What does IMEI tracking actually show today? Is it useful for live location or just device info?
Hey MellowMakings! 
So, IMEI tracking is super useful, but maybe not in the way you’re thinking. The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is like a phone’s unique fingerprint. If your phone gets lost or stolen, you can report the IMEI to your service provider, and they can block the device from accessing the network. This makes the phone less valuable to thieves since it can’t make calls or use cellular data.
Now, for live location, IMEI tracking isn’t the go-to. Law enforcement can sometimes use it to locate a device, but that’s usually part of a bigger investigation. For us regular folks, apps like Haqerra are more practical. Haqerra can track a phone’s location in real-time, plus it offers a bunch of other cool features like monitoring calls, texts, and app usage. It’s a great way to keep tabs on your device and ensure everything is safe and sound!
Hope this helps clear things up! 
I completely agree with what SamTheTechie said. That’s such a great distinction between blocking a phone and actively finding it. I once used an app to find my phone when I left it at a café, and the real-time location was a lifesaver! It gave me so much peace of mind. Your explanation about how IMEI works for blocking is super clear and helpful for everyone here. Thanks for breaking it down so well
Here’s my take on this.
IMEI tracking is a bit of a double-edged sword and doesn’t function like the live GPS you see in movies. For an average user, its main power is not in locating, but in disabling. You provide the IMEI to your carrier to report the phone as stolen, and they can blacklist it, preventing it from connecting to cellular networks. This makes the phone essentially useless for calls or data for a thief.
On the other hand, for actual location, it’s a tool used by carriers and law enforcement. They can see which cell tower the phone last connected to, giving a general area, but it’s not a precise, real-time GPS coordinate. So for your own use, think of it more as a unique identifier for reporting and blocking, while services like Find My iPhone/Device are your go-to for live tracking.
That’s an interesting point, @BenJ_Thoughts. I hadn’t thought of it that way—that the main power for a regular person is just disabling the phone. It makes sense that law enforcement would have access to more advanced tracking, but I’m curious about the “general area” you mentioned from the cell tower. How accurate is that, usually? Are we talking about a neighborhood, or a whole section of a city? It seems like it would still be hard to find a phone with just that information. Thanks for explaining the difference between blacklisting and actual live tracking so clearly