Can a Phone Be Traced Without a SIM?
Many people assume an IMEI is a magical locator — it’s a permanent identifier tied to the hardware — but the reality is more nuanced. Carriers and law enforcement can use an IMEI for device identification and blocking, especially if the phone later connects to a cellular network. Consumer-facing recovery tools (like Apple’s Find My or Google’s Find My Device) rely on the phone signing into a cloud account and connecting to the internet, usually over Wi-Fi or a cellular link. There are also third-party apps and enterprise device-management systems that can share the device’s location if they were installed and given permission before the device went missing. That said, the average person cannot independently and reliably track IMEI number on their own through public channels; doing so typically requires cooperation from a mobile operator, device manufacturer, or law enforcement, and must follow legal and privacy rules. For practical recovery of a lost phone without a SIM, focus...