When was activated Xiaomi phone: how to find out the date of the first switch on

Xiaomi’s smartphone activation date is often required to be verified for warranty service, device authentication, or before buying a used phone, and this information is hidden in system logs, service menus, and even on the box — but not always obvious to the user. Unlike the production date (which indicates when the phone rolled off the assembly line), the activation date records the moment of first on and on the network.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods, from simple (via MIUI settings) to technical (via ADB and service codes), pay special attention to the nuances for different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), and explain why sometimes data can be missing or inaccurate.

⚠️ Note: If you buy a phone with your hands, compare the activation date to the date on the warranty card. a discrepancy of more than 1-2 months may indicate a forgery of the document or a "gray" import.

1. Through MIUI settings: the fastest way

Modern versions of MIUI 12-14 display the activation date directly in the About Phone menu, which works on most models released after 2020 (Xiaomi 11/12/13 series, Redmi Note 10-12, POCO F4/X5 and later).

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap a few times on the MIUI version line until the words “You’re a developer!” appear (this unlocks hidden menus).
3. Return to About Phone and find Activation Date or First Enablement (First activation date in English).

If no item, try an alternative path: Settings → Memory. → Warehouse → Badge "⚙" top-right → Activation date. Some firmwares have information hidden behind a button All specifications.

Check out the MIUI version (update to the latest version)

Make sure the phone is not reset to factory settings

Try changing the firmware region to India or Global.

Use alternative methods (see below)-->

⚠️ Note: After a full reset (Wipe Data in Fastboot), the activation date in the settings may be reset to the current one. IMEI service codes.

2. according to IMEI: a universal method for any model

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique phone identifier that is tied to the date of the first connection to the operator’s network, which works even on older models (Redmi 4X, Mi A1) and after resetting.

How to check:

1. Find out. IMEI your phone: ✅ Dial *#06# - the number will appear on the screen. ✅ Look at the sticker under the battery (for models with removable battery). ✅ On the phone box (usually under a barcode).

IMEI.info

IMEI24

captcha

First Activation Date

Warranty Start Date

Example of the report IMEI.info for Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G:

⚠️ Attention: Free of charge IMEI-For mass verification (for example, when buying a batch of phones), use paid API Or contact the Xiaomi Service Center.

3. Through service codes: for advanced users

Xiaomi’s hidden engineering menus contain detailed system logs, including the date of the first launch, a method that requires caution – wrong actions can lead to firmware failure.

Instructions for models on Qualcomm Snapdragon (most Redmi and POCO):

1. Open the phone app and enter the code: ##4636##
2. Select Battery Information (or Battery Information).
3. Scroll down to the System block - there may be a First boot time bar.

For models on Mediatek (e.g. Redmi 10A, POCO C40) use the code:

##36446337##

From Engineer Mode, go to Hardware Testing → Device Information → First Boot Time.

💡

If the service menu does not open, check if access to engineering codes in the developer settings is disabled (Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB).

Alternative method (requires ADB):

1. Connect your phone to a PC with an Android SDK installed.
2. Enter the command: adb shell dumpsys battery In the output, find the firstBootTime line (time in milliseconds since 1970).
3. Convert the value through Epoch Converter.

By box and warranty card: official data

The original Xiaomi packaging always has a production date (MF DATE) but no activation date, but it can be calculated indirectly:

• 📦 The sticker on the box: Compare MF DATE (for example, 2023-04-15) with the date on the warranty card, if the warranty begins later on 1–3 The month is the likely date of activation.
• 📄 Warranty card: In Russia and CIS countries, the date of the guarantee start usually coincides with the date of sale (activation.
• 🛒 Check of purchase: If the phone was bought in the official store (Mi Store, Svyaznoy, M. Video), the date of the check = Activation date (shops include phone when selling).

⚠️ Note: In Southeast Asian markets (Thailand, Vietnam), phones are often sold in sleep mode without activation, in which case the date on the check may be after the actual activation by 1-2 weeks.

Official Mi Store Store

Retail networks (Svyaznoy, M. Video)

Marketplace (Wildberries, Ozon)

Hands on (Avito, Yula)

Abroad (AliExpress, Gearbest)-->

5. Through Mi Account: If the phone is tied

If the phone was activated under your Mi Account, the date can be found through the device history, which only works for the current owner (or if the previous owner has not untied the account).

Step-by-step:

1. Go to the Mi Account website and log in.
2. Open the Devices section.
3. Find your phone in the list and click on it.
4. In detail, the line Addition Date is the date of the first binding (activation).

Example: If you bought a Xiaomi 12T used and the previous owner did not reset, the account may display its activation date.

Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Delete the account

After the reboot, the phone will offer to create a new account - the date of its association will become a new "activation date" in the system.

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If the phone has been reset but not untied from the old Mi Account, the activation date in the settings may not be updated, in which case use methods via IMEI or service codes.

6. Contacting the service center: 100% accurate method

If all of these methods do not work (for example, on a phone with custom firmware or after a major repair), you need to contact an authorized service center Xiaomi.

• 🔧 Date of first connection to the network (by IMEI).
• 📡 Firmware update history (the first update usually coincides with activation).
• 🔄 Data on warranty repairs (if any).

How to make a request:

1. Find the nearest service center on the Mi Service website.
2. Provide: Phone charge ≥50%, proof of purchase (if any) IMEI (can be found at *#06#).

"Date of first activation information"

⚠️ Note: In some countries (e.g. China), service centers may refuse to provide this information without a warranty card.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When checking the activation date, users often encounter inaccurate data or technical difficulties, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

• ❌ Production date is issued instead of activation: This is typical for IMEI-If the phone is not connected to the network operator. Solution: use the method through the network ADB service-centre.
• ❌ After the reset, the date "moved": MIUI Sometimes you only reset the date in the settings, but not the actual tag in the system. IMEI.
• ❌ Service code does not work: On some firmware (for example, MIUI EU) Solution: temporarily switch to official global firmware.
• ❌ IMEI-The service shows “No records”: the phone could be activated via Wi-Fi without any SIM-Try another service or contact your carrier's salon to ask for data on the IMEI.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions