Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where it is necessary to accurately identify the model of the device.This may be necessary to find the right case, buy the original battery or try to flash the device. Although the brand logo is usually clearly visible on the back, the internal code name of the model often differs from the marketing one, which causes confusion among users.
There are many ways to identify your device, from simply inspecting the box to using an engineering menu. Accurate model knowledge is critical when searching for drivers or official firmware, as installing software from another, even a similar device, can cause the system to fail. In this article, we will analyze all available methods, from the simplest to professional, so you can easily determine which gadget is in your hands.
Special attention should be paid to the differences between the global and Chinese versions, which may have the same commercial name, but different hardware. Installing firmware from the Chinese version to the global (and vice versa) without unlocking the bootloader and changing the region often leads to software errors. So before any manipulation of the software, be sure to double-check the device data in one of the methods described below.
Checking through the device settings menu
The most obvious and quick way to find out about a smartphone is to look at the system menu. The interface of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS provides comprehensive data about the configuration of the gadget. You need to open the Settings app and scroll down to the bottom of the list, where the "About Phone" item is located, and this is where all the basic information necessary for identification is hidden.
In the menu you will see a large image of the smartphone and its commercial name, for example, Redmi Note. 12 However, for more accurate technical identification, click on the line "Version" MIUI» or "Version" OS» several times in a row (usually) 5-7 This action activates the hidden menu "Extended settings", which displays the internal code name of the model, consisting of letters and numbers.
- 📱 Commercial name: how the phone is sold in stores (e.g. Xiaomi 13).
- ⚙️ Code name: Technical identifier (e.g. fuxi) important for firmware.
- 🌍 Region of the version: indicates the market (Global, CN, EEA, RU).
⚠️ Note: Don’t confuse the “version” MIUI» Model code in advanced settings often looks like a short letter combination (e.g., a model code, gts7n), While the software assembly number contains numbers and points.
Use of the engineering menu and USSD-code
If you have limited access to settings or want to access hidden diagnostic features, you can use the engineering menu, which is a special part of the system that is designed to test components, but it is also great for technical data reconciliation, and it uses a standard phone code to log in, which works on most of the brand's devices.
Open the Phone app and dial ##64663#. Immediately after you enter the last digit, the screen will change and you will be taken to the CIT menu. This is a complete list of all the components of your phone. Although this is a test menu, the exact device model is often duplicated at the top of the screen or in the Version section.
An alternative is to use the *#06# code, which displays information about IMSI and IMEI. Although this code does not show the model name directly, it allows you to check the IMEI with the data on the box or in the Mi Account, which indirectly confirms the model. Be careful when you enter commands: random change of settings in the engineering menu can disrupt the radio module.