How to change IMEI to Android Xiaomi: Instructions and risks

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones sometimes face the need to change a unique device identifier. The reasons can range from replacing a faulty motherboard after repair to wanting to hide the device's real serial number from trackers. However, changing the IMEI is a complex technical procedure that affects the deep layers of the Android operating system.

Before any action is taken, it is a criminal offence to be aware of the legal and technical implications. In most countries, including the Russian Federation, changing the IMEI to disguise a wanted or stolen device is a criminal offence. This article is purely for informational purposes and is intended to restore the device to service after hardware repairs or replacement of modules.

The process of changing the code depends on the processor architecture installed in your gadget. MediaTek devices are much easier to modify than the devices on Qualcomm Snapdragon, which dominate the lines of Xiaomi flagships. You will need not only specialized software, but also superuser rights, access to which opens the way to system files.

Legal aspects and technical risks

Mobile device ID manipulation is regulated by communications laws. Cellular operators and government registries (e.g. CEIR in some countries or IMEI.info databases) keep records of devices. If you change the code to a value that is already listed in the database as stolen or locked, your phone may be locked at the network level.

The technical side of the issue is also full of pitfalls. NVRAM (Non-volatile memory can cause the smartphone to stop seeing SIM-card or lose the ability to connect to networks 4G/LTE. Recovery of (factory) values after such an error often requires contacting an authorized service center with a factory backup copy.

⚠️ Warning: Self-interference with the modem code deprives you of warranty. Even if you return everything as it was, the flag in the system may remain active, and the Xiaomi service center will refuse free repairs.

There are also risks of damage to the bootloader.The process requires unlocking the Bootloader, which in itself is a stress for the MIUI or HyperOS security system. Errors at this stage can turn the device into a "brick" requiring flashing through the Fastboot.

Necessary tools and device preparation

To do this successfully, you need to carefully prepare the workspace and software. Without all the components, the process can be interrupted halfway, leaving the system in a state of instability. Pay special attention to drivers, since Windows often misidentifies the engineering modes of phones.

First of all, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. After that, a new item will appear in the menu where you need to enable debugging over USB and allow installation from unknown sources.

Next, download and install the ADB and Fastboot driver package. MTK VCOM drivers are critical for MediaTek devices, which allow the computer to communicate with the phone when it is off. Snapdragon requires Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader drivers.

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Use the original. USB-Cheap charging cables often don't have data lines, which will cause a connection error when you try to write in a computer. NVRAM.

Method of changing IMEI processors on MediaTek

MediaTek chip-based devices (Helio series and some budget Dimensity) have a vulnerability that allows you to write new identifiers through engineering menus or special utilities, the most popular tool for this is SN Writer or Maui Meta.

The process begins with obtaining Root rights. Without superuser rights, no application can make changes to the modem system files. Once the rights are obtained (usually through Magisk), you need to download an application, such as Chamelephon or use the PC version of the software.

If you use a PC, plug the phone off by clamping certain buttons (often both volume buttons) so that the computer determines the COM port. In the SN Writer program, specify the path to the target data file (usually lies at the root of the smartphone after unclicking) and enter a new IMEI.

After you enter, press the "Write" or "Start" button. Wait for the message of a successful recording. It is important not to turn off the cable until the process is complete. If the program gives an error, try changing the system. USB-port or reinstall drivers.

Difficulties of changing IMEI on Qualcomm processors

The Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, which are found in most of today’s Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 14 and Poco F series, are dramatically different.The security architecture of these processors is much stricter, and standard methods of writing through the engineering menu do not work here.

Modifying the identifier to Snapdragon often requires the use of paid professional boxes (e.g. UnlockTool, Chimera) or complex commands via ADB. Simple applications from Google Play are powerless here, as they do not have access to secure EFS or Persist memory partitions.

⚠️ Note: Trying to write down the wrong format IMEI On Qualcomm devices, it can cause (forever) damage to the Persist partition, causing loss of sensors, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which are almost impossible to repair without a factory dump.

One of the methods that is available to advanced users is to edit the database through SQLite, but to do so, the phone must be rooted and the file system mounted in read-write mode.

sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/telephony.db"UPDATE info SET value="New IMEI' WHERE name='imei'";

But even this method on modern versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14) often doesn’t work because of database encryption and write protection, so for owners of Xiaomi flagships on Snapdragon, the only reliable way is to contact specialists with a hardware programmer.

Use of Engineering Menu and ADB Teams

The engineering menu is a hidden interface for testing hardware, and some older Xiaomi models have been able to change the IMEI through it. Use the code ##3646633## in the Phone app to log in.

If the menu is open, go to Connectivity → CDS Information → Radio Information. There you can find the AT+EGMR=1.7 field, "YOUR IMEI." By typing a command and pressing Send AT, you can try to write data. However, on global MIUI firmware, this feature is often blocked.

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On current versions of MIUI and HyperOS, access to the IMEI change via the engineering menu is blocked software, and attempts to circumvent this restriction require patching system libraries, which is extremely unstable.

Alternatively, you can use ADB commands with modem emulation, which requires you to connect to a PC and execute a sequence of commands.

adb devices


adb shell

Then send it out. AT-The success depends on whether the firmware allows such requests. 90% of the time on current Xiaomi smartphones, you will get an answer. ERROR Command not allowed.

Restore factory IMEI after failure

If you've corrupted the original ID in the course of your experiments, you can try to restore it. The most reliable way is to use a backup that a prudent user makes before any manipulations. Files are usually in the /persist or /misc section.

If there is no backup, look at the sticker under the back cover (if it is removable) or on the smartphone box. It always has the original IMEI. You can enter it back in the same methods as described above, but now you will enter a factory value.

In cases where software methods do not help, and the phone writes "False IMEI" or "Null", you need to flash the persist.img or modem.img section through the Fastboot mode.

fastboot flash persist persist.img


fastboot flash modem modem.img

Once you have completed the commands, be sure to restart the device. If the problem persists, it may be that the hardware is damaged or calibration data is lost irrevocably, which requires soldering of the memory chip.