What is a fingerprint for you is what an IMEI number is for your device. An IMEI number is like the device’s digital footprint and a way for network providers to ensure that only verified and authentic devices have access to their network. But nowadays, technology is becoming more and more advanced.

But, facing an invalid IMEI number issue can be frustrating for people. Especially when you want to sell your phone and cannot verify it properly. 

Even e-commerce websites ask for the IMEI number before they agree to let you upgrade your mobile in exchange for your old phone. 

Reasons To Face Invalid IMEI Number Issue

Let’s check out the reasons why you might be facing this issue so that we can see how it can be solved. Here are the reasons: 

1. Software updates or downloading a custom ROM on your device from a not-so-trusted source can cause this invalid IMEI number issue. Jailbreaking or rooting your device can also corrupt the IMEI number and make it not work at all.
2. Someone might have tried to change the IMEI number of the device deliberately.
3. There is physical damage to your device’s hardware. This is one of the most common reasons for facing this issue. 
4. Sometimes, your network provider can also have various issues, which can temporarily invalidate the IMEI number. 

How To Solve Invalid IMEI Number Issue?

Now that we have seen all the reasons that might be causing this issue on your mobile phone. Let’s look at some tried and tested ways to solve this issue:

1. The first thing you need to do is check whether your device has physical damage. You can check the back panel of your device carefully to ensure that no one has tried to open it to tamper with the hardware settings.
2. Once you have examined that there is no physical damage, restart the device. Sometimes, a simple restart can solve of the most complex technological problems in the device. 
3. If you have tried to install any customer ROM on your device, ensure that you go back to the device’s original software. You can perform a factory reset and delete the ROM from recovery mode. 
4. Always ensure that you perform software updates every time they are available on your device. But refrain from downloading these updates from third-party websites. 
5. Ensure you always install security patches that come in every month for as long as possible or are available for your device. Security updates are important to keep regular malware, viruses, scammers, and other parties away from hacking your device and tampering with your IMEI number. 
6. If the above methods do not work, make sure to reach out to customer support for the brand that belongs to your device. You can provide them with the IMEI number on your device and the IMEI number on the device’s box. They can match the same with their records and can give solutions for any discrepancies. 
7. When you take the device up for repair, make sure to use only a verified and authentic source for repairs. Local repairs can also be a prime reason, as they are often accused of tampering with the device’s hardware. 

Conclusion

It’s understandable that encountering the invalid IMEI number issue can ruin your overall smartphone experience and give you doubts about the authenticity of your device. If you know the reasons and can find a solution based on these tips, you can solve this issue for sure. 

Moreover, always seek professional help and visit a trusted service provider if you are unsure about solving the issue all by yourself and need guidance. 

By solving this issue, you can avail all its benefits and make sure that you keep receiving quality service from your network service provider.