IMEI(International Mobile Equipment Identity)
TL;DR
A 15-digit serial number unique to every mobile phone — used to track devices through a repair workflow and verify warranty.
IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a 15-digit identifier baked into every GSM/LTE/5G phone. You can find it by dialing *#06# on the device or in Settings > General > About on an iPhone.
Repair shops capture IMEIs at intake for three reasons: (1) it ties the physical device to the ticket so techs don't mix up two iPhones of the same color, (2) it enables warranty and carrier lookups, and (3) it provides chain-of-custody evidence if there's a dispute.
Get Repair's ticket form auto-validates IMEI checksums (the last digit is a Luhn check) and warns if the same IMEI appears across multiple tickets.
Quick answers
What if a customer's phone doesn't have an IMEI?
Pure-Wi-Fi tablets and devices without cellular radios don't have IMEIs. Capture the serial number instead. Both fields exist in modern intake forms.
Can I look up IMEI to check if a phone is reported stolen?
Yes — several third-party services (and carrier APIs) check IMEIs against the GSMA Device Registry. Some repair systems integrate this; it's also worth a manual check on high-value buybacks.