How to change the name of the Xiaomi phone model: 5 proven ways

Ever wondered why your Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ displays as viva or rubens instead of the usual name? Or want to hide the real model of the device in apps, games or services? Changing the name of the smartphone model is not the most obvious feature, but it is available through hidden MIUI settings, engineering menus or developer tools. In this article, we will discuss all the working methods, their pros and cons, and also warn about the possible risks.

It's important to understand that the model name on the system (ro.product.model) and the marketing name (e.g. POCO X5 Pro 5G) are two different things: the first one is used by Android to identify the device, the second one is used for sales. We're going to work with the system name that the applications and services see. Ready? Then we're going to get started!

Why do users want to change the name of Xiaomi?

At first glance, renaming the model may seem pointless, but there are several practical uses for the procedure:

• 🎮 Bypassing restrictions in games: Some mobile games (e.g. Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile locks devices with specific models due to unofficial firmware or regional restrictions.
• 🔒 Hiding the real model: If you use the device to test applications or work with the device API, Changed name will help to avoid blocking on Build.PRODUCT.
• 🛠️ Software testing: Developers sometimes need to emulate other devices to debug compatibility.
• 📱 Fixing bugs: In rare cases, incorrect display of the model in the settings can be due to firmware errors.

However, changing system settings can lead to unstable device performance, errors in Google Play or problems with the system. OTA-If your goal is to simply hide the model from the apps, consider alternatives like Magisk or XPrivacyLua.

⚠️ Warning: Changing build.prop settings without a backup could make the device unsuitable for official updates. Xiaomi may block access to servers MIUI, If you find a change in the IDs.

Method 1: Change through the Engineering Menu (without root)

The simplest method that doesn’t require superuser rights is to use a hidden engineering menu, which works on most Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (Medek may not work).

Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll down to the Set model number field (if it isn’t, it’s not suitable for your model).
4. Enter a new name (such as Mi 11 Ultra) and press Set.
5. Reset the device.

This method is temporary: after updating the firmware or resetting the settings, the original name will return, and it does not work on devices with a locked bootloader in some regions (for example, for models sold in Europe).

Make a backup copy of the data

Check the MIUI version (on old firmware may not work)

Make sure that the battery charge is > 50%

Disable two-factor authentication in Mi Account (during the procedure)-->

Method 2: Edit build.prop via ADB (for advanced)

If the engineering menu is not available, you can change the model name directly in the build.prop system file.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and Fastboot
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)
• 📱 Included debugging by USB phone-on

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the adb.exe folder.
2. Run the command to mount the system partition in write mode: adb shell su mount -o rw, remount /system (If su does not work, root rights are required).
3. Open build.prop in text editor: adb pull /system/build.prop notepad build.prop
4. Find the lines ro.product.model=... ro.product.name=... and change their values (for example, ro.product.model=Mi 13 Pro).
5. Save the file and download it back: adb push build.prop /system/ adb shell chmod 644 /system/build.prop
6. Reset the device.

This method is more reliable, but it requires caution. An error in build.prop can lead to bootloop. Always back up the original file!

Method 3: Using Magisk and Prop Editor

For users with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, there is a more secure way - the Props Editor module. It allows you to change system properties without direct editing build.prop.

How it works:

1. Install Magisk (if not already installed) and Props Editor module via Magisk Manager.
2. Open Props Editor and find options: ro.product.model ro.product.brand ro.product.name

redmi_note12_pro_plus

mi_13_pro

Save the changes and restart the device.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ No need to edit system files directly
• ✅ It is easy to roll back changes through Magisk
• ✅ It works on most of the firmware (including custom ones)

However, note that some applications (such as banking) can detect the presence of Magisk and block work, in which case you will need to hide Magisk through the MagiskHide Props Config module.

Menu of Engineering (Simple but Temporary)

ADB and build.prop (Reliable but Risky)

Magisk (Secure but Needs Root)

Another option-->

Method 4: Replace the model with the Xposed Framework (for older versions of Android)

If your device runs Android 8.1 or older, you can use the Xposed Framework with the Xposed BuildProp Editor module, which is inferior to Magisk but is suitable for devices without support for the latest versions of MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Install Xposed Installer (the version for your Android).
2. Activate the BuildProp Editor module in the Modules section.
3. Restart the device and open the editor.
4. Find the parameters of the model and change them.

Limitations:

• 🚫 It doesn't work on Android 9.+ patchless
• 🚫 It may conflict with certain applications
• 🚫 Requires an unlocked bootloader

⚠️ Note: Xposed Framework is not updated with 2018 Its use on new Xiaomi devices may lead to incompatibility with the new device. MIUI 13/14 and errors in the operation of Google services.

Method 5: Modified Recovery Firmware (for power users)

The most radical method is to firmware custom recovery (TWRP) and then edit build.prop manually, which gives maximum control, but also maximum risk.

What you need:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (fastboot oem unlock)
• 📥 Firmware TWRP For your model (download only from the official website)
• 🖥️ Computer with fastboot and Xiaomi drivers

Step-by-step:

1. TWRP via fastboot: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
2. In TWRP, go to Mount → System.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and edit /system/build.prop through any text editor.
4. Save the changes and reboot.

This method is suitable for advanced users who are preparing to install custom firmware. For a normal model renaming, it is redundant.

💡

Before you install TWRP, check compatibility with your model on the XDA-Developers forum.Some Xiaomi devices (such as the Redmi Note 10 Series) have anti-recovery modification protection via Anti-Rollback.

Table of compatibility of methods with popular models Xiaomi

The data in the table is based on user tests from the 4PDA and XDA forums. For devices on MediaTek (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M4 Pro), methods with ADB may require additional authorization via Meta Mode.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes have problems changing the name of the model, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

• 🔄 The name is reset after the update. This is normal for no root methods. To fix the changes, use Magisk or turn off the automatic update. MIUI.
• 🚫 Google Play stopped working. delete the Google Play Services app and Google Play Store data, then restart the device.
• 🔋 The device does not turn on after editing build.prop. Use the instructions from the spoiler above or run the firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.
• 🔒 Mi Account requires authorization after the change, and this is due to Find Device protection, and disable it in your account settings before the procedure.

If you encounter an error not described here, check logs via adb logcat or contact the thematic forum with the following information:

• Device models
• MIUI Versions (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version)
• Exact description of actions before failure

💡

Always check the compatibility of methods with your model in forums before starting the procedure. For example, Xiaomi devices with MediaTek (Helio G-series) processors often require additional steps to unlock the editing of system files.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions