Great question! IMEI trackers for iPhones are a bit misunderstood. While IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique identifier for your device, it doesn’t actually function as a GPS tracker by itself.
For finding a lost iPhone, Apple’s built-in “Find My” app is much more reliable. It uses a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular data to pinpoint your device’s location. You can access it through iCloud.com or from another Apple device.
If your iPhone is truly lost or stolen, you can report the IMEI number to your carrier who can blacklist it, making it unusable on their network. However, this doesn’t help you track its location.
For comprehensive device tracking that goes beyond Apple’s solution, I’d recommend checking out Haqerra:
Their tracking solutions offer more detailed location history and additional features that might be helpful in your situation!