What an IMEI actually is
The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a 15-digit number unique to every cellular device in the world. It doesn’t change with a SIM swap or a factory reset — it belongs to the hardware itself. Two otherwise identical devices will always carry different IMEIs.
Where to find it: dialing *#06# shows it on any phone; on iPhone it’s also in Settings → General → About; and on most devices it’s printed on the SIM tray or the back of the device.
How it works at intake
- 1The customer hands over a device — dial *#06# or locate the number, and enter it on the repair ticket.
- 2If the device won’t power on: check the SIM tray, the back of the device, or the original box.
- 3The IMEI is printed on the intake form the customer signs — proof of exactly which device was handed over.
- 4At pickup, verify the device against the form so the right device goes back to the right owner.
The bonus: a history for every device
When every repair is linked to an IMEI, a history builds up: this device was here six months ago for a screen, and you replaced its battery. That matters for warranty ("the screen we installed is still covered") and commercially: a customer back with the same device for the third time is an opening for a conversation about a replacement.
What about laptops, tablets, and consoles?
Hardware without a cellular modem has no IMEI — it has a serial number, and on Dell machines a Service Tag. The principle is identical: a unique hardware identifier, recorded at intake, printed on the form. If there’s no identifier at all (accessories, older devices), a detailed description plus a photo at intake does the job.
Common mistakes
- Recording the IMEI "later" — later, the device is already on a shelf next to ten others.
- Writing down only the last four digits — enough for confusion, not for identification.
- Leaving the identifier off the signed intake form.
- Relying on stickers — they fall off. The identifier belongs in the record, not just on the device.