How to change IMEI number – A simple guide
Nowadays everyone owns a smartphone and many users can experience a cellular issue on their smartphone whether it be a blacklisting issue or some misc. Issues. While experiencing these issues, Users look for alternative ways to modify IMEI and look upon How to change the IMEI number of their devices to minimize the impact on their daily usage.
In this guide, We’re here to tell you all about how to change an IMEI number of a device and what pros and cons it may offer. Let’s begin!
What’s an IMEI?
IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It’s a special set of numbers that are there to identify a device. A network provider stores the IMEI info to check the authenticity of its users and block unauthorized ones.
IMEI is usually in the local storage of the device and you cannot change it without a hassle. It’s typically used to block stolen or lost devices to prevent cyber threats and miscellaneous crimes.
Guide to Change IMEI of an Android Phone:
Method 1: Using Engineering Mode (MTK):
Below are the steps to change the IMEI on an MTK device:
- Open the Phone app.
- Dial *#7465625# or *#*#3646633#*#* on your MTK device to reach the Engineering Mode menu.
- Scroll or Navigate to the Connectivity Tab.
- Click “CDS Information”.
- Click “Radio Information”.
- Select which SIM slot you wanna change the IMEI number of.
- Type the following command below:
AT+EGMR=1,7,”IMEI 1” or AT+EGMR=1,10,”IMEI 2”.
- Replace the “IMEI 1” and “IMEI 2” with the respective IMEIs and click Send.
All done! These were the steps to change the IMEI on an MTK device.
Method 2: Using Xposed (Root):
Below are the steps to change the IMEI of a device using the Xposed Module.
- Open the Phone app.
- Dial *#06#.
- Note your IMEI.
- Launch the Xposed Installer and Check the IMEI Changer Application.
- Reboot your device.
- Launch the IMEI Changer Application.
- Input the new IMEI.
- Click on Apply.
All done! Now your IMEI is changed and you can confirm by again opening the Phone app and Dialling *#06#.
Method 3: Using Android ID (Non-Root):
Note: This method only works on a number of Android Devices.
Here are the steps to change the IMEI number of a device using Android ID:
- Open the Settings App.
- Search “Reinforcement and Reset”.
- Click on the “Product line Information Reset”.
- Select the “Make new Android ID” option from the Notification Shade.
That’s it! These were the steps to change IMEI on Android using Android ID. This method requires no root whatsoever but it’s very limited for now.
Pros & Cons:
Pros of Changing the IMEI number:
- It makes your phone non-traceable.
- It spoofs your device as an up-to-date one.
- Removes the blacklist and other restrictions.
Cons of Changing the IMEI number:
- It’s illegal in most countries.
- You will void your warranty.
- Your device will be unable to restore to its original state if you lose the IMEI.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Is Changing the IMEI number Legal?
It’s very risky to change the IMEI number of your device because some countries forbid doing so. Before changing it, we recommend you to look at your country’s rules to ensure you don’t get in trouble.
Will my Data get erased if I change the IMEI?
Yes, All methods suggest you to backup your data before changing the IMEI. This process involves wiping your entire device to the factory settings. That’s why it’s recommended to back up your data before the process.
Does Changing the SIM card also Change the IMEI?
No, your IMEI is unique to your device and not your SIM. IMEI helps the SIM providers locate and authenticate a device. In this way, SIM providers can locate unauthorized device and block them from a certain network.
Does Factory Reset Also Delete the IMEI number?
No, the IMEI number is stored in the root directory of your device. Factory reset only deletes
the user data and applications. The IMEI number is not affected by the factory reset.
Conclusion:
That’s it! In this blog, we showed you different ways you can change the IMEI number of your device. We also talked about how it can be beneficial and also disadvantageous for your device. We hope you liked this blog. Thanks for staying with us and be sure to check out some of our other content too.
