An IMEI checker online asks for 15 digits, but the record in front of you contains 16. Before deleting a digit to make it fit, check the field label: you may be looking at an IMEISV, a related identifier with a different ending. Getting that distinction right prevents a lookup from being run against the wrong number.
The goal is to recover the device's actual IMEI, not to force an unfamiliar string through a form.
IMEI and IMEISV have different endings
The GSMA Device Identifier documentation distinguishes the 15-digit IMEI from the 16-digit IMEISV. Both contain an eight-digit Type Allocation Code and a six-digit equipment serial component. Their final fields differ:
| Identifier | Shared first 14 digits | Ending | Total length |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMEI as entered in a consumer lookup | TAC plus equipment serial component | One check digit | 15 digits |
| IMEISV | TAC plus equipment serial component | Two software-version digits | 16 digits |
The serial component inside these identifiers should not be confused with a separately labeled manufacturer serial number.
Why removing the last digit is not a conversion
The two-digit software-version field does not contain the IMEI check digit. Removing just the final character leaves the first software-version digit in that position. It is therefore not a reliable way to obtain the IMEI.
GSMA's IMEI allocation guidance explains that the check digit is calculated from the other IMEI digits and excludes the software-version number. For a consumer check, retrieving the displayed IMEI is preferable to rebuilding it from another field.
A format mismatch does not mean the phone is blacklisted
A form rejecting 16 digits tells you that the input does not meet that form's requirements. It does not establish a lost-or-stolen report, a carrier restriction, or a hardware fault. Resolve the identifier before interpreting any device-status result.
Find the field labeled IMEI
Start with the device itself when it is available. On an iPhone, open Settings > General > About, find the IMEI field, and touch and hold its value to copy it. Apple's identifier guide also covers other places to find identifiers when Settings is unavailable.
For another brand, follow its official model-specific instructions. Menu names and the information displayed can differ. Do not assume that every diagnostic or account screen uses the same label.
Use this short input checklist:
- Read the complete field name, including any suffix.
- Copy the value from that field without adding nearby labels.
- Compare the copied digits with the original display.
- If the device has IMEI1 and IMEI2, keep each number separate.
- Match the chosen number to the device or line you intend to investigate.
If a seller sent an image, ask for the field label as well as the digits. A cropped string with no context is a poor basis for a paid report.
What to do with an inventory record containing only IMEISV
Preserve the original record and label it accurately. Add a separate IMEI field once you obtain the number from the device or a reliable record. This avoids silently changing the meaning of an existing column.
Ask the record provider before transforming the data
If a repair shop, supplier, or inventory system exported the value, ask what its field represents and whether it can supply the displayed IMEI. If a system offers an explicit conversion function, confirm its documented input and output rather than assuming that truncation performs the same job.
For a batch of devices, unresolved identifiers should remain visibly unresolved. Guessing a final digit can produce a plausible-looking value without proving that it belongs to the intended unit.
Do not infer the field from length alone
Sixteen characters are a clue, not proof of IMEISV. A copied label, an extra character, or an unrelated identifier could also explain the mismatch. The source field and device association matter more than the character count by itself.
Does the software-version suffix reveal the installed OS?
The IETF's IMEISV description identifies the final two digits as a manufacturer-assigned software-version number. That definition does not provide a universal translation into an Android or iOS release.
Do not interpret a suffix as a consumer operating-system version merely because the digits resemble one. If you need the installed OS or security-update level, inspect the device's software-information screen. An IMEISV label is not a substitute for that observation.
Run the appropriate check after confirming the input
IMEIHub's free IMEI check provides basic brand, model, and specification information. Use that result as a comparison with the physical device, not as proof that an uncertain identifier was reconstructed correctly.
Blacklist, iCloud, warranty, and carrier-lock reports are separate paid services where offered. The free model lookup does not include those status checks. A lookup also cannot remove an activation or carrier lock.
Keep the original identifier intact
When a record has 16 digits, identify the field first, obtain the actual IMEI, and keep the two values separately labeled. That small step makes the report easier to interpret and avoids paying to check a number created by a guess.
Once you have verified the 15-digit IMEI, use the IMEIHub free IMEI checker to compare the basic device details.
Ready to try it? Run a free IMEI check →