How to find out the date of activation of the Xiaomi smartphone: official and hidden methods

Why Xiaomi’s activation date is more important than you think

You bought a used Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 at a bargain price, but the seller assures you that the phone is “almost new”? Or you want to check whether the store hides the real age of the device? The date of first activation is a key marker that will reveal the truth about the past of the smartphone. Unlike the date of production (which can vary by months), the activation date shows when the phone first connected to the network or Mi Account.

Knowing this date is critical for three reasons: first, it helps to detect twisted mileage (when a seller resets the use counters); second, it depends on the warranty period - some service centers count the warranty from the moment of activation, not purchase; third, it is the only way to know whether the phone was regionally unlocked (for example, brought from China with subsequent firmware for the global version).

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from official (via MIUI settings) to hidden (via engineering menus and IMEI services), all methods tested on models from 2018-2026, including Xiaomi 13T, Redmi K60 and POCO F5. And you will learn how to distinguish the real activation date from a fake one, this will save you from scams.

Method 1: Official method via About Phone (works on MIUI 12-14)

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable for most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, but there is a caveat: after resetting the settings, the date can “reset”; therefore, the method is only reliable for phones that have not undergone a hard reset.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap a few times on the line MIUI version until the wording “You are a developer!” appears (this unlocks hidden options).
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Special features.
4. Scroll down and find Activation Date or First Activation Date (on global firmware).

If there is no item, try an alternative path:

• 🔍 Settings → Memory. → Warehouse → Storage → The top of the screen may display the date of first use.
• 📅 On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) date hidden in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Devices.

Make sure the phone is not reflashed to custom firmware

Check if the settings have been reset (ask the seller)

Connect to Wi-Fi – some data is downloaded from Xiaomi servers

Have your hand on it. IMEI (In case the official method does not work)-->

⚠️ Note: On Chinese firmware phones (such as those brought from AliExpress without official unlocking), the date can be displayed in format. YYYY/MM/DD It's not the same as real servers.

Method 2: IMEI Verification (works even after reset)

IMEI is a unique identifier for your smartphone that is tied to the hardware, and it can tell you the activation date even if the phone has been reflashed or reset, and it will require third-party services, but not all of them are equally reliable.

Steps:

1. Find out. IMEI your Xiaomi: 📱 Please enter the phone app *#06#. 📄 Look at the sticker under the battery (for models with removable battery). 📦 On the box of the device (if it is original).

• 🌍 IMEI.info (paid report, but free basic check).
• 🔍 SND Deep Info (free but requires registration).
• 📊 IMEI24 (The date of the first link to the operator’s network).
• Type in IMEI and wait for the report. Look for the lines First Activation Date, Warranty Start Date, or Network Lock Status.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu unless you understand their purpose! For example, accidentally changing the Band Selection settings can lead to loss of the network.

Method 4: Through a Mi Account (if the phone is tied)

If the smartphone was linked to a Mi Account (even by the previous owner), the activation date can be found through the web version of the account.

• 🔑 The phone was not detached from the account after the sale.
• 📱 You have access to the login/password (or the seller provided the data).
• 🌐 The device has been synchronized with Xiaomi servers.

Importantly, if multiple phones with the same IMEI are displayed on the list of devices, it is a sign that the IMEI has been swapped or cloned, as is often the case with grey phones brought from China without official imports.

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If the seller refuses to provide information from Mi Account, it is a reason to be wary. ask him to show the date of activation through your account in your presence - an honest seller will not refuse.

Method 5: Hardware diagnostics (for phones with a collapsible case)

If the software methods didn’t work, a physical check remains, and on some Xiaomi models (especially those released before 2020), the activation date can be spelled out in:

• 📟 Sticker under the battery (for example, on Redmi) 4X or Mi A1). Look for lines ACT DATE Or First Use.
• 🔋 Battery service menu (if the phone supports command ##6484##).
• 🛠️ Motherboard logs (requires a connection to the PC via EDL-regime).

To check the logs of the fee will need:

1. Install Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 drivers (for Snapdragon phones).
2. Connect the phone in mode EDL (Usually they press the buttons.+ and Loudness− when connected to a PC).
3. Use the Mi Flash Tool or QFil program to read logs. The emsg.log file may contain a record of the first system boot.

⚠️ This method is risky - wrong actions in the EDL-The mode can permanently lock the phone (called "brick"). If you are not sure of your skills, it is better to contact the service center.

How to distinguish the actual activation date from the fake

Fraudsters often fake an activation date to sell an old phone as new. Here are 5 signs of cheating:

1. Date coincides with reset date: If the activation date in the settings coincides with the date of the last reset (you can find it in Settings → System → Reset settings), then the seller zeroed the phone before selling.
2. Date before production date: Check the production date by serial number (e.g. IMEI.info) If activation was prior to production, it is a fake.
3. IMEI doesn't match the box: Compare the IMEI on the box, under the battery and in the settings (*#06#).
4. Unix-time date: Some firmware shows the date as a number (e.g. 1672531200). Convert it through Epoch Converter – if you get a date from the future, it is an error or a forgery.
5. No history in Mi Account: If the phone is tied to an account but there is no sync record in the history, it could have been reset before selling.

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The most reliable way is to combine the IMEI and Mi Account checks, and if both dates are the same and logical (e.g. activation 1-2 months later than production), the phone is clean.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi activation date