RoTest Xiaomi: how to distinguish the original from a fake – a detailed guide with photos and commands

Buying a used Xiaomi smartphone in the secondary market is always risky. One of the key points to consider is the status of RoTest (or Root Test), which indicates whether the device has been officially tested by the manufacturer for hacking the bootloader, root rights or unauthorized firmware modifications. A fake RoTest can hide the fact of unlocking the bootloader, which can cause problems with updates, warranty and stability of work.

But fraudsters have learned to fake this status by masking the traces of interference. How to distinguish a real RoTest from a fake? In this article, we will discuss 7 reliable methods, including visual features, checking through the Mi Flash Tool, log analysis and hidden commands. You will learn what tools to use, what to pay attention to when buying, and why even a green tick in the settings does not always guarantee the cleanliness of the device.

It is worth noting that the problem of fake RoTest is especially relevant for Xiaomi Redmi Note 10/11, POCO F3/F4 and flagships of the Mi 11/12 series. These devices are often resold after unlocking the bootloader for custom firmware installation, and then “cleaned” before selling. If you plan to buy the phone from hand – be sure to check it on all points from this guide.

What is RoTest and Why is it Fake?

RoTest (from the English Root Test) is an internal mechanism Xiaomi, which records the facts of unlocking the bootloader (bootloader) or obtaining root rights. Officially it is displayed in the Settings menu → About the phone → Device status as “Device not unlocked” (green tick) or “Device unlocked” (red exclamation point).

RoTest is counterfeited for three main reasons:

  1. Hide traces of unlocking a bootloader to sell the phone as "original."
  2. Bypass the limitations of Mi Account when resetting the device (on unlocked phones, account binding is required).
  3. Avoid problems with OTA- updates that may be blocked on modified devices.

Fraudsters use special scripts or firmware patches that replace the RoTest status in system files. On the outside, the phone looks clean, but when you check it in depth, you find inconsistencies.

💡

If the seller refuses to provide access to the Developer Menu or Mi Unlock settings, this is a reason to be wary. The real RoTest can be checked without restrictions.

Method 1: Visually check the phone settings

The fastest, but least reliable way is to look at the status on the standard menu.

  1. Open Settings → About the phone → The state of the device.
  2. Find the item "Mi Unlock status".

What should alert you:

  • 🔴 No item "Unlocking state" - a sign of custom firmware.
  • 🟡 Green checkmark, but the phone was previously unlocked (the seller confessed or there are traces of the root).
  • 🟠 Language mismatch: for example, part of the menu is in Chinese and RoTest status is in English.

A fake RoTest often poses as a font display or a custom icon, such as the original Xiaomi tick has rounded edges and the fake has sharp corners.

Example of a fake RoTest in the Redmi Note 10 Pro
Some fake firmware shows the status as "Device is locked" (English), although the rest of the menu is in Russian.

Method 2: Checking with the Mi Flash Tool (for power users)

This method requires a computer and a Mi Flash Tool program, but it gives you 100% results, and it's suitable for pre-purchase checks if the seller agrees to connect the phone to a PC.

Instructions:

  1. Download the official Mi Flash Tool from Xiaomi’s website.
  2. Install Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 drivers (for Snapdragon phones) or MediaTek Preloader.
  3. Turn off the phone and turn it into EDL (emergency boot): Press the Volume+ and Volume buttons at the same time, then connect the USB- cable to the PC.
  4. In the Mi Flash Tool, press Refresh – the phone should be defined as COM-port.
  5. Click Select and select the official firmware for your model (download it in advance from xiaomifirmwareupdater.com).
  6. Press Flash (no need to flash!) The logs will show a string with the status of is_unlocked.

Decoding of logs:

Line in the logMeaning
is_unlocked: false✅ bootloader locked (original RoTest)
is_unlocked: true❌ bootloader unlocked (fake RoTest)
anti_rollback: 3⚠️ Device with firmware rollback (brick risk)
device_relocked: 1🔄 The bootloader has been unlocked and locked again (suspiciously)

💡

If the Mi Flash Tool logs have the string is_unlocked: true, but the phone settings have a green tick - before you 100% fake RoTest.

Method 3: ADB commands for hidden diagnosis

With Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can get data that you can't see in the standard interface, and this works even without root permissions.

Steps:

  1. Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Menu (activated by 7-fold tap on the MIUI version in About Phone).
  2. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
  3. Enter the command adb shell getprop ro.boot.verifiedbootstate

Possible answers:

  • 🟢 Orange - the boot loader is locked (original RoTest).
  • 🔴 green or yellow – the bootloader is unlocked (forged).
  • ⚠️ Unknown is a custom core or modified firmware.

Additional commands for verification:

adb shell getprop ro.boot.flash.locked #1 = locked, 0 = unlocked


adb shell getprop ro.boot.veritymode # enforcing = original, logging = modification

Install ADB| Drivers Enable debugging by USB| Connect phone to PC| Run getprop ro.boot.verifiedbootstate | Contrast result with table-->

Method 4: Analyzing Logs through Fastboot

If the phone is not turned on or the seller blocks access to the system, you can check RoTest through Fastboot mode.

  1. Turn off the phone.
  2. Press the Loud − + Power before the Fastboot logo appears.
  3. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command: fastboot getvar all

Look for the following lines in the conclusion:

  • 🔹 (bootloader) unlocked: yes - bootloader unlocked.
  • 🔹 (bootloader) secure: no – the chain of trust is broken.
  • 🔹 (bootloader) anti: 3 is a device with a firmware rollback.

A critical sign of fake: if Fastboot status is unlocked: yes, and the phone settings are green checkmarked, this is a guaranteed fake RoTest.

Yes, I bought a phone with a scam |No, but I heard about such cases | I don't know what RoTest | I check all the phones before I buy-->

Method 5: Verification through service codes

Some Xiaomi models support hidden service codes that display the status of the bootloader.

#4636## → Phone information → Checking the status of the bootloader
#7378423## → Service information (for some models)

What to look for in the results:

  • 📱 Bootloader Status: If Unlocked is specified, but the green tick is fake in the settings.
  • 🔒 Security Patch: Date mismatch of last update and MIUI version.
  • 🛠 Custom ROM: The presence of a custom firmware label (even if everything looks like a runoff visually).

⚠️ Warning: On new Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13), service codes may be disabled. In this case, use methods with ADB or Fastboot.

Method 6: Verification through Analyzer Applications

There are third-party applications that scan the system for modifications.

  • 📱 Kernel Adiutor - shows the status of DM-Verity and Bootloader.
  • 🔍 CPU Identifier analyzes the kernel and firmware.
  • 🛡 Magisk Manager – even if the root is not licensed, it can show traces of their previous installation.

Signs of counterfeiting in the applications:

  • 🚨 Bootloader Unlocked with green checkmark in settings.
  • 🔄 Kernel Version and MIUI Version mismatch.
  • 📛 No Google Play Protect Certificate (checked in security settings)

Note that some applications (such as Magisk) may be hidden by fraudsters. If a seller has removed Magisk Manager, but there are traces in /data/adb/magisk, this will give a fake.

How to find hidden Magisk files
Connect your phone to your PC and, through the conductor (with USB debugging enabled), check for folders: /data/adb/magisk /data/adb/modules /cache/magisk.log Even if Magisk is uninstalled, these folders may remain.

Method 7: IMEI and serial number check

Last but not least, it is a way to check through official Xiaomi services.

  1. Find the phone IMEI (enter in the dial number *#06#).
  2. Go to mi.com/global/verify.
  3. Enter the IMEI and serial number (see Settings → About Phone).

What's checking out:

  • 🆔 Model matching: If a site shows a Redmi Note 10 and the seller claims it POCO X3 Pro is a hoax.
  • 📅 Activation date: if the phone is new but activated a year ago.
  • 🔒 Warranty status: If the warranty is over, but the phone has never been opened.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters can fake stickers with IMEI! Always check the number under the battery (if the phone is collapsible) with the data in the system (*#06#) and on the box.

FAQ: Frequent questions about RoTest Xiaomi

Can you trick the Mi Flash Tool into showing false RoTest status?
Technically, yes, but it requires deep firmware modifications. Fraudsters typically use patches for the file boot.img or vendor.img that replace responses to Mi Flash Tool queries. However, such changes often lead to unstable phone performance (random reboots, camera errors). To detect such a scam, compare the hash sums of system files with the official ones via the command: adb shell md5sum /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/boot
If RoTest is fake, can I return the phone to the seller?
Yes, but only if you can prove the fact of fraud. Take screenshots: Mi Flash Tool Logs marked is_unlocked: true. Withdraw fastboot getvar all. Service codes (if they work). If the purchase was through Avito or Yulu, contact the platform with a request to return the money. In the case of an offline purchase (from hand), you can write a statement to the police under article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Fraud).
Does a fake RoTest affect your phone?
Indirectly yes. Main risks: 🚫 Blocking OTA- updates: Xiaomi may prohibit the installation of official firmware. 🔋 Battery problems: modified firmware is often not optimized for energy saving. 📵 Warranty repair failure: service centers check the status of the bootloader. In addition, a fake RoTest often comes in tangles with dirty firmware, where it can be: 🕵️ Spyware (keyloggers, backdoors) 🎮 or preinstalled games.
Can I make an original RoTest on an unlocked phone?
Officially, no. Xiaomi does not provide tools to “back-lock” the bootloader. The only legal way to return the locked status is to send the phone to the Xiaomi service center with a request to reflash it to the official firmware (cost ~1500-3000 ₽). Illegal methods (through patches or scripts) give a temporary effect and are easily detected by deep verification.
What Xiaomi models are most commonly sold with fake RoTest?
According to statistics from service centers and forums (4PDA, XDA-Developers), the leaders in counterfeits: Redmi Note 10 Pro / Pro Max - due to the popularity and ease of unlocking. POCO F3 / F4 GT - often bought for gaming and modifications. Xiaomi Mi 11 / 11 Ultra - expensive flagships that resell after the root. Redmi 9T / 9 Power - budget models with high demand for secondary. Less often forged new models (Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13), as they are more difficult to unlock without waiting for 7-14 days (the policy of Xiaomi).

Now you know how to tell the difference between the original RoTest and the fake. Remember that even one inappropriate feature (for example, an unlocked fastboot with a green tick in the settings) is a reason to refuse to buy. If the seller refuses to provide the phone for verification through ADB or Mi Flash Tool, this should alert you. In case of doubt, it is better to overpay for a new device or buy a used device from official retailers (for example, Svyaznoy or M. Video with a warranty).

If you've already been a victim of fraud, collect all the evidence (screenshots, logs, correspondence) and contact the platform where the transaction was made, and in most cases, the money can be returned if the fraud is technically confirmed.