The CEIR portal is the Department of Telecommunications service that lets anyone in India block a lost or stolen mobile phone by its IMEI number, so the handset stops working on every Indian network. This website is an independent guide. We are not a government office, we cannot block or trace any phone, and we will never ask for your OTP, passwords or documents.
If your phone has just gone missing, take a breath. The steps are clear and the official service is free. Below you will find what CEIR does, what it cannot do, and the full path from the moment you lose a phone to the day you unblock it again, with a detailed page for each step.
Quick facts
Official CEIR address
Run by
Department of Telecommunications (DoT), as part of Sanchar SaathiNeeded to block
Police complaint number, duplicate SIM for OTP, ID proof, IMEIRequest ID
18 digits, needed for status and unblockingFind your IMEI
Dial *#06#, or see the box and billCheck a handset
SMS KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422Money lost to fraud
Call 1930 or use cybercrime.gov.inFee
None on the official portal
What CEIR actually is
CEIR stands for Central Equipment Identity Register. It is a national database of mobile handset IMEI numbers, kept by DoT and linked with the networks of all telecom operators in India. Every phone has an IMEI, a 15-digit identity that belongs to the handset, not to the SIM. Dual-SIM phones have two.
When an IMEI is placed on the blocked list in CEIR, operators refuse service to that handset. A thief can change the SIM, but the phone still cannot make calls or use mobile data on any Indian network. CEIR is now one of the services of the Sanchar Saathi portal, and the older ceir.gov.in address points to the current site. For the basics of the number itself, read what an IMEI number is.
What CEIR can do, and what it cannot
Many people expect CEIR to show a map with the phone on it. It does not. Knowing its real limits saves time and keeps you away from fake promises.
| CEIR can | CEIR cannot |
|---|---|
| Block the IMEI of your lost or stolen handset on all Indian networks | Show you the live location of the phone |
| Share details of whoever uses the blocked phone with any SIM, with the police, for tracing | Let a private person trace a phone or a mobile number |
| Give you an 18-digit Request ID to check status later | Erase your data, photos or apps on the phone |
| Unblock the IMEI once you have the phone back | Block phones abroad or stop Wi-Fi use |
To protect your data, use the find-my-device feature built into your phone system, if it was switched on before the loss. More on this in tracking a lost phone.
From losing your phone to getting it back
This is the whole journey in order. Doing the steps in this sequence avoids the most common delays.
- Try to locate or lock it. Using a second device, open the locate service tied to your phone account to ring, lock or erase it, if it was set up.
- Find the IMEI. Look at the box label, the purchase bill or your phone account. See finding the IMEI without the handset.
- Report to the police. File a lost report or FIR at the police station, or online where your state allows an e-FIR. Note the complaint number.
- Get a duplicate SIM. Visit your operator's store with ID proof. This stops misuse of your number and lets you receive the OTP.
- Block the handset on CEIR. Fill the block form and save your Request ID. Our block lost mobile guide has a checklist and complaint letter kit.
- Change your passwords. Update account, banking and email passwords from another device, and alert your bank if payment apps were on the phone.
- Wait for news. If the phone is used with any SIM, the police receive the details. Keep in touch with your police station.
- Unblock when found. Once the phone is in your hands, inform the police and submit the unblock request. See unblock a found mobile.
The main options on the CEIR portal
Go to ceir.sancharsaathi.gov.in. Citizens do not need to create an account. Every request is verified by a one-time code on the phone number you type in. The options you will use are:
- Block Stolen/Lost Mobile: the form to block your handset. You enter device details, loss details, owner details and ID proof.
- Check Request Status: enter your Request ID to see whether the block or unblock has gone through.
- Un-Block Found Mobile: used after recovery, with the Request ID, an OTP and a reason.
- Forgot Request ID: recovers the ID by OTP on the mobile number used in the request.
One point often missed: if your block was raised by police on their own systems (state police portals, ZIPNET or CCTNS), its status may not be visible on CEIR. In that case, ask the same police unit for updates and for unblocking.
What to keep ready before you begin
The form goes quickly when everything is at hand. Gather these first:
- Both IMEI numbers if the phone is dual SIM, plus brand and model as you remember them
- The lost or stolen number, now working again on a duplicate SIM
- Police complaint number, police station name, and the date and place of loss
- A government ID proof of the owner, in a file you can upload
- A copy of the police complaint to upload, and the purchase invoice if you have it (it is optional)
Not sure the IMEI you noted is typed correctly? Our IMEI number check tests the format and check digit before you submit.
Other Sanchar Saathi services in brief
CEIR sits inside the wider Sanchar Saathi portal, which offers several free citizen services. Our Sanchar Saathi portal guide covers them in more depth.
- Know your mobile connections (TAFCOP): see how many SIMs are issued on your ID and report ones you never took. See the SIM check guide.
- KYM, the handset genuineness check: check an IMEI before buying a used phone. Send KYM followed by the IMEI as an SMS to 14422, or check on the portal.
- Chakshu: report suspected fraud calls, SMS and chat messages. It does not handle money already lost; for that, call 1930.
- Reporting foreign calls with Indian numbers: flag calls from abroad that display a +91 caller ID.
- Know Your Wireline ISP: look up licensed wireline internet providers.
All of these are also inside the DoT app, available for both Android and iOS, and installing it is optional. Read about the Sanchar Saathi app, or the Hindi explainer Sanchar Saathi app kya hai.
Common problems on the CEIR portal and fixes
| Problem | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| IMEI rejected as invalid | A digit is wrong or missing | Recheck all 15 digits against the box or bill |
| OTP never comes | The lost SIM is still inactive | Get the duplicate SIM activated first, then retry |
| No complaint number yet | Police report not filed | File a lost report or e-FIR first; the form needs it |
| Status not found | Block was done through state police | Ask the police unit that registered it |
| Request ID lost | SMS deleted or not saved | Use Forgot Request ID with the same mobile number |
Whom to contact for help
Different problems need different offices. Going to the right one first saves a wasted trip.
- Your police station: for the complaint, for updates on tracing, and when a police-raised block needs lifting.
- Your telecom operator's store: for blocking the lost SIM, issuing a duplicate SIM, and network issues after an unblock.
- National cyber crime helpline 1930: if money was taken through the stolen phone. Report quickly on the cyber crime portal too.
- Department of Telecommunications: general information is on dot.gov.in.
CEIR portal in Hindi: short summary
Many readers search for the CEIR portal in Hindi. The portal itself shows its options in English, as named above. Here is the whole process in a few simple Hindi lines.
फोन खो जाए तो पहले पुलिस में शिकायत दर्ज करें, फिर उसी नंबर की डुप्लीकेट सिम लें। इसके बाद CEIR पोर्टल पर Block Stolen/Lost Mobile चुनें, IMEI और शिकायत की जानकारी भरें, OTP डालें और Request ID संभाल कर रखें। फोन मिलने पर Un-Block Found Mobile से उसे फिर चालू करें।
For finding the IMEI in Hindi, see IMEI number kaise nikale.
Stay safe while dealing with a lost phone
Watch out for fake help. Nobody can track your phone for a fee, and no agent can speed up a CEIR block. Never share an OTP with a caller who says they are from the police, the operator or a government office. Type the official address yourself rather than tapping links in messages. If someone calls saying your phone was found and asks for money or an OTP, contact your police station directly.
A lost phone often holds banking apps and saved passwords. Changing those from another device on the same day matters as much as blocking the handset. Ask your bank to block any cards or wallet access linked to the lost number.
All guides on this site
- Block a lost mobile, with a checklist and complaint letter kit
- Unblock a found mobile and check request status
- IMEI of a lost phone: where to find it without the handset
- Track a lost phone: what is and is not possible
- What is IMEI number and IMEI number kaise nikale
- IMEI number check with a free checker
- Sanchar Saathi portal, Sanchar Saathi app and Sanchar Saathi app kya hai
- SIM check (TAFCOP) for connections on your name
Frequently asked questions
Is the CEIR portal free to use?
Yes. Blocking, checking status and unblocking on the official portal cost nothing. Anyone asking for a fee to block or trace your phone is not part of the official process.
Can I block my phone on CEIR without a police complaint?
No. The block form asks for the police station and complaint number, and a copy of the complaint. Many states let you file a lost report or e-FIR online, which is usually the quickest way to get that number.
Will CEIR tell me where my phone is?
No. CEIR blocks the handset and alerts the police if someone uses it with a SIM. Only the police, working with operators, can follow that up. Individuals cannot see a location from the IMEI.
Does blocking on CEIR also block my SIM card?
No. CEIR blocks the handset by IMEI. Your SIM is handled by your telecom operator. Request a SIM block and a duplicate with the same number from them.
What if I bought a second-hand phone that turns out to be blocked?
The block can be lifted only by the original owner with their Request ID, or by the police unit that raised it. Before buying a used phone, check its IMEI with KYM by SMS to 14422 or on the Sanchar Saathi portal.
Is ceirportal.com the official CEIR website?
No. This is an independent guide. The official address is ceir.sancharsaathi.gov.in. We do not handle any requests and never ask for personal details.
