How to Block a Stolen Phone Using Its IMEI
Your IMEI is your device's fingerprint. Here's how to find it, report it and get it blacklisted to make a stolen phone useless.
Your SIM card can be swapped in five minutes. Your IMEI number, however, is etched into the hardware: it's your phone's fingerprint. When the device is stolen, this 15-digit number becomes your best weapon to render it useless — as long as you know where to find it and who to call.
Getting an IMEI “blacklisted” means asking carriers to refuse any network connection to that specific device, no matter which SIM card is inserted. The result: no more calls, no more texts, no more mobile data. A phone that's barely usable… and far less appealing to resell.
IMEI blocking works AFTER the theft
Adding an IMEI to the blacklist stops the phone from connecting to mobile networks — but it won't make it reappear in your pocket, and it won't erase your data. It's an essential reflex, not a shield against theft.
The action planBlocking your stolen phone, step by step
Find your IMEI number
Dial *#06#: the 15 digits appear instantly. You'll also find it in Settings (iPhone: General > About; Android: About phone), on the original box, on the SIM tray, or in your Apple / Google account. Write it down before a theft — you can't dial *#06# on a phone that's already gone.
Report the theft to police
File a report and provide your IMEI. The police report is often required by your carrier and your insurer to blacklist the device and start a claim.
Call your carrier to suspend the line
Bell, Rogers, Telus, Fido, Koodo… ask for an immediate line suspension to block calls, texts and data, and to avoid fraudulent charges on your account.
Get the IMEI added to the blacklist
In Canada, carriers feed a national blacklist managed by the CWTA since 2013. A blacklisted IMEI is refused by every Canadian carrier, even if the phone is unlocked. Internationally, the GSMA database shares this information among a growing number of countries.
Physically tether your phone
Blocking the IMEI neutralizes the device for the thief — but you're still without your phone. The only method that prevents the theft itself is attaching the device to you. The LOCKÜP™ bracelet links it to your wrist with a patented magnetic lock rated at +100 lb of force. Snatched in a flash? It stays attached to you, not the thief.
- ✓ Patented
- ✓ Dyneema® cord
- ✓ All phones
- ✓ Made in Quebec
Lock and erase remotely
Through Find My (iCloud) or Find My Device (Google), mark the phone as lost, lock it, show a message with a contact number, and as a last resort erase it. IMEI blocking cuts the network; Find My protects your data.
Change your passwords and alert your bank
Update the passwords for your key accounts and suspend Apple Pay / Google Pay. Careful: a device blocked on the network can still connect to Wi-Fi — leave no sensitive app accessible.
Before buying used, check the IMEI
A cut-price second-hand phone may be “blacklisted.” Ask the seller for the IMEI and verify it with a trusted service before paying: a blacklisted device will never connect to the network, wherever you are.
The blind spotsWhat IMEI blocking doesn't do
IMEI blocking is powerful, but imperfect. A blocked device still works over Wi-Fi and for apps. IMEI cloning — reprogramming a stolen phone's identifier to impersonate a “clean” device — exists, even though it's illegal. And some foreign networks don't yet check the shared database: the phone may work again there. Above all, blocking never gives you your device back.
| Protection | Prevents theft | Recovers the device | Neutralizes for the thief |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMEI blocking | No | No | Yes (network) |
| Find My / erase | No | Sometimes | Yes (data) |
| PIN + biometrics | No | No | Partial |
| LOCKÜP™ bracelet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*IMEI blocking and Find My are essential reflexes after a theft. But only a physical tether acts before it happens.
LOCKÜP™ Bracelet
The patented magnetic lock that attaches your phone to your wrist. The best IMEI to block is the one that never gets stolen.
- Patented lock
- +100 lb of force
- Dyneema® cord
- iPhone & Android
Frequently asked questionsBlocking an IMEI: your questions
How do I find my IMEI number?
Dial *#06# on the phone keypad: the 15 digits appear. You'll also find it in Settings, on the original box, on the SIM tray, or in your Apple / Google account. Best of all: write it down in advance, off the device.
Is IMEI blocking reversible if I find my phone?
Yes. Contact your carrier with proof of ownership: they can remove the IMEI from the blacklist and reactivate the line. Unblocking isn't instant or automatic, so only report a theft once you're certain.
Can a blocked phone still be used by the thief?
On mobile networks, no: no calls, texts or data. It does keep Wi-Fi and apps, though. IMEI cloning and some foreign networks remain blind spots — which is why it's best not to get robbed in the first place.
Does blocking the IMEI get my phone back?
No. Blocking makes the device unusable on networks, but to try to locate it, use Find My. The only way not to lose your phone is to physically attach it to you.
How do I avoid having to block an IMEI at all?
By preventing the theft: keep the phone away from the road and, above all, strap it to your wrist with a LOCKÜP™ bracelet. No snatching possible, no IMEI to blacklist.
The best IMEI to block is the one that's never stolen.
Note your IMEI, turn on Find My… then tether your phone. The LOCKÜP™ bracelet installs in seconds and never leaves your side.
Explore the LOCKÜP collection →