There's one thing that all Android and iPhone owners will want to do before it's too late, as activating this secret code on your smartphone will come in clutch if your phone ever gets stolen.
Most people only take advantage of a fraction of their phone's capabilities, and there are plenty of tips and tricks that you could employ each day to completely transform the experience with your Android or iPhone device.
These can be small tips like reducing one of the most annoying features in the recent iOS update or enhancing the Wi-Fi capabilities on your Samsung phone, but you'll never be able to go back once you've taken advantage of them.
One of the most important hidden features is relatively boring at first glance though, leading many to not bother with it, but activating it before you need it will leave you incredibly thankful in one particular scenario.
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As shared by Supercar Blondie, every mobile phone is packed with a number of 'secret codes' that people can take advantage of, and they've existed for far longer than you might expect.
Some of these are relatively simple – like telling you the value of your current bill or your phone number – but others have far greater implications for the future of your device.
Arguably the most important of these tells you what your device's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is, and while you might not need to know that now, you'll want to jot it down for future use.
That's because it's one of the only things that will completely protect your device in the event of a theft, as while the iPhone does have a few neat tricks up its sleeve, none are quite as comprehensive as this.
If your gadget was ever to get stolen, getting in contact with your carrier and letting them know the IMEI will allow them to blacklist the device, blocking thieves from accessing any network whatsoever, even if they switch out the sim card.
This means that the phone becomes unsellable and unusable, and while that likely won't lead you to getting it back, it prevents your device from being sold or stolen to someone else.
To do this, all you need to do is head into your device's Phone app where you make calls, navigate to the keypad section, and then type in the following combination:
- *#06#
You don't even need to 'call' that number by pressing the green button, as your IMEI will automatically appear. Make sure to write this down somewhere safe, presumably on a piece of paper that's not tied to your digital life, and have it ready in the unlikely event of a theft.