How To Find the IMEI number on your iPhone and why it's important.

Firstly, the IMEI or the International Mobile Equipment Identity is essential tho every Mobile phone owner because mobile networks use the number to work out which mobile devices are valid; this means mobile phones that have been reportedly stolen cannot access the network. This is done by the phone's owner calling the network company and informing them that their device has been stolen. Then the company blocks the device by using the IMEI number (that the customer hopefully has provided the company). The company will disable the phone's cellular reception rendering the device useless as a phone that can make calls and text etc... this in fact is the International Mobile Equipment Identity's sole purpose and has no relation to the customer. The IMSI, International Mobile Subscriber Identity, number is the way that the network identifies the customer and is stored on the SIM card which has the ability - in theory - to be transferred to any handset. Still, there are many ways that cellular networks know that a device is being used by the customer: mostly by enabled security and network features that come with the carrier you choose.

How To Find Your IMEI Number On An iPhone

1. As you know having the ability to recall your IMEI number is important for security purposes and this is how to do it on the iPhone according Apple. To begin you have to go to the 'settings' app, once your in there press the 'general' button and you're ready to move onto the next step which is going inside the 'about'. There you should be able to find the IMEI number if you look on the fifth row down from the top.
2. If you have an iPhone 1 or any of the iPhone 5s then you can look on the back towards the bottom to find the IMEI number, however if you have any of the iPhone 3s or 4s look on the inside of the sim tray to find the IMEI number. To find the MEID number remove the last digit from the IMEI if you have a CDMA carrier.
3. The last method uses iTunes to find the IMEI number; firstly you have to plug your iPhone into a computer and open iTunes. Once you have completed this you will need to choose your iPhone from the device menu that is in the top right corner of the screen on your computer and click the summary tab. Next, press the 'Phone Number' button, which is near the picture of your iPhone, this should make your computer go through all of the identification numbers to do with your phone. Global System for Mobiles (GSM) networks like AT and T and T-Mobile will display the International Mobile Equipment Identity, where as Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks use the MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier).

If these methods have not worked for you then here is an alternative that will also work if your phone is not an iPhone...

1. For the first method you need to go into your 'keypad' application and type in the code *#06#. This approach will bring up a number automatically this could be the MEID number or the IMEI number depending on your carrier. GSM networks like AT and T and T-Mobile will display the International Mobile Equipment Identity, where as Code-Division Multiple Access networks use the MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier). Most phones will so what type of number it is displaying but if it doesn't you can use the information that I have told you to determine what number your mobile is displaying.

What You Should Do After Finding Out Your IMEI Number

It would be wise to quickly write down your number somewhere you can remember it so you don't have to go through the exasperating process of having your device stolen and knowing that a thief could be going through it right now...