Dursun Tosun in Xiaomi firmware: who is hiding behind this name and why does it appear on your Mi TV?

If you've ever looked at the service menus or the firmware logs of Xiaomi Mi TVs, you've noticed a mysterious name, Dursun Tosun. It pops up in the most unexpected places, from the software build information to the developer's hidden settings. Who is this person? Why is his name sewn into your TV firmware? And most importantly, should we worry about seeing him in the system data?

This article will not only reveal the story of Dursun Tosun and his connection to Xiaomi, but also explain why his footprint remains in devices even years after release. We will give you practical advice on what to do if you come across a mention. dursun_tosun And then we'll cover some little-known facts about the internal kitchen of the Mi firmware development. TV.

Who is Dursun Tosun and why is his name in Xiaomi firmware?

Dursun Tosun is not a mythical character or secret agent of Xiaomi, but a real engineer who worked on the development of software for the brand’s TVs. His name appeared in firmware in 2017-2018, when Xiaomi was actively expanding the Mi TV line and adapted Android TV to its needs.

Back then, the development team needed to test and debug software quickly, and Dursun Tosun was one of the key people in charge of building and signing firmware, and his credentials (including his name) were fed into the metadata of the builds, and then into the final versions of the software that were installed on millions of TVs, making his name a watermark on the Mi TV firmware.

  • πŸ”§ Role in Xiaomi: software engineer who assembled and tested firmware for TVs.
  • πŸ“… Activity period: 2017–2019 (peak of Mi line development) TV 4 and Mi TV 4A).
  • 🌍 Origin of the name: Turkish (Tosun is a common surname in Turkey).

It’s important to understand that Dursun Tosun isn’t the only engineer whose name is found in firmware, and that other developers (such as wangjian or liwei) are often found in logs and service data, but Tosun’s name has become most prominent because of its unusualness to the Chinese brand.

πŸ“Š Have you ever seen the name Dursun Tosun in the settings of your Xiaomi?
Yeah, in the firmware logs.
Yeah, on the service menu.
No, I've heard it for the first time.
I don't know where to look.

Where exactly do you find the mention of Dursun Tosun?

Dursun Tosun's name doesn't appear on the standard TV interface -- it's only found in the backend data or when you go deep into the settings. Here are the most common places it pops up:

Place of originHow do you get there?Example of display
Firmware logs (build.prop)Through ADB or Engineering Menuro.build.user=dursun_tosun
Information about the assembly in AboutSettings β†’ About TV β†’ Software version (multiple press)Build: user/dursun_tosun/...
Hidden Developer SettingsActivated through the service menuDebug info: dursun_tosun_20180515
Update files (update.zip)Unpacking of official firmwareMETA-INF/com/google/android/dursun_tosun

For example, if you connect the TV to your computer via ADB and execute the command:

adb shell getprop ro.build.user

β€” You will likely get a high probability answer. dursun_tosun (Especially in the Mi models. TV 4/4A/4C 2018–2020 release).

⚠️ Note: If you see the name Dursun Tosun in the usual settings of the TV (not in the service menu) – this may be a sign of fake firmware or a virus.

Why the name of the engineer remained in the firmware: technical details

At first glance, it may seem that Xiaomi just forgot to remove the developer’s name before the release, but in fact, it’s more complicated because of the peculiarities of building Android firmware for TVs.

During development, each software assembly is signed by the credentials of the engineer responsible for it, which include:

  • πŸ‘€ User name (in this case β€” dursun_tosun).
  • πŸ“… Assembly date (e.g. 20180515 – May 15, 2018).
  • πŸ”‘ Signature keys (to verify file integrity).

When final firmware is assembled for mass production, this metadata is usually cleared or replaced with neutral ones (like android-build), but in the case of Xiaomi, some of the service information has remained intact, probably due to optimizing the build process or features of the Android TV platform.

Why Xiaomi didn’t remove the name of the engineer in the new firmware?
It was probably done deliberately, because removing metadata requires additional testing resources, and the name Dursun Tosun doesn't affect how the TV works, and Xiaomi might have decided to keep it as a sign-up for developers, just like they leave Easter eggs in movies.

The name Dursun Tosun is not a vulnerability or bug - it's an artifact of the development process that doesn't affect the performance, security or functionality of a TV. Its presence in the firmware is as harmless as the "Made in China" inscription on the device's body.

Xiaomi models, in the firmware of which Dursun Tosun is found

Not all Xiaomi TVs have a Dursun Tosun footprint, and his name is most commonly found in the firmware of the following series:

  • πŸ“Ί Mi TV 4 (2018 year L43M5-4A, L55M5-4A etc.).
  • πŸ“Ί Mi TV 4A (budget lineup, especially versions with an Amlogic processor T962).
  • πŸ“Ί Mi TV 4C (Models for the Indian and European markets).
  • πŸ“Ί Mi TV 4X (2019, firmware based on Android 9).

On newer models (e.g. Mi) TV Q1 Xiaomi TV A2 2022–2026 Dursun Tosun is less common because the firmware assembly process has been redesigned, but even in them you can find traces of other developers (for example, in the same way, xiaomi_build_user).

Check if you have a Dursun Tosun reference in your model via ADB or engineering menus, for example, for the 2018 Mi TV 4A 43.

adb shell cat /system/build.prop | grep "build.user"

β€” almost guaranteed return dursun_tosun.

πŸ’‘

If you are not sure about your TV model, look for it in Settings β†’ About TV β†’ Model. Usually the name begins with the letter L (for example, L43M5-4AIN).

What if you find Dursun Tosun on your TV?

You can find the name of an engineer in your firmware by accident, like trying to root, updating software, or diagnosing a malfunction, and here's what you should do (and shouldn't) in this situation:

Calm down is normal for many Mi TV models | Check firmware version in Settings β†’ About TV | Make sure the TV is stable (no lags, errors) | Do not try to delete or edit system files-->

What NOT to do:

  • ❌ Try to manually remove references dursun_tosun from build.prop – this can cause system failure.
  • ❌ Reset the TV to factory settings – the engineer’s name will return after the reboot.
  • ❌ Install unofficial firmware in an attempt to β€œclean” the system – the risk of bricking the device.

If you're worried about having that name, the only safe way to get rid of it is to update the firmware to the latest official version. In new builds, Xiaomi is gradually replacing old metadata with neutral ones. 2023–2026 yearly TV Q2 instead dursun_tosun You can see Xiaomi or Miui.

⚠️ Note: If you see unfamiliar Chinese characters in the interface or suspicious applications with the Dursun Tosun name, this is a sign of fake firmware, in which case it is recommended to perform a full reset and install official software through the interface. USB Recovery.

Myths and misconceptions about Dursun Tosun in Xiaomi

There are many myths surrounding the name Dursun Tosun, especially among users who are first-time users of the firmware's proprietary data.

Myth 1: β€œIt’s a virus or spyware.”

❌ Reality: The engineer's name is part of the build metadata, it doesn't execute any code or collect data. TV Very rare, as the firmware is signed by Xiaomi and does not allow you to install unverified applications.

Myth 2: β€œIt’s a sign of a fake TV.”

❌ Reality: On the contrary, the presence of dursun_tosun Firmware often confirms firmware authenticity, as counterfeits usually use their own metadata.

Myth 3: β€œThis makes the TV slower.”

❌ Reality: Build metadata has no effect on performance. Lags and brakes are associated with hardware, Android version or background processes.

Myth 4: β€œYou can get root by exploiting that name.”

❌ Reality: dursun_tosun β€” It's just a text string, not a vulnerability. Root requires other methods (e.g. exploit for a particular version of Android). TV).

πŸ’‘

Having the Dursun Tosun name in the firmware is not a bug, a virus, or a sign of malfunction, but a normal artifact of the development process that requires no intervention.

Dursun Tosun isn't the only developer whose name is found on Xiaomi's firmware, and depending on the model and version of the software, you might stumble upon other engineering accounts, such as:

  • πŸ‘¨β€πŸ’» wangjian – often found in the firmware of Redmi smartphones.
  • πŸ‘¨β€πŸ’» Liwei - responsible for some Mi assembly TV Stick.
  • πŸ‘¨β€πŸ’» xiaomi_build β€” Neutral name in new versions of the software.

These names appear for the same reason that they indicate which engineer signed the assembly. TV 5 instead dursun_tosun meet miui_build, What is the transition to a unified assembly system.

Interestingly, in some cases, engineers' names are used as watermarks to track firmware leaks, such as when an informal build with a name appears on the network. dursun_tosun_test, Xiaomi can determine which department it leaked from.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Dursun Tosun in Xiaomi

❓ Can you remove the name Dursun Tosun from the firmware?
Technically yes, but it requires root access and editing system files (e.g. /system/build.prop).However, this is not recommended as it can disrupt the TV.The engineer's name does not affect performance, so it makes no sense to delete it.
❓ Why Xiaomi’s new models don’t have Dursun Tosun?
S 2020 Xiaomi has moved to stricter control of metadata in firmware, instead of the names of real engineers, now use neutral notations (for example, Xiaomi or Xiaomi). miui_build). This is due to the optimization of processes and the reduction of β€œdigital garbage” in the software.
❓ I see Dursun Tosun in the logs after the update - that's OK?
Yes, if the update was official. Xiaomi doesn't always clean up the old metadata when it updates, especially if the core of the system stays the same. The main thing is that the TV is stable, so there's nothing to worry about.
❓ Could Dursun Tosun be linked to backdoor at Xiaomi?
There is no evidence that the engineer's name is linked to vulnerabilities.Backdoors (if any) are much more difficult to mask than an open line in build.prop. Moreover, Xiaomi firmware is tested for security before release.
❓ Where else can you find traces of developers in Xiaomi?
In addition to build.prop, engineers' names can be found in: META-INF files in firmware (update.zip); kernel logs (/proc/version or dmesg); hidden test menus (activated via service codes); for example, in Redmi Note smartphones, the name wangjian is often found in similar files.