allow all the permissions-you might have to register using email id or you can switch to sign in as guest-Now enter the IMEI number- and it will display the results
You can not only get directions to locate your phone but also play a sound or erase data. All you have to do is to choose the appropriate application and install it.
Just like find my iPhone service of IOS, android devices also have this in-built Feature which enables you to track the location of your device. Google timelines tracks the history of your location or routes you have taken to travel a certain distance and creates an estimated timeline. You can access this timeline anytime and go back to any date. Google timeline also allows you to erase your location history any time. It is an indisputable important feature which allows you to access your location history and even erase it. As far as privacy is concerned only you have access to this data but if you still have privacy concerns you use another feature which allows you to instruct Google to delete the data after a certain time period.
To access your lost or stolen android device’s location using Google timeline you just need to follow these simply steps:
Step 1: Open Google maps on any other android device, pc or laptop.
Step 2: login with the same account you have logged in with in your lost/stolen device
Step 3: Tap on your profile icon appearing on the top left or right.
Step 4: A pop-up menu will appear, now choose your timeline option.
Step 4: Select Today or the date you lost your device.
A timeline of routes will appear. You can click and access the details of routes and travel.
CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register)
CEIR is an initiative to discourage the theft of smart phones. It connects the IMEI database of all operators. Many countries have implemented CEIR. CEIR might also have other information linked apart from the IMEI depending upon the rules and regulations of the mobile equipment identity registration in specific countries. It enables to block the stolen or misplaced devices from all network operators. The objective was to black-list the stolen or lost devices from all networks simultaneously. Suppose a stolen device is blacklisted by certain operator the interconnectivity of database will allow to blacklist it by other network operators as well.
The government of India has launched the Central Equipment Identity Register with initiative to curb the increase in theft of smartphones which allows the user to block the stolen device and helps police to track it.
Step 1: Filing an FIR is the first most step as you need to upload a copy of it on the Central Equipment identity register portal.
Step 2: After filing an FIR you can get a duplicate SIM card issued by the operator.
Step 3: Go to the CEIR portal, Select the Block lost/stolen Mobile option
Step 4: Fill up all the relevant details.
Device information: IMEI number, Mobile number, Purchase details
Personal information: Owner’s detail like address, ID proof, etc.
Lost information: Place and time of theft/lost, Police complaint details.
Step 5: Attach a copy of FIR and your identity proof.
Step 6: Verify the details and generate OTP, accept the declaration and proceed.
Your request will be submitted. Don’t forget to note or copy the Request ID.
The CEIR portal also allows you to unblock the device once you have recovered it.
Conclusion
There is no dispute in the fact that how efficient these IMEI trackers though there are a number of ways available to locate or track a stolen or lost mobile phone. These online IMEI trackers have come up with the platforms to track lost / theft / misplaced devices without getting into technological and legal complexities. The fact that these online IMEI trackers are free of cost and saves time add up to its utility making it most preferrable way to track a stolen or lost device in today’s rapidly developing technological world.
However merely tracking your lost or stolen device is not enough. The first thing you should do once it is confirmed that your device is stolen is to block the device to access network at least till the time you are able to recover it. This would help in ensuring that the thief would not be able to misuse your device for any criminal activity.
