How to know exactly the date of production of the Xiaomi phone: from serial number to hidden menus

Did you buy Xiaomi hand-held or want to authenticate a new device? The smartphone’s production date is a key parameter that affects warranty life, battery life, and even market value. For example, the Redmi Note 11, released in early 2022, can last 10-15% longer in battery life than the same year’s model, but assembled in December. In this article, we’ll look at all the working ways to find out how Xiaomi’s manufacturing date, from official methods to engineering tricks.

The manufacturer doesn't always specify the release date on the box or in the settings, but it can be calculated by serial number, IMEI or special codes. We've tested all methods on Xiaomi 13T Pro, POCO X5 Pro and Redmi 12 models, and we're ready to share the results. Importantly, some methods require disassembling the device or accessing hidden menus, so don't use them if the phone is warranted - this can lead to its loss.

1.Serial number (SN) - the most reliable method

Serial number (SN) is a unique device identifier that encrypts information about the date and place of production. On Xiaomi phones, it consists of 14-16 characters, where the first 4-6 digits often encode the year and week of release. For example, in the number KY3C22051234567, the combination 2205 can mean 2022, the 5th week (February).

Where to find the serial number:

• 📦 On the sticker under the battery (requires disassembly)
• 📱 In settings: Settings → The phone. → General information → Serial number.
• 📄 On a warranty card or box (if saved)
• 🔧 Through ADB-Adb shell getprop ro.serialno

The serial number is decrypted by model and manufacturer, and for most Xiaomi, after 2018, the rule applies:

⚠️ Note: New models (e.g. Xiaomi 14) SN If the first 4 characters are letters, use the method of IMEI.

2.IMEI - an alternative for models without SN on the box

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is another unique identifier that can be used to determine the release date. Unlike the serial number, the IMEI does not always contain direct date information, but it can be calculated through special services or engineering menus.

How to find out IMEI:

• 📱 Type *#06# and a window with a 15-digit code will appear.
• 📄 Look at the sticker under the battery or on the box
• 🖥️ In settings: Settings → The phone. → Status → IMEI

To decipher the date by IMEI:

1. Take the first 8 digits of the IMEI (e.g. 86952404).
2. The first 6 digits are TAC-Type Allocation Code (TYPE) that identifies the model and manufacturer.
3. The last 2 digits out of 8 often indicate the year of issue (e.g., 04 → 2014 or 2026).

A more accurate way to do this is to use online services like IMEI.info or IMEI-Number.com, which show not only the date, but also the country of origin, but beware: some sites may store your IMEI in databases.

💡

If the phone supports two SIM-He'll have two cards. IMEI. Production dates for both codes must be the same - if not, this may indicate a forgery.

3.A factory sticker under the battery

Most Xiaomi smartphones (except for non-removable battery models like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra) have a factory-labeled sticker underneath the battery.

• 🔢 Serial number (S/N)
• 📡 IMEI
• 📅 Date of production in format YYYY-MM-DD or WW-YY (week-year)
• 🏭 Plant code (e.g, CN — China, IN — India)

How to get to the sticker:

1. Turn off the phone and remove the tray for SIM-map.
2. Put the back cover with a plastic card (on models with a removable cover).
3. Carefully disconnect the battery (if it is on the connector).

⚠️ Warning: Disassembling the phone will void the warranty. If the device is warranty serviced, use other methods.

Example of the factory sticker on the Redmi 9A:

S/N: MZB0B5YC22041




IMEI: 869524041234567




DATE: 2022-04-15




MADE IN INDIA

4. through the engineering menu (for advanced users)

The hidden engineering menu (Engineer Mode) provides detailed information about the hardware, including the date of production of some components, a method suitable for Xiaomi models on Qualcomm processors (for example, POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 Pro+).

How to open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Select the item Phone Information.

Look for the lines:

• Hardware Info → Manufacturing Date (Made Date)
• Battery Info → Manufacture Date (Battery Date)

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T), the date can be encrypted in YYMMDD format. For example, 221015 stands for October 15, 2022.

Make a backup copy of the data|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Write down the serial number on paper.|Do not change the settings in the menu!-->

5. On the box and the parts.

If you have the original box from Xiaomi, the production date can be found by:

• 📦 Barcode at the bottom of the box (first 4 digits after letters - year and week).
• 🏷️ Serial number sticker (usually on the end of the box).
• 📄 Guarantee coupon (date of commencement of guarantee) = date of sale, but not always the same as the date of production).

Xiaomi boxes after 2020 often show the month and year of release in MM/YYYY format on a barcode sticker.

MFG DATE: 07/2023

Also note:

• 🔋 Date on the battery (if removable).
• 📱 Date on charger seal (sometimes coincides with phone production date).

⚠️ Warning: The date on the box may indicate the time of packing, not the phone's production. 1-3 month.

💡

If the date on the box and serial number of the phone differ by more than 6 months, this is a reason to doubt the originality of the device.

6. Specialized applications and services

If manual methods do not work, use iron analysis apps:

• 📱 CPU-Z (section → Manufacture Date)
• 📱 AIDA64 (tab System → Date of production)
• 🌍 Online service IMEI.info (enter IMEI or SN)

Example of the report from AIDA64 for Xiaomi 11T Pro:

System board:




Production date: 2021-09-10




Manufacturer: Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd





Battery:




Production date: 2021-08-25




Serial number: HB4141F7ECW

Note that some apps may show the motherboard or battery production date, not the entire device. If the dates vary, use a later one as the basis, which is likely the final build date.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When determining the production date of Xiaomi, users often face typical problems:

1. The warranty card specifies the date of activation, not release of the device, the difference can be as much as 6-12 months.
2. Some online checkers (e.g. older versions of IMEI Pro) give out incorrect data for new models.
3. Phones assembled in India (MADE IN INDIA) may have a different labeling format than Chinese phones.

How to check the reliability of the data:

• 🔍 Confirm the date by 2-3 independent methods (e.g., independent methods, SN + IMEI + box).
• 📅 Make sure the date is logical: Xiaomi 13 couldn’t be released before 2022.
• 🛠️ If the dates are very different, check the phone for authenticity through the official service Xiaomi.

💡

If you buy a used Xiaomi, ask the seller to provide a photo of the factory sticker under the battery and the box, which will help to avoid counterfeiting.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions