What do you do when you loose your mobile phone? Probably file and FIR, and let the police take over. How does police trace mobile phone? They use the IMEI number to trace lost mobiles.

An easy way to check your IMEI number is to dial *#06# in your dial-pad.

You probably already know that each mobile phone has a unique IMEI number. Whenever a mobile phone is switched on, this IMEI number is sent to Equipment Identity Register database.

Each number is categorized to one of three categories;

  • white listed,
  • grey listed and
  • black listed.

A mobile service provider can block the said mobile phone by putting the IMEI number in the black list. Once blacklisted, the phone is useless as it cannot be used anymore.

The operator can also trace mobile phone using its IMEI number by GPS, thus helping you find the lost or stolen mobile phone. Note that when you contact your mobile service provider to block your mobile phone with the IMEI number, don’t forget to ask them to block the SIM card too.

There are a few things to be considered before tracing a mobile phone:

  • For a Police department to trace a mobile, it should be in a switch on mode.
  • If the mobile is switched off then the last known location is traced.

Note, there are many ways in which IMEI number can be changed, in this case the mobile can’t be traceable.

Here we look at the techniques & procedures how police department trace mobile phone location by IMEI number or by mobile number using a software called cell phone locator.

For more interesting video tutorials: click here

This article was first published on 1 June 2017 and was recently updated on 2 April 2019

28 COMMENTS

  8. Comment:Mi redmi not 5 pro
    sir me kal new phone laya tha pr mare sye 2boys chen kr lagye
    imei no1_- 867194032329628
    imei no2– 867194032329636
    plz sir help me

  9. Sir i lost my one plus 5 on 13th of this april… its now 15 days after the FIR has been filed and still there is no update from the police..my IMEI no. is 866790030324932… plz help me

  10. My friend lost his micro max phone and reported to police station however couldnot tràcè his lost phone

  12. How can trace my panasonic eluga turbo mobile. Police says compliant online, So I Compliant online, but till my mobile not found. (08.08.2018 at pune lost mobile)

  13. This will work and above info is true unfortunately this process require followup / theft happen against any of VVIP . we have everything Law, Law enforcing authority etc…..but the main culprit is attitude …. “CHALTHA HE bhayya”

  14. My name is Ajinkya and I leave in Mumbai. my mobile is lost before 5 days and when my mobile is lost, then immediately I go police station and complaint registered. You guide to me that how can I trace my mobile?

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