To block an IMEI number after losing your phone, submit a request through Sanchar Saathi’s CEIR service. You will need a police report, identity proof, and a replacement SIM for OTP verification.
Contact your telecom operator about the lost SIM and secure your accounts separately. CEIR blocks the handset’s access to Indian mobile networks; it does not perform the remote locking or data-erasure functions available through device-finding services.
Key Highlights
- CEIR says a successfully submitted blocking request takes effect within 24 hours.
- Save the Request ID for status checks and later unblocking.
- Unblock only after recovering the handset and informing the police.
What to Arrange Before Blocking Your Phone
Start with the police report and a duplicate SIM for the lost number. The CEIR FAQ warns that SMS on a reissued SIM becomes available after 24 hours of activation, which can delay OTP verification.
Keep these ready for the online application:
- Police complaint or FIR copy and valid identity proof.
- The reissued number, with incoming SMS working.
- IMEI details, if available; the purchase invoice is optional.
The handset’s IMEI identifies the device, while your mobile number identifies the connection. For an Android phone, Google’s Find Hub can display the IMEI under the selected device’s settings, even when you cannot open the handset itself.
Use Google’s lost-device security instructions alongside CEIR if accounts remain accessible on the missing phone. Blocking mobile-network access does not replace securing those accounts.
How to Block an IMEI Number Through Sanchar Saathi
Open the official CEIR blocking form for the lost or stolen handset.
- Enter the mobile number used in the handset and its device details. Include both IMEIs for a dual-SIM phone where available.
- Supply the loss location and date, select the police station, and enter the complaint details.
- Upload the required documents, complete OTP verification, and submit the declaration.
Keep the generated 18-digit Request ID somewhere accessible without the missing phone. You will need it for status checks and unblocking.
CEIR states that blocking follows within 24 hours of successful submission. Replacing the SIM inside a blocked handset does not restore its access to Indian telecom networks, although the block does not prevent police tracing.
How to Check Your CEIR Request Status
Open Check Request Status, enter the Request ID, and complete the CAPTCHA. The current form also accepts supported police complaint numbers.
If the ID is missing, use Forgot Request ID with the mobile number supplied for OTPs or notifications during blocking. Complete its verification rather than creating another blocking request.
The difference between blocking and recovery is visible in the government’s figures. Its 5 October 2026 update reported 60.96 lakh handsets blocked, 37.85 lakh traced, and more than 14 lakh recovered.
Read these outcomes separately:
| Update | What It Establishes |
| Blocked | Mobile-network access has been restricted |
| Traced | Network-derived information is available to police |
| Recovered | The handset has been physically recovered |
A trace is information for the investigation, not confirmation that your phone is ready for collection. DoT’s 14 October 2026 announcement says traceability alerts reach citizens through SMS and email, while the information is shared with police for recovery efforts.
How to Unblock a Recovered Phone
Wait until the device is back in your possession, then tell the local police it has been found. If State Police registered the blocking request, CEIR directs you to approach them for unblocking.
For a request submitted yourself, open Un-Block Found Mobile. The current form asks for the Request ID, the previously supplied notification number, and police complaint details, including an uploaded complaint copy. Select the unblocking reason and complete OTP verification.
Do not request unblocking merely because somebody claims to have found the phone. CEIR’s condition is that it has been recovered and is in your possession.
For a missing handset, begin with the official blocking form and keep the acknowledgement. After recovery, follow the unblocking route attached to your original request.
FAQs
Where can I find the IMEI without my phone?
For Android devices, sign in to Google’s Find Hub, select the missing phone and open its settings. Google lists this as a way to retrieve the IMEI.
Is the purchase invoice compulsory for CEIR blocking?
The purchase invoice is optional on the official blocking form. A police report and valid identity proof are required, along with the reissued number for OTP verification.
Will CEIR erase photographs and banking apps?
CEIR restricts the handset’s access to mobile networks. Remote locking and erasure are separate device-security functions; use the relevant account tools rather than treating blocking as a wipe.
Can the phone work normally after someone changes its SIM?
Changing the SIM does not remove an IMEI block across Indian mobile networks. CEIR shares blocked-device information between operators, so switching the connection does not bypass that restriction.
What if a new phone was lost before any SIM was used?
The blocking form directs owners to the CEIR District Nodal police officer. Take a police complaint or FIR containing the handset’s IMEI numbers for that route.
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