How to Block a Lost or Stolen Phone in India (CEIR)

If your phone is lost or stolen in India, first lock it remotely, then block the SIM with your operator, file a police complaint, and finally block the handset’s IMEI on the government’s CEIR service on the Sanchar Saathi portal. Once the IMEI is blocked, the phone cannot be used on Indian mobile networks with any SIM. If you get the phone back, you can unblock it on the same portal.

Step 1: Lock or locate the phone right away

Do this from another phone or a computer before anything else, while the lost phone may still be switched on and online.

• Android: sign in with the same Google account in Google’s Find Hub (earlier called Find My Device) app or on its website. You can play a sound, see the last known location, lock the device with a message on the lock screen, or erase it. The phone must be switched on, signed in to your Google account and connected to the internet for lock and erase to work.
• iPhone: sign in to Find My on another Apple device or on the iCloud website and turn on Lost Mode.

Erase is the last option. After erasing you can no longer locate the phone. Use it when you are sure the phone is stolen and it holds sensitive data.

If the location shows an unknown address, do not go there yourself. Give the information to the police.

Step 2: Block the SIM and protect your money

1. Call your operator (Jio, Airtel, Vi or BSNL) from another number, or visit a store, and ask them to block the lost SIM. This stops OTPs from reaching whoever has the phone.
2. Tell your bank and ask them to block UPI and mobile banking linked to that number until you have a new SIM. If money has already been taken, call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 immediately and file a complaint on the cybercrime portal.
3. Change important passwords from another device: your Google or Apple account first, then email, banking and social media apps. Sign out of the lost device wherever the service offers that option.

Our guide on UPI scams and calls you should never trust is worth reading now, because people who lose phones are often targeted by fake “we found your phone” messages asking for an OTP or Apple or Google password.

Step 3: File a police complaint

CEIR requires a copy of a police complaint. You can file an FIR or a lost-article report at the nearest police station. Many states also accept lost-article reports through their police website or app, and the process differs from state to state. Keep a clear photo or PDF of the report, with the complaint number visible.

Step 4: Get a duplicate SIM for the same number

Visit your operator’s store with ID proof and get a replacement SIM for the lost number. The CEIR form sends an OTP for verification, so you need a working number. Activation time, and how long SMS stays restricted on a newly replaced SIM, depends on the operator, so ask at the store.

Step 5: Block the IMEI on CEIR (Sanchar Saathi)

CEIR stands for Central Equipment Identity Register. It is run by the Department of Telecommunications, and blocking through it is free.

1. Open the Sanchar Saathi portal and choose the option to block your lost or stolen mobile handset. It opens the CEIR block request form. The Sanchar Saathi mobile app offers the same service.
2. Enter the device details: the mobile number or numbers used in the phone, the 15-digit IMEI, brand and model. A dual-SIM phone has two IMEI numbers. Uploading the purchase invoice is optional.
3. Enter where and when the phone was lost, and the police station and complaint number, and upload the police complaint copy.
4. Enter your own details and upload an identity proof.
5. Give a mobile number for OTP, verify it and submit.
6. Note the Request ID shown after submission. You need it to check status and to unblock later.

Field names and the order of the form can change, so follow what the portal shows on the day you file.

Where to find your IMEI when the phone is gone

• The phone’s box: the IMEI is printed on a sticker.
• The purchase invoice from the shop or the online order.
• Your Google account: Find Hub shows the IMEI of Android phones linked to the account.
• Your Apple account device list for iPhones.

If your phone is still with you, dial *#06# today and save the IMEI numbers somewhere other than the phone.

What happens after you block

• The IMEI is blocked across the networks of Indian operators, so the handset will not work with any SIM in India.
• If someone tries to use the phone with a SIM, that information is made available to the police for tracing.
• You can check progress on the portal using your Request ID.

Be realistic: blocking does not guarantee recovery. Many phones are traced and returned through this system, but it depends on the case and on local police follow-up. The certain benefit is that the phone becomes useless on Indian networks.

How to unblock the phone if you find it

1. Inform the police that the phone has been recovered.
2. On the same portal, choose the unblock option for a found mobile.
3. Enter the Request ID, the mobile number you used for the block request and the reason for unblocking, verify the OTP and submit.

Unblocking is not instant. Check the status on the portal before assuming something is wrong.

Do these five things today, before you lose a phone

• Save both IMEI numbers and keep the box and invoice.
• Set a screen lock and check that Find Hub or Find My is switched on.
• Set a SIM PIN so the SIM cannot be used in another phone without it.
• Turn on app lock or biometric lock for UPI and banking apps.
• Keep backups running. See how to back up WhatsApp so your chats survive a lost phone.

FAQ

Is blocking a phone on CEIR free?
Yes. The CEIR service on the Sanchar Saathi portal is a free government service. You do not need to pay an agent or any website to submit a block request.

Can I block my phone without the IMEI number?
The CEIR portal lists the IMEI under its prerequisites as needed if available. It is what identifies the handset, so provide it whenever you can. You can find it on the phone box, the purchase invoice, or in your Google or Apple account device details.

Do I need an FIR to block a lost phone?
You need a copy of a police complaint, which can be an FIR or a lost-article report. Many states allow lost-article reports online, and the process differs by state.

Will blocking the IMEI help me get my phone back?
It makes the phone unusable on Indian networks and gives police information if someone tries to use it. Recovery is possible but not guaranteed.

How do I unblock the phone after finding it?
Inform the police, then use the unblock option on the same portal with your Request ID and the mobile number used in the block request, and verify with OTP.