What Is an EID Number? EID vs ICCID vs IMEI, Where to Find It
The EID is the 32-digit serial number of your phone's eSIM chip. Here is where to find it, what carriers use it for, and how it differs from the ICCID, IMEI, MEID and IMSI.
Quick answer
An EID is the serial number of the eSIM chip built into your phone, tablet or watch, and GSMA, the industry body behind the eSIM specifications, sets its length at 32 digits. It identifies the chip, not your plan or phone number, so adding or deleting an eSIM does not change it. Find it under Settings > General > About on an iPhone or iPad, Settings > About phone > SIM status on a Google Pixel, and Settings > About phone > Status information on a Samsung Galaxy (some Galaxy phones say Status). A carrier may ask for it to send you an eSIM.
What an EID number is
The EID is the ID of the chip that stores your eSIMs. The standard calls that chip an eUICC, and GSMA's EID specification spells EID out as eUICC Identifier. It describes the number's main purpose as giving every eUICC a unique global serial number.
Picture the eUICC as a container and each eSIM you install as a profile inside it. A profile is the downloadable SIM itself: one carrier's data for one subscription. GSMA's eSIM whitepaper describes the eUICC as a secure element that can hold more than one profile.
Three statements in the specification matter to a traveler:
- The EID belongs to the chip. GSMA says it is not related to service subscriptions and cannot be used to identify them.
- It is not an account number. GSMA says it is not intended to be used to charge for telecommunication services.
- One chip, one EID. Each EID must identify a single eUICC uniquely.
You will see the letters expanded in other ways. Google's Pixel help page writes Embedded Identity Document, and an AT&T device guide writes Imbedded Identity Document. They mean the same number.
How long an EID is, and the 28-digit mix-up
An EID has 32 digits. GSMA's EID specification states that length as a requirement. GSMA's consumer eSIM technical specification repeats it, and adds that an eSIM device must give its user a way to read the EID as a plain 32-digit number. An AT&T device guide also describes a unique 32-digit number that identifies the built-in eSIM chip.
You may come across a "28 digit EID number". None of the standards, phone maker pages or carrier pages cited in this guide gives that length. Apple's and Google's help pages show where the number is without saying how long it is. If you count fewer than 32 digits, count again, and check that you are reading the EID line and not one of its neighbors.
The neighbors have different lengths:
| Number | Length | Where that length is stated |
|---|---|---|
| EID | 32 digits | GSMA EID specification |
| ICCID | 19 or 20 digits | GSMA eSIM technical specification |
| IMEI | 15 digits | GSMA Device Check FAQ |
| MEID | 14 digits | GSMA Device Check FAQ |
| IMSI | Not more than 15 digits | 3GPP numbering specification |
GSMA also defines what sits inside the 32 digits:
- The last two are check digits, calculated from the rest of the number. Any interested party can use them to verify an EID, the specification says, which lets a web form catch a mistyped number.
- EIDs from the original numbering scheme begin with 89. GSMA explains that the first EID format was inherited from the ICCID, the serial number of a SIM.
- EIDs from the newer scheme that GSMA administers do not begin with 89. Both are valid, so an EID that starts with other digits is not an error.
Where to find your EID
The Settings app is the fastest place to look. GSMA's technical specification requires an eSIM device to give its user a way to see the EID. The paths below follow each phone maker's own help page.
| Device | Where the EID is shown |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings > General > About |
| iPad (cellular model) | Settings > General > About |
| Google Pixel | Settings > About phone > SIM status |
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings > About phone > Status information (or Status) |
| Phone keypad | The code *#06# (AT&T's eSIM check) |
| Original box | Barcode label |
iPhone
Apple's guide to finding the serial number, EID or IMEI gives these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General, then tap About.
- Scroll down. Apple notes that you might need to scroll to find the EID, the IMEI/MEID and the ICCID.
- Touch and hold the number to copy it.
iPad
The path is the same: Settings > General > About, then scroll. Apple's instructions mention the EID for the cellular model of iPad.
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung's Galaxy eSIM support page says the EID is on the box the phone came in, or in Settings:
- Open Settings.
- Tap About phone.
- Tap Status information.
- Find the EID line.
Another Samsung support page writes the last step as Status, and the page linked above says it covers Hong Kong products and that settings vary by location. If you see one label and not the other, open the one you have.
Google Pixel
Google's Pixel help page on IMEI and other ID numbers lists two places for the EID: the phone's box and the Settings app.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap About phone.
- Tap SIM status.
- Find EID.
Google also describes an EID QR code for activating in a store. Open Settings, tap Network & internet, tap Add next to Mobile network, tap Download a SIM instead?, tap Next, then tap Activating in a store? Another Google help page calls this menu SIMs, so your Pixel may show SIMs where these steps say Mobile network.
The dial code
A keypad code can bring up a phone's identifiers. AT&T's prepaid eSIM guide tells customers to press *#06# on the device, and says that if an EID number is listed, the device can use eSIM. GSMA's Device Check FAQ gives the same code for displaying a phone's IMEI. Apple's and Google's identifier pages do not mention the code, so if nothing useful appears, use the Settings path instead.
The box and your Apple Account
These help when the phone is lost, broken or not in your hand:
- The box. Apple says the barcode label on the original packaging shows the serial number, EID and IMEI/MEID. Google and Samsung also point to the box.
- Your Apple Account. Apple says to sign in at account.apple.com, open the Devices section and select the device.
What the EID is used for
The EID has two everyday uses: sending an eSIM to a specific phone, and confirming that a phone has eSIM hardware. Support teams use it as well. Apple says these numbers identify your device when you contact Apple for support.
Sending an eSIM to your phone
An eSIM reaches a phone in one of two broad ways. With a QR code or activation code, the phone does the fetching. GSMA's whitepaper explains that the code contains the address of the carrier's download server, and the phone connects to that server and downloads the profile. Our guide to the SM-DP+ address and activation code shows what each part of that code means. Apple's QR code steps do not include entering an EID.
The other way is for the carrier to assign the plan to your device. Apple calls this eSIM Carrier Activation, and Samsung calls it installing a pre-assigned plan. Here the carrier has to know which chip to target. GSMA's technical specification says that when a plan is delivered through a discovery service or a default server instead of an activation code, the carrier's order must include the EID.
That is why the request comes up:
- Google says that when you set up a new SIM, you may need to give your carrier the phone's IMEI 1, IMEI 2 or EID.
- Samsung says you may be asked for the phone's EID when you install a pre-assigned plan.
- Apple's eSIM troubleshooting page says to have your iPhone's IMEI or EID ready when you contact your carrier.
If your travel eSIM arrives as a QR code, Apple's and Samsung's install steps do not ask you to type the EID, and neither do Apple's steps for a carrier link. A provider may still ask for it in a support chat, or to check your device before it sends a plan.
Confirming the phone has eSIM hardware
An EID on the screen is a quick sign that the eSIM chip is there. Google says a phone needs an EID to use an eSIM, and AT&T's prepaid guide uses the EID as its test for whether a device can use eSIM. This is a hardware check only. It does not tell you that the phone is unlocked, or that a particular carrier supports your model.
EID vs ICCID vs IMEI vs the other numbers
The EID and the IMEI belong to the device. The ICCID and the IMSI belong to a SIM profile. The phone number belongs to your plan with the carrier.
| Number | What it identifies | Where it lives | Changes with a new eSIM? | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EID | The eSIM chip (eUICC) | Device | No | Carrier or provider assigning an eSIM |
| ICCID | One SIM or eSIM profile | The profile | Yes, each profile has its own | Carrier, for one specific SIM |
| IMEI | The phone on mobile networks | Device | No | Carrier, for activation |
| IMEI2 | The same phone, second SIM | Device | No | Carrier, for the second line |
| MEID | A device on CDMA networks | Device | No | Carriers, for CDMA devices |
| IMSI | Your subscription on the network | The profile | It follows the subscription | The network itself |
| Phone number | Your line | Carrier account | No, your current number stays with its plan | People, apps and your carrier |
Where those rows come from:
- ICCID. GSMA's technical specification defines it as the unique number that identifies a profile in an eUICC, so each eSIM you install brings its own.
- IMEI. GSMA's Device Check FAQ describes it as the 15-digit electronic serial number of a GSM-technology device.
- IMEI2. Google says Pixel phones that can use both an eSIM and a SIM card have two IMEI numbers, one for each kind of SIM.
- MEID. GSMA's FAQ describes it as the 14-digit electronic serial number of a CDMA-technology device.
- IMSI. The 3GPP numbering specification says a unique IMSI is allocated to each mobile subscriber, and GSMA's whitepaper lists the IMSI and ICCID among the items inside a carrier's profile.
- Phone number. Apple says that when you move an eSIM from a non-Apple phone to an iPhone, your carrier transfers the phone number, either by eSIM Carrier Activation or by providing a QR code. The number follows the plan, not the chip.
Sharing your EID safely
Giving your EID to your carrier, your phone's maker or an eSIM provider you are buying from is the normal use of the number. The standard does not treat it as a hidden value: GSMA's technical specification requires the phone to show it to you and says it should be printed on the box as a barcode.
GSMA's EID specification says what the EID is not. It is not an account number, it is not meant for billing, and it cannot be used to identify your subscription.
Two reasons for care remain. It is a unique number tied to one device, so there is no reason to post it publicly or share a screenshot of your About screen. And carriers do use it when they assign an eSIM to a phone. Treat it like your IMEI: fine to share with the company serving you, through its own app, website or support line.
Phone number takeovers work differently. The FTC's SIM swap alert describes a scammer who calls your cell phone provider, says your phone was lost or damaged, and asks it to activate a new SIM card, connected to your phone number, on a phone the scammer owns. The target is your carrier account, and the FTC's advice is to set a PIN or password on it. The FTC also says not to reply to calls, emails or texts that ask for personal information. Apply that rule to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly asking for an EID, an IMEI or a confirmation code.
When the EID is missing or rejected
This section covers four cases.
| What you see | Likely cause | First thing to do |
|---|---|---|
| No EID line anywhere | The phone may have no eSIM chip | Check the model and where it was sold |
| EID shown, eSIM will not add | A lock or carrier support, not hardware | Check Carrier Lock or ask your carrier |
| Form says the EID is not valid | A typing or copying error | Count to 32, then copy and paste |
| Provider says the EID is not supported | The provider may not cover this device | Ask which models and regions it supports |
No EID shown
No EID usually means no eSIM. AT&T's prepaid guide tells customers who see no EID number to get a physical SIM card. Before you settle on that answer, scroll the whole About screen on an iPhone, try both Status and Status information on a Galaxy, and open SIM status on a Pixel.
Where the phone was sold matters too:
- Samsung warns that, depending on the country of origin, eSIM may not be supported even on a model in its eSIM list.
- Apple says only certain iPhone models support eSIM in China mainland.
- Google lists older Pixel phones that do not work with eSIM when bought in certain countries or with service from certain carriers.
EID shown, but an eSIM will not add
The EID proves the chip exists. It does not prove the phone may use any carrier. Apple's guide to unlocking an iPhone says to open Settings > General > About and look next to Carrier Lock. If it reads No SIM restrictions, the iPhone is unlocked. Apple adds that only your current carrier can unlock it.
Samsung's US support page says you may need to have the device SIM unlocked if you change carriers, and that some carriers may not yet support the eSIM capabilities of your Galaxy device.
Our guide on how to check if your phone is unlocked goes deeper.
The provider rejects the EID
The wording of these messages can differ from one provider to the next, so read that provider's help page first. In general there are two kinds.
If the form says the EID is not valid or cannot be found, suspect the number you entered:
- Count the digits. There should be 32.
- Check that you copied the EID and not the IMEI (15 digits) or the ICCID (19 or 20 digits).
- Copy and paste from Settings instead of typing.
- Enter digits only. GSMA defines the EID's text form as 32 characters from 0 to 9.
If the message says the EID is not supported, the number may be fine. GSMA's technical specification describes a carrier using the EID and IMEI to check whether the target device is supported, and stopping the process if it cannot provide a suitable profile. Ask the provider which models and regional versions it supports, and whether it can send a QR code instead.
FAQ
What is the 28 digit EID number?
There is no 28-digit EID in the standard. GSMA's specification sets the EID at 32 digits, and an AT&T device guide describes a 32-digit number too. If you count 28, count again and copy the number from Settings instead of typing it. An IMEI has 15 digits and an ICCID has 19 or 20.
What does an EID number do?
It tells a carrier which eSIM chip a plan is for. GSMA defines it as the unique serial number of that chip. When a carrier assigns an eSIM to your phone instead of giving you an activation code, its order must include the EID. It also shows that a phone has eSIM hardware.
What is the difference between an EID and an MEID?
They identify different things. The EID is the 32-digit serial number of the eSIM chip. The MEID is the 14-digit serial number of a device built for CDMA networks, according to GSMA's Device Check FAQ. If a form asks for an EID, the MEID is the wrong number.
Is the EID the same as the IMEI?
No. The IMEI is a 15-digit number that identifies the phone as a device on mobile networks. The EID is a 32-digit number that identifies the eSIM chip inside it. Both belong to the device, and neither changes with your plan. A carrier may ask for one or both.
Does the EID change when I install a new eSIM?
No. GSMA describes the EID as the serial number of the chip and says it is not related to service subscriptions. The number that changes is the ICCID, because each eSIM profile has its own. You give the same EID for every plan you install on that phone. Before you remove a plan, read how to delete an eSIM, and when not to.
Can I find my EID if my phone will not turn on?
Yes, if you still have the box. Apple, Google and Samsung all point to the original packaging, and Apple says its barcode label shows the serial number, EID and IMEI/MEID. For an Apple device, you can also sign in at account.apple.com and select the device in the Devices section.
Is it safe to give my EID to an eSIM provider?
Sharing it with a provider you are buying from is the normal use. GSMA says the EID is not an account number and is not meant for charging, and says it should be printed on the box. Use the provider's own website, app or support line, and be wary of unexpected requests.
Next step
Confirm your model on the eSIM-compatible phones list. When you are ready to choose a plan, open the country directory: eSIMAdvice compares travel eSIM plans from 93 providers, lists them cheapest-first with prices re-checked weekly, and links to each provider's site, where you should confirm the final price.