How Many Digits Does an IMEI Number Have?

If you are wondering how many digits an IMEI number has, the standard answer is 15 digits. A normal IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a 15-digit identifier used to identify cellular mobile equipment. When you see an IMEI on a phone, box, receipt, or device-information screen, you will normally find a sequence of 15 numbers.

That sounds simple, but there are a few details that cause confusion. Some phones display more than one IMEI, some people mistake an IMEI for a serial number, and an IMEISV can contain 16 digits. Understanding these differences makes it much easier to know whether the number you have is actually a complete IMEI.

The Short Answer: 15 Digits

A standard IMEI contains:

15 digits

For example, an IMEI may look like:

356789123456789

The numbers are normally displayed together without spaces or hyphens, although a website, phone settings screen, label, or document may format them differently for readability.

If you have only 14 digits, 16 digits, letters, or an otherwise unusual sequence, do not automatically assume it is a valid standard IMEI. You may be looking at another device identifier or an incomplete number.

Why Does an IMEI Have 15 Digits?

The 15-digit format is designed to provide a structured identifier for cellular equipment.

A modern IMEI is generally made up of three important parts:

• TAC — Type Allocation Code: 8 digits
• SNR — Serial Number: 6 digits
• Check Digit: 1 digit

Together:

8 + 6 + 1 = 15 digits

The first eight digits identify the device type allocation, while the next six digits distinguish the individual device within that allocation. The final digit is used as a check digit to help validate the number.

This is why the position of each digit matters rather than the number simply being a random 15-digit code.

What Is the Structure of a 15-Digit IMEI?

A simplified representation looks like this:

12345678 123456 7

Where:

12345678 = TAC
123456 = device serial number portion
7 = check digit

The actual values will be different for every device, and the first eight digits do not simply mean that you can decode every characteristic of a phone from the number alone.

This is important because older websites sometimes publish IMEI-decoding charts that claim particular digits reveal the manufacturing country, year, factory, or other information. Those interpretations should not be treated as universally reliable for modern devices.

What Is the TAC in an IMEI?

TAC stands for Type Allocation Code.

The TAC occupies the first eight digits of a modern IMEI and is associated with a particular approved device type.

For example, two phones of the same model family can share the same TAC while having different remaining digits.

That means the TAC helps identify the device type, while the complete IMEI distinguishes the individual cellular equipment identifier.

If you want to investigate what device is associated with a particular IMEI, you can use the IMEI Lookup Tool rather than trying to interpret the entire number manually.

What Is the Serial Number Portion of an IMEI?

The next six digits are commonly referred to as the Serial Number (SNR) portion of the IMEI.

This section contributes to distinguishing one unit from another within the relevant type allocation.

However, it should not be confused with the manufacturer’s separate device serial number.

This is an easy mistake to make because the word “serial” appears in both contexts.

Your phone can therefore have:

IMEI: 15-digit cellular equipment identifier

and separately:

Serial Number: manufacturer-assigned product identifier

They are not interchangeable.

What Is the Last Digit of an IMEI?

The final digit of a standard IMEI is the check digit.

Its purpose is different from the other digits. It is calculated using a validation method known as the Luhn algorithm.

This means the final digit can be used as part of checking whether the complete 15-digit sequence is mathematically consistent with the expected IMEI format.

However, passing a mathematical check does not prove that the IMEI belongs to a particular phone, that the phone is genuine, or that the device has a clean network status.

A number can have a valid structure without necessarily representing the device you were told it represents.

Does Every Phone Have Only One IMEI?

No.

Many modern smartphones support multiple cellular connections, particularly dual-SIM configurations.

As a result, the device may display:

IMEI 1
IMEI 2

Both can contain 15 digits.

This does not mean that one of them is automatically fake or incorrect.

Instead, the two identifiers can correspond to different cellular interfaces or SIM configurations supported by the same physical phone.

When a carrier or device-checking service asks for an IMEI, make sure you provide the correct one.

Why Does My Phone Show IMEI 1 and IMEI 2?

A dual-SIM phone may use separate identifiers for its two cellular connections.

For example:

IMEI 1: 356789123456789
IMEI 2: 356789123456797

Both numbers can be legitimate IMEIs belonging to the same smartphone.

This is particularly important when checking a used device. If the phone displays two IMEIs, do not check only one and assume the result automatically applies to both.

If you are investigating network or reported-status information, check the identifier relevant to the SIM or cellular connection you are using.

Updated: September 8, 2026

Is an IMEI Always Exactly 15 Digits?

A standard IMEI is 15 digits.

However, you may encounter other numbers that look very similar.

The most common source of confusion is IMEISV.

IMEISV stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity and Software Version and contains 16 digits.

So:

IMEI = 15 digits

IMEISV = 16 digits

If a website asks specifically for an IMEI and you enter a 16-digit IMEISV instead, the service may reject the number or return an incorrect result.

What Is an IMEISV?

An IMEISV is related to the IMEI but contains an additional two-digit software version component.

The IMEISV structure is commonly represented as:

• 8-digit TAC
• 6-digit device serial number
• 2-digit software version number

That produces:

8 + 6 + 2 = 16 digits

The IMEISV should therefore not be confused with a standard 15-digit IMEI.

If you are simply checking your phone’s IMEI, look for the field specifically labelled IMEI, IMEI 1, or IMEI 2.

Why Do Some IMEI Numbers Look Different?

The presentation can vary even when the underlying identifier follows the same format.

You might see an IMEI:

• As one 15-digit number
• Split into groups for readability
• Printed next to a barcode
• Listed as IMEI 1 or IMEI 2
• Displayed in a phone’s About section
• Shown on a purchase document
• Included in carrier records

Formatting does not necessarily change the identifier.

For example:

356789123456789

and

35678 912345 6789

may simply represent the same sequence when a service inserts spaces for readability.

When entering an IMEI into an online checker, it is generally safest to enter the digits exactly as requested by that service.

What If My IMEI Has Only 14 Digits?

If you believe your phone’s IMEI contains only 14 digits, first check whether you accidentally left out one digit.

A complete standard IMEI should contain 15 digits.

Possible reasons for seeing a shorter number include:

• A digit was copied incorrectly.
• One digit was accidentally omitted.
• The displayed information was truncated.
• You are looking at another identifier.
• The phone has a software or firmware problem.
• The device is displaying an invalid or incomplete IMEI.

If the phone itself is showing an incomplete, null, or unknown IMEI, do not try to guess the missing digit.

Instead, investigate the device problem first. Our IMEI Repair Tool guide covers situations involving missing, invalid, null, or corrupted IMEI information.

What If My IMEI Has 16 Digits?

If you have 16 digits, check whether you are actually looking at an IMEISV rather than an IMEI.

You should also check the label or screen heading carefully.

Look specifically for:

IMEI

rather than:

IMEISV

Other numbers shown on a smartphone can also be mistaken for an IMEI, including:

• Serial number
• EID
• ICCID
• MEID
• Model number

These identifiers have different purposes and different formats.

What If My IMEI Contains Letters?

A standard IMEI is numeric.

If the identifier you have contains letters, it is probably not a standard 15-digit IMEI.

You may instead be looking at:

• A serial number
• A model number
• A device code
• An EID
• Another manufacturer identifier

This is why it is better to check the label attached to the number instead of assuming every long code printed on a phone is an IMEI.

How Can You Check Whether an IMEI Has 15 Digits?

You can start with a simple count.

Take the number and count every digit from left to right.

For example:

356789123456789

Counting the digits gives:

15

You can then use an appropriate IMEI service to investigate the number further.

Our IMEI Number Check Online Tool is designed for checking an IMEI, while the IMEI Lookup Tool focuses on looking up available information associated with a device identifier.

These are different purposes, so choose the tool based on what you actually want to know.

Does Having 15 Digits Mean an IMEI Is Valid?

Not necessarily.

Having 15 digits means the number has the expected length of a standard IMEI, but length alone does not establish that the identifier is legitimate or correctly associated with a particular phone.

A proper investigation can involve:

1. Checking the number’s format.
2. Checking the mathematical validity of the check digit.
3. Comparing it with the IMEI shown by the physical device.
4. Comparing it with the original packaging or purchase records.
5. Checking relevant device information.
6. Checking blacklist or reported status when appropriate.

This distinction matters when purchasing a used smartphone.

A 15-digit number can look perfectly normal while still being the wrong number for the device being sold.

Can Two Phones Have the Same IMEI?

A legitimate device identifier is intended to distinguish cellular equipment.

If two unrelated phones appear to have the same IMEI, that deserves investigation.

It could indicate:

• A data-entry mistake
• A copied number
• Incorrect device information
• A software problem
• An improperly serviced device
• An identifier-related issue

You should not assume that matching numbers are harmless simply because both numbers contain 15 digits.

When buying a used phone, compare the IMEI displayed by the phone itself with the number supplied by the seller and with available documentation.

Does the Number of IMEI Digits Change by Brand?

No.

Samsung, Apple, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus and other cellular-device manufacturers can use the standard 15-digit IMEI format.

The user interface may look different from one manufacturer to another, but the standard IMEI itself remains a 15-digit identifier.

The phone may also display other identifiers alongside it, which is one reason users sometimes think the IMEI format varies between brands.

Where Can You Find the 15-Digit IMEI?

If you already have the phone, one of the quickest methods on many devices is to dial:

*#06#

The phone may immediately display its IMEI information.

You can also look in the device settings.

On many Android phones, this is found under a section similar to:

Settings → About Phone

On an iPhone, it is generally located under:

Settings → General → About

Depending on the device, you may also find the IMEI on:

• Original packaging
• Purchase documentation
• Carrier records
• Insurance records
• Repair documentation
• Device account information

If you are trying to recover the IMEI from a phone you no longer have, these records can be especially useful.

Does the IMEI Length Tell You the Phone Model?

The 15-digit format itself does not tell you the exact model.

However, the TAC, which forms the first eight digits of a modern IMEI, is associated with a device type allocation.

That information can be useful when researching an IMEI, but you should not assume that manually reading individual digits will reveal every specification of the phone.

For reliable device information, use the appropriate lookup or verification service.

Is the IMEI Number the Same as the Serial Number?

No.

The fact that both are used to identify devices causes considerable confusion.

An IMEI is primarily associated with cellular equipment.

A manufacturer’s serial number is a separate product identifier.

For example, a Samsung Galaxy phone can have:

• IMEI 1
• IMEI 2
• Serial number
• Model number

All of these can appear together on the device-information screen, but they are not interchangeable.

Is the IMEI the Same as the SIM Card Number?

No.

The SIM card and the phone are different things.

The IMEI identifies cellular equipment, while identifiers such as the ICCID are associated with the SIM itself.

Changing the SIM card does not normally change the phone’s IMEI.

Likewise, changing your mobile number does not normally give the physical phone a new IMEI.

What Should You Do With a 15-Digit IMEI?

The answer depends on why you have the number.

If you simply want to understand the phone, an IMEI lookup can provide useful device-related information.

If you are buying a used phone, a blacklist check can be more important.

If you are troubleshooting a missing or invalid identifier, repair information is more relevant.

If you are researching IMEI modification tools, that is a separate technical subject.

The important thing is not to use one IMEI service for every situation.

For example:

Want to investigate device information?
Use the IMEI Lookup Tool.

Want to check device status?
Use the IMEI Blacklist Checker.

Want to perform a general IMEI check?
Use the IMEI Number Check Online Tool.

Have an invalid or missing original IMEI?
Read the IMEI Repair Tool information.

Quick IMEI Digit Guide

The most important number to remember is simple:

IMEI = 15 digits

If you see a different length, check the label carefully before assuming that something is wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many digits are in an IMEI number?

A standard IMEI number has 15 digits.

Is every IMEI exactly 15 digits?

A standard IMEI is 15 digits. A related identifier called IMEISV contains 16 digits, which is why some users encounter a 16-digit number when looking at device information.

Why does my phone have two 15-digit IMEI numbers?

Phones that support multiple cellular connections, such as many dual-SIM devices, can have IMEI 1 and IMEI 2. Each is normally 15 digits.

What are the first 8 digits of an IMEI?

The first eight digits form the Type Allocation Code (TAC), which is associated with the device type allocation.

What is the last digit of an IMEI?

The final digit is a check digit used for mathematical validation of the IMEI.

Can an IMEI have 16 digits?

A standard IMEI has 15 digits. A 16-digit identifier may be an IMEISV, which includes a software version component.

Can an IMEI have letters?

A standard IMEI is numeric. If your number contains letters, you are probably looking at another type of identifier.

Does an IMEI start with the same digits on every phone?

No. Different device types and allocations can have different TAC values, so the first digits vary.

Can I check whether my 15-digit IMEI is valid?

Yes. You can check its format and mathematical validity, and you can investigate the device through an appropriate IMEI-checking or lookup service. However, mathematical validity alone does not prove ownership, authenticity, or clean blacklist status.

Does changing a SIM card change the IMEI?

Normally, no. The IMEI identifies the cellular device, while the SIM identifies the subscription or SIM environment.

Where can I find my 15-digit IMEI?

You may find it by dialing *#06#, in the phone’s settings, on the original packaging, in purchase records, or through certain carrier and account records.

The Number to Remember

When someone asks “How many digits does an IMEI number have?”, the answer is straightforward:

A standard IMEI has 15 digits.

The number is structured rather than random: eight digits form the TAC, six digits represent the device serial-number portion, and the final digit is a check digit.

The confusion usually starts when a phone has two IMEIs, when an IMEISV is mistaken for an IMEI, or when the IMEI is confused with the phone’s separate serial number.

So if you are holding a standard IMEI, you should expect 15 numeric digits. From there, the right next step depends on what you need to discover about the device—whether that means looking up its information, checking its status, or troubleshooting an invalid or missing IMEI.