[GUIDE] Create a Fake IMEI for the Kindle Fire

[MaxRabbit]

Why do I want this?
Some apps do not work properly without an IMEI. The example app that I ran into is the XDA free application. Without an IMEI, the XDA app crashes when logging in. I believe it may also affect Terminal Emulator, causing it to force close on launch. The Kindle Fire, at least when running CM7 (not sure about stock), does not have an IMEI built in. Test yours by typing "*#06#" in the dialer.

Prereq's
Ensure the Kindle Fire ADB drivers are installed. The Kindle Fire Utility installed them for me.

Step 1
Download DizzyDen's IMEI generator.

Edit .ini to modify build.prop to stock Kindle Fire device identification (optional step)
(Use if you have issues with the Market or Amazon Appstore allowing you to download apps)
Settings:
Device_Manufacturer = TI
Manufacturer_Device = blaze
Device_Model = Full Android on Blaze or SDP

Step 2
Run the program! For the first option, asking about dev's rom, select "no."

Choose "yes" for in-place upgrade.

It will pop up saying "Failed to read MAC address."

Ensure that your serial number was found and the IMEI is a correct 00-#### (series of numbers) format.

If all is correct, push to device:

You must run it again on every ROM update!

FAQ
Q: Anything else this program can do?
A: Look in the !IMEIme.ini file, there are options for spoofing the device manufacturer, etc.
The following is the relationship from the ini to the build.prop settings:
Device_Manufacturer edits the ro.product.manufacturer
Manufacturer_Device edits the ro.product.device
Device_Model edits the ro.product.model

Q: Does this program support ICS?
A: DizzyDen says that it should.

Q: I've heard messing with IMEIs is illegal.
A: DizzyDen's program generates an IMEI with a 00- in front, indicating that it is a test IMEI. No illegal spoofing of a real phone is going on.

Q: Is there any way to add an IMEI to a ROM before flashing?
A: Yup, just choose "Yes" to "Are you planning to update a dev's ROM zip file?" and choose your ROM.

Q: Ran it, and under system > About Tablet > IMEI it shows as Unknown.
A: Normal, test with *#06# in dialer.

Please consider clicking a "Thanks" to me and to DizzyDen!

 

[CrimsonKnight13]

The XDA app works fine with stock rooted 6.2.1. CM7 might clear the IMEI.

I'll give a look to see if the I have an IMEI.

 

[Veritass]

I'm in CM7 with no imei but I use the premium version

Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium

 

[MaxRabbit]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[treo750ii]

I've tried the free version on CM7.. FC QUITE A BIT!!! Will try this when I get off of work. Great work btw

Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App

 

[jmcoffey]

The XDA app works fine with stock rooted 6.2.1. CM7 might clear the IMEI.

I'll give a look to see if the I have an IMEI.

That's weird... Doesn't for me.... I'm going to try this fix when I get home.

Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA App

 

[G1ForFun]

Nice work, when I was on CM7 (now am back on stock kindle rooted) I was unable to use the XDA Free app at all because it kept force closing, though like others mentioned, the premium app worked fine.

 

[kjwalker]

The regular app checks for an IMEI, the premium does not.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

 

[dnathan13]

Good find. Decent guide. xda free app is working well now.

 

[androidcues]

That explains a lot! Thanks! I have had issues nwith the XDA Premium app on the Fiya.

 

[ibleo02]

Noobi question guys. Would adding an IMEI allow me to download some market apps that don't otherwise show up? I have a couple of apps that I have on my Evo that I would like to have on my KF. One example is FLCommando. Or is there a different way of doing that?

 

[DizzyDen]

Noobi question guys. Would adding an IMEI allow me to download some market apps that don't otherwise show up? I have a couple of apps that I have on my Evo that I would like to have on my KF. One example is FLCommando. Or is there a different way of doing that?

No... it won't cause apps to show up that don't show up... BUT

With the build.prop edits available by simply editing the !IMEI.ini you can get apps to show up.

You can leave all the information for both devices in the ini file and just place a ; at the beginning of the one you don't want.

You could try the default KF info and if that don't work... make it mimic your Evo

And thank you for the write up on the tutorial Max... glad this is getting more info out to other forums other than the NookColor... should work on just about all devices now.

One thing to be aware of... since the program edits framework.jar for IMEI spoofing... you must run it again on every ROM update.

 

[tduermeier]

So I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong here, but for whatever reason !IMEIme cannot recognize my device's serial number. I have tried re-installing drivers, restarting my computer, restarting the kindle, elevating adb first, and nothing seems to be working.

Every time I run the program it says it cannot detect the serial number, nor the MAC address, then it tells me to input an IMEI manually. Judging by the original instructions, it is important that the tool recognizes my device's S/N before continuing. Any advice?

Thanks,

td

Edit: Just for more info, I'm running stock 6.2.1 with root. I tried a big ordeal just now with my drivers to no avail. It seems like the tool is not properly communicating somehow, though adb is certainly communicating fine.

I'm doing these steps:

1) connect kindle
2) select "Disconnect" when the usb transfer option appears on the kindle
3) run "!IMEIme.exe" from its own folder on.my desktop
4) it runs through several windows, tells me it can't find the serial, then the MAC.

I did try inputting my own code for the IMEI, but it then gave me an error saying it couldn't upload. Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated.

 

[JackpotClavin]

There may be a way to spoof this. I think the nook color does this

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

 

[MaxRabbit]

So I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong here, but for whatever reason !IMEIme cannot recognize my device's serial number. I have tried re-installing drivers, restarting my computer, restarting the kindle, elevating adb first, and nothing seems to be working.

Every time I run the program it says it cannot detect the serial number, nor the MAC address, then it tells me to input an IMEI manually. Judging by the original instructions, it is important that the tool recognizes my device's S/N before continuing. Any advice?

Thanks,

td

Edit: Just for more info, I'm running stock 6.2.1 with root. I tried a big ordeal just now with my drivers to no avail. It seems like the tool is not properly communicating somehow, though adb is certainly communicating fine.

I'm doing these steps:

1) connect kindle
2) select "Disconnect" when the usb transfer option appears on the kindle
3) run "!IMEIme.exe" from its own folder on.my desktop
4) it runs through several windows, tells me it can't find the serial, then the MAC.

I did try inputting my own code for the IMEI, but it then gave me an error saying it couldn't upload. Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated.

It shouldn't be necessary to click "disconnect" on the Kindle. Do you have USB Debugging enabled in the Applications -> Development Settings?

A troubleshooting step: If you run the Kindle Fire Utility with your KF plugged in, does the "ADB Status" and "ADB Rooted" report your Kindle?

 

[tduermeier]

It shouldn't be necessary to click "disconnect" on the Kindle. Do you have USB Debugging enabled in the Applications -> Development Settings?

A troubleshooting step: If you run the Kindle Fire Utility with your KF plugged in, does the "ADB Status" and "ADB Rooted" report your Kindle?

So there doesn't appear to be a selection for Development Settings under Applications, all I see when I click on Applications (on the stock rom) is a list of the running applications.

When hooked up to KFU, ADB Status is online, but ADB Rooted says No. My device is running Burritoroot and has SU installed, but if I elevate adb with burritoroot through KFU it will revert back as soon as I close the utility, correct?

Is there anyone who has gotten this to work on a stock, rooted setup that could tell me the steps they followed to make this work?

Regards,

td


Edit:

Tried a couple new things, still to no avail.

1) Ran KFU and elevated adb to have root access, confirmed before and after IMEI through KFU outputting "ADB Rooted: Yes" when prompted to Recheck the device status
2) Did not select "Disconnect" before running utility.

After this attempt I got an error reading:

This will circumvent the intent of this program by using a GENERIC IMEI. This program will not allow this. Program will exit now.

I got this error after selecting "No" to the first prompt regarding a developer's ROM, and "Yes" to the second prompt about In-Place updates. I never saw the "Obtaining IMEI" or "Obtaining Serial Number" or "Obtaining MAC Address" screens at all, this error popped up before any of those screens had a chance.

Then, just to be stubborn, I ran the utility once more and saw it go through a different set of issues, wherein I see "Testing ADB" (no error after this), then the screen flashes to "Obtaining IMEI," which flashes twice, then "Obtaining serial number," which also flashes twice then tells me it could not obtain my serial number, then "Obtaining MAC address," which also flashes twice and tells me it could not obtain it. I am then given a screen where I can input an IMEI base manually and when I hit cancel it gives me the same quoted error above.

It seems like this should be a very simple thing judging by the instructions in the OP, but nothing I've tried has brought me success.

 

[ibleo02]

No... it won't cause apps to show up that don't show up... BUT

With the build.prop edits available by simply editing the !IMEI.ini you can get apps to show up.

You can leave all the information for both devices in the ini file and just place a ; at the beginning of the one you don't want.

You could try the default KF info and if that don't work... make it mimic your Evo

And thank you for the write up on the tutorial Max... glad this is getting more info out to other forums other than the NookColor... should work on just about all devices now.

One thing to be aware of... since the program edits framework.jar for IMEI spoofing... you must run it again on every ROM update.

Thank you sir, i will try that.

 

[tillum]

I'm running Ubuntu, and having no luck with this method. Could someone point me in the right direction? I've been trying to use this tool under wine, and keep getting the error "Failed to mount ROM to read device information". Adb works under Ubuntu, I can edit files, do everything else, but I can't seem to get this working using this tool under wine. Can you provide me with any ideas on how to fix this? It's crazy that I need to use a Windoze box to fix this.... as android is linux, as is Ubuntu. Cheers.

 

[DizzyDen]

So there doesn't appear to be a selection for Development Settings under Applications, all I see when I click on Applications (on the stock rom) is a list of the running applications.

When hooked up to KFU, ADB Status is online, but ADB Rooted says No. My device is running Burritoroot and has SU installed, but if I elevate adb with burritoroot through KFU it will revert back as soon as I close the utility, correct?

Is there anyone who has gotten this to work on a stock, rooted setup that could tell me the steps they followed to make this work?

Regards,

td


Edit:

Tried a couple new things, still to no avail.

1) Ran KFU and elevated adb to have root access, confirmed before and after IMEI through KFU outputting "ADB Rooted: Yes" when prompted to Recheck the device status
2) Did not select "Disconnect" before running utility.

After this attempt I got an error reading:



I got this error after selecting "No" to the first prompt regarding a developer's ROM, and "Yes" to the second prompt about In-Place updates. I never saw the "Obtaining IMEI" or "Obtaining Serial Number" or "Obtaining MAC Address" screens at all, this error popped up before any of those screens had a chance.

Then, just to be stubborn, I ran the utility once more and saw it go through a different set of issues, wherein I see "Testing ADB" (no error after this), then the screen flashes to "Obtaining IMEI," which flashes twice, then "Obtaining serial number," which also flashes twice then tells me it could not obtain my serial number, then "Obtaining MAC address," which also flashes twice and tells me it could not obtain it. I am then given a screen where I can input an IMEI base manually and when I hit cancel it gives me the same quoted error above.

It seems like this should be a very simple thing judging by the instructions in the OP, but nothing I've tried has brought me success.

The error regarding circumventing may be due to the method of rooting used causing your device to report one of the "generic" serial numbers (11223344.... or 12345.... etc) several recovery applications use this and without me taking that into account there could be MANY devices obtaining the same IMEI (which defeats the purpose)... a method you could use is
1. edit !IMEI.ini and set Use_ADB = 0
2. select yes to update developer's ROM
4. manually input your device serial number
5. flash the ROM (the one with -IMEI.zip to the device)

Alternatively you could pull your framework.jar from you /system/framework folder and select no to dev's ROM, and no to inplace... it will then let you browse for your framework file to patch.

I'm running Ubuntu, and having no luck with this method. Could someone point me in the right direction? I've been trying to use this tool under wine, and keep getting the error "Failed to mount ROM to read device information". Adb works under Ubuntu, I can edit files, do everything else, but I can't seem to get this working using this tool under wine. Can you provide me with any ideas on how to fix this? It's crazy that I need to use a Windoze box to fix this.... as android is linux, as is Ubuntu. Cheers.

the "Failed to mount ROM to read device information" shouldn't effect the use on a KF... since the program was originally intended for use on a NookColor... I have it written to mount the ROM partition to read the device specific files... but I also added the use of the "adb getserialno" to obtain device serial number from other devices.

 

[tillum]

I'm confused then, as it doesn't appear to be working... I will check the other error messages I'm getting and post back... basically, the program seems to be quitting with something along the lines of "Unable to generate generic IMEI... quitting" etc. Cheers.