Disclaimer: Changing a mobile device's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is illegal in many jurisdictions, including the UK and EU, and is considered a felony in certain jurisdictions in the US. It is often associated with fraud and the use of stolen devices. The following information is provided for educational and historical research regarding the security architecture of legacy mobile hardware only.
| Region | General Stance on IMEI Modification | Typical Penalties | |--------|--------------------------------------|-------------------| | European Union | Explicitly prohibited under the Radio Equipment Directive and national telecom laws. | Fines up to €5,000, possible imprisonment (up to 1 year). | | United States | Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1029) criminalizes “manufacturing, possessing, or trafficking” altered IMEIs. | Up to 10 years imprisonment for trafficking; lesser penalties for possession. | | India | The Mobile Phone (IMEI) Amendment Act, 2018 makes tampering a cognizable offense. | Up to 3 years imprisonment, fine up to ₹1 lakh. | | Australia | The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act treats IMEI alteration as a serious offence. | Up to 2 years imprisonment, plus fines. | | Other Countries | Most follow the same pattern: altering an IMEI without explicit regulatory approval is illegal. | Varies, but typically includes fines and/or custodial sentences. |
Key Takeaway: In almost every jurisdiction, deliberately changing the IMEI of a mobile device for non‑authorised purposes is a criminal act. The law does not differentiate between “feature phones” like the Nokia 1616‑2 and modern smartphones; the identifier’s purpose is the same. Nokia 1616-2 Imei Change Code
Some versions of the Nokia 1616-2 firmware (very specific revisions, usually engineering samples) have a hidden menu. You access it via *#3646633# or *#*#3646633#*#* (MTK engineering code). If this works on your device, you navigate to:
Connectivity -> CDS Information -> Radio Information -> Phone 1
Here, you type AT+EGMR=1,7,"NEW_IMEI_HERE".
This is an AT command (Hayes command set). However, on 99% of Nokia 1616-2 retail units, this command returns an "Error" because the NV-RAM is locked.
The Nokia 1616-2 uses a Mediatek (MTK) or similar proprietary chipset (often the MT6223 or a similar baseband processor). To understand why there is no "code," you need to look at the hardware architecture. Method 2: The "Secret" Engineering Menu (Limited success)
The IMEI is stored in a specific file inside the phone's NV-RAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory). Specifically, it resides in the RF (Radio Frequency) calibration data block.
The Nokia 1616-2 is a legacy feature phone operating on the GSM 900 / 1800 bands. Unlike modern smartphones with encrypted secure enclaves, the 1616-2 utilizes a simpler hardware architecture where the IMEI is stored in non-volatile memory (NVRAM). This paper explores the theoretical methods by which service centers historically managed device identification numbers, specifically focusing on the difference between user-accessible engineering menus and hardware-level programming. USA (FCC/CFAA): 5 years prison + $250,000 fine
Before you proceed further, understand the penalties for changing a Nokia 1616-2 IMEI without authorization:
There is no "secret code" because Nokia lawyers ensured that no product manager would ever allow such a code to exist.
If you purchased a cheap Nokia 1616-2 and discovered it is blacklisted (reported stolen), the IMEI is blocked by carriers. Changing the IMEI is a crime to "launder" the stolen device. Do not do this. Return the phone to the police.