Does the IMEI change if I change the SIM?

No. The IMEI belongs to the handset and stays the same whoever owns it or whatever SIM is in it.

My phone shows two IMEIs — which one do I use?

Either identifies the phone, but check both against PTA and Mobilo. They should both come back clean.

The box IMEI and the *#06# IMEI are different. Is that bad?

Yes, treat it as a red flag. Trust the number the phone itself reports and ask the seller to explain the difference.

How to find your phone’s IMEI

The IMEI is the 15-digit number that identifies the handset itself — not the SIM, not the owner — so it is where every PTA, stolen and history check starts. Here are four ways to find it, and how to be sure it is the real one.

The four ways

Dial *#06# — the IMEI appears on screen instantly, with nothing to install or unlock. This is the one to trust, because it comes from the phone itself.

It is also printed on the original box, shown in Settings under About phone (or Status), and etched on the SIM tray of many newer handsets.

Dual-SIM phones have two

A dual-SIM handset reports two IMEIs. Either one identifies the same device, but when you check a phone’s status you should check both — a device is only as clear as its worst IMEI.

Make sure it is the real one

The IMEI the phone reports with *#06# should match the number on the box and, where printed, on the body or tray. If they do not match, stop and ask the seller why before you go any further — a mismatch is one of the clearest signs of a tampered or fake handset.

Common questions

Does the IMEI change if I change the SIM?: No. The IMEI belongs to the handset and stays the same whoever owns it or whatever SIM is in it.
My phone shows two IMEIs — which one do I use?: Either identifies the phone, but check both against PTA and Mobilo. They should both come back clean.
The box IMEI and the *#06# IMEI are different. Is that bad?: Yes, treat it as a red flag. Trust the number the phone itself reports and ask the seller to explain the difference.