Owners of the Chinese giant’s devices often face the need to accurately identify their gadget, especially when buying used equipment or issuing a warranty card. POCO There are a huge number of models that may look identical, but have different characteristics or target different markets. IMEI-The code is a unique digital fingerprint that allows you to get comprehensive information about the device directly from the manufacturer’s servers.
Knowing the exact modification of a smartphone is critical when searching for original parts or firmware, as even minor differences in the revision can lead to system failure. Often, a generic marketing name is indicated on the box or settings, hiding the real code index of the device, which is necessary for deep diagnostics. Using special verification services allows you to instantly check the data with the manufacturer's database and make sure that there is no replacement of components.
In this article, we will explore all the available ways to get information about the device, from official Mi Community tools to analysis of the structure of the code itself, learn how to distinguish between global versions from Chinese ones, and understand why checking with IMEI is the first step when buying a smartphone from hand.
Where to find out. IMEI-code on Xiaomi devices
The first step for any verification is to get the ID itself. On modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, there are several standard ways to retrieve this information, and they do not depend on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. The fastest way is to use an engineering menu that is available even without an unlocked screen, which is convenient when buying from hand.
To do this, it is enough to open the application “Phone” (caller) and enter a universal combination *#06#. The screen will instantly display a window with basic data, including: IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 (for two-sim models) and serial number S/N. Note that for dual-symbol devices, the codes may differ, but any of them is usually enough to check the model, since they are tied to a single motherboard.
If the smartphone screen is broken or the sensor does not respond, information can be found on the factory sticker, which is located on the back of the box from under the device or directly on the case (on old models under the battery, on new ones on the back panel or tray). SIM-Also, full data is always available in the settings menu on the About phone path. → All specs → General information where you need to click on the string with the version of the kernel or processor several times to see detailed information.
⚠️ Note: Never post photos of a box full of IMEI-Criminals can use this data to clone the ID onto stolen devices, which will cause you problems with the police or the carrier.
It is important to rewrite the numbers carefully, without errors, because even one wrong number will lead to a search error or show data from a completely different device. Modern MIUI interfaces have a convenient “copy” button, which is better used to transfer the code to the clipboard.
Official checks through Mi Community service
The most reliable source of information is the official Mi Community portal, which aggregates data directly from factory databases, which allows not only to know the model, but also to check the warranty status, activation date and color of the device.
The verification process requires a CAPTCHA to confirm that you are not a robot. Once you enter an IMEI or S/N serial number, the system will give you a detailed product card, and it displays the exact model name (e.g., M2101K7BNY instead of just the Redmi Note 10 Pro) that you need to find compatible firmware.
The Color field, which indicates the actual color of the body, helps to identify the overlapping housing or the replacement rear covers, which is often found in poor repairs, and if the color in the system does not match the physical appearance of the device, this is a clear sign of interference with the design.
- 📱 Model Name: The official marketing name of the device.
- 🎨 Color: Factory color of the case and back panel.
- 🌍 Region: Region for which this version was produced (Global, China, Russia).
- 📅 Warranty Status: Is Warranty and End of Service Date Activated.
Unfortunately, the official website is sometimes unstable or may not display data for very old or, conversely, the latest models that are only in the pre-order stage, in such cases, it is worth using the alternative methods described below, or try again after a while.
Alternative online services for verification
When official resources are not available, specialized databases such as IMEI.info or Snoppy come to the rescue, collecting information from a variety of sources, including carrier reports and service center data, often providing more technically detailed information than the official website.
The use of third-party services allows you to obtain data on the technical characteristics of the hardware: the exact model of the processor, the amount of RAM and internal memory, support for LTE frequency ranges. This is especially important for users who plan to use the smartphone in roaming or with specific operators.
Security of third-party services
Some resources provide paid reports containing repair history or operator lock status (Blacklist).If you buy an expensive Xiaomi flagship or POCO from hand, it makes sense to spend a small amount to get a full report to make sure the device is legal.
| Service | Type of data | Cost | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Community | Official model, color, warranty | Free of charge. | Tall. |
| IMEI.info | Technical specs, blacklist | Basic free. | Medium |
| Snoppy | Detailed information about Xiaomi | Paid (partially) | Tall. |
| GSMA Device Check | Blocking Status (Blacklist) | Free of charge. | Tall. |
When using free versions of sites, be prepared for a lot of advertising, the main thing is not to confuse the “Check” button with the “Download driver” button or other ad block that can lead to malware downloads.
Decoding the structure IMEI-code
Understanding how IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) works allows you to get the primary information about the manufacturer without accessing databases. This 15-digit number is not a random set of digits, but is strictly regulated by international standards GSMA.
The first 8 digits are called the Type Allocation Code (TAC), which is the model and origin of the device. The first two digits of the TAC indicate the organization that issued the code (Reporting Body Identifier), and the remaining six indicate the model directly. The remaining 6 digits are the serial number of the device, unique to each instance, and the last check digit, calculated by the Moon algorithm.
💡
Keep the box from your smartphone for at least a year after you buy it, and it shows the IMEI, which you may need to identify the device at the service center if the phone itself stops turning on.
Known. TAC-code, you can use open source code distribution databases to determine which company and device line owns the phone, which is useful if you are faced with a device of an unknown brand, which is a rebadge version of the popular Xiaomi model.
- 🔢 AA-BBBB-CC-DDDDDD-E: General structure of the number.
- 🏭 TAC (AA-BBBB): Equipment type code defining the model.
- 🆔 SNR (DDDDDD): Serial number of a particular instance.
- ✅ Check Digit (E): Checksum for Validation.
For ordinary users, deep immersion in the TAC structure may seem redundant, but this knowledge helps to quickly weed out out out out out out outright fakes where IMEI can be generated software-based and not match the real-life prefixes allocated to Xiaomi Corp.
Authentication and detection of counterfeits
The electronics market is saturated with devices that look like the designs of the popular Redmi and POCO, but have outdated hardware inside. IMEI testing is one of the most effective ways to distinguish the original. If the service shows a model of “Unknown” or the data does not match the appearance (for example, a button phone is indicated instead of a flagship), this is a sure sign of forgery.
Another method is to compare the IMEI in the system, on the box and in the engineering menu, all three values should match perfectly, and even a single digit discrepancy suggests that the device was assembled from different parts ("Frankenstein") or changed the motherboard, in which case NFC functions, a fingerprint scanner or fast charging may not work.
⚠️ Attention: If, upon input, IMEI Xiaomi's official website writes "Product not found" for a new device, which doesn't always mean fake. 2-4 But for models older than a month, it's a wake-up call.
If you bought a Global Version and the check shows China, you were sold a domestic version with a re-flashed shell, which causes problems with notifications, banking applications and communication bands.
☑️ Checking used Xiaomi
What to do if IMEI is not detected or lost
A situation where the smartphone shows “False IMEI” or “Null” often occurs after a failed flashing, a malfunction of the radio module or interference with the software with root rights, in which case the device will not be able to register with the network of cellular operators, and calls will be impossible.
If the problem is software, sometimes resetting network settings or completely flashing the original stockware through the Mi Flash Tool tool in data cleanup mode helps. However, if the NVRAM partition, where unique identifiers are stored, recovery requires qualified intervention using phone repair boxes (for example, UMT or Chimera).
If you lose a physical code (sticker is gone, screen is broken) and your phone doesn't turn on, the only way to know IMEI is to contact your carrier, they have a SIM card binding to your device ID if you've made calls from that device before, and the data can also be on a purchase check or warranty card if it's filled in correctly in the store.
💡
Software-free recovery of IMEI is not possible on modern versions of Android due to enhanced protection of the bootloader and memory partitions.
Users should avoid “universal” instructions from the Internet that suggest changing IMEIs through the Android engineering menu. On modern Xiaomi devices, these fields are closed, and attempts to change them can lead to a complete lock of the device (hard brick).