Battery is the most vulnerable place in any smartphone, and Xiaomi devices are no exception. Over time, battery capacity inevitably decreases: after 300-500 charging cycles, you may notice that the phone discharges 2 times faster than after buying. But how do you know exactly how worn out the battery is? Is it enough for another year of active use or it is time to think about replacing?
In this article, we’ll look at 7 proven ways to diagnose Xiaomi’s battery — from built-in MIUI tools to professional applications and hardware tests. You’ll learn what are considered critical, how to distinguish software wear from hardware, and what to do if the battery suddenly “dies” in one day, and at the end you’ll find a table matching wear and tear and real-time — so you can plan a replacement accurately.
1. Check through the hidden menu of engineering settings (#4636##)
The fastest way to get battery data is to use the Android hidden menu, which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) without installing additional apps.
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##4636### (some models may require ##6484###).
- Select Battery Information (Battery Information).
In this menu, pay attention to two key parameters:
- 🔋 Level of charge (level) – current percentage in digital form (may differ from the indicator in the status bar).
- 🔌 Health status – Good (good), Unknown (unknown) or Dead (critical wear and tear) may be listed here).
- 📊 Temperature – normal values: 25–40°C. If above 45°C in normal use is a sign of degradation.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO F3) Battery information menu may not be available, in which case use alternative methods from this article.
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If ##4636### doesn’t work, try typing it in the English keyboard layout or use the Mi Code Scanner app from the Mi App Store.
2.Using the built-in battery test in MIUI (for 2020 and newer models)
Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has added a hidden battery self-testing feature that isn’t available on all devices, but if your smartphone is released after 2020 (Redmi Note 9, Mi 10, POCO X3 and later), try this method:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 5 times on the item MIUI version (should appear message "You became a developer").
- Go back to the basic settings, open Additional → for developers.
- Find the Battery Test and run it.
After 2-3 minutes of analysis, the system will show:
- 📉 Residual capacity as a percentage of the factory capacity (for example, 85% means 15% wear and tear).
- ⚡ Maximum charging current – if it is below 1.5A, the battery has degraded severely.
- 🔄 Number of charging cycles (normal up to 500, critical value - 800)+).
If you don't have a battery test, your model doesn't support it, so move on to the next one.
3. Diagnostic applications: AccuBattery vs AIDA64
If the built-in tools don't provide enough data, third-party apps will come to the rescue, and we tested two of the most accurate options:
AccuBattery (recommended for accurate analysis)
This app not only shows current wear and tear, but also predicts the remaining battery life based on your charging habits. Download it from Google Play and follow the instructions:
Charge the phone to 100% and leave for 1 hour (for calibration)
Open the Health tab (Health)
Pay attention to the "Calculated Capacity" schedule
Compare the current capacity (mAh) with the factory (indicated on the battery sticker)-->
Key indicators in AccuBattery:
- 🔋 Design capacity – if it is below 80% of the factory capacity, the battery needs to be replaced.
- 📊 Discharge schedule – sudden jumps may indicate damaged cells.
- ⚡ Charging speed – if it has dropped 30% from the original, it is a sign of wear and tear.
AIDA64 (for technical details)
This app is suitable for advanced users. It shows you:
- 🔋 Battery technology (Li-ion or Li-Po).
- 📝 Date of first use (if supported by the controller).
- 🔌 Voltage - norm 3.7–4.2V, below 3.5V critically.
- 🌡️ Real-time temperature.
⚠️ Attention: Apps like CPU-Z or 3C Battery Monitor often shows inaccurate wear data on Xiaomi smartphones due to the power controller's features.Trust only AccuBattery or AIDA64.
Hardware diagnostics: multimeter and visual inspection
If the software methods are inconsistent and the battery runs out in a few hours, you'll need to move to hardware.
- 🔧 Multimeter (costs from 300) ₽).
- 🔌 Connector for connecting to battery contacts (or thin wires).
- 👓 Bloating loupe.
Procedure:
- Turn off the phone and remove the battery (on removable-covered models, such as the Redmi 4A or Mi A1).
- Examine the battery for swelling – if the case is deformed, it must be replaced urgently.
- Connect the multimeter to the contacts (+ and -) in voltage measurement mode (DC 20V).
- Compare the readings with the table:
| Voltage (V) | Battery status | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1–4.2 | Excellent. | Wear less than 10% |
| 3.9–4.0 | Good. | Depreciation 10-30% |
| 3.7–3.8 | Satisfactory | Wear 30-50%, consider replacing |
| 3.5–3.6 | Critical | Wear 50-80%, need replacement |
| Below 3.5 | Emergency. | The battery is dangerous to use! |
If the voltage is below 3.7V at 100% charge, it means that the battery controller is lying and the actual wear is higher than the programs show.
What to do if the battery is blown?
5. Discharge test: how to determine the real capacity
The most reliable way to test wear is a controlled discharge test, which takes time, but gives accurate results.
- Charge your phone to 100% and disconnect from the network.
- Turn on Airplane Mode and turn off Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
- Set the screen brightness to 50%.
- Run the video in the local player (without connecting to the network) for replay.
- Take a look at the time it takes for the phone to run down to 0%.
Compare the result with factory data for your model:
| Xiaomi model | Factory capacity (mAh) | Normal working hours (h:m) | Wearing 50% (h:m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 11 Pro+ | 4500 | 12:00–14:00 | 6:00–7:00 |
| POCO X4 Pro | 5000 | 14:00–16:00 | 7:00–8:00 |
| Mi 11 Lite | 4250 | 10:00–12:00 | 5:00–6:00 |
| Redmi 10 | 5000 | 15:00–17:00 | 7:30–8:30 |
If the battery life is less than 40 percent or more, it means that the battery wear has exceeded 50 percent. On models with a Snapdragon 7xx/8xx processor (for example, the POCO F3 or Mi 11), a drop in the battery life to 6-7 hours in the test indicates wear of 60-70%.
6 Signs of critical wear and tear: when a replacement is urgently needed
Sometimes the battery dies suddenly, without progressive deterioration.
- ⚡ Phone turns off at 20-30% charge – the controller incorrectly displays the level due to cell degradation.
- 🔥 Overheating during charging (above 50)°C) is an indication of an internal short circuit.
- 📉 Charging jumps (for example, from 80% drops to 50% per second).
- 🔌 Does not keep the charge off (discharged by 10-15% per night).
- 💥 Phone case deformed - battery bloating can damage screen or motherboard.
⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi suddenly stopped turning on after discharging before 0%, Do not try to charge it with "heavy" charges (for example, from a laptop), this can lead to irreversible damage to the power controller. 5V/2A and wait 10–15 minute.
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If the phone shuts down at 15-20% charge, it’s not always the battery’s fault. On Xiaomi models with MIUI 13+, the reason may be a calibration failure. Try resetting the battery settings through Settings → Battery → Three dots (menu) → Battery Optimization → Reset.
7.How to extend the life of the battery: 5 rules from the engineer Xiaomi
Even if your battery is already 20 to 30 percent worn out, these tips can help slow down the degradation of your battery.
- 🔌 Charge to 80-90%, not 100%. Use the Optimized Charging function in Settings → Battery.
- ☀️ Avoid overheating – Do not leave your phone in the sun or near heat sources.
- 🔄 Do not discharge to 0% – connect charging at 10-15%.
- 📵 Turn it off. 5G/Wi-Fi, If they are not needed, the communication modules load the battery.
- 🔋 Use original chargers – cheap adapters accelerate wear.
On Xiaomi models with fast charging support (33W, 67W, 120W), try not to use maximum power all the time. For example, for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with 120W charging, it is better to limit 67W - this will reduce heating and prolong battery life.