IMEI validator
Paste one IMEI or a list of them. Each number is checked for length and its Luhn check digit as you type, with the correct check digit shown when it doesn’t match.
Results update as you type. Up to 500 lines. Nothing is sent anywhere, and no model lookup is made.
How IMEI validation works
The 15th digit of an IMEI is a check digit. It is calculated from the first 14 digits with the Luhn algorithm, as specified in 3GPP TS 23.003 Annex B. Starting from the right of the 14 digits, every second digit is doubled. If doubling gives a two-digit number, its digits are added. All the values are summed, and the check digit is whatever brings the total up to the next multiple of 10.
The Luhn check catches every single-digit mistake and almost every swap of two neighbouring digits. That is why it is a good test of whether an IMEI was read correctly. It cannot tell you whether the number was ever issued to a device. See the full working in the check digit calculator.
What the validator recognises
- 15-digit IMEI: checked with Luhn.
- 14-digit IMEI base: reported with its calculated check digit.
- 16-digit IMEISV: recognised separately, since it has no check digit.
- Other identifiers: MEIDs, ESNs, ICCIDs (SIM numbers), EIDs and serial numbers are named, so you know what you have.
Questions
What makes an IMEI valid?
An IMEI has 15 decimal digits, and the last digit must equal the Luhn check digit calculated from the first 14. This validator checks both. Separators such as spaces, dashes and dots are ignored.
Can a valid IMEI still be fake?
Yes. The Luhn check only catches typing and reading errors. Anyone can calculate a valid check digit for any 14 digits, so a valid IMEI may never have been issued, or may be a cloned or changed IMEI. Compare the IMEI from *#06# with the box and SIM tray, and use an official blacklist check.
Why does my 16-digit number fail?
A 16-digit number is an IMEISV: the TAC and serial number followed by a 2-digit software version, with no check digit. Decode it with the IMEISV decoder.
Is anything uploaded?
No. Validation runs in your browser, and this page makes no network request with your numbers. To identify the device model too, use the IMEI checker.