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How to hide your phone’s IMEI number from the lock screen — and why you should

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How to hide your phone’s IMEI number from the lock screen — and why you should

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Google’s been rolling out a setting to many Android devices that can make your phone’s IMEI — a unique, unchangeable number that identifies your individual device — accessible from the lock screen. This can potentially help you recover a lost or stolen device by providing easy proof of ownership, but because there are ways for bad actors to exploit an exposed IMEI, it’s also something of a security risk.

Making your device identifier accessible from the lock screen is optional, though. Here’s what you need to know, and how to change the relevant setting on your own phone.

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. Every modern smartphone sold in the US comes assigned with a 15-digit IMEI number (or two, for dual-SIM phones). These numbers can’t be changed and no two are the same, so cross-referencing the IMEI number of a recovered device with carrier records is a reliable way to verify ownership.

As of a recent update to Google Play services, on devices running Android 12 or newer, your phone’s IMEI number can be displayed alongside emergency info like the designated contacts and at-a-glance medical info you can configure in device settings.

Many devices come with their IMEI number stamped on the SIM card tray. But some new phones (including the Pixel 11 series) are going eSIM-only, eliminating a formerly reliable way to access a device’s IMEI.

Being able to access a phone’s IMEI without having to unlock the device makes it easier to confirm ownership, which could potentially save you a headache if your phone is ever lost or stolen.


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