How to find out the Android version on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8

Smartphone users today often face the need to accurately identify their device’s software. Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 are no exception, especially given the strong community and manufacturer support for the device. Knowing the exact version of the operating system is essential to install compatible applications, receive security updates, or when technical problems require debugging.

The current build of the operating system can be determined in a number of ways, ranging from the standard settings menu to more advanced methods through the engineering menu. Each of these methods gives access to varying degrees of detail. For example, the standard path will show only the MIUI build number and the basic version of Android, while hidden menus can reveal the date of the security patch and the kernel number.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available verification methods so you can get comprehensive information about the software part of your gadget. Understanding the version structure will help you better navigate the world of mobile OS and avoid errors when installing third-party software.

Checking through the standard settings menu

The easiest and safest way to know the Android version on your Redmi Note 8 is to use the built-in interface, which requires no special knowledge or superuser rights and is available to every smartphone owner immediately after it is turned on, just unlock the screen and find the settings icon.

Once you log in, you scroll down to About Phone, and that's where you get the basic information about the device, including the processor model, the amount of RAM, and of course the software version. The MIUI interface may vary slightly depending on the regional firmware, but the logic of the elements' location remains the same.

Inside the About Phone section, you'll see the MIUI version bar, which usually has a shell number, like 11.0.4. However, to see the Android version, you need to click on that line several times or find a separate line, the Android version a little below.

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The standard settings menu only shows the major version of Android (like 10 or 11), but hides the security patch number, which is important for assessing the security of the device.

It is worth noting that the information in this menu is updated only after successful installation of updates and restart of the device. If you just updated through the air, but did not restart the phone, the data may not be displayed correctly. Always perform a full reboot cycle after major system updates.

Use of hidden engineering menu

For a deeper diagnostics, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 has access to a hidden engineering menu that provides advanced technical data, which allows you to see not only the OS version, but also information about the radio module, IMEI and other hidden parameters that are not displayed in the normal interface, accessed through a special code in the Phone application.

To enter diagnostic mode, open the call app and dial the combination ##4636##. Once you enter the last digit, the menu should open automatically, without having to press the call button. If the code didn't work, it's possible that your firmware version restricts this access, which is common in global versions of MIUI.

In the menu that opens, select Phone Information, where you will find detailed information about network status and software. Unlike the standard menu, here the data is presented in a more technical form, which can be useful when contacting support or when searching for specific drivers.

⚠️ Warning: Be careful when changing any settings within the engineering menu.Accessual activation of the radio module testing function or reset of a preferred network type may result in temporary signal loss or unstable communication.

Analysis of information in Recovery Mode

Recovery Mode, or Recovery Mode, is a separate minimalist interface that is loaded to the main operating system.This tool is designed to reset settings, clear cache and install updates manually. This is where you see a "clean" version of the system that was actually written to the device's memory, regardless of what the MIUI shell may display.

To enter this mode on the Redmi Note 8, you need to turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the volume buttons (top and bottom) and the power button simultaneously. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume buttons until the Recovery menu appears.

At the top of the screen, you'll see the system logo and the technically info strings, usually with the Recovery version (like OrangeFox or the standard Mi Recovery) and the Android version, and the volume buttons and the power buttons are the navigation, a reliable way to check if the system part has been damaged in previous updates.

Recovery is especially important if your phone is unstable or if you are planning to install custom firmware, which displays the real structure of the memory partitions, allowing you to verify the integrity of the system files before starting any manipulations.

Version definition via ADB and computer

For users who prefer advanced diagnostics, the ideal option is to use USB debugging and the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which allows you to get the most detailed information about the system by connecting the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 to a computer, which is indispensable when the phone screen is damaged or does not respond to touch.

First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version seven times. Then a new option will appear in the settings menu Additional → For developers. Inside, you need to activate the debugging switch over USB.

Connect your phone to your PC using a high-quality cable. On a computer with ADB drivers installed, open the command line and enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

On the smartphone screen, you will see a request for debugging permission, which you need to confirm. After successfully connecting, enter a command for full build information:

adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release

This command will return the exact digital version of Android. To get the build number, use the command adb shell getprop ro.build.display.id. This method ensures that data is obtained directly from system properties, bypassing the graphical interface, which eliminates any visual errors or display bugs.

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Use the original cable to connect to your PC. Cheap cables often only support charging and don't transmit data, leading to an ADB connection error.

Summary table of versions of the software for Redmi Note 8

The Redmi Note 8 has come a long way since its launch. Understanding which version of Android matches your MIUI version helps you gauge the relevance of the device. Below is a table of major firmware versions for the global version of the smartphone.

It’s important to understand that Android version number is not just a number. Each new version brings changes to the core of the system, library updates and new APIs for application developers. The latest official version for Redmi Note 8 is Android 11 in the shell of MIUI 13, no further updates to Android 12 from the manufacturer are expected.

If you see a discrepancy in the table, for example, MIUI 12 based on Android 11, this may indicate the installation of custom firmware or a global version on a Chinese device (Cross-flash), in which cases, the stability of the work can be reduced.

Frequent questions and problems with updating

Xiaomi owners often face situations where automatic updates do not arrive or the system version does not match the expected. This may be due to regional distribution features. Global firmware (Global) usually comes later than Chinese (CN), and European (EEA) can have their own schedule.

Sometimes users notice that after the update, the Android version number has not changed, although MIUI has updated.This is normal, since large versions of Android come out less often than shell updates. The manufacturer can release multiple versions of MIUI based on the same version of Android, adding features and fixing bugs.

⚠️ Note: Installation of firmware from other regions (for example, China on Global) through the update menu is prohibited by the system. This requires unlocking the bootloader and using special tools like Mi Flash, which carries the risk of data loss.

Verifying the system version is the first step to smart smartphone usage, monitoring updates regularly to close security vulnerabilities and access new features, and if your device stops receiving updates officially, it’s a signal that it’s time to consider alternative ways of developing, such as custom ROMs, or consider replacing your gadget.