Owning a Xiaomi smartphone is often a quest for a user who is trying to understand the nomenclature of the manufacturer. You can see one name on the box, another name in the settings, and in the app store the device can be displayed by a third name. This is not a system error, but a well-thought-out marketing and technical policy of the brand that divides the devices into global, Chinese and regional versions.
The need to know the full, technical name of a gadget is not just a matter of curiosity; it is often required to find specific drivers, unlock a bootloader, find compatible accessories, or flash the device. A mistake in one letter of the code name can lead to the installation of incorrect software, so it is important to understand where the truth is hiding.
In this article, we will look at all the ways you can identify your device, from simple methods through the shell interface to complex queries through the engineering menu, and learn to distinguish between marketing names and real code names that are used by developers around the world.
Difference Between Marketing and Code Name
The first thing a user of the Miui or HyperOS ecosystem needs to understand is the fundamental difference between how a phone is sold and how it appears on registries. A marketing name like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is designed to attract attention and is easily remembered by customers. However, inside the system and on the motherboard, the device has a dry numeric or alphanumeric index.
The codename is a unique identifier given to the device during development, and it is the name that the firmware is distributed over. For example, the popular Redmi Note 10 Pro has the codename sweet for the global version and sweetin for the Indian version, and confusion between these versions can cause the camera to stop working or sound to disappear.
The same hardware can also be produced under different brands, codenamed the cepheus sold as the Mi 9, but technically identical to certain modifications of other lines, and understanding this logic helps to find hidden features and compatible modifications to the system.
⚠️ Warning: Never flash a device designed for another region based on the similarity of the marketing name. Global and China's version of the same phone may have different frequency ranges and sensor sets.
Xiaomi’s identity system is built to cover a huge market, so a single physical device can have up to three different names depending on where and when it was released, making it critical to pinpointing the model before any software manipulation.
Defining the model through standard Android settings
The easiest and safest way to find out what you're holding is to look at the system menu. MIUI interfaces and the new HyperOS provide enough information, though they sometimes hide it behind extra clicks, and in most cases, you don't need superuser rights or a computer connection.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll to the bottom of About Phone, and here you'll see a large picture of the smartphone and its commercial name. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. To get technical data, you need to click on the line with the name of the MIUI version or the system logo several times until the extended menu opens.
In the list that opens, look for the device codename option, which contains the information you want, like ginkgo, ursa, or diting, and is the key to finding information on developer forums like 4PDA or XDA Developers.
- 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone.
- 🔢 Press. 7-10 once-over MIUI/HyperOS logo.
- 🔍 Find the code name in the list of parameters that appears.
- 💾 Write down or take a screenshot of the value obtained for further search.
If the standard menu doesn't show a code name (which happens on some stripped-down versions of firmware), you can search by settings. Type the word "model" or "device" into the search bar and the system will tell you the desired section. Sometimes the full model name, including an alphanumeric index (for example, M2102J20SG), also appears immediately under the large logo.
Use of the engineering menu and USSD-code
For more in-depth diagnostics and comprehensive information about hardware, there is an engineering menu, a hidden section of the operating system for engineers and testers, accessed through special character combinations in the Phone app.
Type ##64663## on the keyboard. If the firmware is not blocked by the operator or manufacturer for a specific region, the CIT (Customer Information Test) test menu will open. Here, in the Version or Device Info section, you can find the exact CPU model, display version and full technical name of the board.
Another useful code is ##4636##. It opens the testing menu, where the Phone information section often displays more detailed model information than normal settings, and you can see not only the model name, but also IMEI, network status and other technical statistics.
⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful in the engineering menu. Changing the settings in sections marked as Debug or Radio can lead to loss of communication or unstable phone operation.
It is worth noting that on newer versions of Android and HyperOS, some codes can be blocked by default, in which case the system can simply reset the character set or show an error message, a security measure designed to protect the user from accidental breakdown.
What do I do if the codes don't work?
Third-party applications for device identification
When embedded tools are scarce or show too general data, specialized utilities come to the rescue, and these applications read data directly from the kernel system files and present them in a convenient, structured way, and they can show even parameters that are hidden from the average user.
One of the most popular and reliable tools is the CPU-Z app. It's available free on Google Play and immediately after launch displays the Device tab. Here you'll see not only the code name, but also the exact CPU model, its current frequency, core temperature and load, an indispensable tool for verifying declared performance.
Another powerful tool is AIDA64, which provides perhaps the most detailed information about a smartphone. In the Android → Device section, you can find the Device Codename string, as well as the display manufacturer, the type of memory and even the charge level of each battery cell.
| Annex | Substantive function | Shows a code name. | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU-Z | Monitoring of processor and memory | Yes. | There's (minimal) |
| AIDA64 | Complete system diagnostics | Yes. | There is. |
| DevCheck | Monitoring of sensors and iron | Yes. | There is. |
| Device Info HW | Camera and screen information | Partially. | No. |
Using third-party software also allows you to authenticate your phone, so if the app shows you have “some Generic ARM” instead of Snapdragon or Dimensity, or the screen resolution is much lower than the one you’ve been told, you’re more likely to be a fake.
Checking by IMEI and serial number
The most reliable method that works even if the phone is not turned on (but readable) SIM-card or charge, is a unique identifier check IMEI. This number is assigned to the device forever and is entered into global databases. IMEI, You can find out the exact model, date of release and region of origin.
Find out. IMEI The easiest way to type the universal code *#06# in the phone app is to type it on the original box and, in some models, on the back cover or tray. SIM-In the menu settings → The phone. → General information can also be found here.
The resulting code can be entered on the official Xiaomi warranty check site or on specialized resources such as imei.info. The system will give the exact model name corresponding to this serial number. This is especially useful when buying a used device to make sure that the case and the “stuffing” match each other.
- 📞 Type *#06# for quick retrieval IMEI.
- 📦 Compare the number on the screen with the sticker on the box.
- 🌐 Enter the number on the manufacturer's warranty check site.
- ✅ Make sure the model in the database matches the appearance of the device.
The serial number (SN) also carries information: the first letters or numbers in the SN often indicate the manufacturer and the year of manufacture, and decoding these values can help determine whether the device is refurbished, which is sometimes hidden by unscrupulous sellers.
☑️ Checking the phone before buying
Model definition through computer and ADB
For advanced users who aren’t afraid of the command line, the most accurate method is to connect to a PC. Using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) debugging bridge allows you to access system properties of the device that can not be seen in any other way.
To start, you need to enable USB debugging mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and click 7 times on the build number to become a developer. Then, in the Advanced Settings menu → For developers, activate Debugging by USB.
Connect your phone to your computer and open the Command Prompt (CMD) or PowerShell in the ADB tool folder. Enter the following command to get a complete list of system properties:
adb shell getprop | grep "model"This command will output all the lines that contain the word "model." You're interested in the line [ro.product.model]: [M2102J20SG] or similar. You can also find out the code name of the device by the command:
adb shell getprop ro.product.deviceThis method works even if the phone’s screen is broken (provided the previously installed debugging permission is installed) or if the system is unstable. ADB communicates with the bootloader and kernel directly, bypassing the GUI.
⚠️ Warning: When connecting your phone to your computer in debugging mode, be careful about accessing data. On the smartphone screen, a request for debugging permission from this computer will appear - confirm it only if you trust this PC.
Why it is important to know the exact model when running
In the world of custom firmware and modifications, knowing the exact code name is a matter of survival. A firmware designed for chime (Redmi 9C NFC) is categorically not suitable for cactus (Redmi 6A), despite the superficial similarity. Installing the wrong software leads to a “brick” – a state where the phone stops responding to any commands.
The differences are in the drivers. Different models use different display arrays, camera modules, and charge controllers. If the firmware doesn't have the drivers for your hardware, the phone will either not turn on or it won't have a touchscreen, sound, or network.
💡
The code name of the device is the master key that unlocks compatible software. A single-letter error can cost you your working smartphone.
There are also regional limitations: Chinese versions of phones often have the default unlocked bootloader, while global versions require a wait of 7-168 hours. With the exact model, you can understand which type of firmware (CN or Global) to look for and what risks you will face when you change region.
The exact name also helps you find the right camera patches (GCam ports) and camera modules on different versions of the same phone (like the Redmi Note 10 and Note 10S) may differ, and the universal settings may not work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I change the device code name in the settings?
Why is the phone called differently in different applications?
What if the code name doesn’t match the name on the box?
Where to find a list of all Xiaomi code names?
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Save a screenshot of the codenamed page and IMEI in cloud storage, which will help you quickly find the right firmware or drivers in case of a reset or box loss.