No IMEI for Android Developers in Android 10

Question

As Android is serious about security and trying to make new android versions more secure, its becoming tough for developers to keep up-to date with new security features and find old methods alternatives to make their app compatible with old features.

This question is about IMEI in New Android 10! The old method was super easy to get IMEI number by using below code

  String deviceId = "";

    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 26) {
        if (telMgr.getPhoneType() == TelephonyManager.PHONE_TYPE_CDMA) {
            deviceId = telMgr.getMeid();
        } else if (telMgr.getPhoneType() == TelephonyManager.PHONE_TYPE_GSM) {
            deviceId = telMgr.getImei();
        } else {
            deviceId = ""; // default!!!
        }
    } else {
        deviceId = telMgr.getDeviceId();
    }

In New Android 10 it is now restricted to get IMEI number. According to android documentation

apps must have the READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE privileged permission in order to access the device's non-resettable identifiers, which include both IMEI and serial number.

The problem is that when we try to ask run time permissions with

  android.Manifest.permission.READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE

My compiler does not recognize this permissions and i got error on this line but when i ask this permission in manifest file it does recognize this line but through warning that this permission is only for system apps.

I want to make my app compatible with Android 10 and want to get IMEI. How can i get IMEI number in Android 10 without becoming device owner or profile owner ?

Answer 1

Only device owner apps can read unique identifiers or your app must be a system app with READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE. You can't ask this permission for a normal app.