Buying a Xiaomi smartphone in the secondary market or in unofficial stores always comes with risks. According to GSMArena, up to 15% of the brand’s devices in the Russian market are fakes or “gray” devices with a changed region. Even a phone that looks identical to the original can turn out to be a cross-linked clone from MediaTek Helio instead of the declared Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, or restored after flooding. The only reliable way to avoid fraud is to check with IMEI before payment.
IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit code that is assigned to each device in the factory, which allows you to track the history of the phone: country of manufacture, date of activation, warranty status and even the fact of blocking by the operator. In this article, we will discuss 5 official and 3 hidden methods of verification, including little-known Xiaomi services that are not shown publicly, and you will learn how to recognize a fake by indirect signs before you buy.
⚠️ Note: If the seller refuses to provide IMEI In 2023, Xiaomi tightened its policy: Now even original phones without a binding to a Mi Account can be blocked after a reset.
1.Where to find IMEI on Xiaomi phone: 4 ways
You can find IMEI without even turning on your phone, and here are all the methods available.
- 📦 On the Box: The original Xiaomi packaging always contains a sticker with IMEI (Note that for fakes, this code may not match the real code. IMEI device.
- 📱 In Settings: Go to Settings → The phone. → General information → Status SIM-Maps. They're displayed here. IMEI for each slot (if the phone is two-simulated).
- 🔢 Through the code: Type on the keyboard *#06# - will appear on the screen IMEI (two IMEI This method works even on locked phones.
- 🔋 Under the battery: On older models (e.g. Redmi Note) 4X) IMEI It's duplicated on a sticker under the battery. On new smartphones with a non-removable battery, this is not the case.
⚠️ Attention: If IMEI The box and the phone don't match -- you're either a fake or a phone after a motherboard replacement is repaired, and the first one won't pass the check on the official website, the second one can be blocked by the previous owner.
IMEIs starting with 00 or 99 are a sure sign of a clone. Xiaomi's original codes always start with 86 (China), 35 (Europe) or 01 (India).
2. Official IMEI check on the Xiaomi website: step-by-step instructions
Xiaomi provides two official authentication services: global (mi.com) and regional (mi.ru for Russia), global service shows basic information, and regional service shows warranty and account binding data, let's examine both options.
Checking through mi.com (international service)
- Go to mi.com/global/verify.
- Enter the IMEI (or serial number if the IMEI is not accepted).
- Pass the captcha and press Verify.
You'll see in the results:
- 📌 Model of device (e.g, 23049PCD8G For the Redmi Note 12 Pro+).
- 🌍 Production region (China, Global, India, etc.).
- 📅 Activation Date (if the phone is new, the date must match the date of purchase).
☑️ What to check for in the results of mi.com
Checking through mi.ru (for Russia and CIS)
The Russian service mi.ru/verify provides more detailed information:
| Parameter | The original phone | Fake/clone |
|---|---|---|
| Status of guarantee | Active (if the phone is new) | Missing or "Valid" |
| Linking to Mi Account | Yes, if the phone is used | No or no check error |
| Serial number. | It matches IMEI on the base. | Not matched or absent |
| Region | Russia/Eurasia | China or unknown |
⚠️ Note: If the phone was purchased in Europe or Asia, but the results are "China", it is not always a fake./Google Services: These phones are often cheaper to sell, but they may have problems with software upgrades.
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If mi.ru gives an error "IMEI not found", try entering the serial number (SN) instead of IMEI. On some models (for example, POCO F5) SN gives more information.
Checking through operator services: how to find out if the phone is not blacklisted
Even the original Xiaomi can be blocked by the operator for default on a loan or kidnapping, and check through the operators’ databases will help avoid buying a brick.
- 📡 MTS: Send. SMS textual IMEI [yours IMEI] 6111 (free of charge).
- 🟢 MegaFon: Type *#06#, then send the received IMEI 00105.
- 🔴 Beeline: Check through the site beeline.ru (section "Verification" IMEI").
- 🟠 Television2: Dial it *115*3# Follow the instructions of the voice menu.
If the phone is blacklisted, it cannot be used with SIM-The only way to unlock it is to contact the previous owner (if the lock is on the loan) or the police (if the phone is wanted).
IMEI blocked abroad (for example, in Europe under the CEIR program) is automatically blocked in Russian networks from 2022.
4. Hidden methods of verification: what official services will not tell
Xiaomi's official services don't show the entire history of the phone, for example, they won't show the fact of recovery after repair or replacement of the motherboard.
Checking through the engineering menu (for experienced users)
This method requires access to the phone, and it can help you identify:
- 🔧 Replacement of display or battery.
- 🔄 Change of firmware (for example, from Chinese to global).
- 📡 Problems with the communication module (if) IMEI dropped).
Instructions:
- Open the Phone app.
- Dial ##4636###.
- Go to the tab Information about the phone.
- Check the lines: IMEI must match the sticker. Serial number must not be zero. Opening time - if less than 100 hours with the declared "new" phone, it is a fake.
What to do if the engineering menu is blocked?
Checking through Fastboot (to detect clones)
Xiaomi clones often mimic the MIUI interface, but at the iron level they use cheap chips to detect the substitution:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press Volume Down + Power before the Fastboot logo appears.
- Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command: fastboot getvar all
- Find the lines: (bootloader) serialno - must match the IMEI. (bootloader) product - the name of the model without unnecessary characters. (bootloader) secure - should be yes (on clones often no).
⚠️ Note: If you see a different model as a result of the fastboot getvar all command (e.g. Redmi). 9A instead POCO X5 Pro, you have 100% fake with re-flashed software.
5. Indirect signs of counterfeiting: what to look for during the inspection
Even without an IMEI check, you can detect a clone by appearance. Xiaomi's original phones have the following characteristics:
- 🔍 Camera: Fakes often lack infrared sensors (a small circular hole next to the main camera) and check the quality of the shooting in low light conditions - clones make a lot of noise.
- 🔋 Charging: The original Xiaomi supports fast charging (e.g., Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ It charges 100 percent in 44 minutes. Clones either don't support fast charging or they get very warm.
- 🎵 Speakers: On the original stereo models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) The sound is not completely lost when you cover one speaker with your hand.
- 📦 Set: The original Xiaomi box has: Holographic logo sticker. Tight cardboard without gaps. Individual serial number on the sticker (coincides with the same as the one on the sticker). IMEI).
💡 Useful advice: Ask the seller to remove the screen protection (if any) and clones often use cheap ones. OGS-They're matrices that, when you press them, they form waves around your finger. AMOLED-Xiaomi screens (like the Xiaomi 14) don’t have that effect.
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If a vendor refuses to demonstrate NFC, wireless charging, or ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, that's a reason to question the originality of the device, which is hard to emulate on clones.