Why it’s important to verify Xiaomi’s authenticity before buying
You can buy a Xiaomi smartphone today not only in branded stores, but also on marketplaces, social networks or from hand. However, as the brand’s popularity grows, so does the number of fakes – from low-quality replicas to re-embroidered devices with a dubious past. According to Mi Community, up to 15% of devices sold outside official channels show signs of being unoriginal. IMEI — Your main tool to avoid cheating.
Fakes under Xiaomi are often masquerading as flagship models (for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+), but inside hide cheap hardware, uncertified batteries or even spyware.
- 🔍 Compliance of model and region (Global/Chinese version)
- 📅 Date of production and warranty status
- 🔒 The presence of the device in the database of stolen or blocked
- ⚡ Compatibility with official updates MIUI
In this article, 5 proven verification methods, including hidden chips that even the consultants in the salons don’t talk about, you’ll learn how to distinguish the original from the clone, what to do if the serial number doesn’t pass the check, and why some “official” devices can turn out to be gray.
📊 Where do you usually buy Xiaomi smartphones?
Official Mi Store Store
Marketplaces (Wildberries, Ozon)
Avito/Yula
Foreign websites (AliExpress, Gearbest)
Another option
Where to find the serial number and IMEI on Xiaomi
Before authenticating, you need to find the device IDs correctly, and the serial number (S/N) and IMEI are unique smartphone passports that the manufacturer assigns to the factory, and can be found in several places:
- 📱 In the phone settings: go to Settings → The phone. → General information. This will be the lines Serial number and IMEI (maybe two IMEI two-device SIM-map).
- 📦 On the box: the original Xiaomi packaging always contains a sticker with the serial number and IMEI. Please note: on fakes, this data is often blurred or printed with poor-quality seals.
- 🔋 Under the battery: on older models (e.g. Redmi) 4X or Mi A1) The serial number is duplicated on a sticker under the removable lid. On new devices (with a non-removable body), this method does not work.
- 📄 In documents: if the phone was purchased officially, the serial number is indicated on the warranty card or check.
⚠️ Warning: If the serial numbers on the box and in the phone settings don't match, you're 100% fake or a device assembled from spare parts. IMEI begins with 00 or contains repeating characters (e.g. 1111111111111) – this is a sign of software substitution.
Method 1: Official check on Xiaomi website
The most reliable method is to use the manufacturer’s own authentication service, with Xiaomi providing two official tools:
- Serial number check: Go to mi.com/global/verify (for global versions) or order.mi.com/imei (for Chinese versions). Enter the serial number and captcha. The system will show the model, activation date and warranty status.
- IMEI check: Enter the 15-digit IMEI on the same site. If the device is original, you will see its model and region (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G - Global).
Important: Chinese versions (with CN suffix) don't always pass the global site checkout, and use order.mi.com/imei with an interpreter for them.
| Parameter | Original | Fake. |
|---|
| Results of the S/N verification | Shows model, date of production, status of the guarantee | Error "Invalid serial number" or data does not match the device |
| IMEI in the database | It matches the model on the box. | IMEI is missing or belongs to another model |
| Region | Global/EU/India/Russia (for official versions) | China (if the seller claims to be a global version) |
| Activation date | Corresponding to the time of purchase | Date older than the stated age of the device |
⚠️ Attention: If during the inspection IMEI The site shows a different model than the one on the box (for example, instead of Poco). X5 Pro is displayed by Redmi 10C), This means that the firmware has been changed, and these devices are often marketed as "premium replicas".
💡
If the serial number doesn't pass the test, try entering it without spaces or dashes, and sometimes sellers deliberately distort the symbols to hide the authenticity.
Method 2: Verification through Mi Account and device binding
Xiaomi’s original smartphones are bound to the Mi Account, a method that helps to identify not only fakes, but also devices with a “grey” history (stolen, restored after repair under warranty, etc.).
- Register or log in to your Mi Account on your phone being checked.
- Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Find the device.
- If the phone is original, it will appear in the list of tied devices with the model and serial number.
- Try remotely locking your device via the web version of i.mi.com, and if the lock works, the phone is original.
🔍 What should be on guard:
- 🚫 Device is not linked to account (Error: This device is not supported").
- 🔄 The Mi Cloud list shows a different model.
- 🔒 The "Find Device" function is disabled and not enabled.
Counterfeiting often mimics the MIUI interface but does not have a real link to Xiaomi servers, and there are cases when scammers sell devices tied to other people’s accounts (such as stolen phones), in which case, when trying to reset the settings, the phone will require the previous owner’s password to be entered.
How to check if Xiaomi is stolen?
Enter. IMEI If you're looking for a phone, you can return it to the seller and demand it back.—> Method 3: Analysis of firmware and hidden menus Even if the serial number and IMEI They're being tested, and it doesn't guarantee that you're looking at the original device. MIUI. To identify such cases, use hidden engineering menus and commands: Version Check MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. Click a few times on the line with the version — if it says Developer options enabled, it's the original firmware. On fakes, this trick doesn't work. Engineering menu: type ##4636## in the dialer. In the original devices will open a menu with information about the battery, network and usage statistics. In fakes, this code either doesn't work or opens a blank window. Equipment test: type ##6484### (to check the camera) or #64663# (to test all sensors). On the original Xiaomi, these commands run diagnostics, on clones, nothing happens. 📌 Signs of fake firmware: 🐢 Slow operation of the interface, lags when scrolling. 📱 No proprietary applications (Mi Home, Mi Community, GetApps). 🔄 Inability to update firmware through Settings → Updating the system. 🔊 The gestures don't work. MIUI (For example, double touching to wake up). ⚠️ Some “gray” dealers sell Chinese versions of Xiaomi with re-flashed global MIUI. Such devices may be checked by IMEI, not supportive OTA-updates and have problems with Google certification, you can find out if Google Play Protect is not in the security settings. Method 4: Checking the configuration and external features Serial number and software tests do not give 100% guarantee, so always inspect the device visually. Xiaomi pays great attention to detail, and fakes often give out poor-quality build: 📦 Packaging: Xiaomi's original box has a clear print, a hologram with a logo and a serial number matching the sticker on the phone.Fakes often use dull colors and blurry font. 🔍 Logo: On the back of the original devices, the Mi or Redmi logo is laser-engraved (not erasable or bulgey) and is often pasted or painted on clones. 🔌 Charger: Original Xiaomi power supplies are labeled MDY-XX-XX (for example, MDY-12-EU Counterfeit products often come with universal chargers without a logo. 🎧 Set: in the box with the original Xiaomi always has documentation in the language of the region (for Russia – Russian instruction), paper clip for the tray SIM-maps and branded film on screen. 🔎 Little things authenticity test: Check the font on the box -- Xiaomi always has it clear, no blurs. Check the tray for the box. SIM-maps - on the original devices it is metal, with the Mi logo. QR-code on the box - it should lead to the official page of the model. ⚠️ Especially often counterfeit popular models of the middle class – Redmi Note 12, Poco X5, Mi 11 The scammers can offer them at a price 20-30% You can always ask for a picture of the package and the serial number before you meet! Method 5: Verification through third-party services (IMEI.info, SNEPI) If official methods don’t give a clear answer, use third-party databases. They aggregate information from different sources and sometimes find data that is not on the Xiaomi site. IMEI, model, region, date of production Free basic check, device history Paid extended verification SNEPI snepi.com Serial number, IMEI, Original Checks on the Manufacturer Base Sometimes Makes Wrong With Chinese Versions IMEI24 imei24.com IMEI, model, operator Shows binding to the operator Not always the current base 🔍 How to use: Enter IMEI Compare the model shown in the results with the data on the box and in the phone settings. Pay attention to the Warranty field – if the warranty expires, but the seller claims that the phone is new, this is a reason to doubt the warranty. ⚠️ Note: Third-party services may show inaccurate data for Chinese versions of Xiaomi (e.g. Redmi) K60 Always double-check the information through the manufacturer's official website. What to do if Xiaomi turns out to be a fake If the check revealed that the device is not original, proceed by the algorithm: Stop using: Forgeries may contain malware that collects your data (logins, passwords, bank information). IMEI, Please contact the seller: If the purchase was on the marketplace (Wildberries, Ozon), request a refund under warranty (forgery is considered a non-conformity of the goods). If you bought from hand, demand a refund, threatening to go to the police for fraud (art. 159 If the seller refuses to contact, write a complaint to the platform (for marketplaces) or to Rospotrebnadzor. Check for viruses: if you still decide to leave the device, scan it through Malwarebytes or Dr.Web and make a factory reset. 📌 Where to complain: 🛒 Marketplaces: platform support service (for example, help.wildberries.ru). 📱 Xiaomi: Official support (mi.com/global/support) — They can add a serial number to the blacklist. 🚔 Police: Fraud claim (if the seller knew about the forgery). ⚠️ Some sellers claim that “it is not a fake, but a device for the Chinese market". In fact, the Chinese version (CN) not certified for Russia, do not support Russian in firmware and may have problems with networks 4G/5G. Selling them as ‘global’ is a scam. 💡If the seller refuses to return the money, collect all the evidence (correspondence, checks, screenshots of inspections) and file a lawsuit, 80% These cases are won in favor of the buyer. FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi verification Can Xiaomi be checked by a serial number without a phone (only by a photo of the box)? Yes, but it is less reliable. You can enter the serial number from the box on the official Xiaomi website, but scammers often forge stickers. It is better to ask the seller to send a photo from the phone settings (Settings) → About the phone, and compare numbers, what does "Activated" mean when you check. IMEI? This means that the device has already been activated (on and connected to the network). If the phone is sold as new but has Activated status, it may indicate: Return to the store after use, device restored after repair under warranty, counterfeit with a replacement IMEI. Ask the seller why they're activating, if they don't answer, don't buy. Why is the serial number checking, but the phone is acting strange? Reanimated device — when the motherboard is replaced with used or counterfeit, but the serial number remains original. MIUI, The Chinese version is a gray version, cross-stitched to the global version, check the phone through the engineering codes (see Method 3) and check for autopsy marks. IMEI, if the phone is off? Yes, there are two ways: Look at this. IMEI If the phone is dead, plug it into charging -- some models. IMEI You can also ask the seller to turn on the phone at least up to the Mi logo, sometimes. IMEI Seen in Fastboot Mode (click power) + Volume down when switched on. What to do if the serial number is erased or unreadable? It's a sure sign of a fake or a device that's been repaired. Drop it! If you've already bought it: Try to restore the number through the phone. ADB (You need technical skills. Contact Xiaomi Service Center, they can check the originality fee. Devices without a serial number are not guaranteed and can be blocked by the manufacturer.