How to find out the version of Android on Xiaomi phone: all the ways

You may need to know the Android version on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones in a variety of situations: before installing custom firmware, to check app compatibility, or just to see if it's time to update. The manufacturer regularly releases MIUI updates, but the shell version and the Android operating system version are different things. Many users confuse them, which leads to errors when manually updating or searching for firmware.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to check the version of Android – from standard through the menu settings to hidden methods using the engineering menu and ADB. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances for different product lines (Xiaomi 11/12/13, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F/X), as the MIUI interface may differ, and you will learn how to decrypt version designations (for example, what V14.0.6.0.TKHCNXM means) and why some models display irrelevant information.

1. Standard method: through MIUI settings

The easiest and most versatile method is to use the built-in settings menu, which works on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the model and version of MIUI.

1. Open the Settings app** (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (on some firmware - About Device).
3. Click on the MIUI version bar and you will see the full information, including the Android version.

On the screen you will see three key parameters:

• 📱 Version. MIUI — shell number (e.g., enclosure number, MIUI Global 14.0.5).
• 🤖 Android version – the actual version of the OS (for example, Android 13) TKQ1.221114.001).
• 🔄 System Update – a button to check available updates.

The name of the device model (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G)

MIUI Version (Global, Chinese, European)

Android version (digit and codename, for example, Android 12 SP1A.210812.016)

Firmware build date (shows freshness of update)-->

On some devices (for example, POCO F4 GT or Xiaomi 12T Pro) the path may be slightly different: instead of About phone, you need to choose All specs, and then the MIUI version. If you have Chinese firmware (without Google services), the menu items can be in English: About phone → MIUI version.

⚠️ Note: Phones with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS, Pixel Experience) may display an incorrect version of Android in this menu.

2.Using the engineering menu (#4636##)

The hidden engineering menu allows you to get advanced information about the system, including the Android version, without having to dig into the settings, which works on most Xiaomi devices, but can be disabled on some models (especially with MIUI 14+).

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app** and enter the combination: ##4636###.

You can see it on the same menu:

• 🔋 Battery status - charge level and temperature.

If the combination doesn’t work, try the alternative code: ##225## (It displays the firmware version and the model. MIUI 13/14 The engineering menu can be blocked – in this case, use the ADB (method №4).

Android 12 (stable)

Android 13 (optimum)

Android 14 (the latest)

I don't care as long as it works.-->

3. Use of the application "Developer Options"

The developer menu contains detailed technical information about the system, including the Android version and kernel, to activate it:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row (you will be notified “You became a developer!”).
3. Return to the main settings menu and select a new item → For developers.

In the Developer section, scroll down to the Device Information block. Here you will find:

• 📟 Android version – full name (for example, Android 13) TI3.230623.008).
• 🖥️ Version. MIUI — with the indication of the region (Global, China, EEA).
• 🔧 Version of the kernel - the date of assembly of the Linux kernel.

This is useful if you need technical details to debug or install custom software, for example, the kernel version will come in handy when choosing a compatible Magisk module or a patch for TWRP.

💡

If the developer menu does not open after 7 taps, check if the phone settings are reset. Some firmware (for example, Chinese) require you to enter a pattern lock after activation.

4. Check through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, on a phone with a damaged screen or custom firmware), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

Instructions:

1. Download and install Platform Tools (includes adb.exe).
2. Activate debugging on USB in the developer menu (see method) №3).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (Win + R → cmd).
4. Enter the command: adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release It will return the current version of Android (for example, 13).

Additional useful ADB commands:

⚠️ Note: If you are connected to ADB If you see an unauthorized error, check that there is a window on the phone asking for trust in this computer. USB It only works after unlocking the loader.

5. Alternative methods: via Recovery and Fastboot

If the phone doesn’t turn on or is stuck on the MI logo but responds to buttons, you can find out the Android version through Recovery or Fastboot, which can be useful when restoring firmware or unlocking the bootloader.

Method 1: Through MIUI Recovery

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the MI logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Connect with MIAssistant (on some firmwares - Advanced → Show log).
4. In the log, find the line with ro.build.version.release – this is the version of Android.

Method 2: Through Fastboot

Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power) and execute the command:

fastboot getvar all

In conclusion, find the parameters:

• version-bootloader is the version of the bootloader.
• Version-baseband is the version of the modem.
• Version-release is the version of Android (for example, 12).

6. How to decrypt the MIUI and Android version

On the About Phone screen, you might see a line like V14.0.6.0.TKHCNXM. It's not just a set of characters, it's encrypted key firmware information. Let's see what they mean.

The Android version is listed separately and can look like this: Android 13 TKQ1.221114.001.

• 13 is the main version number.
• TKQ1.221114.001 is the codename for the build (e.g., TKQ1 corresponds to Android 13 for devices with Qualcomm chipset).

Some Xiaomi devices (such as the POCO X3 Pro or Redmi K40) may display an older version of Android in the settings, even though a newer version is actually installed. This is due to an error in MIUI - check the version through ADB or the engineering menu.

💡

If the firmware name has a letter D (e.g. V14.0.1.0.TKHDXM), it is a development version of MIUI. It may contain bugs and is not suitable for everyday use.

7. Frequent problems and solutions

When checking the version of Android on Xiaomi, users encounter typical errors.

Problem 1: Android 10 is displayed in the settings, although the phone is new.

Solution: This may be related to:

• 🔄 Uninstalled Update – Check Manually in Settings → Updating the system.
• 📦 Custom firmware – some builds (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) may display an incorrect version.
• 🛠️ Mistake. MIUI — Restart your phone or reset your settings via Recovery.

Problem 2: The engineering menu is not working (#4636##).

Decision:

• 🔐 Check if the menu is blocked in the security settings (on Chinese firmware).
• 📱 Try the alternative codes: ##225### or ##6484##.
• 💻 Use it. ADB (method №4).

Problem 3: ADB can't see the device.

Decision:

• 🔌 Make sure that the debugging is enabled USB and installed Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔄 Reconnect the cable (try the original from Xiaomi).
• 🖥️ Launch the command line on behalf of the administrator.

The current version is not displayed.

The engineering menu is not working.

ADB does not see the device

It's working fine.

Another problem.-->

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions