What Android on Xiaomi: full version table and update

Owners of smartphones of the Chinese brand often wonder what operating system works in their device. In fact, all phones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are based on the mobile platform from Google Android. However, on top of this database installed a proprietary shell, which has long been called MIUI, and in recent models has transformed into HyperOS. It is the shell that determines the appearance, functionality of menus and set of preinstalled applications, hiding or modifying the standard functions of Android.

Understanding the difference between the core system version and the shell version is critical when installing applications, finding solutions to problems or buying accessories. Many users confuse the MIUI build number with the Android version, which leads to errors when trying to download compatible software. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to find out the current version of the software, which models are updated for what, and why the numbers in the settings may differ from those expected.

Xiaomi is known for its device support policy, which varies depending on the price segment. Flagship models receive updates to the latest versions of Android for several years, while budget series can stay on the launch version or get only security patches.

How to find out the version of Android and MIUI on a smartphone

The easiest and most reliable way to get accurate information about your device’s software is to look at system settings. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the navigation logic remains the same for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models. You need to open the main menu and find the gear icon.

Once you enter the settings menu, scroll down to About Phone. In some older versions of the interface, this section may be called About, and that's where all the technical information about hardware and software on your gadget comes in.

In the window that opens, you'll see a few lines with numbers. MIUI» (or "HyperOS version") indicates the current shell number, and the line "Android version" shows the base operating system number, which is the number you should be looking at if you're interested in compatibility with specific applications.

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse the build number (e.g. 14.0.5) with the Android version (e.g. 13). MIUI Often points to the version of Android on which the shell is based, but does not always match the current installed version after updates.

For more detailed diagnostics, especially if you plan complex system manipulations, you can use a hidden engineering menu. Open the Phone app and type the combination ##6484##. This will open the testing menu, where you can see detailed firmware data, including the compilation date and region, in the Version section.

💡

If the standard path in the settings does not show detailed information, use the code ##6484## to access the technical menu, but be careful not to change the settings, the value of which you do not know.

Table of correspondence of Android versions and shells Xiaomi

The evolution of Google’s software platform and Xiaomi’s branded shells has been parallel, but not always in sync. Understanding which version of Android matches which version of MIUI or HyperOS helps determine how relevant your smartphone is. Below is a chart showing the major software milestones in the brand’s devices.

It's important to understand that the HyperOS transition is not just a name change, but a deep redesign of the core, and it's now based on a lighter architecture that's designed to improve memory and power consumption, especially in mid- and low-end devices, where optimization comes first.

Devices released a few years ago may not get the current version of Android, but often continue to receive security updates and functional patches as part of the older version of MIUI. This is normal practice for the industry, allowing you to maintain the health of gadgets even after the end of the cycle of major updates.

Differences between MIUI and HyperOS

With HyperOS, many users have begun to wonder what has changed and should we expect an update? In fact, HyperOS is an evolution of MIUI, but with a changed philosophy of development. If MIUI focused on feature saturation and visual customization, the new system is betting on cross-platform and connecting Xiaomi devices.

Visually, the changes may seem small: slightly different icons, modified unlock animations and a redesigned control center. However, under the hood, there were major changes. The core of the system was rewritten to better work with devices with different amounts of RAM, which means that even on smartphones with 4 GB of RAM, the system should work smoother than on the old MIUI.

One of the key features of the new OS has been improved integration with the smart home, communication protocols have become more stable, and the addition of new Xiaomi Home devices is faster. For users who have only a smartphone in their arsenal, the difference may not be so obvious, but ecosystem owners will appreciate the speed of response.

• 🚀 Optimization: Reduced system file size, freeing up space in internal memory.
• 🔗 Improved HyperConnect protocol for instant file transfer between phone, tablet and laptop.
• 🎨 Design: More flexible settings Always On Display and live wallpaper.

The upgrade is done with regular updates, but it’s worth considering that the first run after installing HyperOS may take longer than usual, as the system needs to index files and optimize applications.

Update policy: how many years are supported smartphones

Support is one of the most painful issues for Android smartphone owners, and Xiaomi has improved its policies in recent years to meet market leaders’ standards, and the timing of Android updates and security patches is now clearly regulated for different product lines.

Flagship series like Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 14 and their Pro/Ultra versions usually get 3-4 major operating system updates and up to 5 years of security patches.This means that buying a top-end smartphone today will keep you relevant for a few more years. For the Xiaomi T series (e.g. 13T, 14T), the policy is also quite generous, often amounting to 3 years of OS updates.

With mid-range and budget-grade devices like the Redmi Note series and the baseline Redmi, things are more complicated: They often come with a not-recent version of Android already installed and get 1 or 2 major updates. However, security patches can come regularly for 3-4 years. This is a trade-off to keep the price of the device affordable.

⚠️ Global firmware (Global) versions often get updates later than Chinese ones (CN). The difference can be anywhere from 2 to 6 months.If you’re critically interested in the latest version of Android right now, consider this factor when choosing a firmware region.

Should I Update: Pros and Risks

When notified of the availability of a new version of MIUI or HyperOS, the user is faced with a choice: update immediately or wait? Each approach has its own arguments.

On the other hand, early versions of major updates (especially a major change to Android or a switch to HyperOS) may contain bugs. Users often report increased battery consumption, heat or unstable performance of individual applications in the first weeks after the update is released.

If your smartphone is stable, your battery is well-charged and you are comfortable with the necessary features, you can postpone the update for 2-3 weeks, during which time developers usually release hotfixes that eliminate critical errors, and the community on the Internet is already forming an opinion about the stability of the new build.

But it's not recommended to ignore security updates, and even if you don't want to change the interface, security patches are mandatory, closing the holes that attackers can access your device, and not making major changes to the interface.

What to do if the update does not come

Often times, friends have already updated, and on your device, the "Check Updates" button tells you that the latest version is installed. This does not always mean that there are no updates for your model.

First of all, check if the region has changed in the settings. Sometimes changing the region from Russia to India or Singapore (and back again) can force you to run a server check and find an available update. → Advanced settings → Region.

If this method didn't work, you can use the Three Dots feature in the upper right corner of the About Phone screen, which often has a hidden menu that allows you to choose "Get Updated" or "Download Full Firmware," which triggers a forced server check.

Settings → About Phone → (Three Dots) → Download the Full Firmware

As a last resort, if the official update does not come, and the new version of Android or MIUI for your model is already officially released, you can use the manual installation method through Recovery. This requires downloading the full firmware archive from the official site and selecting it through the recovery menu.

⚠️ Warning: Manual firmware installation (via Recovery) will delete all data from the device if you don't back up. Also, using firmware from another regional version (e.g., installing Global on the Chinese version) can lead to "bricking" of the device.

💡

Official updates are always safer than manual methods.If the phone doesn't offer an upgrade, it may not have reached your region yet or the model is no longer supported.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)