How to find out the processor architecture on Xiaomi: ARMv7, ARMv8 or x86?

The CPU architecture in Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO determines which apps will work on the device, how effective it will be at playing games and multitasking, and how custom firmware can be installed. But how can a typical user figure out which type of CPU is used in their device — ARMv7, ARMv8 (AArch64) or rare x86? This information is not always specified in the specifications on the box or in the standard system settings.

Many people have a problem when the Google Play app refuses to install with the error "Your device is incompatible", although the rest of the parameters (the Android version, the amount of RAM) is all right. The reason is often the architecture of the processor. For example, applications compiled under ARMv8 will not work on older smartphones with ARMv7, even if they formally support 64-bit instructions. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods of verification, from built-in MIUI tools to specialized utilities and commands via ADB.

It is equally important to understand the difference between architectures when choosing custom firmware. For example, firmware for Xiaomi Mi 9 (with Snapdragon 855 processor based on ARMv8) will not be suitable for Redmi 4X (Snapdragon 435, ARMv7), even if both models are running MIUI 12. An architecture error can lead to a "brick" of the device, so checking this parameter is a must before any manipulation of the system.

1. Verify the architecture through MIUI settings (without third-party applications)

The easiest way to learn the CPU architecture is to use the built-in MIUI tools. However, here is a caveat: the system does not always display complete information, especially on older versions of the shell (before MIUI 10).

Open the Settings menu → About phone → All specs. Under Processor or Processor Model, you will see the name of the chipset (e.g. Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 or MediaTek Helio G90T).

• 🔹 Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (series) 400, 600, 700, 800) s 2015 year-round ARMv8 (64-The exception is the old Snapdragon models. 410/430 (32-bit, ARMv7).
• 🔹 MediaTek Helio (G, P, X series) is also mostly 64-bit (ARMv8), but budget chips are like MT6735 or MT6750 may ARMv7.
• 🔹 Xiaomi processors of its own design (for example, Surge) S1 mi 5C) always ARMv8.

If the specifications indicate a “64-bit processor”, this guarantees support for ARMv8, but does not exclude backward compatibility with ARMv7.

2. Use of the CPU-Z application (the most reliable way)

CPU-Z is the gold standard for analyzing smartphone hardware, it's free, it doesn't require root rights, and it provides comprehensive information about the CPU architecture, download it from Google Play or the official CPUID website.

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Launch CPU-Z and go to the System on Chip (SoC) tab.
2. Note the Architecture line. This might be: 📌 ARMv7 — 32-Bit architecture (obsolete devices). 📌 ARMv8-A (AArch64) — 64-Bit architecture (modern smartphones). 📌 x86 or x86_64 — It is extremely rare in Xiaomi devices (for example, in some tablets on Intel Atom).

Instruction sets

armeabi-v7a, arm64-v8a

If Instruction sets have arm64-v8a, your device supports 64-bit applications, even if the underlying architecture is listed as ARMv7 (this is the case on some hybrid chips).

Make sure the SoC tab is active

Find the Architecture line

Check out Instruction sets

Compare the data with the compatibility table-->

⚠️

Note: On some custom firmware devices, CPU-Z may display incorrect information, in which case use alternative methods such as ADB or AIDA64.

3. ADB commands for power users

If you have access to a computer and have ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tools installed, you can get the CPU architecture data directly from the system, a method that is suitable for advanced users, as it requires setting up the environment and connecting the device in debugging mode.

First, enable USB Debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then return to Additional Settings → For Developers). Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the following commands in the terminal:

adb shell


getprop ro.product.cpu.abi

In response, you will receive one of the following lines:

• 🔧 armeabi-v7a — ARMv7 (32-bit).
• 🔧 arm64-v8a — ARMv8 (64-bit).
• 🔧 x86 or x86_64 — Intel architecture.

For more detailed information, use the command:

cat /proc/cpuinfo

In the output, find the CPU architecture bar – here will be the exact value (for example, 8 for ARMv8).

⚠️

Note: ADB commands require superuser (root) rights for some Xiaomi models with a locked bootloader.If you get permission denied error, try alternative methods.

4. Online services and databases on Xiaomi models

If you don't want to install apps or connect your smartphone to your PC, you can use online databases that collect the characteristics of all Xiaomi devices.

• 🌐 GSMArena — type your device model into a search and go to the "Platform" tab. The Chipset section will show the processor, and the CPU — architecture.
• 🌐 Device Specifications – Supported architecture is often listed in the Software section".
• 🌐 MIUI Russia – the forum has topics with detailed specifications for each model.

Example: For Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro (MediaTek Helio G90T) on GSMArena, it is indicated:

"CPU: Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)"

The Cortex-A76 and Cortex-A55 processors are part of the ARMv8.2-A architecture, which means full support for 64-bit applications.

⚠️

Attention: Online data may become obsolete. For example, for the Xiaomi Mi A1, some sources mistakenly indicate ARMv7, although the Snapdragon 625 chipset actually supports ARMv8. Always double-check the information through the CPU-Z.

5. Compatibility table for architectures and applications

To understand which apps will work on your device, use the compatibility table to help determine if your smartphone is suitable for installing a particular APK or game.

If your device supports arm64-v8a, but the Google Play app doesn’t install with an incompatibility error, the problem may be:

• 🛑 Developer restrictions (some games, such as Genshin Impact, require specific chipsets).
• 🛑 Outdated version of Android (the app may require Android 10)+, And you have Android 9).
• 🛑 Regional restrictions (some of them) APK Only available to certain countries).

💡

If you download APK manually (not from Google Play), choose an arm64-v8a-enabled version for maximum performance. 32-bit apps (armeabi-v7a) will work, but may consume more memory.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When defining a processor architecture, users often make mistakes that lead to incorrect conclusions, among the most common ones:

• ❌ The bitiness of the OS and the processor architecture are confusing. Just because your Xiaomi runs on a 64-bit version of Android doesn't mean the processor supports it. ARMv8. Like Redmi. 5A (Snapdragon 425) has a 32-bit chipset, but can run 64-bit OS in emulation mode.
• ❌ They only trust the name of the processor. Not all Snapdragon or Helio chips are the same (ARMv8) Snapdragon 435 (ARMv7) They sound similar, but have different architectures.
• ❌ Ignoring backward compatibility. ARMv8 They can run 32-bit applications, but not vice versa. This is important when choosing custom firmware.

To avoid errors, always double-check the data through multiple sources.

1. See the architecture in CPU-Z.
2. Check the specifications on GSMArena.
3. Check compatibility with ADB.

If data conflict, trust CPU-Z and ADB first, as they read information directly from the device, not from the database.

💡

Even if your smartphone supports ARMv8, some applications (such as banking or secure games) may require a specific CPU model, in which case only official firmware or emulation will help.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions