So. You have lost your IMEI number on your Android device due to complicated circumstances. The IMEI number shows up as Null and goes missing. Now you can’t connect to your Sim network.
IMEI numbers are usually used to block lost or stolen smartphones. This could be your situation as well so I hope this post solves your problems.
Lost IMEI numbers are a common problem as people usually don’t know what they are. The ‘Invalid IMEI Number’ usually occurs on Android devices such as Samsung devices.
The error usually happens whenever you install a custom ROM and then update your Android device. This is the most common cause. This can also happen when you manually modify your IMEI.
When this problem arises, it prevents the Sim card to not recognizing networks and will, therefore show no signal or network. Your device may not be able to recognize your Sim card as well.
To restore your IMEI number on your phone you will need to go into the About settings on your phone. If your IMEI is not showing here then I would use a third-party app to begin to retrieve it.
In this article, I’m going to be explaining what can happen when you lose your IMEI number and how to retrieve it using 4 simple steps.
I will also be going through common problems people have regarding their IMEI number before we get started so it will be easier to restore it without any prior problems.
How to Restore IMEI Number After Flashing
If you have lost your IMEI number after flashing a custom ROM then don’t worry, there are a few ways to store it.
Flashing is basically when a user loads a new ROM in a similar way to when they install a new update on their device.
When this happens you are installing a full version of a ROM. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory and it contains executable instructions given to it.
When your Android doesn’t work after a reset then flashing a ROM may be able to fix this. I will be showing down below what to do if you have lost your IMEI number after a factory reset.
If you want to restore your IMEI number after flashing a ROM then you can download certain apps that can do this for you.
A good app I can suggest is IMEI writer. You will only be able to download this on your Windows computer. Sometimes it may not work for your particular device and you will have to accept this.
In this case, the only thing you can do is to take your device to a repair store and they may be able to flash a custom IMEI.
The same thing goes for if you have lost your IMEI number after rooting your Samsung device. Rooting is the same as jailbreaking your device.
Restore IMEI Without Root
If you want to restore your IMEI number without rooting your device then it is a bit thicker. The advantage of restoring your IMEI number without rooting it is that your Android will be untraceable.
When you root your device sometime new Android system updates will not be available on your phone. This can be a bit annoying as you will now have to manually update your device.
In some countries, it can also be illegal to root your device so this will avoid any issues regarding that. Rooting may also damage your device in the process so you will need to think about all of this before trying to restore your IMEI number.
To restore your IMEI number you will need to download Android IMEI changer apps that prevent you from losing any vital dating when trying to restore your IMEI.
The XPOSED IMEI Changer Pro app allows you to change the series of digits that make up the number. Here is a good resource to restore your IMEI without rooting.
Some of the steps are similar to restoring your IMEI when rooting your phone. This process may take a moment so it’s best to be patient and go through the steps carefully and slowly.
How to Get IMEI Number of Lost Phone
When you want to find your IMEI if you have lost your device you will have to look for your IMEI on things like the packaging of your device. Most devices have the IMEI number on the packaging they were purchased in.
As I show you in the solutions down below, you can dial the number *#06# and your IMEI number will be displayed on your home screen.
I would also advise you to call the carrier of your device. They will have most of the information regarding your phone and they will be able to advise you on what to do next.
Allocate Your IMEI Number
The only thing you will need to restore your IMEI number manually is a rooted Android phone which is a jailbroken phone. This is an old term but you would have likely heard of the term jailbreaking before.
A rooted Android device is a device that allows you to access its operating system code. It allows you to modify its software and change p your phone’s process’ and also allows you to install software that the manufacturer wouldn’t have allowed in the first place.
To learn how to Jailbreak your Android device then you will want to check out the guide done by Digital Trends.
Rooting your android device can be tricky if you aren’t really into tech like that but the particular guide should walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to root an android device properly. It should only take you a couple of minutes.
Another thing you will need apart from a jailbroken device is the IMEI number of your device, however, this can be a problem if your IMEI number goes missing or is not showing for whatever reason.
If for some reason your IMEI number has been deleted then read below on how to restore it to the original.
How to Restore IMEI Number Manually
You can try and find your original IMEI number manually by going to Settings > and then About on your Android device.
Another place you can try finding a lost IMEI is in the box off your device when you purchased it. If you don’t know where your box is then try looking in where you have kept the other.
It should be on the information guide of the device as this is where the manufacturer will naturally put it. Check for any other pieces of paper that may have important information.
Every phone should come with a serial code. When you put this code in on your phone provider’s website it will show important information about your device such as the IMEI number.
Your serial number or code should be in the About section in your settings app.
Sometimes the manufacturer may also put it on your battery somewhere so if you can open the back of your phone then have a look on there.
Most Samsungs allow you to open the battery so do so if you’re using one. A lot of older Android devices also allow you to do this.
If you’re still not able to find your IMEI number or it isn’t available somehow then your last solution should be to call this number in your dialer *#06#.
Download The MTK Engineering Mode App
You would need to head over to the google play store on your device and download the MTK Engineering Mode app. Head over to Connectivity > Now tap on CDS information. When you are in CDS, tap on Radio Information
Step 1: Tap on the Phone 1 option and then enter the following digits into the box: AT+EGMR=1,7,’ Your IMEI Number.’ (Without the quote marks and full stop).
Step 2: After you have done this you can tap on ‘Send AT Command’.
Step 3: Now you will need to restart your device by holding down the power button while holding down the Volume Down button.
Hold on for about 3-4 seconds until your screen turns black. It should now turn back on in a few moments.
The steps below are for those with a dual dim so if this is applicable then you will need to read below.
Step 1: In the case you own a dual-SIM device you will need to head over to the MTK Engineering App and now choose Phone 2 and enter the following: AT+EMGR=1,10,’ Your IMEI Number. (Without the quote marks and last full stop)
Step 2: Once you have done this you will need to send the command. Now restart your device like in Step 6 above.
You should see the network once you have done this.
If you find that this isn’t working then you could try putting a space after AT i.e AT +EMGR. Do this instead of putting in ‘AT+EMGR’.
If this method didn’t work for you then you will need to go on to my next solution.
Try Installing Backup IMEI
Before you try installing a backup IMEI there are a few things you will need:
- Your IMEI number.
- Root access
- A computer
- You will need to install the Mobile MTK Tool. Do this on your PC by just clicking the link Download.
- You will also need to install Mobile Uncle tools. (Do this on your Android device).
Once you have done all of this, you can now go ahead and follow the steps to get back your lost IMEI number.
Firstly, open up the MTK tool which may be at the bottom of your screen if you are on Windows 10. If not, go to your File Explorer.
- Now type in the command Y and press enter
- Put in your IMEI number and confirm it by pressing the Enter button.
- Now you will have to repeat step number 2.
- you will now want to create an IMEI.bak file and then copy it to your device’s storage.
- Open the Mobile Uncle app and tap on IMEI Backup and restore the .bak file
Once you how done this you will want to restart your device by holding on to the power button while holding down the Volume down button. Your device should turn off and then back on in a matter of seconds.
Your network should start to show now. If it doesn’t then go on to my next solution.
Use Your Device’s Code
If you have a Samsung device then this step may work better in your favor. However, this method will work on other devices as well.
Step 1: In your Android dialer enter the following: *#197328640# or *#*#197328640#*#*
Step 2: In the Command Mode you will want to tap on ‘Common’ from the options given.
Step 3: This step is important. Without leaving the Command screen, click the Menu key.
Step 4: Now tap on Key input and turn Off the FTM.
Step 5: Wait for a good few seconds now. Once you have waited a few seconds, remove your SIM and battery from your Android device.
Step 6: Now put back in your battery, however, don’t put back your SIM card and wait for 30 seconds.
Step 7: Now power up your phone by holding on to the power button for up to 3 seconds. When your Android device has turned back on, you will now want to dial in the following command: *#197328640#
Tap on the Debug Screen followed by control. After you have done this select ‘RRC (HSDPA)‘. To Fix a network that is not registered, you will want to tap on RRC revision. Now choose the HSDPA option and nothing else.
Step 8: When you have done this, restart your device and put in your SIM card. Now dial *#06# to check if your IMEI number has now been found and restored.
Remember not to make any change at all to the MTK app as this may cause a few problems with your IMEI Number.
Visit Your Local Repair Store
If you still have a lost IMEI number then you could try visiting your local repair store. They may or may be able to restore your lost IMEI number for a small fee.
Phone prepare stores will be able to restore your IMEI number if it’s not showing on your device or if it’s just not working.
They will most likely root your phone as it’s pretty hard to restore an IMEI without rooting your device. Getting back your IMEI is mainly done through rooting so expect this to happen.
You may be charged a small fee for them to do this as it is a complicated process but if you can’t do this yourself then I would advise you to do so.
Tell them what the problem is before they begin resorting to the number for you. If you lost your IMEI number after a factory reset then you should tell them this as it will make the situation much clearer.
They also may need some important information about your device so tell them this if they ask for it. Restoring an IMEI number shouldn’t take too long so only expect to wait for up to an hour or two max.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, this guide has helped you and you are now able to restore your IMEI number. Remember the first place you need to look is in the about section in your settings.
If you can’t find your IMEI number there then that’s when you would most likely need to tooth your device, however, you can look at the steps above to get back your IMEI number without rooting your phone
Be careful when doing the steps. If you didn’t manage to do them or they didn’t work properly then you should just take your phone to a local repair store and e they should get it done for you.
If you can’t do that you can watch a youtube tutorial on how to root your device. Rember that you only ever need your IMEI number in the case that your phone has been stolen or lost. other than that you’ll rarely need it.
Make sure you cal your carrier or phone provider to check if they can do anything about this if all else fails. if you have made some reversal damage to your phone then you should factory reset it to go back to its original state.