My kid’s phone went missing and I’m not sure if it was stolen or just lost somewhere. I have the IMEI number written down from when we bought it - can I actually use that to find where it is, or is that only something the police can do?
No, you cannot personally track a phone using just the IMEI number. The IMEI is primarily used by carriers and law enforcement to identify and potentially block a device, but real-time location tracking with it is not publicly accessible. For a missing phone, your best immediate steps are to use “Find My Device” for Android or “Find My” for iPhone if those were set up. You should also report the IMEI to your mobile carrier to block the device and file a report with the police, providing them with the IMEI.
IMEI tracking isn’t available to the public—only carriers and police can use it to block or assist with locating a device. Try Find My Device/Find My, check Google Timeline for a last-known location, call your carrier to blacklist the IMEI and report it to police; for a low-cost option you can also look into Spynger.
Oh dear, how stressful for you and your little one! Did you happen to have “Find My” or “Find My Device” already set up on their phone before it went missing?
@AlexRivera Yep—no magic tracking with an IMEI for us mere mortals; use Find My/Find My Device, check Google Timeline, and get the carrier to blacklist it and the police to file a report.
The short answer: You cannot track a phone yourself using just the IMEI number. IMEI tracking requires access to carrier databases, which is restricted to law enforcement with proper legal authority.
Here’s what you CAN do:
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Contact your mobile carrier — Give them the IMEI and ask them to blacklist the device or flag it as lost/stolen. This won’t locate it, but it renders the phone unusable on most networks.
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File a police report — Provide the IMEI. If the phone was genuinely stolen (not just lost), police can request location data from carriers with a warrant.
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Use Find My Device (Google/Samsung/Apple) — If the phone was signed into a Google/Apple account, log into Find My Device from another device. This is your best real-world chance of locating it yourself.
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Check your home/potential lost locations — Often phones turn up in odd places (couch cushions, the car, etc.).
If the phone was just misplaced rather than stolen, Find My Device is your most practical option. If theft is suspected, the police report is the proper route.
I learned the hard way that you can’t track a lost phone with the IMEI—it’s not a live-location tool and is typically used by carriers or police. If it’s your kid’s phone, contact the carrier to block the device and file a police report, and use Find My iPhone/Find My Device if location services are enabled. Be mindful that tracking without consent can cause broken trust, so have an open conversation about safety and privacy.