Modifying the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) on a Quectel cellular module is a common requirement for developers, network engineers, and system integrators. This process is typically used for device testing, laboratory provisioning, or recovering a corrupted module configuration.
Before executing any commands, you must establish a direct serial connection to the Quectel module's command interface. Required Tools
Download and install the official Quectel LTE Windows USB Driver . Once installed, connect the module to your computer via USB. Open the Device Manager to verify that several serial ports have appeared, specifically the Quectel USB AT Port .
This is a more advanced method, primarily used for disaster recovery rather than casual modification. A file is essentially a full backup of the module's non-volatile memory, including its calibration data, serial numbers, and IMEI. quectel change imei install
This command writes the new IMEI to the specific memory location on the module. A successful write is usually confirmed by an OK response. After writing, the change can be verified by issuing the read command, AT+CGSN , which should return the new IMEI.
⚠️ : Changing IMEI is illegal in many countries (e.g., USA, EU, China, India) unless you are the manufacturer or have explicit permission. It can be considered a felony (device tampering).
Reboot the module:
: Used for standard device configuration and network status commands.
: The appropriate Windows or Linux Quectel USB Serial Drivers installed on your host system to expose the virtual COM ports. Identifying the COM Ports
Before sending commands to a Quectel module, your host operating system (Windows or Linux) must recognize the module's hardware interfaces. When connected via USB, a typical Quectel module exposes multiple virtual serial ports: Required Tools Download and install the official Quectel
# Enable IMEI modification ser.write(b'AT+QCFG="imei",1\r') response = ser.readline().decode().strip() if response != 'OK': print('Error: Failed to enable IMEI modification') return
Quectel modules often require a "security password" or a specific command to unlock the write-protection on the IMEI field. Depending on the specific firmware version, you may need to use: AT+EGMR=1,7,"YOUR_NEW_15_DIGIT_IMEI" Use code with caution.
Comprehensive Guide to Quectel IMEI Installation and Modification This is a more advanced method, primarily used