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Repair information, troubleshooting tips, and guides for the sixth iteration of Apple iPhone, announced on September 12, 2012. Model: A1428, A1429

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Where is, in the hardware, the IMEI/ESN located?

Hello everybody.

I have recently bought a Sprint iPhone 5. I want to use it on T-Mobile but as Sprint iPhone 5 unlocking service is not yet available, I wonder if someone knows where in the hardware the IMEI/ESN is located. With that way, I could change that hardware and change it to an AT&T one or is it a big issue?

Thank you in advance for all your answers.

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Hi Rindra,

The IMEI is written on the back of the handset near the bottom. It will actually say IMEI next to it and it will be a 15 digit number usually starting with a 0 for an iPhone 5.

The ESN is the number written in very small writing on the SIM card that's in the phone. You can remove the SIM by inserting either the SIM removal tool or a bent paperclip into the tiny hole on the right side of the phone.

The ESN is not part of the phone and can be changed by putting in another SIM. The IMEI is part of the handset can cannot be changed. Whilst written onto the handset, it is hardwired in, you'd need to replace pretty much the entire device to change this (it's impossible).

Regards,

Anthony

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Unfortunate for you

first Anthony's answer is not accurate. the 20 digit number on the SIM card is called ICCID. it is simply the SIM card's identification number. not having anything to do with the ESN. CDMA iPhones use MEID as their primary network identifier. They use pseudo ESN when needed. Pseudo ESNs are hashed from MEID. Asian CDMA networks use separate SIM cards. In this case UIMID from the card is used as ESN so the billing center sees consistent ESNs and IMSIs and they will accept authentication. American CDMA networks do not use SIM cards. so the ESN usually does not change.

Second, iphone is not easy to hack. MEIDs are written into the baseband. Currently you cannot modify baseband infomation. The only way to change MEID is to replace the baseband chip. But doing so will break the activation process, rendering the device unusable.

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Thank you all for these information.

I just wonder where in the hardware is the baseband, the chip which contains IMEI.

Thank you in advance.

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1 Comment:

So if I were to replace the baseband and other chips that are paired is it possible to activate the phone?

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my iphone 5s lock active iphone lost mode going i forget id how can i solve the problem

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Rindra Ndrantotiana will be eternally grateful.
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