Android phones running Android 12 or newer can display their IMEI number from the lock screen, a feature meant to help verify ownership when a device is lost or stolen. Users who would rather keep that permanent identifier private can disable the setting.
Android Authority explains that an IMEI is a unique 15-digit identifier assigned to a mobile device. Police or a finder can use it with carrier records to help confirm ownership, which is increasingly useful on eSIM-only phones that do not print the number on a removable SIM tray.
The convenience comes with a security tradeoff
An exposed IMEI does not let someone unlock or remotely control a phone. A motivated attacker could still try to clone the identifier, impersonate the device for calls and texts or fraudulently report it stolen, potentially causing a carrier to blacklist the legitimate phone.
Google's support documentation says the identifier is available by default when emergency sharing is enabled in the Personal Safety app. On a Pixel, users can open Settings, choose Security & privacy, then Lost device protection and Theft protection before turning off “Device identifier on lock screen.” Other Android manufacturers use similar controls, although menu names can vary.
People who disable the IMEI display can still add trusted emergency contacts or other contact information to the lock screen, preserving a way for a finder to return the device without exposing its hardware identifier.
