How to Block a Lost Phone on Sanchar Saathi

To block a lost phone, submit its IMEI through the Department of Telecommunications’ Sanchar Saathi portal, which uses the CEIR system. First secure the device and your accounts, arrange a replacement SIM for the same number, and file a police complaint or lost report. You will need the IMEI and complaint details. Keep the 18-digit Request ID to track the request or unblock the phone if it turns up.

The replacement SIM matters because CEIR sends an OTP to the number you provide. Blocking the IMEI prevents the handset from connecting to Indian mobile networks; it does not erase your data or disable Wi-Fi.

First, secure the phone and your accounts

• Use Google’s Find My Device or Apple’s Find My to locate the phone, mark it as lost and display an alternate contact number on its lock screen.
• If recovery looks unlikely, use the service to erase the phone remotely. This is separate from blocking its IMEI.
• From another device, change your Google or Apple Account password and your email password. Contact your bank or payment providers if you are worried someone could access those accounts.

Get a replacement SIM for the same number

Ask your operator to suspend the missing SIM, then get a replacement with the same number from a Jio, Airtel or Vi store. You need access to that number to receive the CEIR OTP. SMS on a reissued SIM may take up to 24 hours to resume, so plan for that delay. If your replacement phone supports eSIM, our Jio, Airtel and Vi eSIM guide explains the setup; when the original SIM is lost, a store can help you restore the number first.

File a police complaint

File an FIR or a lost report for the phone and keep a copy of the complaint and its number. Some state police websites let you submit a lost-article report online. Use the report accepted by your local police and keep its reference details for the CEIR form.

Find the phone’s IMEI

You can find the IMEI on the phone’s box or purchase invoice. If the device was signed in to your Google Account, check its device details in Find My Device as well. A dual-SIM phone can have two IMEI numbers; enter both if the form asks for them.

Block a lost phone through Sanchar Saathi

1. Visit sancharsaathi.gov.in or ceir.gov.in and choose Block Stolen/Lost Mobile.
2. Enter the mobile number linked to the phone and its IMEI or IMEIs. Add the brand, model and price, and upload the invoice if available.
3. Enter where and when the phone was lost, provide the police complaint details and upload the complaint copy.
4. Fill in your name, address and ID details. Add a number where you can receive OTPs and status updates.
5. Verify the OTP and submit the form. Note the 18-digit Request ID shown after submission; you will need it to check the request or unblock the phone later.

Unblock the phone if it is recovered

If police recover the phone or you find it, open Un-Block Found Mobile on the portal. Enter the Request ID, the mobile number you supplied for OTPs and the reason for unblocking. After you verify the OTP and submit, the request is sent to the telecom operators. The phone can reconnect to their networks once the block is lifted.

What an IMEI block does and does not do

An IMEI block prevents the handset from using Indian mobile networks, even if someone inserts another SIM. It does not wipe the phone, sign you out of apps or stop Wi-Fi use, so remote lock or erase tools and account security still matter. CEIR also gives authorities a way to trace a handset if it later appears on a network.

If you need a replacement, our Diwali 2026 phone guide compares options from ₹15,000 to ₹30,000.

• SourceCEIR mobile user manual (DoT)

• SourceCEIR block request form

• SourceCEIR unblock request form

• SourceSanchar Saathi