How to find and change the IMEI number

Please note, changing your handsets IMEI number may void warranty or break the law. As
far as I know, its strictly prohibited to change any phones IMEI number in the UK. So
always refer to your user manual and local law, you are responsible for any action you
take.

Please also note this post is not complete yet, I still need to modify it or add more content.
In the meantime, please contact me if you have any comment or findings. I will be more
than happy to hear from you regarding this post or others. You can post a comment or
send a message to me either on Facebook, or Twitter, or Google Plus which can be found
on the about page.

OK, I will begin with two stories. The first one is short but a little complicated. One of my
friends owns an Android device, and he likes those little apps very much, especially games
and mobile social apps. However his account for one social network (neither FB nor
Twitter) got closed the other day for no reason specified. He then got a new account and
tried to login. To his surprise, he failed. Then he asked for my account, still no luck on his
device. So he called the service person found in the app, no explanation.

We finally managed to figure out that his IMEI number was blocked. The app denies
access once it finds a blacklisted IMEI number is trying to sign in. I do not know why and if
this is legal since no laws exists regarding acquiring and utilizing IMEI number to deny
service. In fact, almost all apps can obtain a mobile devices IMEI number through Android
API, and I find this function TelephonyManager.getDeviceId does the job exactly, however
always remember to add this code to AndroidManifest.xml first if you use it in your own
app, which grants it the right. See reference here.

So we changed the IMEI number, and this time it worked like a charm. LOL

Heres the second story. We used to play with Smartphone OS like Symbian and Windows
Mobile. Windows Mobile excels for its highly customizable. Then came Android. Every
time Google releases an upgrade, we flash the new firmware, and then root it. We remove
as many system apps as possible, and change almost everything possible to make it more
personalized. Someone get their phone bricked when flashing custom ROMs, and some
lose the baseband and IMEI which means no network on the phone and even worse.

OK, another friend owns a Galaxy Nexus and the IMEI number changes to
004999010640000 after he tries to flash official Android 4.02 back. He goes back to 2.3.6
and then tries 4.04; the original IMEI just could not be restored.

Well these two stories are all related to IMEI number. As we all know, IMEI stands for
International Mobile Station Equipment Identity. It has various applications as it
differentiates one phone from another, its just unique. To find your IMEI, simply type
*#06#, or go to settings->about phone and phone identity (for Android 4.1.2). Many apps
could show your IMEI number as well. The IMEI number is generally stored in EEPROM,
short for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. If it sounds kind of
familiar to you, chances are that you know a lot about computer BIOS. Electrically
Erasable Programmable means the data store in an EEPROM can be erased or
programmed (rewritten), usually with a higher than working voltage. Since I am in the chip
industry, I know it all well. We generally use a special equipment to write to the integrated
circuit, not computer. So how come someone lose the IMEI number simply by flashing
ROMs??

Well its not the only case. I know some people have been changing the IMEI number for
profits because of shortcomings of the manufacturers warranty policy. Usually someone
buys a handset with warranty, he or she types *#06# and submits the IMEI number to the
manufacturers official website, and things seem nice. Then a different IMEI is found when
using third-party apps. That is, a phone has two IMEI numbers. Type *#06# you see one
IMEI number, and from third-party apps you see another. This is just weird. My guess is
that some programs only change the IMEI stored somewhere else, while others change
the one in EEPROM or some system files.

Back to the second story. We finally find out that the IMEI number has something to do
with two files in the factory folder called nv_data.bin and nv_data.bin.md5. Fortunately the
system has those two files backed up for whatever reason. We however decide to try the
two files from somebody else on the forum who has the same phone. We find upon
rebooting that my friends IMEI number changes to the same as that phone whose files we
use. So we copy the backup to the factory folder, and not surprisingly the IMEI number
restores.

So it seems to me that the IMEI number we change is the one store in the nv_data.bin file,
not the one store in EEPROM. In fact, you can change the IMEI stored in this file to any
number you wish but its a little complicated (if you do not backup then this method sure
helps). This is still how we solve the issue in the first story too, we provide another IMEI
number to the app and it accepts that, it works flawlessly!

Some, however say that Samsung handset has a code that can restore data stored in
EEPROM which helps to find if your handsets IMEI has been changed, and the code is
*2767*3855#. Although this might be possible, I highly doubt it. We do give it a try, and
everything is gone. In our case the IMEI remains unchanged, which means either our IMEI
number never has been changed or it simply does not work. We do not recommend
anyone try it, and always remember to backup if you do wanna see what it can cause on
your handset.
But the whole thing proves nothing, we just know this is how the IMEI number is handled in
the Samsung Galaxy series, it may not apply to other models from Samsung, not to
mention Android devices made by other manufacturers. Neither do I know anything about
iPhone, Windows phone, BlackBerry and Symbian

In theory, we need higher voltage to rewrite the EEPROM to change the IMEI number; I
have no idea if apps alone could achieve that. However there are apps out there claiming
that they can change the IMEI in EEPROM which I will provide a list later. I do not know for
sure since I do not try them. But there are hardware can do that job, which really changes
the IMEI thoroughly. For example, Jtag box is one of them, which costs less. If you or your
friend ever brick a phone (bootloaders not working which means no hardware damage),
then Jtag is need to fix it. In fact this piece of hardware can be used to change IMEI too.

Why is it important? Well it rests with the people who use it. Generally normal users would
not care about IMEI, but those who lose the IMEI number cares. IMEI has certain effect on
mobile device, the first story is a case in point, and theres more. But criminals care the
most, because they need to change the IMEI to resell the device they steal, and they
always know more than us.

In the meantime, we all know IMEI number is unique to any mobile device, so carriers and
police can use IMEI number to block or track stolen mobile devices. Each time a SIM card
register itself on mobile operators network, the MSC and VLR request the IMEI number
from the cell phone. If the IMEI number is blacklisted, the handset will be blocked or
tracked. However, if IMEI number is not unique at all, then the criminals can change the
IMEI number of any mobile device they steal, and sell them for huge profits.

Its still unknown how the IMEI number transmitted to the carrier is obtained. If its the
same thing as typing *#06# on your phone, then the whole situation worsens. But theres a
solution to this problem. The solution is to create two databases, with one containing IMEI
and the other IMSI, and each IMEI is linked to an IMSI. An IMEI is valid only its linked to
the correct IMSI. However I do not know if its cost effective since many things need to be
done.

At the end, here is the list. I do not try them myself, if you need any of them to restore your
IMEI, contact me for details. And again, use any of them with caution.

1. HyperTermina for Android

2. Easy imei changer
3. HD3 imei for windows mobile
4. MML for BlackBerry
5. FLP_IMEI_WriteCode
6. ZiPhone for iPhone
7. aWizard-V1_3 for windows mobile

For Android, there is an app called PDroid which enables you to provide any IMEI number
to apps require it (does not change it). But you need to unlock bootloader and root your
handset first. This surely is not for beginners. For iOS devices, there is a similar app called
UDIDFaker can do the same job. Both apps do not change the IMEI number, but provide a
fake IMEI number.