Lost Your Phone? How to Block It in India Using Sanchar Saathi (CEIR) — Step by Step

Quick answer: To block a lost or stolen phone in India, file a police complaint, get a duplicate SIM for your number, then submit the IMEI blocking request on the government’s Sanchar Saathi portal (CEIR service) or app with the police complaint copy and an ID proof. The handset is blocked within 24 hours.

Losing a phone is stressful — it holds your bank apps, UPI, photos and contacts. Blocking the handset through Sanchar Saathi, the Department of Telecommunications’ citizen portal, makes it unusable on networks in India and helps the police trace it if someone tries to use it.

What you need before you start

• A copy of your police complaint (FIR or lost report) for the phone.
• A duplicate SIM for your lost mobile number from your telecom operator — the OTP for the request is sent to this number.
• An identity proof (for example Aadhaar, PAN or driving licence).
• The phone’s IMEI number(s). You can find them on the box or purchase invoice. The invoice itself is optional for the request.

Note: SMS on a newly reissued SIM starts working only after 24 hours, so you may need to wait a day after getting the duplicate SIM to receive the OTP.

Step-by-step: block your phone on Sanchar Saathi

1. Visit sancharsaathi.gov.in or open the Sanchar Saathi app (available on Android and iPhone).
2. Under Citizen Centric Services, choose Block Your Lost/Stolen Mobile Handset.
3. Fill in the form: IMEI number(s), brand and model, where and when the phone was lost, police station and complaint number.
4. Upload the police complaint copy and your ID proof.
5. Enter your mobile number, verify it with the OTP and submit.
6. Save the Request ID. You will need it to check status and to unblock the phone later.

The handset is blocked within 24 hours. If someone tries to use it, a traceability report is generated, you get an SMS, and the report is also shared with the police station where you filed the complaint.

What if the police already blocked it?

Some State Police forces block phones directly. If you see a message saying a request already exists for that IMEI with an FIR number, the block is already in place through the police.

How to unblock your phone after you find it

1. Inform the police station that the phone has been recovered.
2. On Sanchar Saathi, open the unblock option for found handsets and enter your Request ID and details (or use the app).
3. If the phone was blocked by the State Police, you must ask them to unblock it.

Other useful Sanchar Saathi services

• Know mobile connections in your name (TAFCOP): check if someone is using a SIM registered on your ID and report it.
• Know genuineness of your handset (KYM): before buying a second-hand phone, SMS KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422 to check its status. Dial *#06# to see a phone’s IMEI.
• Chakshu: report suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages.

Do these things too

• Change the passwords of your Google/Apple account, email and social media.
• Call your bank to block UPI and net banking on the lost number if you suspect misuse.
• Use Find Hub (Android) or Find My (iPhone) to locate, lock or erase the phone remotely.

Frequently asked questions

Is blocking on Sanchar Saathi free?

Yes, the service is free.

Will blocking the phone block my SIM too?

No. Blocking works on the handset’s IMEI. Your number continues on the duplicate SIM.

Can a blocked phone be used outside India?

The block applies to mobile networks in India.

Process details as listed on the Sanchar Saathi portal; the portal may update its steps over time.