Where to Find the Serial Number or IMEI on Your Phone, Laptop, Console or Camera

Official steps for each device type, what to do when the device won't turn on, and why the number in Settings should match the box and the bill.

By the OwnVouch team16 Sep 20267 min read

Serial number or IMEI: which do you need?

• IMEI is a 15-digit number that identifies a phone, or a tablet with mobile data, on mobile networks. India's CEIR system blocks and checks phones by IMEI. Dual-SIM phones have two, and Google notes that Pixel phones supporting both a SIM and an eSIM have one for each.
• Serial number is the manufacturer's own identifier. Every device has one, including laptops, consoles and cameras that have no IMEI. Warranty and repair checks usually use the serial number.

For a phone, note both. For anything else, the serial number is what you need.

At a glance

Menu names can differ slightly between software versions and regions.

Phones

Any phone: dial *#06#

Open the phone app and dial *#06#. The IMEI appears on screen. The government's CEIR manual gives this code alongside the Settings route. Samsung India notes that on Galaxy phones it also shows the serial number, and that it works only where your network supports it. If nothing appears, use Settings.

iPhone

Go to Settings > General > About. Apple says to look for the serial number there, and to scroll down for the IMEI, along with the EID and ICCID. Other places, depending on the model:

• iPhone 13 and later: IMEI on the SIM tray, on models that have one.
• iPhone 6 to iPhone SE (1st generation): IMEI engraved on the back.
• Apple notes that iPhone 14 models and later don't have an IMEI engraving on the body.
• If the phone won't start, check the original box, or sign in at account.apple.com and look under Devices. You can also connect the phone to a computer and use Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app or iTunes on Windows.

Android

Samsung: Samsung India lists Settings > About phone, the *#06# code, the sticker on the device, the Samsung Members app (Support tab, then your device name), and the box label or invoice.

Pixel: Google lists Settings > About phone, the box, the SIM tray, and Find Hub. In Find Hub, select the phone and tap the information icon to see its IMEI. Find Hub is useful if the phone is lost.

Other brands: Settings > About phone is the usual route, though the exact menu varies. If you can't find it, *#06# and the box label are the quickest alternatives.

Tablets

On an iPad, use Settings > General > About. Apple says the serial number is also on the back of the iPad. Cellular iPads also show an IMEI in the same About screen. Android tablets follow the Android phone steps above.

Laptops

MacBook and other Macs

Apple lists several routes:

• Apple menu > About This Mac
• System Information: hold Option, choose Apple menu > System Information, then Hardware
• The underside of the Mac, near the regulatory markings, or the original box
• account.apple.com, under Devices
• Terminal: ioreg -l | grep IOPlatformSerialNumber

Windows laptops

Most manufacturers print the serial number (Dell calls it a Service Tag) on a label on the underside, and on the box. From Windows, you can read the serial number stored in the firmware with PowerShell:

Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object SerialNumber

This uses Microsoft's documented Win32_BIOS class, which includes a SerialNumber property. The older wmic bios get serialnumber command no longer works on current Windows 11. Microsoft has removed the WMIC tool and points people to PowerShell. Some manufacturers also show the serial number in their support app or in the BIOS/UEFI setup screen.

Microsoft Surface

Microsoft says the easiest route is the Surface app. You can also look in Settings > System > About, on the device itself (on Surface Pro, flip out the kickstand and look near its base), in Surface UEFI, on the box's barcode label, or at account.microsoft.com/devices.

Game consoles

• PlayStation 5: Settings > System > System Software > Console Information. Sony says the number is also on the bottom of the console when it stands upright, so remove the base first if one is attached.
• Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One: Settings > System > Console info, the label on the back, or account.microsoft.com/devices if the console is registered.
• Nintendo Switch and Switch 2: System Settings > System, then the serial number option, where the console serial is at the top of the list. It's also on a sticker on the console (on Switch 2, under the kickstand) and in the window on the bottom of the box.

Cameras and lenses

Where camera serial numbers are printed varies by brand and model. Fujifilm is a good example of how much it varies. Its guide lists the baseplate near the tripod mount, behind a tilting or vari-angle screen, and inside the battery or memory card compartment. Lens serial numbers are usually on the barrel near the mount. The box label also carries the serial number. For other brands, check the manual or the manufacturer's support page for your exact model.

Check that the numbers match

Whether you're buying, selling or filing a report, the number should be the same everywhere:

1. The number shown in Settings or by *#06#
2. The number on the box label
3. The number on the invoice

A mismatch doesn't always mean fraud, since boxes do get swapped. It is a reason to stop and ask questions. For phones in India, you can also text KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422. According to the CEIR manual, the reply shows the device details, or says the IMEI is invalid or blacklisted. Our guide on checking whether a second-hand phone is stolen explains what those results mean and what they don't. If you're buying an iPhone, see the used iPhone checklist as well.

Write them down now

You'll need these numbers most when you no longer have the device, for example to block a stolen phone or make an insurance claim. Take a photo of the About screen and the box label and store it somewhere other than the device. Keep the invoice too. Lost the bill? explains what else can help.

Where OwnVouch fits

Once you have a serial number or IMEI, you can type it into OwnVouch's free public lookup, with no account needed. It shows whether the device is registered, whether it has been flagged lost or stolen, and what the device is. It never shows who holds it. A clean result isn't proof a device isn't stolen, because a registry only knows what has been reported to it, so use it alongside the CEIR check. In the app, now in closed beta, you can register a device with evidence such as a photo of the serial number or box label.

Sources

1. Apple Support: Find the serial number or IMEI on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
2. Apple Support: Find the model and serial number of your Mac
3. Samsung India: Where can I check IMEI, model name and serial number
4. Google: Find your IMEI and other Pixel phone ID numbers
5. Microsoft Support: Find the serial number for your Surface device
6. Microsoft Learn: Win32_BIOS class
7. Microsoft Support: WMIC removal from Windows
8. PlayStation: How to find PS5 console serial and model numbers
9. Xbox Support: Find the Xbox console ID, device ID and serial number
10. Nintendo UK: How to find the serial number on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch
11. Fujifilm: How to find a serial number on your Fujifilm camera or lens
12. C-DOT / DoT: CEIR User Manual for Mobile User, Version 03