# IMEI Key: `technology.code.imei` International Mobile Equipment Identity. 15-digit identifier for mobile devices. Last digit is a check digit (Luhn algorithm). Page: Samples: `490154203237518`, `352043068649148`, `011245002151205` ## Background ### Origin 3GPP TS 22.016 is the specification titled International Mobile station Equipment Identities (IMEI).[[1]](https://etsi.org/deliver/etsi_TS/122000_122099/122016/03.02.00_60/ts_122016v030200p.pdf) 3GPP TS 22.016 defines an IMEI as a unique number which shall be allocated to each individual mobile station equipment and unconditionally implemented by the manufacturer.[[1]](https://etsi.org/deliver/etsi_TS/122000_122099/122016/03.02.00_60/ts_122016v030200p.pdf) 3GPP TS 22.016 gives the main objective as being able to take measures against the use of stolen equipment, or of equipment whose use in the network can no longer be tolerated for technical reasons.[[1]](https://etsi.org/deliver/etsi_TS/122000_122099/122016/03.02.00_60/ts_122016v030200p.pdf) 3GPP TS 22.016 says the IMEI shall not be changed after the equipment's final production process.[[1]](https://etsi.org/deliver/etsi_TS/122000_122099/122016/03.02.00_60/ts_122016v030200p.pdf) 3GPP TS 22.016 points to TS 23.003 for the detailed structure of the IMEI.[[1]](https://etsi.org/deliver/etsi_TS/122000_122099/122016/03.02.00_60/ts_122016v030200p.pdf) Under 3GPP TS 23.003, each element of an IMEI consists of decimal digits only.[[2]](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) 3GPP TS 23.003 gives the first element as the Type Allocation Code (TAC), 8 digits long.[[2]](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) 3GPP TS 23.003 gives the second element as the Serial Number (SNR), 6 digits long, which uniquely identifies each equipment within the TAC.[[2]](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) 3GPP TS 23.003 says the Check Digit is intended to avoid manual transmission errors, for example when customers register stolen equipment at the operator's customer care desk.[[2]](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) 3GPP TS 23.003 refers to Annex B of ISO/IEC 7812 for the method of computing the Luhn check.[[2]](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) 3GPP TS 23.003 says the Type Allocation Code is issued by the GSM Association in its capacity as the Global Decimal Administrator.[[2]](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) 3GPP TS 23.003 says manufacturers shall allocate individual serial numbers in a sequential order.[[2]](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) The first two digits of the TAC are the Reporting Body Identifier, which indicates the GSMA-approved group that allocated the TAC.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Equipment_Identity) Before 2002 the TAC was six digits long and was followed by a Final Assembly Code.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Equipment_Identity) The Final Assembly Code ceased to exist after 1 April 2004.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Equipment_Identity) ### Use 3GPP TS 22.016 describes white, grey and black lists that a network operator can use to make administrative use of the IMEI.[[1]](https://etsi.org/deliver/etsi_TS/122000_122099/122016/03.02.00_60/ts_122016v030200p.pdf) 3GPP TS 22.016 says the black list contains all equipment identities that belong to equipment that needs to be barred.[[1]](https://etsi.org/deliver/etsi_TS/122000_122099/122016/03.02.00_60/ts_122016v030200p.pdf) 3GPP TS 23.003 also defines the IMEISV, a 16-digit number made of the 8-digit TAC, the 6-digit SNR and a 2-digit Software Version Number.[[2]](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) 3GPP TS 23.003 says the Check Digit is not applied to the Software Version Number.[[2]](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) Treat a 16-digit value in an IMEI column as a possible IMEISV, and compare devices on the first 14 digits rather than on the whole string. (Meridian's view) Keep IMEIs as text rather than numbers, strip hyphens and spaces, and then check for exactly 15 digits and a valid Luhn digit. (Meridian's view) RFC 7254 says IMEIs are almost always personally identifiable information.[[4]](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7254.html) RFC 7254 says the IMEI URN must not be used as a user identifier or user address by an application.[[4]](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7254.html) Starting in Android 10, apps must have the READ\_PRIVILEGED\_PHONE\_STATE privileged permission to access the device's non-resettable identifiers, which include the IMEI.[[5]](https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/privacy/changes) Android's documentation says third-party apps installed from the Google Play Store cannot declare privileged permissions.[[5]](https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/privacy/changes) Handle an IMEI column as personal data: hash it or leave it out unless the analysis really needs to know which device is which. (Meridian's view) ### Where you'll meet it Apple says the IMEI/MEID can be found on the barcode on the original packaging.[[6]](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108037) Apple says iPhone 14 models and later don't have an IMEI/MEID engraving.[[6]](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108037) ## Sources 1. [ETSI TS 122 016 V3.2.0 (2000-06): International Mobile station Equipment Identities (IMEI) (3G TS 22.016 version 3.2.0 Release 1999)](https://etsi.org/deliver/etsi_TS/122000_122099/122016/03.02.00_60/ts_122016v030200p.pdf) — standard 2. [ETSI TS 123 003 V17.9.0 (2023-04): Numbering, addressing and identification (3GPP TS 23.003 version 17.9.0 Release 17)](https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/123000_123099/123003/17.09.00_60/ts_123003v170900p.pdf) — standard 3. [International Mobile Equipment Identity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Equipment_Identity) — secondary source 4. [RFC 7254: A Uniform Resource Name Namespace for the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) and the International Mobile station Equipment Identity (IMEI)](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7254.html) — standard 5. [Privacy changes in Android 10 \| Android Developers](https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/privacy/changes) — documentation 6. [Find the serial number or IMEI on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108037) — organisation