How to Check if an Android Phone Is Stolen
Check a used Android phone in two parts: run the IMEI for theft reports, then make sure the Google account lock is off. This page covers Google Pixel, Motorola, OnePlus, Xiaomi and other Android phones. Buying a Galaxy? Use the Samsung check, which covers the Samsung account too.
2 free checks · No credit card · Updated October 7, 2026
Quick answer
How do I check if an Android phone is stolen?
Dial *#06# to get the IMEI and check it on SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/check-android) for theft reports and the phone's model. Then have the seller remove their Google account in Settings and factory reset the phone while you watch, and do the setup yourself. If setup asks for a Google account that was previously synced on the device, or says the device belongs to an organization, don't buy it.
Where to find the IMEI on Android phones
Menu names shift between Android versions. If you can't find it, *#06# always works, and on most phones you can dial it from the Emergency call screen without unlocking.
| Phone | Where the IMEI is |
|---|---|
| Any Android phone | Dial *#06# in the Phone app. Dual-SIM phones show two |
| Google Pixel | Settings > About phone > IMEI |
| Motorola | Settings > About phone > IMEI |
| OnePlus | Settings > About device, then tap Status or Device details |
| Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco | Settings > About phone, then Detailed info and specs or Status |
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings > About phone. See our Samsung guide for the Samsung account checks |
Factory Reset Protection: the check that matters most
Every Android phone signed in to a Google account has Factory Reset Protection (FRP). If the phone is reset from the recovery menu or without the owner removing their account, setup stops and asks for the Google account that was previously synced on the device. Without that account's password, the phone can't be set up.
That is why a thief can wipe a stolen Android phone but can't sell it as a working phone. It is also why you should never accept a phone that's already been reset before you arrive. You want to see it go from the seller's home screen, through a reset, to your own setup.
Screens that mean walk away
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Asks for a Google account previously synced on this device | FRP is on. The previous owner is still attached |
| This device belongs to your organization | A company or school manages the phone and can lock it |
| A lock screen with an owner message or contact number | The owner has marked it lost or locked it through Google's Find Hub (formerly Find My Device) |
| A full-screen payment or lender notice | The phone is financed and locked for missed payments |
| Phone locks itself soon after being grabbed or going offline | Android theft protection is on and the owner is still signed in |
How to watch the seller unlock it
- The seller unlocks the phone with their PIN, pattern or fingerprint.
- Settings > Passwords & accounts (on newer Pixels: Passwords, passkeys & accounts): they remove their Google account.
- Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset): they confirm with their PIN.
- You connect to Wi-Fi and go through setup. It should reach the home screen without asking for anyone else's account.
- Put your SIM in and make a call before you pay.
What a Android Phone check looks for
An Android stolen-phone check looks for two things: a theft report on the IMEI and an account lock left by the real owner. Either one means the seller may not own the phone. The free IMEI check handles the first; your own eyes at the meetup handle the second.
Step by step
Ask the seller for a screenshot of *#06# and check the IMEI here before you meet.
At the meetup, dial *#06# yourself and match the number and model.
Watch the seller remove their Google account in Settings.
Watch the factory reset, then do the setup yourself on Wi-Fi.
If setup asks for another account or shows an organization screen, don't buy it. Otherwise test a call and pay.
Enter the IMEI in the search box. SafeOrStolen shows the phone's make and model and searches its own theft reports and public web results, then returns reported stolen, possible match, or no report found in the records searched. A paid check adds the carrier lost/stolen blacklist. Google account status isn't visible to anyone but the owner, so check FRP on the phone.
Why check before you buy
A stolen Android phone can be locked by its owner, blocked by the carrier, or taken back by police, and you lose what you paid. A phone stuck behind FRP can't be set up at all. A few minutes at the meetup avoids both.
Common questions
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