Smartphone owners Samsung Galaxy often face the need to obtain a unique device identification number. This may be required for warranty service, checking the phone for theft before purchasing it, or for fine-tuning system notifications. The concept of "ID" in the Android world is multifaceted: it can be an international equipment identifier IMEI, a manufacturer's serial number, or an internal identifier GSF IDthat connects your device with Google servers.

Regardless of the model of your device, be it a flagship Galaxy S23 Ultra or budget Galaxy A14, you can find this data in several ways. Some methods do not require the installation of additional software and work even on a locked screen, others provide more in-depth technical information. We will analyze all current options so that you can choose the most convenient one for your situation.

Using the universal engineering menu

The fastest and most reliable way to find out the main identifiers is to use a special service code. This method works on the vast majority of devices Samsung regardless of the version of the operating system Android or shell One UI. You don't need to go into settings or download applications.

Open the standard application Phone (dialer) and go to the dialing tab. Enter the following sequence of characters:

*#06#

Immediately after entering the last character, a pop-up window with technical information will automatically appear on the screen. Here you will see several lines of numbers. The most important ones are IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 (if your smartphone has two slots for SIM cards). It is these 15-digit numbers that are the main passport of your device in cellular networks.

In addition to IMEI, this window often displays the serial number Serial Number (S/N), which is unique for each copy that comes off the production line. It may also be indicated MEID —an identifier used primarily in CDMA networks, which is relevant for some American versions of devices.

⚠️ Attention: Do not try to enter other codes from the Internet without checking their reliability. Some service commands may reset network settings or cause unpredictable system behavior if you are not a qualified engineer.

💡

If the *#06# code does not work, make sure you are using the original Samsung Phone app and not a third-party dialer from Google Play.

Search for IDs via system settings

If access to the dialing screen is limited or you prefer a graphical interface, all the necessary data can be found in the settings menu. The path to information may differ slightly depending on the version One UI, but the general logic remains the same for the entire ecosystem Galaxy.

Unlock the device and open the application Settings. Scroll down the list to the very end and find the item Phone information (or "About device"). By clicking on it, you will be taken to a section where comprehensive information about your gadget is collected.

The device model, software version and, most importantly, the status of SIM cards are displayed here. By clicking on a line Status, you will see a detailed table with data. Unlike the engineering menu, here the information is presented in a more structured form, often with the ability to copy the number to the clipboard with a long tap.

  • 📱 Model number: Indicates the exact modification (for example, SM-S918B for the European version).
  • 🔢 IMEI: Displayed for each SIM card slot separately.
  • 🆔 Serial number: Unique manufacturer code for warranty cases.
  • 📶 Wi-Fi address MAC: Physical address of the network module of your phone.

In new versions of the shell One UI the company Samsung sometimes hides part of the technical data in the "Software Information" subsection. If you do not find IMEI on the main screen of the "Phone Information" section, check the submenus.

📊 Where do you usually look for technical information?
In the phone settings
Through the code in the dialer
On the phone box
In the Samsung Members application

Physical marks on the case and packaging

There are situations when the phone does not turn on, the screen is broken, or the device is locked with a password that you have forgotten. In such cases, digital access to information is closed, but the physical storage media remains unchanged. This is critically important when buying used equipment or contacting a service center.

The first place to look for information is the original smartphone box. A white label with barcodes must be glued to one of the edges of the cardboard packaging. It duplicates IMEI, Serial Number and code P/N (Part Number). Checking the numbers on the box and in the phone settings is the first step to checking the device for originality.

If there is no box, inspect the device body itself. On modern models Samsung Galaxy with a non-removable battery, information is often laser engraved on the back cover at the bottom. However, in the latest generations of flagships, this practice is becoming a thing of the past for reasons of aesthetics.

For devices with a removable battery (which is rare for modern models, but found in the budget segment), the label is located directly under the battery. To see it, you need to:

  1. Turn off the smartphone.
  2. Remove the back cover.
  3. Carefully remove the battery.
  4. Read the data from the sticker inside the compartment.

⚠️ Attention: Never try to remove the back cover on modern models of the Galaxy S or Noteseries, if they are not designed for this. You risk damaging the moisture protection and glass of the case.

Checking through the Samsung Members application

Each smartphone Samsung comes with a pre-installed diagnostic application Samsung Members. This is a powerful tool that not only helps you find the device ID, but also allows you to fully check its functionality. This is an official data source that you can trust.

Launch the application Samsung Members from the applications menu. On the main screen, select the Diagnostics or Helptab. In the "Diagnostics" section, you can run tests of individual components, but we are interested in general information.

Go to the section Phone information (often located in the "Settings" menu inside the application or at the top of the diagnostics screen). Not only the serial number and IMEI are displayed here, but also the warranty status. The application automatically contacts the servers Samsung and shows whether the factory warranty for this device is still valid.

What to do if Samsung Members is not installed?

If the application has been removed, you can download it for free from the Galaxy Store or Google Play. It is a system service and does not contain advertising.

Using this method is especially useful when buying a phone second-hand. The seller can show a screen with diagnostics, which will confirm the authenticity of the device and the absence of serious hardware failures that could distort the software ID data.

How to find the Google Service Framework ID (GSF ID)

Unlike the IMEI, which is “hardwired” into the modem, GSF ID is a software identifier, linked to a Google account and a specific instance of the operating system. It is necessary for Push notifications, contact synchronization and the correct operation of many third-party applications.

Using standard Android tools, this number is hidden from the average user. To see it, you will need to install a special viewer application. In the store Google Play there are many utilities for this purpose, for example, Device ID or GSF ID Viewer.

After installing the application, run it and provide the necessary permissions. On the main screen you will see a list of all available IDs. Find the line Google Service Framework. This is your GSF ID, which is a long hexadecimal string.

ID Type Length Purpose Modifiability
IMEI 15 numbers Identification in the cellular network Unchangeable (hardware)
Serial Number 9-11 characters Warranty accounting Unchangeable (factory)
GSF ID 16 characters (hex) Google services, notifications Can be reset when reset
Android ID 16 characters (hex) Identification by applications Resets during Factory Reset

Knowledge of the GSF ID can be useful in rare cases, for example, when manually registering a device in corporate MDM (Mobile Device Management) systems or when solving problems with the delivery of notifications from instant messengers.

💡

GSF ID is unique for each “Google Account + Device” combination. When you log out of your account or reset your settings, this ID for this account on this phone will change.

Using ADB for advanced users

For those who are not afraid of the command line and have access to a computer, there is the most professional way to obtain any data about the device. The method requires turning on USB debugging and installing drivers Samsung USB Driver on the PC.

Connect the smartphone to the computer with a cable. Open a command prompt (CMD) or PowerShell on your computer in the folder where the platform is installed Android SDK Platform-Tools. Make sure that the device is detected by the command:

adb devices

If the list shows the serial number of your device with status device, you can request specific parameters. To find out a clean IMEI without unnecessary graphics, use the command:

adb shell service call iphonesubinfo 1

The result will be output as a set of strings with hex codes that will need to be concatenated, but this method guarantees that data will be received directly from the modem, bypassing the shell interface. You can also get the serial number with the command adb shell getprop ro.serialno.

⚠️ Attention: Using ADB requires caution. Incorrect commands may result in data loss or system malfunction. Use this method only if you understand what you are doing.

☑️ Preparing to work with ADB

Done: 0 / 4

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to change IMEI on Samsung Galaxy?

Technically, changing IMEI is only possible if you have root access and use specialized engineering software, however, in most countries this action is illegal. In addition, incorrectly changing the IMEI can turn the phone into a “brick”, depriving it of the ability to work in cellular networks. We strongly do not recommend trying to do this.

What to do if the IMEI on the phone and on the box do not match?

The discrepancy between the IMEI numbers on the case (or in the menu) and on the box is a sure sign that the device is either assembled from different parts ("restored" by a handicraft method) or is a fake. Buying such a phone is extremely risky, since if it breaks down, the service center will refuse warranty repairs.

Why do you need a GSF ID if you have IMEI?

IMEI is needed by telecom operators to identify equipment on the network. GSF ID is needed by Google to identify a specific OS instance in its services. Without the correct GSF ID, the device will not receive push notifications from WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail and other applications that depend on Google Play services.

Will the IMEI be reset when performing a factory reset?

No, the IMEI and Serial number are stored in a secure area of the phone's memory (EFS), which is not affected by a soft reset (Factory Reset). This data changes only when the device's motherboard is physically replaced.