Android Phones Could Show IMEI on Lock Screen in Upcoming Update
Android devices could show IMEI numbers without unlocking phones in a new Personal Safety app update, helping users recover lost or stolen devices.
image for illustrative purpose
According to the latest news, Google is possibly going to update its Personal Safety app with a feature that will let users see IMEI number of their phone on the lock screen. The change is currently part of app version v2025.11.13.831777920 and can be detected in the code of this application.
Every mobile device is assigned an IMEI number that serves as a unique identifier, just like a personal ID, and usually it is treated as confidential information. Users have traditionally not been able to access their IMEI details without unlocking their phones, mainly to safeguard against misuse by hackers or unauthorized persons.
The Personal Safety app is an optional Android Mobile Services (GMS) that comes packed with several features on most Android devices. One of its functions is to show emergency contacts and medical information on the lock screen through the emergency dialer interface. The latest code points to a possible introduction of a 'Device Info' menu on this screen which could be reached through a three-dot menu and would show the device's IMEI number.
Moreover, the app will also show a message that states IMEI can be used by law enforcement to aid in recovering lost or stolen devices. This feature comes as the direct answer to the long-standing request of users who were looking for a way to verify IMEI numbers by authorities without having to unlock the phone, accessing other personal data or performing a hard reset.
A request for the feature was made to the Android's Issue Tracker, earlier this year, allowing IMEI to be access from the lock screen. The user claimed it would enhance privacy because it would make a phone’s stolen status verification possible without displaying other device contents. Google at first turned down the request citing privacy concerns and possible misuse by malicious actors.
The past rejection of the Personal Safety app has not affected the possible IMEI showing feature, according to the current code of the app which indicates Google is planning to offer this option to the users where they can securely keep the rest of their data. It is still not clear whether this will be a choice, similar to emergency contacts and health info, or a default setting.
APK teardowns of this type expose the future features that are being worked on although the projection of the functionalities is not guaranteed that it will be available in public. Those who use the phone and the security specialists will have to wait until the official rollout is done so that they can see how Google manages to make the privacy concerns easy to approach while also being the exact opposite.
