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A standard IMEI is 15 digits. If you see 16 digits, it may be an IMEI SV—a related identifier that uses its final two digits to represent a software version. A 14-digit figure usually refers to the IMEI’s base before its check digit is added, not a complete standard IMEI.
How many digits are in a standard IMEI?
The standard International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) has 15 decimal digits. GSMA describes it as a 15-digit identifier used for a device on a mobile network, and ETSI-published 3GPP TS 23.003 specifies the same length.
In the format documented by 3GPP TS 23.003 Release 15, version 15.11.0 (January 2022), those digits are arranged as follows:
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- Digits 9–14: Serial number (SNR). This distinguishes the device within the TAC.
- Digit 15: Check digit or spare digit. Its role depends on the context; for the IMEI check digit, the standard specifies the Luhn formula.
The check digit is intended to help detect errors when an identifier is transcribed. It does not make every mistyped number impossible, nor does it verify ownership or device status by itself. Read ETSI’s publication of 3GPP TS 23.003.
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Why might an IMEI appear to have 14 digits?
The specification also describes the IMEI as having 14 digits complemented by a check digit. That wording refers to the 14-digit base—the TAC and serial number—before the final check digit is added. It is not evidence that a 14-digit value is the complete standard 15-digit IMEI.
Older descriptions may show a different breakdown: a six-digit Type Approval Code, a two-digit Final Assembly Code, a six-digit serial number, and a spare digit. That historical structure also totals 15 digits, but it should not be mistaken for the current eight-digit TAC arrangement.
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Why does my IMEI have 16 digits?
A 16-digit value may be an IMEI SV, also written IMEISV. It is a distinct, related format—not an ordinary IMEI with an arbitrary extra digit. The TAC and serial number occupy the first 14 positions; the final two digits identify the software version rather than serving as the IMEI’s check digit.
| Format | Length | Meaning of the final digits |
|---|---|---|
| IMEI | 15 digits | One check or spare digit |
| IMEI SV / IMEISV | 16 digits | Two software-version digits |
GSMA’s Device Identifier API reference distinguishes the 15-digit IMEI from the 16-digit IMEI SV. IETF RFC 7254 makes the same distinction. If a screen, document, or service labels a 16-digit value as IMEI SV, its length is consistent with that format; check the label before assuming the number is malformed.
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What is an IMEI used for?
An IMEI identifies a device on mobile networks. GSMA explains that operators use TAC allocation data to determine device types and supported features. GSMA’s Device Identifier API documentation says the identifier is signalled when a device connects, supporting checks such as blocked-status checks and device-dependent network configurations.
The number alone does not establish who owns a device or where it is. The cited standards and GSMA references describe device identification and network uses, not a way for a reader to infer an owner’s identity or live location from the digits.
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Who assigns the TAC?
GSMA manages official TAC allocations to manufacturers and provides device-database services. Its TS.06 page, listing version 28.1 dated September 16, 2025, summarizes allocation principles that include preserving number ranges, preventing duplication, and maintaining security. A TAC is therefore an allocated device-type code, not a serial number for an individual handset.
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Sources: GSMA IMEI Database; GSMA Open Gateway Device Identifier API reference; IETF RFC 7254; GSMA TS.06.
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