Buying a used Xiaomi smartphone is always fraught with risks: the seller can hide the real time of use of the device, overstate the battery status or even “twisted” the meters. The concept of “phone mileage” is analogous to the car’s mileage: it includes the total time, the number of charging cycles, screen performance and even data about overheating. Unlike the iPhone, where this information is easy to get through Analytics, Xiaomi is more difficult: the manufacturer does not advertise such data, but it can be extracted by legal and semi-legal methods.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods of mileage testing - from official (through the MIUI and Mi Accounts) to technical (engineering menu, ADB, You will learn what parameters are important in assessing the condition of the phone, how to recognize the fraud of the seller and what to do if the data is conflicting. 12/13, POCO X5/F5 Xiaomi 13/14 — Their firmware behaves differently than older devices.
Official data in MIUI: what the system shows
The easiest way is to look at the standard MIUI settings. The manufacturer provides some of the uptime information, but it's often incomplete or reset after updates.
- 📱 Screen time: Go to Settings → Screen. → Screen usage time. This is the last 7 days' statistics, but it's easy to reset through Usage Data Reset.
- 🔋 Battery status: C Settings → Battery → Battery status see Charging cycles and Capacity, normal for a 2-year-old phone up to 300 cycles and capacity not lower than 85%.
- 📊 Total working hours: c Settings → The phone. → Operating time (not available on all models) shows performance since the last reset.
⚠️ Note: Sellers often reset these meters through Settings → Additionally. → If the menu displays screen time less than a week and the phone has been used for years, it is a clear sign of cheating.
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If the seller refuses to show these menus, ask them to take a screenshot of the date and time, and compare the time stamps on the photo with the current date, so you can see if the data is tampered with.
2. Engineering menu: hidden data on the work
The engineering menu (#4636## or #284##) contains technical information that Xiaomi does not show users. For new models (Redmi Note 12+, POCO F5), the path is different:
- Open the Phone app and type ##4636##.
- Select Battery Information (Battery Information).
- Pay attention to the parameters: Battery level - current charge; Battery temperature - temperature (normal up to 40 ° C); Charge counter - key parameter: shows the number of complete charging cycles.
Some firmware (such as HyperOS on Xiaomi 14) has blocked the engineering menu, in which case the MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek processors) or Shortcut Master application will help to find hidden menus.
What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
3. Diagnostic applications: AccuBattery, CPU-Z and others
Third-party utilities help estimate mileage indirectly through battery, processor and memory analysis.
Important: No app will show the phone's exact mileage unless it's been installed since the device was purchased.They're useful for assessing current status, but not history.
| Annex | Shows charging cycles | Shows the time of work | It requires ROOT. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AccuBattery | ✅ (only after installation) | ❌ | ❌ |
| CPU-Z | ❌ | ✅ (loading CPU) | ❌ |
| DevCheck | ❌ | ✅ (partly) | ❌ |
| MTK Engineering | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ (MediaTek only) |
Visual examination|Verification through settings|Engineering menu|Third-party annexes|I'm asking for a check/guarantee|I don't buy a b/w.-->
4. ADB-Teams: Deep Diagnostics for Advanced
If you’re ready for technical manipulation, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will provide the most complete information, which works on all Xiaomi models, but requires a computer and enabled debugging over USB.
Instructions:
- Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools, and execute the commands:
adb shell
dumpsys batteryIn the conclusion, find the lines:
- charge counter – the number of charging cycles;
- time on battery – total battery life (in ms);
- Temperature: Average temperature (compare with the normal temperature for your model).
⚠️ Note: On some firmware, Xiaomi blocks access to some data through ADB. If the team returns an error, try an alternative method:
adb shell cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/cycle_countInstall Xiaomi drivers on PC|Enable developer mode |Activate debugging on USB|Download ADB Tools|Connect phone with original cable-->
5. Verification through Mi Account: Device history
If the phone is linked to a Mi Account, you can try to get your usage history through official Xiaomi services, which doesn’t always work, but sometimes it gives you unique data:
- Ask the seller to log into your Mi Account on your phone.
- Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
- In the Devices section, select the phone you are checking, and this may show: First Activation Date; Firmware List (shown how many times the phone has been updated); and Linked accessories (such as Mi Band, which indirectly confirms active use).
🔍 What to look for: If the first activation date coincides with the model’s release date (e.g., Redmi Note 12 Pro activated in January 2023, although the seller claims the phone was in stock), this is a sign of fraud.
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The Mi Account is the only official source of information about the date of the first activation of the phone, and it can’t be forged without completely resetting the device and creating a new account.
6.Indirect signs of a large mileage
Even without technical checks, you can suspect a high mileage on external signs:
- 🔋 Battery: Phone discharges in 3-4 hours with moderate use; Capacity in AccuBattery is below 80% of factory capacity; Device heats up when charging or during calls.
- 📱 Screen: Visible burnout of the matrix (blurred icons, residual images); Scratches on oleophobic coating (even in the presence of glass); Uneven backlighting (yellow spots at the edges).
- 🔧 Body and connectors: Shattered USB-C port (cable only held at a certain angle); Frame chips or multiple openings; Wear buttons (especially Power and Volume).
💡 Tip: Ask the seller to show Settings → Memory. → Internal memory. If it's 50 people working there.+ GB, and the owner claims that the phone has been almost never used, that's a contradiction. DCIM For old photos/video (file creation dates will give the real age of the device).