What is IMEI?
Dial star hash 06 hash to see your IMEI; on an eSIM handset the EID appears on the same screen. It is the quickest compatibility check there is.
What an IMEI actually is
An IMEI is the identity number of the handset itself. It belongs to the hardware, not to a SIM, not to an account, and it does not change with whatever plan you buy. Swap the SIM, change supplier or change eSIM plan and the number stays the same, because it points at the device and nothing else.
For a traveller it matters in two ways. First, it is a shortcut for checking whether the handset really carries an eSIM chip, because on an eSIM-capable phone the EID usually appears on the same screen. Second, it identifies the device when you need help, or when you have to confirm a handset with the operator that sold it.
It is worth being clear from the start that an IMEI does not tell you everything about your phone. It does not say which plans will work, it does not say whether the handset is carrier-locked, and on its own it does not mean the phone supports eSIM. The number is where a compatibility check starts, not where it ends.
How to find the IMEI and the EID
The fastest route is a dial code typed into the phone app, which works on most handsets whatever the brand. The second route is the settings screen, where the menu position varies by manufacturer and OS version, so the settings search field is more reliable than following a fixed menu path someone wrote down.
- 1Dial *#06# in the phone appType the code into the dialler; you do not need to press call. The identity numbers appear immediately, and on a handset with an eSIM chip the EID is usually shown on the same screen.
- 2Read every line on that screenThe screen can show more than one number. Dual-SIM handsets normally carry two IMEIs, and other identifiers may sit alongside them. Read the label on each line before you write anything down.
- 3If the code does nothing, search the settingsOpen settings and type IMEI into the search box. Most phones will jump straight to the device information or about screen. Where that screen lives differs by brand, so there is no single menu path that fits every handset.
- 4Check whether an EID is presentThe EID identifies the eSIM chip. If you can see an EID, the hardware really has one. If you cannot see it at all, check the settings screen as a second route before concluding, because some models display it in a different place.
- 5Save it somewhere you can read offlineScreenshot it or keep it in an offline note, because the moment you actually need the number tends to be a moment when the connection is already misbehaving.
- 6Compare it against the box or the receiptThe box and the purchase paperwork usually carry the same number. If you are buying a second-hand phone before a trip, matching the number on the screen with the one on the box is a simple check worth doing.
Telling the different numbers apart
That one screen usually shows several numbers, and people mix them up when sending details to support. The table below sets out what each one is and when it is the right thing to send.
| Number | What it identifies | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| IMEI | The handset itself | Identifying the device, confirming it with an operator, describing it to support |
| EID | The eSIM chip inside the device | Confirming an eSIM chip exists, and required at some stages of issuing a profile |
| ICCID | One SIM or one profile | Pinpointing the plan or profile you are talking about |
| Device serial number | The handset in the manufacturer's own system | Warranty and manufacturer service |
If you are unsure which one is wanted, ask first rather than sending all of them at once
The commonest mix-up is between the IMEI and the EID, since both appear on the same screen and both are long strings of digits. The simplest way to keep them apart: the IMEI is about the handset, the EID is about the eSIM chip inside it. Sending the wrong one is not dangerous, but it slows help down because someone has to ask again.
How the IMEI helps with compatibility
The reason eSIM advice so often starts with *#06# is not that the IMEI itself declares eSIM support. It is that the EID appears on that screen. If you see an EID, the chip is physically there, and that is the first condition to clear before anything else is worth discussing.
But having the chip does not guarantee it will work. At least two more conditions have to hold. The handset must not be locked to the operator that sold it, and the software on that model, in the market where it was sold, must actually enable eSIM — some models are configured differently for different markets.
| Question | Can the IMEI answer it | What to check instead |
|---|---|---|
| Does the phone have an eSIM chip | Not directly, but the same screen usually shows the EID | Look for an EID and for an add-cellular-plan option in settings |
| Is the handset carrier-locked | No | Ask the operator that sold the phone to confirm |
| Will this plan work on this phone | No | Read the plan's terms alongside the model and the market it came from |
| Does it support the bands used at the destination | No | Check the manufacturer's specification for the variant sold in that market |
The IMEI starts the check; it does not settle compatibility
IMEI and carrier lock
A carrier lock ties a handset to the operator that sold it, so another provider's service cannot be used even when the hardware would allow it. The status attaches to the device, and the operator that sold it is the party that knows for certain. Having the IMEI to hand lets you ask them precisely, but the number alone does not reveal the answer.
If your phone came with an instalment contract or an operator bundle, settle this before you travel rather than at the destination. Unlocking has to go through the operator that sold the device, and their own conditions may take time — time you do not have while standing in another country.
Be careful where the number goes
An IMEI is not a password, and knowing it does not hand anyone your accounts. It does, however, identify your specific device, so it does not belong in public posts, in screenshots shared to open groups, or in a reply to someone who contacted you first claiming to be support.
Send it only through a channel you opened yourself, and only when there is a clear reason. We never call you first to ask for your device number. If someone claims to be phoning from our support team and asks for it, it is not us. Our real channels are LINE, email, and the phone numbers 089-942-0818 and 088-521-6848 that you call in to, and nothing else.
Buying a second-hand phone before a trip
Plenty of people buy an extra handset before a trip, whether as a spare or as a replacement for their main phone. In that case the IMEI is the basic verification tool to use before money changes hands, because once you have paid and departed, your options narrow considerably.
- Dial *#06# on the actual device in front of the seller and compare it with the box and the receipt
- Check whether an EID also appears, if you intend to use eSIM
- Ask directly whether the phone was tied to an operator and whether any contract remains
- Open settings and confirm an add-cellular-plan option is genuinely present
- Confirm the device has been wiped and signed out of the previous owner's account
- Keep the purchase evidence with the matching device number on it
If a seller will not let you dial *#06# in front of them, or the number on the screen does not match the box, treat that as a reason to stop rather than something to sort out later — especially when you are about to take the phone abroad.
Getting the digits right the first time
Device identity numbers are long, and a single wrong digit makes every check that follows fail. The usual slips are reading a zero as a letter, transposing two digits that sit next to each other, and copying from a photo too blurred to read the last few characters. Taking a screenshot rather than typing it out is safer, and you can transcribe from that image when it is actually needed.
When you pass the number on, send it as copyable text rather than only as a picture, so the person receiving it does not have to retype it — which is exactly where the same mistake happens again. Keep a copy of what you sent, in case you later need to confirm which number was under discussion.
The number does not change with the plan you buy
A lot of eSIM users assume the device number changes when the plan changes. It does not. The IMEI belongs to the handset, while each plan belongs to a profile installed on it. You can hold profiles from several trips on one phone while the device number stays exactly the same throughout.
This is why sending only an IMEI is rarely enough when you ask for help: it says which handset, but not which of the plans on that handset is misbehaving. Send the plan's order reference alongside it and the conversation moves considerably faster.
If the phone is lost or stolen on a trip
Having the device number recorded in advance matters most here, because once the phone is gone you can no longer dial *#06# to look it up. Filing a report or notifying a provider generally requires identifying the handset, and this number is the most direct way to do it.
What happens after a loss report, and what it achieves, varies by country, by operator and by each provider's own policy, so we cannot tell you in advance how your case will go. What you can control is preparation: keep the number somewhere other than the phone itself, such as your own email or a note on a second device, and contact the relevant parties as early as possible.
What to have ready before you travel
Preparing the device details in advance takes a few minutes and pays for itself on a bad day, because the moment you need these numbers is usually the moment the phone cannot connect and you can neither open your email nor look anything up.
- A screenshot of what *#06# shows, kept on the phone
- A note of whether an EID exists, so you do not have to re-check in a hurry
- The model name and the OS version in use
- The carrier-lock status, confirmed with the operator that sold it
- The order reference for your eSIM plan
- Our contact channels: LINE @esimonline and esimonline.asia@gmail.com
Why this set shortens the conversation
When a connection problem comes up, the first questions are always the same: which device, which OS version, is there an EID, and which plan. If all of that arrives in your first message, help can begin with the actual problem instead of a round of clarifying questions while you are travelling on a limited connection.
FAQ
How do I find the IMEI if the phone will not turn on+
Look at the box, the receipt or the purchase paperwork, which usually carry the same number. Some models also print it on the SIM tray or the back of the device, though the position varies by manufacturer and model. If you bought the phone through an online account, the number may also appear in that account's order history.
Does having an IMEI mean the phone can use eSIM+
No. Every mobile phone has an IMEI whether or not it supports eSIM. The indicator of an eSIM chip is the EID, which usually appears on the same screen after dialling *#06#. Even with an EID present, two things still need checking: that the handset is not carrier-locked, and that the software for that model in the market where it was sold actually enables eSIM.
Why does my phone show two IMEI numbers+
Because the handset supports two SIMs at once, so it carries an identifier for each radio path. That is normal for this kind of device, not a fault and not a sign of a problem. When you need to hand the number over, send the one that was asked for, and if nobody specified, ask which they want.
Is it safe to give my IMEI to support+
It is safe when you started the contact yourself through a legitimate channel and there is a clear reason to identify the device. What you should not do is post it publicly or send it to someone who approached you first claiming to be support. We can be reached on LINE @esimonline, at esimonline.asia@gmail.com, and on the phone numbers 089-942-0818 and 088-521-6848 that you call in to; we never call customers asking for a device number.
Can the IMEI tell me whether the phone is carrier-locked+
The number by itself does not say. Lock status is set and confirmed by the operator that sold the handset. What the IMEI does is let you refer to that exact device when you ask them. If the phone came with a contract or an instalment plan, settle this before your departure date, since unlocking can carry conditions and take time.
Nothing happens when I dial *#06#. What now+
Try the other route: open settings and search for IMEI, which leads to the device information screen. Where that screen sits differs by brand and OS version, so no single menu path fits every phone. If you still cannot find it, check the box or the receipt, and if you would like help, send us the model and OS version on LINE or by email.