How to Find IMSI Number to Unlock Your iPhone Without Original SIM Card

Maybe you know already about possible ways to Unlock your iPhone on any iOS version and any baseband using SAM unlock method. The SAM is confirmed working method, but requires some skills like finding IMSI number of your iPhone. Now we’ll explain you what it is and how to find it.

Find iPhone IMSI Number

How to find iPhone IMSI Number Easily

We need to start from the ( SIM ) “Subscriber Identification Module” is a chip that stores:

International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
ICCID – unique serial number
Security authentication and ciphering information
Info that is stored temporarily and stored to your local network
List of services available for user
Personal identification number (PIN)
Personal unblocking code (PUK)

How it works: Your own iPhone sends IMSI number to the current network while registering. IMSI number allows network hardware to recognize the subscriber, to prevent the interception IMSI is sent as rarely as it’s possible. Sometimes rather than IMSI number, the device sends TMSI (Temporarily generated code for mobile subscriber identity).

NOTE: You should never to confuse IMSI and IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity, it’s 15-digit number which is unique for each device). Your IMEI number is additionally provided for the carrier by signing up in network. Also, IMEI number can be simply used for tracking phones or blocking stolen devices.

Now you know about SAM unlock method, you’ve downloaded it and installed on your device, but you are not able to find your IMSI number (or you don’t understand what it really is), then just keep reading this post. IMSI number is the original SIM card number, it includes 15 digits which can be split in three groups:

MCC (Mobile Country Code) – first 3 digits of IMSI code.
MNC (Mobile Network Code) – fourth and fifth for EMEA countries (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) or fourth, fifth and sixth digits from the code for the other (NAR) countries.
MSIN (Mobile Station Identification Number) – the last 9 /10 digits from the IMSI code.

How to Find IMSI code for EMEA countries

How to Find IMSI Number for EMEA Countries

Find IMSI code for NAR countries

How to Find IMSI Number for NAR Countries

MCC and MNC digits from 1 to 5 / 6 (colored with red and yellow) present the network. Regional operators could be calculated by last 8 / 9 digits (colored with blue and yellow) also known as MSIN code.

How to locate where is IMSI number stored locally:

All of the IMSI bundles are saved in /System/Library/Carrier Bundles. For example, if you are using AT&T SIM, his identify name will be ATT_US.bundle var/mobile/Library/Carrier Bundles. Now iOS will generate shortcut to that folder that will look like this: var/mobile/Library/Carrier Bundle.bundle.

You should use two tested methods to locate your iPhone’s IMSI number:

1st method is to check your IMSI by running minicom in terminal:

AT+CIMI

After that press Enter, now your IMSI number will be displayed.

2nd tested method suits SAM unlock much better. Start installed SAM application on your iPhone, now go to More Information ->IMSI is located below SIM Details. Now you will see your 15-digit IMSI code, that corresponds to your original SIM card.

How to find your original carrier within IMSI number:

If you found the IMSI number click here
Type it into the field called “Enter IMSI number“.
It’s going to display your SIM carrier’s country, operator, your MCC and MCC code

NOTE: In the event you have already detected your IMSI (carrier, country and MSIN code), but detected code isn’t listed in SAM’s By Country and Carrier activation list, below is our FULL IMSI list of worldwide carriers to unlock your iPhone with SAM method.