How to know which operating system on Xiaomi phone: MIUI or Android?

Did you buy a used Xiaomi smartphone, get a Redmi Note 12 as a gift, or just forget which version of the firmware is installed on your device? Defining the current operating system (OS) is the first step before upgrading, resetting or installing custom firmware. Xiaomi phones run two systems simultaneously: Android (the basic platform from Google) and MIUI (the branded shell with additional features), while the MIUI version can be updated more often than Android itself, which confuses users.

In this article, we will discuss all the official and hidden ways to test the OS on Xiaomi, including models. POCO And Black Shark. You'll learn how to tell the difference. MIUI Global. MIUI China, where to see the Linux kernel version, and why some devices display Android 13", It really works. MIUI 14 Android-based 12. The instructions are valid for all devices on MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS (new firmware) 2026 year-end).

1. Method: via the Settings menu (fastest)

This is the standard method that works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 9A, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Ultra.You don’t need additional apps or a computer – all the information is available in 3 clicks.

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen) and do the following:

1. Scroll down and select About Phone (on some models – About Device).
2. Click on the MIUI version bar and the current firmware (e.g. MIUI Global 14.0.5) will be displayed here.
3. Tap the Android version line – the basic version of the OS will appear (for example, Android 13 TKQ1.221114.001).
4. For detailed information, tap several times through the MIUI version - a hidden menu with kernel and assembly data will open.

Note that new HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70) may have a slightly different path, with the HyperOS version being specified instead of the MIUI, but the verification principle remains the same.

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If you have POCO with POCO Launcher firmware, you can see the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone → Software Information.

⚠️ Note: If there is no Android version in the About section, your device runs on HyperOS. In this case, the basic version of the OS is hidden - it can only be recognized through adb or third-party applications (see method 4).

2. Method: via USSD codes (hidden commands)

Few people know, but Xiaomi has special engineering codes that display technical information about the system, which is useful if the settings menu is not available (for example, after a reset) or you want to check the real version of Android, not the one that appears in MIUI.

Open the Phone app and enter the following combinations:

• 📱 ##4636## — Testing will open. Go to the Phone Information tab and see the OS version bar.
• 🔍 ##225## - The version will show MIUI and firmware assembly date.
• 📊 ##114514## - hidden menu with detailed information about the system (does not work on all models).
• 🔧 ##36446337## - hardware test, where the version of Android is specified in the Software Info section.

If nothing happens after entering the code, it means:

• Your Xiaomi model blocks engineering commands (relevant to HyperOS devices).
• You enter the code not in the standard Phone application, but in the messenger or third-party dialer.
• The firmware has been modified (castom or regional).

3. Method: through the "Security" application (for MIUI 12-14)

The Security app (shield icon) in MIUI contains a hidden partition with system information, which works on most devices except those with HyperOS or POCO Launcher installed.

Instructions:

1. Open the Security app.
2. Go to the Optimization (or Acceleration) tab.
3. Click on the icon. ⚙️ (Settings) in upper right corner.
4. Select Device Information.
5. Scroll down to the MIUI version and Android version.

This section also shows:

• 📅 Firmware build date – shows when your version was released MIUI.
• 🔑 bootloader status: Unlocked (unlocked) or Locked (locked).
• 📦 List of installed updates – useful for rolling back firmware.

⚠️ Note: If there is no Device Information section in the Security app, your firmware is modified or your device is running HyperOS. In this case, use method 4 (applications) or 5 (ADB).

4. Method: through third-party applications (for all versions)

If standard methods don't work (e.g., HyperOS or custom firmware), you can use third-party utilities that show you the full system information, including hidden parameters.

The best apps to check the OS on Xiaomi:

• 📱 CPU-Z — Android version, MIUI, cores, processor architecture, and even battery temperature.
• 🔍 DevCheck – Detailed information about hardware and software, including the Security Patch version (important for security.
• 📊 AIDA64 — Professional diagnostic tool. In the System section → The OS displays the real version of Android, not the one that shows it. MIUI.
• 🛠️ MIUI Hidden Settings – Reveals hidden firmware settings (requires root rights on some devices).

Example of data from CPU-Z for Xiaomi 12T Pro:

OS version: Android 13 (MIUI 14.0.8.0)




Kernel version: 4.19.157-perf+




Architecture: arm64-v8a




Assembly number: TKQ1.221114.001




Assembly date: Fri Jun 2 14:32:57 CST 2023

The advantage of this method is that you will see the real version of Android, not the one that masks MIUI. For example, on some devices, the settings say "Android 14", and CPU-Z shows that Android 13 actually works with security patches from Android 14.

5. Method: via ADB (for advanced users)

If you want the most accurate information (for example, to install custom firmware), use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer, but gives access to all hidden system parameters.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to unlock Developer Settings), then Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands in the terminal:

adb devices # Checking the connection


adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release # Android version




adb shell getprop ro.miui.ui.version.name # MIUI version




adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch # Security patch version




adb shell cat /proc/version # Linux kernel version

Example of output for Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G:

$ adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release




12




$ adb shell getprop ro.miui.ui.version.name




V14.0.4.0.TKCCNXM




$ adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch




2023-05-05

This method is 100% accurate, because data is taken directly from system properties, and it is especially useful if:

• 🔄 You are planning to apply for custom recovery (for example, TWRP).
• 🔧 You need to know the exact version of the kernel to modify the system.
• 📦 You need to check the integrity of the firmware before updating.

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS devices, getprop ro.miui.ui.version.name may not work. Instead, use getprop ro.build.version.incremental or getprop ro.system.build.version.incremental.

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If the adb device command doesn’t show your phone, check the drivers (install Mi PC Suite) and debugging permissions on the device.

6. Method: through recovery mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If your Xiaomi doesn’t boot into the system (hangs on the logo or reboots cyclically), the firmware version can be found through Recovery Mode. This is true for devices with an unlocked bootloader or after a failed update.

How to log in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume up and hold until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the recovery menu, select the language (if you have a choice) and find Info or System Info.

This section will show:

• 📱 Version. MIUI (for example, MIUI 13.0.12).
• 🔧 Recovery version (important for firmware via Fastboot).
• 📅 Assembly Date (helps determine the relevance of firmware).

If you have custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox) installed, the MIUI version may not be displayed.

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. At the terminal, run: adb shell cat /system/build.prop | grep "ro.miui.ui.version"

⚠️ Note: On Locked Bootloader devices, logging in to recovery can reset all data! Before this method, check the bootloader status via fastboot oem device-info.

How to distinguish MIUI Global from MIUI China?

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the problem of how to know which version of MIUI is installed – global (Global), Chinese (China) or European (EEA)?

• 🌍 Global – Google Services supports, but updates more slowly.
• 🇨🇳 China is not Google, but Chinese services and frequent updates.
• 🇪🇺 EEA — European version GDPR-restraint.

How to determine the firmware region:

1. Look at the latest characters in the MIUI version (e.g. MIUI 14.0.5.0.TKQMIXM):

Additional features of MIUI China:

• 🚫 There is no Play Market or Google Services.
• 📱 There are Chinese apps: Mi Pay, Mi Video, Xiaomi Community (in Chinese).
• 🔍 There is no Google item in the Accounts menu.
• 🌐 The default system language is Chinese (even if you choose English).

If you have discovered MIUI China but want to upgrade to Global, you will need a full Fastboot flashback.The official way is to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires Mi Account binding and wait 7-15 days).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the OS version on Xiaomi