Finding a unique mobile device ID number is a challenge that almost every Xiaomi appliance owner, whether a brand new flagship or a budget Redmi, faces. This code, known as IMEI, serves as your gadget’s digital passport, allowing you to identify it in global databases, block it when lost or authenticate it before buying. Often users search for this information in a hurry when the phone is already lost, locked or sold, so knowing how to get it “bypassing” the on screen is critical.
Xiaomi, like many other vendors, has a lot of ways to get this data to keep the user safe in any situation. You can find the cherished 15 digits on the case, in the software menu, on the original packaging, or even through Google's cloud service if the device was previously authorized. Understanding where to look for this number in your particular case will save you time and nerves, especially if it comes to regaining access to an account or confirming ownership.
In this article, we will take a look at all the existing methods of searching for IMEI on Mi and Redmi smartphones, from the most obvious to the hidden engineering methods. We will also discuss how IMEI differs from SN (serial number), and why these concepts should not be confused.
Use of engineering USSD-quick-search
The fastest and most versatile way to know IMEI on any Xiaomi phone is to use a special character combination built into Android firmware.This method works even without a SIM card and an active Internet connection, since the request is processed at the level of the basic communication system. You do not need to have access to the settings menu or unlock the screen (if it is not password protected at start), just open the Phone application.
To get information, type *#06# on the keyboard. Once you enter the last grille symbol, a technical pop-up will automatically appear on the screen. If you have two SIM cards installed on your device, you will see two different IMEI numbers: one for the first slot (IMEI 1) and the second for the second slot (IMEI 2).
In some cases, especially on dual-symbol versions, MEID code can be displayed along with IMEI. This is the standard for CDMA networks, but in the context of finding the main identifier for Xiaomi, you should be interested in 15-digit IMEI numbers. You can not copy them directly from this window, so it is recommended to take a screenshot or rewrite the numbers manually to a piece of paper.
⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware or heavily modified versions MIUI (For example, in Chinese versions with a global language installed, the standard *#06# code may fail or give an error.
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Save a screenshot of the IMEI codes in a separate album "Documents" or send yourself to Telegram/WhatsApp in "Favorites" to have quick access to them even when your phone is locked.
Search for IMEI via the Android and MIUI settings menu
If the phone screen is unlocked and you have access to the interface, you can find IMEI in the system menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell (or the new HyperOS), but the logic remains the same. Usually this information is hidden in the About Phone section, which contains the entire technical specification of the device.
To find the number, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Open the Settings app on the main screen.
- 🔍 Select About Phone (usually at the top of the list).
- 📄 Find a line. IMEI General information (in new versions) MIUI You need to click on this subitem).
- 👁️ Click on the eye icon or just look at the numbers next to the inscription IMEI.
It is important to note that in modern versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS Xiaomi has implemented a privacy protection feature. Now, when copying IMEI or sending it to applications, the system can show a virtual number, rather than a real one (empty or random), if the application does not have special permission.
☑️ Checking the data in the menu
It is also worth mentioning that in the same menu you can often find Widevine L1 status and other certificates, but to identify the device in the databases of operators or police you need 15 digits IMEI. If you have a dual-symbol phone, make sure you write down both numbers, as locking is often done on the specific slot through which the call or access to the network was made.
Physical inspection: back cover, sim card tray and box
When the phone is turned off, broken or unavailable, physical media come to the rescue. Xiaomi's manufacturer is required to apply IMEIs to several physical parts of the device. The first place to look is the original packaging box. One of the side faces or the back of the box always has a white sticker with barcodes that list IMEI 1, IMEI 2 (if any), SN (serial number), and the device model.
Second place is the smartphone itself. In modern Xiaomi models with a fixed back cover, information is often duplicated in small print on the bottom of the case. However, due to minimalist trends and regulatory requirements, the lettering on the case may not be available. In this case, the tray becomes critical for SIM-Remove the tray with a paper clip and inspect it carefully: on many models of Redmi Note and Mi number IMEI engraved directly on a metal or plastic tray.
The third option is documentation, often with a warranty card or service book stickers that are stuck with IMEI stickers when sold in a store. Keeping the box and check is not just a neat user habit, but also a requirement for warranty service and proof of ownership in the event of theft.
What to do if the sticker on the box is erased?
Remember, the IMEIs on the box and on the phone must match. If you buy a used device and you see a discrepancy between the number on the box and what the phone shows (via code *#06#), this is a sure sign that the phone body has been changed, or the device is assembled from several parts ("Frankenstein").
Checking with Google (Find My Device)
One of the most effective ways to find IMEIs if the phone itself is lost or stolen but previously linked to your Google account is Google Find My Device, a method that works remotely and doesn't require physical access to the gadget, as long as it's online at least occasionally. Even if the phone is offline, its IDs are often cassated in the device profile.
To do this, go to android.com/find from any computer or other smartphone and log in under the same Google account used on the lost Xiaomi. The service interface, at the top of the screen or in the sidebar (depending on the version of the interface), usually displays the model name. If you click on the information icon (the letter "i" in the circle) next to the device name, a detailed card may appear, where IMEI is indicated.
An alternative way to go through Google’s settings:
- 🌐 Go to Google Account Management (myaccount.google.com).
- 📱 Go to Security or Devices section.
- 🔍 Find your Xiaomi device in the list.
- ℹ️ Click on it to see the details where sometimes (not on all Android versions) it will make its way through. IMEI.
⚠️ Note: If you changed your Google password or logged out of your phone account before losing it, this method will not work. IMEI Google account may not be available if the phone has never connected to the Internet after the initial setup.
This method is particularly useful for confirming which phone was linked to an account, which can be a decisive argument when contacting the police or a telecom operator to lock.
Specificity of two-symbol models and the differences between IMEI and SN
Xiaomi smartphone owners often confuse IMEI and SN (Serial Number). Although both numbers are unique identifiers, they perform different functions. IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is an international mobile equipment identifier tied to a communication module. It is needed by operators to register on the network. SN (Serial Number) is the factory number of a particular instance of the device used by the manufacturer to track the batch, release date and warranty service.
Two-symbol Redmi and Mi smartphones always have two IMEI numbers. This is because each SIM card slot has its own radio module (or virtual module division), which must have a unique address on the network. When locking the phone via IMEI, the operator is often asked which number to lock, or both lock at once if the device is listed in the database of stolen.
Comparative table of identifiers:
| Parameter | IMEI | SN (Serial number) | MAC-address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointment | Identification on the cellular network | Guarantee and accounting of production | Identification in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth |
| Number of | 1 or 2 (on the SIM slot) | 1 on the device | Separate for Wi-Fi and BT |
| Where to find out. | *#06#, settings, box | On the box, in the settings. | Wi-Fi settings, About the phone |
| Can we change? | Theoretically yes (illegally) | No (sewed at the factory) | Yes (programmatically) |
Understanding the difference between these numbers will help you to correctly fill out a police statement or form on the operator’s website. IMEI is required to block access to the cellular network, and SN is most often asked to contact the Xiaomi service center under warranty.
Xiaomi authentication by IMEI on the official website
Once you have found the IMEI, it is crucial to authenticate the device, especially if you are buying the phone from hand or in an unverified store.The official Xiaomi website provides a tool to verify the status of the device, which makes it possible to make sure that the phone is not a fake, as well as to find out the activation date and the remainder of the warranty period.
The verification process is as follows:
- Go to the official mi.com/global/verify check site (or your country’s regional site).
- Enter the 15-digit IMEI or SN number in the appropriate field.
- Enter the captcha to confirm that you are not a robot.
- Press the "Verify" button.
The system will give the result: if the device is original, you will see its exact model, color and warranty expiration date. If the site says "Information not found", this is an alarm signal. This can mean that the phone is counterfeit (Chinese copy), was imported illegally without registration in the region database ("gray" import), or the IMEI number was changed programmatically (overflashed).
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Official IMEI check is the only reliable way to distinguish the original Xiaomi from a high-quality copy that may look identical.
Also, be careful if the warranty expiration date listed on the site expired long before your purchase, or vice versa, the warranty has not yet begun (although the phone is in your hands), this may indicate that the device was activated earlier in another region or is refurbished, even if the seller claims otherwise.