How to find serial number of Android device?

Question

I need to use a unique ID for an Android app and I thought the serial number for the device would be a good candidate. How do I retrieve the serial number of an Android device in my app ?

Answer 1

TelephonyManager tManager = (TelephonyManager)myActivity.getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);
String uid = tManager.getDeviceId();

getSystemService is a method from the Activity class. getDeviceID() will return the MDN or MEID of the device depending on which radio the phone uses (GSM or CDMA).

Each device MUST return a unique value here (assuming it's a phone). This should work for any Android device with a sim slot or CDMA radio. You're on your own with that Android powered microwave ;-)

Answer 2

String serial = null; 

try {
    Class<?> c = Class.forName("android.os.SystemProperties");
    Method get = c.getMethod("get", String.class);
    serial = (String) get.invoke(c, "ro.serialno");
} catch (Exception ignored) {
}

This code returns device serial number using a hidden Android API.

Answer 3

There is an excellent post on the Android Developer's Blog discussing this.

It recommends against using TelephonyManager.getDeviceId() as it doesn't work on Android devices which aren't phones such as tablets, it requires the READ_PHONE_STATE permission and it doesn't work reliably on all phones.

Instead you could use one of the following:

• Mac Address
• Serial Number
• ANDROID_ID

The post discusses the pros and cons of each and it's worth reading so you can work out which would be the best for your use.

Answer 4

As @haserman says:

TelephonyManager tManager = (TelephonyManager)myActivity.getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);
String uid = tManager.getDeviceId();

But it's necessary including the permission in the manifest file:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE"/>

Answer 5

The IMEI is good but only works on Android devices with phone. You should consider support for Tablets or other Android devices as well, that do not have a phone.

You have some alternatives like: Build class members, BT MAC, WLAN MAC, or even better - a combination of all these.

I have explained these details in an article on my blog, see: http://www.pocketmagic.net/?p=1662

Answer 6

Yes. It is a device hardware serial number and it is unique. So on api level 2.3 and above you can use android.os.Build.ANDROID_ID to get it. For below 2.3 API level use TelephonyManager.getDeviceID().

you can read this http://android-developers.blogspot.in/2011/03/identifying-app-installations.html