Develop Bugs

IMEI changing is going to get you sore!

Many people often come up to me in the street and say, you look like a bit of a geezer (their words), do you know how to change my IMEI to clone that of another phone legitimately purchased within the state of my draconian governement?
I will typically retort with a chuckle, and then the following diatribe:
CHANGING YOUR IMEI IS VERY LIKELY TO BE A CRIME IN YOUR COUNTRY
Now, you may well be a pimp or snakehead already, so no worries relatively speaking, but understand that changing IMEIs can result in a prison sentence or castration, not merely a slap of the wrists. One way or the other, you won't be bending over in the shower if this is a crime in your country and you're found guilty. The law is there for a valid reason, if not necessarily a good reason.
Please check the law in your country before considering changing your IMEI.
You should note that in these days of heightened terrorist threats, if your phone is found to have a false IMEI and you also happen to have a beard and a beautiful tanned completion, you're likely to be spending time with wires hanging out of your orifices, so again, think twice.
I have no place to speak for the administrators or other moderators of the board, just for me, but my view is this:
The board is called XDA Developers. We develop.
The fact that you gets newbs, rubes and non-dudes on here is by the by; our raison d'être is to develop. That entails research and development, so for me, researching changing IMEIs may be a legitimate pursuit. Probably not, but maybe.
Next, recall that the administrators of this board researched and released pretty much the definitive solutions for IMEI changing, on older phones at least. That's part of the reason this board exists. I would be a hypocrite to jump on anyone else carrying the same flag. However, anything that will potentially get the board in trouble will be stopped.
So once again, lube yourself up well before considering changing your IMEI.
And please, be nice to each other, eh?

LOL! Vijay, I love the way you write! Funny but educational. (A little more humor around here would not hurt.) Well done!
Ben

Vijay,
If you have 2 perfectly working O2 Exec and I change the IMEI numbers to be the same on both then
1) What effect does that have if the phones have SIM's from the same service provider, if any?
2) What if the SIM's are cloned, will an incoming call ring at both the phones? Does having same IMEI have any effect here?
.....getting ready to be sore

Universal IMEI change
Sorry ,I can't use it in my Universal,any body can help me?

can anybody help ?
hi
my provider is ir-tci and it doesnt let the imei to be changed but i installed core 2.0 wm6 and after that radio 2.69.11 and it has changed my imei ... how can i change it back to original ?
thanks

I thought that was just me as the imei number on the phone changed too after i have run some unlocking software on it.
Dial in *#06# and the last four digits on my phone's imei number have changed from the printed sticker under the battery.
How have i managed this.?

james21170 said:
I thought that was just me as the imei number on the phone changed too after i have run some unlocking software on it.
Dial in *#06# and the last four digits on my phone's imei number have changed from the printed sticker under the battery.
How have i managed this.?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just checked mine too and I noticed that *#06# just gave me 2 more digits than what's printed under the sticker, so just double check the whole IMEI and I bet you find the same thing - just extra digits!

same here, missing the last two digits in my IMEI number after installing Radio 1.41.00.10

champ8242 said:
same here, missing the last two digits in my IMEI number after installing Radio 1.41.00.10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My IMEI number has 2 extra digits (than printed on box and under battery) it has an extra "04". Saying this I have never looked at it using #*06* before. It may not have been changed.

angelstarsix said:
Vijay,
If you have 2 perfectly working O2 Exec and I change the IMEI numbers to be the same on both then
1) What effect does that have if the phones have SIM's from the same service provider, if any?
2) What if the SIM's are cloned, will an incoming call ring at both the phones? Does having same IMEI have any effect here?
.....getting ready to be sore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you make a call or a data connection using your device the IMEI number is transmitted to the network. So they keep a track of what device your using when making calls sending sms's etc
1> same IMEI number will not be active at the same time on the network,
for example, if you make a call with device A and hand up then make a call with device B, thats fine, as the IMEI number will only be associated with 1 number at the time.
You will not be able to make 2 calls on both devices at the same time.
2> same thing here if the sims are cloned on say vodafone the network will pick up 2 different sim numbers in use and call will fail.
heres something I cam across when i worked for VODAFONE-
customer had a P900, which was reported as stolen- the handset was blacklisted-the IMEI number was barred on all UK networks- and a replacement device was sent out to the customer via there insurance cover.
The very same day the customer went into a Vodafone store and said that the device was not working. and wanted it swapped there and then.
Normally store staff comply without asking to many questions, but this guy was being arsey so the store staff member decided to follow producer and call us on technical support-
I was lucky enough to get the call- she explained she couild not make any calls on the deivce-
I made sure the account was active, all was ok on the network, the sim had updated onto the network and the network new it was activated-
I asked the store person what she experienced and she said just a single beep and thats it, she had full reception etc-
so i got her to do *#06# and checked the IMEI number, and it came up as blacklisted.
mmmmmm i asked her if it was a new phone, she advised yes the customer brought it in today and it had al the packaging-
I then checked the imei number against the calls that where made prior to the user reporting there phone as stolen, and guess what it matched.
so who can tel me whats happened here?
ok thats enough guess-
The customer reported his phone stolen, went to the cops reported it to them- got a crime refernce number- called vodafone put the insurance claim through, got his new handset in the post, took that out of the box, his old handset that was now blacklisted put that into the box,
was hoping that he would take it into the store, tell them the device was not working and they will swap it there and then, so he will have 2 working devices
naughty naughty
the shop staff, thanked me for my help and said this ha sput a big smile on her face.
what happend to this guy,
his account was blocked, he was blacklisted (that info is shared with other uk networks) and to top it off he woyuld have to pay the remainder of this 12 months contract.
he could say NO- but all Vodafone would do is, write of his debth and sell it to a collections agencey.
moral of the story-
If you be nice to people you may get away with what you want-
its not what you ask, its HOW you ask.
Whats my rambling abouve have to do with IMEI numbers
DONT DO IT - its not worth the prison time-
uk blacklisted phones will work in any other country other then the UK

My thinking thereon subject is different.
All depends what right is in data of country. It in my country be permissible then what right does not it forbid.
I spoke with two operator and they denied clearly that imei has with realization of connection some relationship.
It it in modern nets was used was only ID card of SIMAS and it telephone set.
It it was it is knowed was universally that ways exist in relays IMEI. Since it exists prepare it - it was not it been possible to unite IMEI and telephone.
I bought my telephone and can to make what it wants. How it wants to alter I have IMEI this prowo him to alter. I in instruction it have not written: Prohibition of change IMEI.
I in right it have not written : Prohibition of change IMEI.
I lost my telephone. He be found at police. in order to to get him I passed imei there now policeman said me. Imei could someone alter, pass different features which had this telephone. I answered him : scratch on casing, damaged catch from battery and sticker underneath, red colour. So policeman tells this it agrees. And my telephone gave back.
I understand that someone can take me telephone, to alter IMEI and to pretend that he his is property. Then truth. And it it should oneself do this because criminals were helped. It there now it it was not it been possible was to claim: change IMEI is crime. I alter XDA maniulator imei - whether means from I am criminal ? I created to change tool IMEI - whether I am criminal? How you will use him in aim the commission of crime you - are criminal then . if you have gun you - are killer? It ! If you will kill someone this gun then you are killer - and this is bad. this is difference.
You do not it understand maybe because my English is bad - forgive me.

hrm
how can the authorities proove that it was you who changed the imei though?
you might have bought a used phone witch had its imei changed by the seller without your knowledge for example

I'm in favor of any tool that lets us do what we want with our phones as I prefer a fully unlocked machine that will let me do exactly what I want with it. For that reason, if anyone knows of a prog that will allow me to do all these things on a G4 prophet (including change imei if I so choose) please post the links without any of this "search and ye shall find" nonsense. Please just show the direct links to all the tools needed and detailed instructions for the less technical amongst us.
I don't harm people just because I have access to knives or break the law just because I can. Nor do I do so if asked to by someone. We don't have to do wrong simply because the tools exist for us to do so, and the ability to change imei will not make us hardened criminals. It may help some who are unable to use a perfectly legitimate phone for reasons beyond their control in an unfair situation and that can only be a good thing. As for those wanting it for the wrong reason, they will find a way without the help of this forum and it would be very naive to think otherwise. Where profit is concerned a criminal will always find a way and this forum will make little difference to that fact.
This is a developement forum and I would prefer to see it remain so without entering into off topic arguments. I also don't like to see people advertising anything for profit as it negates my own reason for being here. This forum has rescued me numerous times in the past at no cost and I am only too willing to return the favor if ever able without payment. A pity others seem to see it as a free advertising medium.
XDA Developers has always improved things for me and will hopefully continue to do so. its a pity the roms which made things better in the past have now gone and I don't want the same to happen to the free tools still being developed which give us the control we deserve for our own equipment.. The more the merrier.

Extra digits at the end of IMEI!!!
daveschz said:
I just checked mine too and I noticed that *#06# just gave me 2 more digits than what's printed under the sticker, so just double check the whole IMEI and I bet you find the same thing - just extra digits!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello guys,
Don't worry if the first 15 digits are the same with what's printed under the sticker... Extra 2 digits represent the software version of the phone.
You can check it here http://www.numberingplans.com/?page=analysis&sub=imeinr

Pinesio: generally we don't mind discussing techniques from a hacking/development POV, but the problem is the illegality of aiding in changing IMEIs in many jurisidictions.
There are well publicised apps on this board already, some open source, some which we all helped to write, to change IMEIs. But, those members that like to watch their ass or are relatively easy targets tend to stay away for fear of getting on the wrong side of the law... But generally, I'm all up for seeing where hacking can take us with the device that we paid for - within legal boundaries when in a public sphere.
V

vijay555 said:
Pinesio: generally we don't mind discussing techniques from a hacking/development POV, but the problem is the illegality of aiding in changing IMEIs in many jurisidictions.
There are well publicised apps on this board already, some open source, some which we all helped to write, to change IMEIs. But, those members that like to watch their ass or are relatively easy targets tend to stay away for fear of getting on the wrong side of the law... But generally, I'm all up for seeing where hacking can take us with the device that we paid for - within legal boundaries when in a public sphere.
V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what exactly would imei cloning be used for?
i didnt quite understand ?
say someone calls me and my imei has been cloned will it ring on both?
i read somehwere that it will ring on the first phone it reaches... ?
but say i pick up on my other phone (thats not ringing) what happens then ?

neat stuff vijay..
hey vijay..
your name sounds indian.. are u one???
neways.. i need some help..
pls get me solution for this..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=316228

main reason is to rehabilitate stolen phones
boinger66 said:
what exactly would imei cloning be used for?
i didnt quite understand ?
say someone calls me and my imei has been cloned will it ring on both?
i read somehwere that it will ring on the first phone it reaches... ?
but say i pick up on my other phone (thats not ringing) what happens then ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
..the reason it's illegal is that mobile phone theft's really common - at least in the UK. you can now get 5 years in prison for IMEI changing here. reasoning is that the networks have worked out that if they block the IMEI number of stolen phones, they become worthless. let the scallies work this out, and eventually mobile phone theft stops, i guess.
now, if you were to change the IMEI number, you could then unblock all these stolen phones...this is why it's illegal in many countries.

The only country where you *might* have a legitimate reason for changing an IMEI is Turkey. If you are a Turkish resident and you baught a mobile phone outside of Turkey then your IMEI will get blacklisted by the Turkish networks because of some stupid law. Changing the IMEI to your old and unused phone would get around this.
It's probably illegal there too...as are a lot of things in Turkey...like free speech for example but that a whole different debate.

Help Me Please
Help Me Please
Yardım Edin Lütfen
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1417550

Big Mystery! Desire has NO IMEI and i cannot it unlock :(

Big Mystery,
I have HTC Desire A8181 locked to Asia CASH network and i need it unlock.
But for unlock is needed IMEI number and this Desire has NO IMEI !!!
Under battery is only P/N number, S/N number and FCC nuber. Everything else is in japanese
When i tried *#06# nothing happens.
In Menu>Settings>About Phone>Phone Identity is only Model Number, Device Serial and Phone Number
Can you help me please ???

Have you tried looking on the box it came with ?

No- i'm from Czech Republic and the phone is found.

WoW, strange thing :S. Yep, it should be at least on the box...

Haha,
the phone is found...maybe it's stolen and locked from HTC. I will lock my phone if it will be lost or stolen.
And when you find a phone bring it to the next police station....and don't use it by yourself.
When you do something like that here in Germany, you will get big trouble.
CornholioGSM said:
No- i'm from Czech Republic and the phone is found.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

hahaha- NO!
I'm gsm service technician.
Phone is found on airport by my customer.
Locked phones by police make no calls, but has no deleted IMEI !

if you remove the battery you'll see a sticker with the serial number imei, etc
I'd thought that a GSM technician would know that!

You should definitely turn it in, I used a prototype Nokia phone once, and I was contacted by police within a week. Then I found out it was reported stolen, and would have been charged with theft if i did not tell them were I got it from - even though I bought it in good faith, and was unaware of the situation. If I was charged at that time I would have lost my job , which it was definitely not worth at all. Just a heads up.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

I didn't told about locking from police....I told about locking from HTC. Do you remeber the story with the new I phone from apple? They killed the software per remote access. Maybe HTC can do something like that, too.
CornholioGSM said:
hahaha- NO!
I'm gsm service technician.
Phone is found on airport by my customer.
Locked phones by police make no calls, but has no deleted IMEI !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

madsurfer1 said:
if you remove the battery you'll see a sticker with the serial number imei, etc
I'd thought that a GSM technician would know that!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the first post...

madsurfer1 said:
if you remove the battery you'll see a sticker with the serial number imei, etc
I'd thought that a GSM technician would know that!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you read ???
''Under battery is only P/N number, S/N number and FCC nuber. Everything else is in japanese''

...and here is photos

Wiping theory could be true, bu they can't remote wipe imei from under the battery ..

Could be one of those fake Desires? You know what the Japanese are like faking phones these days lol
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

nono - fake phones in not locked to networks

I don't think we should really be helping with this, if he's "found" a "lost" phone, it's not his, in effect it's stolen.

*#*#4636#*#*

That is a clone, not official HTC.
Model number is wrong, serial is in wrong format, even the sticker under the battery is wrong.
I've never seen one that says Desire like that, and all have MAC, P/N, IMEI, S/N on the silver sticker part.
Also on the front, a strange logo, should say HTC
I would inform your 'customer' who 'found' the phone that it is a cheap clone.

YEAAAAAHHHHH
Best reply from Italy.
Thank you!!!
Problem solved

This looks like a Korean market Desire. Noting the T on the top, it's SK Telecom. I know SK Telecom uses WCDMA2100 for their network, but CDMA for their older phones. Does the Koreans even use an IMEI for the WCDMA2100 phones? Maybe the Koreans disabled IMEI by *#06# in their ROMS

No SIM insterted, advices please

Hy guys,
I have a situation and need some advices
I have the opportunity to buy NOTE2 for a very fair price, BUT device cant read a sim card :-S (with sim card inserted)
Device does not have a waranty (because it is bought out of my country, to be specific it is from austria), and seller said he is not take it to a service center. so there is no diagnosis what is wrong with it.
I have not seen the device yet, but i will see it in about two days. Seller said that the device is almost new, and it is fully functional except the sim card.
I was ask him is maybe sim slot is broken (people cut regular sim card, and stuff), he said no (he also not sure, because he exchanged it for something else etc).
But nevermind, I will see if it is hardware problem (lets say that I am experienced in this ). I would like to see broken sim card slot, because it is replacable . But lets get to the part where I need advices. possible software problems
I read through forum, and there is various problems and solutions, and also there are few with no solution
I need help with my check list:
1: I will check the IMEI. If there is no one, I will give up
2: If there is IMEI, lets say that there is a chance (maybe someone flash a different rom etc). My qouestion is: Will I be able to make a proper backup of EFS? ,Then try to flash different, modem, kernel, rescue rom, etc... Without a chance to loose IMEI? (properly getting back with efs backup)
3: I read that there are few guys who bought a retail version of the note (the one without radio chip at all). Is there a way to recognize such? (i dont remmember if this version have imei, or not)
4: Is there a chance that device is only locked. What message appear in that situation (no sim, wrong sim, type unlock code or something similar ?)
5: What are the chances that maybe the radio chip is blown , If we assume that the device is relatively new and not dissasembled or something (I know that this is hard to recognize, but maybe, some services code or something)
6: Is there a some kind of service mode to check if the radio chip is functional
So to conclude: If you guys can help me with the check list, feel free to add tips.
I am sorry for this long post.
Thanks in advance

wow, posted a question last nigh, and now it is on a third page lol
lets bump
So once again, my main question is: Is there some service code/mode to check whether the radio chip is functional/or whether is the radio chip existing in a device?
the rest I will leave to chance
again, thanks in advance

Go to a your local telephony service provider, give them the phone's IMEI and inquire about it if it has been black listed. If your device's IMEI has been blacklisted IDK if there's a tool to clone/change it to a newer one. Once the device's IMEI has been blocked, that process is irrevocable unless the previous owner clears the issue for you.
Blocking IMEI happens usually to phones with unsettled payments for the phone unit.

plskillme said:
Go to a your local telephony service provider, give them the phone's IMEI and inquire about it if it has been black listed. If your device's IMEI has been blacklisted IDK if there's a tool to clone/change it to a newer one. Once the device's IMEI has been blocked, that process is irrevocable unless the previous owner clears the issue for you.
Blocking IMEI happens usually to phones with unsettled payments for the phone unit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, that is sound intersting, and when I've thought about it can be possible cause.
This device came from Austiria to my country, so If we assume that the IMEI is black listed; Whether this can be checked by any carier/service provider? or just one where phone is bought?
thanks again

if it is carrier locked then you should still able to dial emergency number isn't?
in hardware issue you can't.

djoni_gitara said:
Thank you, that is sound intersting, and when I've thought about it can be possible cause.
This device came from Austiria to my country, so If we assume that the IMEI is black listed; Whether this can be checked by any carier/service provider? or just one where phone is bought?
thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just like what dr.ketan said(which is the easiest way to troubleshoot it), try dialing the emergency number wait for the ring(a single ring, then put it down - don't try to call again if it does ring) and if someone answers your call - say the matter has been solved. The phone is network locked.

Thanks guys, I was reading a lot through forum, and my head is full of ...:laugh: so I overlooked the logical solution
Thanks again, will try check phone maybe tomorow, and I will let you know

IMEI changed on 5x, no mobile network access

Hey XDA Team,
I have a 5x with andoird 6.0.1 and the IMEI is blacklisted (thanks ebay)
Well i managed to root and change the IMEI of the device after a lot of work ( downgrade anroid etc)
So when i check the IMEI with *#06# or under the settings then it shows me the new one, but on this device under settings and SIM i still can see the old IMEI. I guess thats why it is not working. Is there a way to fix it or do i need another SIM card ?
Big thanks in advance

I thing you cant just by a software change IMEI. Only possible way is to change a motherboard, or find someone who makes this kind of stuff.

Given the nature of your question and the lack of help it's illegal to change imei's and nobody on XDA will help you. My apologies for you having been scammed into buying a paper weight. Unless you can found out from the seller why it's black listed. (Stolen, non payment) It's unlikely you'll get it un black listed. Since you already tampered with the phone. No one will help you. In the future if you buy off of eBay, Swappa, Amazon etc.. take special care into looking into the item you are interest in buying. Your only hope of getting it to work is to pay a tech specialist to swap the motherboard with a legal imei and thats gonna cost money. All the best.

Question A52S/sm a526b/ds successfully rooted with camera working+ demo unit baseband 0000 imei question problem.

I purchased this phone unknowingly that it was a demo version.
I removed the demo version from it via the code, reset and then flash and update.
The dual imei numbers are both 0000 when I typed some code ( cant remember it showed that the imei is ok)
I wanted to get it repair via some of those remote box services. I dealt with very rude unpleasant person who was impolite, told me to install quite old xsg rom which is different csc compared to my original rom. When I flashed under imei there is UAE csc and new lines added under: TRA ID :
and TA : , and these two were not there before, device also shows just as a52 instead as a52s as previously. The person suggested the rom based on the build number that I sent him.
Afterwards he was asking for pictures and then blocked me.
Im wondering If I can fix this unit to usable cellular state with working real imeis
I thought xposed modules would help, but it seems they only help with apps and only change imei on them.
I highly doubt that this device has banned imei.
I would be happy to help you to root it and I would appreciate if someone can help me.
I searched many threads without success, I know the efs/qcb is probably corrupted
What route I should go to fix this device?

If it is a demo version and has no IMEI this tells you that this legally is no mobile device that is approved to use with operators. Inserting a new IMEI can not be legal in normal countries. IMEI is a device identifier sent with all phone traffic to ensure that the device is a legitimate one and is not stolen and black (do not work at all) or grey (works but flagged to be traced) listed.
Go back to the seller and demand your money back!

I hoped that someone with more experience with this would chime in, on these new galaxy devices the imeis still seems to suppose to be there, in galaxy 8 or older galaxy version there was no 4g module and antenna removed, I think this is what you are talking about right ? and it was purchased on ad.
Im wondering if these services like chimera can fix it.

I thought it's unrootable. How did you do it?

gerhard_wa said:
If it is a demo version and has no IMEI this tells you that this legally is no mobile device that is approved to use with operators. Inserting a new IMEI can not be legal in normal countries. IMEI is a device identifier sent with all phone traffic to ensure that the device is a legitimate one and is not stolen and black (do not work at all) or grey (works but flagged to be traced) listed.
Go back to the seller and demand your money back!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought it off an add, impossible, so Im trying to at least fix it, one person here popped in my messages, trying to help... I think he recovered my damaged imei partition and stole it and sold it. Xda what a wonderful place of helpful people.

lucas_54 said:
I thought it's unrootable. How did you do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats bs, my firmware is older but cam is working,The method described in a52 thread, patching file through odin.

ftaqh said:
I bought it off an add, impossible, so Im trying to at least fix it, one person here popped in my messages, trying to help... I think he recovered my damaged imei partition and stole it and sold it. Xda what a wonderful place of helpful people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must be joking; demo phones have no imei. They are not phones they are dummies. Throwing around inane accusations will do you no god around here.