IMEI Validator
ValidatorValidate a 15-digit IMEI number instantly. Verifies the Luhn check digit and decodes the TAC and serial number structure. Free, runs in your browser.
About this tool
About the IMEI Validator
This validator checks a 15-digit IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number using the Luhn mod-10 checksum defined by 3GPP TS 23.003, and decodes its structure into the TAC (Type Allocation Code), serial number, and check digit — the same way a phone's dialer decodes *#06# into a device identity.
The tool splits a valid 15-digit input into the first 8 digits (TAC, which identifies the device model and, via its first two digits, the GSMA-assigned reporting body), the next 6 digits (the manufacturer's serial number for that TAC), and the final Luhn check digit. There is no public, freely redistributable TAC-to-device-model database, so — like this site's SWIFT/BIC and MAC Vendor tools — this decoder reports structural positions only, not a specific phone model.
Use this validator to confirm an IMEI typed or scanned from a device or box label is correctly formed before submitting it to an insurance claim, trade-in, or inventory system, to debug IMEI validation logic in mobile device management software, or to understand how the TAC/serial/check-digit structure of an IMEI works.
Validation runs entirely client-side with plain arithmetic — no IMEI is ever transmitted, logged, or stored. The same Luhn algorithm this tool implements is the one every GSM/3GPP-compliant device's IMEI must satisfy.
Key Features
- Luhn mod-10 checksum validation (3GPP TS 23.003)
- Structural decode: TAC, reporting body identifier, serial number, check digit
- Flags obviously fake patterns (all-identical digits)
- No TAC database needed — decodes positions, not device models
- 100% browser-based, no data sent
FAQ
IMEI Validator — Frequently Asked Questions
How is the IMEI check digit calculated?
The IMEI uses the Luhn algorithm over its first 14 digits: starting from the rightmost of those 14 digits, every second digit is doubled (subtracting 9 if the result exceeds 9), all 14 resulting values are summed, and the check digit is whatever value makes the total a multiple of 10.
What is a TAC and can this tool tell me the phone's brand and model?
The TAC (Type Allocation Code) is the first 8 digits of the IMEI and is assigned by the GSMA to a specific device model and manufacturer. This tool decodes where the TAC sits in the number, but does not look it up against a device database — there is no free, redistributable, complete TAC-to-model dataset, so this validator (like this site's MAC Vendor Lookup) decodes structure, not brand or model.
Can two phones have the same IMEI?
In principle, no — the IMEI is designed to be globally unique per device. In practice, IMEI cloning and reused invalid IMEIs do occur, particularly on counterfeit or grey-market devices, which is exactly the kind of malformed IMEI (e.g. all-identical digits or a wrong check digit) this validator flags.
Where do I find my phone's IMEI?
Dial *#06# on almost any phone to display it instantly, or check Settings → About Phone, the SIM tray, or the original box/receipt.
Tips
- An IMEI is always exactly 15 digits — 14 digits plus 1 Luhn check digit
- Dial *#06# on your phone to see its real IMEI instantly
- Use the IMEI Generator on this site to create Luhn-valid test IMEIs for QA
- A valid check digit does not confirm the device is genuine, unlocked, or not reported lost/stolen
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