How to identify an Android device programmatically?

Question

Currently, I am using MAC address as the identifier for an Android device.

WifiManager wifiManager = (WifiManager) getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
WifiInfo wInfo = wifiManager.getConnectionInfo();
String mac = wInfo.getMacAddress();

However, I found the mac is empty for some users' devices. I am a little confused why it could be empty.

If you could figure out the reason, that's the best!

Otherwise, could you provide an alternative for identifying an Android device?

What about getting the user android account instead? i.e. `email` It is more stable, if the use sold his/her phone and got a new one, you will still be able to identify — iTech, Feb 15 '13 at 17:02
@iTech how to get that programmatically? How about the user doesn't have an email account or never log in one? — JackWM, Feb 15 '13 at 17:04
How do you want to store these data in sql. Can you explain a little bit more so we can give you better answer? — hardartcore, Feb 15 '13 at 17:04
@JackWM Android users are required to login with a gmail account. — Phil, Feb 15 '13 at 17:04
http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2011/03/identifying-app-installations.html — CommonsWare, Feb 15 '13 at 17:05
what about the phones IMEI via android.telephony.TelephonyManager.getDeviceId()? — Martin Grohmann, Feb 15 '13 at 17:07
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2785485/is-there-a-unique-android-device-id — iTech, Feb 15 '13 at 17:07
@Phil As I know, some friends of mine don't any email account but use android phones. Because their phones are customized phones. — JackWM, Feb 15 '13 at 17:08
Here is a good source for this problem: http://android-developers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/identifying-app-installations.html — JackWM, Feb 15 '13 at 17:46

Ajay S · Answer 1 · 2013-02-15T18:27:41.330

13

You can identify any android mobile uniquely on basis of imei.

TelephonyManager telephonyManager = (TelephonyManager)getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);
telephonyManager.getDeviceId();

Add the permission into your AndroidManifest.xml:

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

In emulator, you'll probably get a like a 0000... value. Check it on device to get device id.

edited Feb 15 '13 at 18:27

answered Feb 15 '13 at 17:21

Ajay S

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Devices that are not phones will not have a unique IMEI number. – CommonsWare Feb 15 '13 at 17:26

score 7 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:24

7

Your best bet with finding something unique about the Android device would be to access its serial number. There are several other posts on how to do this, but the most-viewed one is here:

How to find serial number of Android device?

edited May 23 '17 at 12:24

Community

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answered Feb 15 '13 at 17:07

Phil

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How to identify an Android device programmatically?

2 Answers2