Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to know their device’s unique identification number. IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a 15-digit code assigned to each mobile device in a factory, which serves as a digital passport that allows carriers and service centers to identify the device on the global network.
Knowing where to find this number is critical when locking a lost gadget, checking warranty, getting insurance, or reselling a device. There are multiple levels of access to this information in the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem, from simple button combinations to hidden engineering menus. In this article, we’ll break down all the methods available so you can get the data you need in any situation.
It's been said that you can only know IMEI by turning on your phone, but that's not really true. Even if your device is completely discharged or inoperable, the physical markings and documentation retain that information. We'll look at both the software and the physical ways you can get the code.
Use of the USSD-quick-check
The fastest and most versatile way to know IMEI on any Xiaomi phone is to use a special character combination in the Calls app, which works regardless of the operating system version, whether it is the old MIUI 10 or the latest HyperOS. You do not need to access the Internet or log in to your Mi Account.
Just open the standard “Caller” and enter the following sequence:
*#06#Once you enter the last "grid" (#) character, a pop-up will instantly appear on the screen. SIM-maps, you'll see two different codes: IMEI 1 for the first slot and IMEI 2 for the second. The code can also be displayed. SN (Serial Number, which is also sometimes required for maintenance.
⚠️ Note: On some models with a very old firmware version, the window may not appear immediately.
The good thing about this technique is that it allows you to copy a number just by clicking on it and selecting Copy, which eliminates the risk of making a mistake by manually entering 15 digits, but if the phone screen is broken and the sensor is not responsive, this will not be available.
Search for IMEI through system settings
If the screen is functioning normally, but you need to not only see but also analyze the information about the device, it is better to use the system menu. The path to the desired data may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell. In most cases, the algorithm of actions is as follows:
- 📱 Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- ℹ️ Scroll down and select “About the phone».
- 👁️ At the top of the screen, you will see the Xiaomi logo and the device model. IMEI.
In newer versions of the interface, information can be hidden inside the “All Specifications” or “MIUI Version” option. Clicking on the “MIUI Version” option several times in a row will take you to an extended menu that also duplicates identification data, and often displays the bootloader lock status and SELinux security level.
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Use the Copy function next to the IMEI number in the settings to send it to the messenger immediately or save it in notes without risking errors in the numbers.
The advantage of this method is that it displays not only the code itself, but also the registration status of the device. If the phone is certified for your region, there can be a mark next to the number, which is useful when buying a device from hand, because it allows you to quickly check the data on the screen with the data on the box.
Physical marking and documentation
When a phone is turned off, broken, or lost, physical media come to the rescue. Xiaomi is required to apply a unique code to the device body and packaging, a requirement of international communication standards that allows you to identify the gadget even without turning on.
Where to look for markings:
- 📦 On the box: There's always a barcode sticker on the back or bottom of the original package. IMEI or MEID. Usually there are two if the phone is double-sim.
- 🔋 Under the battery: On older Xiaomi models with removable battery (e.g. Redmi Note 3, Redmi) 4X) The code is printed on a label under the battery, and on today's monolithic smartphones, this method is not applicable.
- 📄 On the warranty card: When buying, the seller often pastes a sticker with codes or enters them by hand into the document.
It's important to understand that the sticker on the box is the primary source of truth. If the code on the back cover (if any) is different from the code on the box, it's an alarm bell, and such discrepancies may indicate that the device's body has been changed, possibly after major repairs or moisture.
| Searching spot | Availability | Reliability | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen (code *#06#) | Tall. | 100% | Only with a working sensor. |
| Settings menu | Tall. | 100% | Only with the phone on |
| Box | Medium | Tall. | The box could have been thrown away. |
| Back cover. | Low. | Medium | It wears off over time. |
Verification through Mi Account and Cloud Services
Xiaomi’s modern smartphones are deeply integrated with the Mi Cloud ecosystem, and if you have Mi Account login and sync enabled, you can find IMEI remotely through any browser, which is the perfect way for anyone who has lost their phone or wants to check their device history.
To do this, go to the official i.mi.com website and log in under your login. The Find Device section will display a list of all the gadgets associated with your account. Click on a particular model and see its location (if available) and specifications, including IMEI.
What if there is no IMEI in the Mi Cloud?
This also allows you to see the status of the lock, so if you buy a used phone, ask the seller to show you the list of devices in his account, and if the phone he's selling isn't there, and the seller claims to have used it for a long time, that's a reason to wonder about the origin of the phone, and it may have been stolen and dumped by the new owner, but it's still listed in the cloud of the previous owner.
Use Android Debug Bridge (ADB)
For advanced users and developers who work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge, there's a software way of getting information. This method requires you to connect your phone to your computer through a computer. USB-It's useful when the sensor is down, but the system is loading.
Procedure:
- Turn on the phone "Developer Mode" (7 times click on "Version") MIUI» customized).
- Activate "Debugging by" USB» developer menu.
- Connect the phone to the PC and start the command line.
Enter the following command:
adb shell service call iphonesubinfo 1You will get a string with a set of numbers and characters. IMEI will be encrypted in hexadecimal format. You will need to convert it or read pairs of digits carefully. For example, if the output contains a fragment 0000000000000001 35678901 23456789, the code you want is the last 15 digits (in this example 3567890123456789), which is difficult for beginners, but indispensable in service centers.
⚠️ Attention: Team ADB may not work on some custom firmware or if access to service features is blocked by the manufacturer for security reasons.
Authentication and status of the device
Just knowing the number is not enough, it is important to be able to use it to verify the legality of the device. The electronics market is filled with copies and restored devices. By entering IMEI on the official Xiaomi website (mi.com/global/verify/#/en/tab/imei), you can find out the date of activation of the warranty and the delivery region.
What to look for when checking:
- 🌍 Region: If the phone is purchased as a Global Version and the site shows China, it is a re-interlinked Chinese phone.
- 📅 Activation Date: If the warranty ended a month ago and you are told that the new phone is a restored instance).
- 🛡️ Blocking status: In some countries, IMEI Check if the device is on the blacklist of stolen phones.
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The coincidence of IMEI on the box, in the system and on the manufacturer's website is the main sign of the originality and "purity" of the smartphone.
There are also third-party aggregator services that show a detailed history of repairs by IMEI if they were carried out in authorized centers, especially for flagship Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 14 models, where the cost of components is high, and the risk of running into a “hotpool” after a fall is high.