How to find out the version of Android on Xiaomi: the full guide

Owning a modern Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone involves constantly monitoring the device’s software. Users often face the need to clarify the current build of the operating system when installing new applications, diagnosing bugs or preparing for flashing. Knowing the exact number avoids compatibility conflicts and understand whether your gadget has the latest security features.

There are several ways to get this information, from the basic, accessible to any beginner, to the advanced, requiring a connection to the computer, in this article we will discuss each of them in detail, paying attention to the nuances of the shell MIUI and HyperOS. You will learn to distinguish between the basic version of the kernel and the interface build number, which is critical for competent device management.

Determining the relevance of software is the first step to optimizing the smartphone, and many features, such as a new camera mode or an improved energy saving algorithm, are tied to specific numbers in the firmware, so finding that data quickly becomes a useful skill for every Chinese brand owner.

Checking through the standard settings menu

The most obvious and safe way to get the information you need is to use the built-in system interface. This method does not require installing additional software and works consistently on all models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi Mi.

Once you log in, you scroll down to the bottom of the list, and you'll find "About the phone," and clicking on it will open a page with basic information about the model, the processor, and the amount of RAM, and that's where most people look for system data, but not everyone knows where the details are hidden.

To get detailed information about the Android version, click on the line with the MIUI or HyperOS version. This is usually a large number in the center of the screen. After a few consecutive clicks (usually 7-10 times) or go to the submenu of the Android version, the screen with the full specification will open.

The interface may vary slightly depending on the year of release of the device, and on new models with HyperOS, the menu structure has become more logical, and the data is displayed on the first screen of the About Phone section without the need for additional transitions, which makes it easier for those who are accustomed to more direct paths of navigation.

Use of engineering menus and codes

For a deeper diagnosis, engineers and advanced users use special diagnostics. USSD-Entering a specific combination of numbers in the phone application allows you to run a hidden test menu. It is a powerful tool, but it requires caution, because changing some parameters can affect the operation of the radio module.

The most common code for Xiaomi devices is ##64663##. It opens the CIT menu, where you can check the performance of all sensors, screens and, importantly for us, see detailed information about the system, navigation is done through the touch screen or volume buttons.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose.Resetting the touchscreen or proximity sensor calibration without special equipment can lead to malfunction of the device.

There's also code ##4636##, which opens the testing menu, and if you go to Phone Information, you can see not only the software version, but also the network status, IMEI, and other technical information, but on global firmware, this code is often blocked by developers.

If standard codes don’t work, it could mean that your version of the MIUI shell has regional lock limitations, and it’s worth looking at alternative methods that don’t depend on the operator or manufacturer’s system constraints.

Analysis of information through the application “About the phone”

Some versions of the firmware of the standard call app or the settings menu have a separate item that duplicates the system information, which can be simply called Specification or Parameters, and here the data is presented in a more structured, easy-to-read form.

The Basic Version field is a good example of this, and it indicates the real level of Android. The MIUI shell can have its own version number (e.g., 12.5.3), which changes more often than the Android kernel version, and understanding this difference helps you find solutions to problems on the Internet.

Users often confuse the build number and the OS version. The build number is the unique identifier of a particular firmware release for a particular model, containing the compilation date and build type (stable or beta).

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Remember the difference between MIUI and Android: MIUI is an external shell that gets updated frequently. Android is the foundation of a major update that comes out once a year or two.

To accurately identify models in service centers, it is often the build number that is required, which can be found on the same menu where the Android version is listed, write down this data or take a screenshot to have it on hand when you contact for support.

Use of third-party applications for diagnosis

If the built-in tools don’t seem informative enough, specialized utilities from Google Play come to the rescue. Apps like CPU-Z, AIDA64 or Device Info HW provide comprehensive data on it and the smartphone software.

Once installed, you will be able to access the Device or SOS tab, which clearly spells out the Android version, security patch level, and even battery status, which often show information more clearly than the standard settings menu.

• 📱 CPU-Z: It shows not only the OS version, but also the current processor frequency, core temperature and real-time load on the system.
• 🔍 AIDA64: Provides a detailed report on all components, including the code names of the display and the camera sensor, which is useful when comparing modifications.
• 🛠 Device Info HW: Specializes in identifying accurate models of installed components, which often helps with flashing.

Using third-party software is safe if you download it from official sources, and these apps don't require superuser rights for basic diagnostics, they don't make changes to the system, they just read and display data that's already there.

Receiving data through a computer connection (ADB)

For the most demanding users and developers, there is a method of connecting a smartphone to a PC through USB debugging. Using the tools of the ADB platform (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to access system properties directly.

To start, you need to activate the developer mode, you need to quickly click on the MIUI version number 7 times in the About Phone menu, then you should turn on the Debugging by USB option in the Developer menu that appears.

adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release

This command will display a clean digit of the Android version on the computer, without unnecessary interface labels, which is especially useful when you are testing automated or working with multiple devices at the same time, and you can also get the full specification by entering the command adb shell pm list packages, but this is for advanced.

⚠️ Attention: Debugging mode for USB It gives you extended access to the system. Don't leave it on permanently when connected to unknown chargers in public places to avoid potential data security threats.

The ADB method is versatile and works even if the touch screen of a smartphone is partially non-functioning, but the device responds to commands, which is often used by service center masters to diagnose bricks or partially working devices.

Comparison of MIUI and Android versions: table of correspondence

Understanding the relationship between the shell and the operating system helps you navigate updates. Often, a new version of MIUI doesn’t automatically mean an Android update. Below is a table showing the typical version ratio for Xiaomi devices of recent years.

As you can see from the table, the same version of the shell can be based on different versions of Android depending on the device model. Flagships usually get more recent versions of the kernel earlier than the budget models of the Redmi series.

With the release of HyperOS, numbering has become even more flexible, and it’s important to look not only at the big number, but also at the date of the security patch, which is often updated regardless of the major version of the system, which ensures that protection is up to date even on older Android.

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The Android version determines app compatibility, and the MIUI/HyperOS version determines the look and feel of the interface, and you need to update both components to work better.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)