Every cell phone has a unique electronic serial number (ESN), sometimes called the International Mobile Equipment Indicator (IMEI), which acts like a fingerprint. This guide explains how to locate the ESN on the battery, packaging, or device settings, or retrieve it from a network provider to verify authenticity or deactivate a lost unit.
There are millions of cellular phone users all over the world, each using different makes and models of cell phones. You may be wondering how manufacturers keep track of these handsets. Every cell phone unit has a unique electronic serial number or ESN. In some units, it is also called the International Mobile Equipment Indicator or IMEI. It is much like the fingerprint of your cell phone, since no two units have the same ESN number.
Knowing the ESN of your cell phone allows customer service representatives to identify your phone unit. It also verifies that your phone is authentic, meaning it is not a stolen unit. Here is how to look up a cell phone ESN number.
- Know the different terms for the phone's serial number. Look for ESN, S/N, or IMEI. All of these refer to the unique serial number of the handset. Depending on the phone unit and where it was made, any of these three abbreviations may be used to refer to the same thing. The ESN is a long series of numbers, usually about 15 digits.
- Look at the bottom of the battery. Turn off the cell phone and remove the battery. On the phone unit, you should see a small sticker indicating the ESN or IMEI of the phone. It may also be listed as serial number or S/N.
- Check the product box. When you buy the phone, look at the box the unit came in. There should be a sticker on the packaging. The sticker usually lists the maker and model of the cell phone unit, with the ESN number below it. There may be other identifying information on the box, such as the color of the handset and the country where the unit was made.
- Use your handset. When you turn on the phone, go to the main menu and select “Settings.” Check if you have the option to choose “Phone info.”
- Check under “Options.” Some phones have the ESN of the unit saved on the device itself. For example, on Blackberry phone models, you can select “Options” on the menu bar and click on “Status” to retrieve the ESN of the phone.
- Call your network provider. If you purchased the unit through a network provider, you may be able to retrieve the ESN from them. This is especially useful if your phone unit was stolen or lost. This way, no one else can use the lost or stolen unit, since the service provider can trace the unit and deactivate it.
As you can see, it is very easy to find the ESN of the phone unit. Keep in mind that the ESN is determined by the manufacturer, not the phone service provider. The cell phone company can only assist you, not change the ESN of the phone unit. When you activate a phone line, call the customer service number to authenticate your activation and the ESN of your unit. If there is a problem with the ESN, the service provider will tell you right away.
Look Up Cell Phone ESN Numbers
Every cell phone has a unique electronic serial number (ESN), sometimes called the International Mobile Equipment Indicator (IMEI), which acts like a fingerprint. This guide explains how to locate the ESN on the battery, packaging, or device settings, or retrieve it from a network provider to verify authenticity or deactivate a lost unit.
There are millions of cellular phone users all over the world, each using different makes and models of cell phones. You may be wondering how manufacturers keep track of these handsets. Every cell phone unit has a unique electronic serial number or ESN. In some units, it is also called the International Mobile Equipment Indicator or IMEI. It is much like the fingerprint of your cell phone, since no two units have the same ESN number.
Knowing the ESN of your cell phone allows customer service representatives to identify your phone unit. It also verifies that your phone is authentic, meaning it is not a stolen unit. Here is how to look up a cell phone ESN number.
- Know the different terms for the phone's serial number. Look for ESN, S/N, or IMEI. All of these refer to the unique serial number of the handset. Depending on the phone unit and where it was made, any of these three abbreviations may be used to refer to the same thing. The ESN is a long series of numbers, usually about 15 digits.
- Look at the bottom of the battery. Turn off the cell phone and remove the battery. On the phone unit, you should see a small sticker indicating the ESN or IMEI of the phone. It may also be listed as serial number or S/N.
- Check the product box. When you buy the phone, look at the box the unit came in. There should be a sticker on the packaging. The sticker usually lists the maker and model of the cell phone unit, with the ESN number below it. There may be other identifying information on the box, such as the color of the handset and the country where the unit was made.
- Use your handset. When you turn on the phone, go to the main menu and select “Settings.” Check if you have the option to choose “Phone info.”
- Check under “Options.” Some phones have the ESN of the unit saved on the device itself. For example, on Blackberry phone models, you can select “Options” on the menu bar and click on “Status” to retrieve the ESN of the phone.
- Call your network provider. If you purchased the unit through a network provider, you may be able to retrieve the ESN from them. This is especially useful if your phone unit was stolen or lost. This way, no one else can use the lost or stolen unit, since the service provider can trace the unit and deactivate it.
As you can see, it is very easy to find the ESN of the phone unit. Keep in mind that the ESN is determined by the manufacturer, not the phone service provider. The cell phone company can only assist you, not change the ESN of the phone unit. When you activate a phone line, call the customer service number to authenticate your activation and the ESN of your unit. If there is a problem with the ESN, the service provider will tell you right away.
Look Up Cell Phone ESN Numbers
By Howtodotips
Every cell phone has a unique electronic serial number (ESN), sometimes called the International Mobile Equipment Indicator (IMEI), which acts like a fingerprint. This guide explains how to locate the ESN on the battery, packaging, or device settings, or retrieve it from a network provider to verify authenticity or deactivate a lost unit.