How to change the phone model in the settings Xiaomi: 3 working methods and their consequences

Changing the model of a smartphone in Xiaomi’s system settings is a task that can be required in a variety of situations, from testing firmware to circumventing regional restrictions. However, the process is far from as simple as it seems at first glance. Unlike the trivial change of wallpaper or notification sound, editing the device’s identification data affects deep system files, with consequences ranging from loss of warranty to complete “filling” of the gadget.

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply enter a new model in the About Phone menu, but in fact these settings are blocked by the manufacturer. To change them, you will need special tools, knowledge of the command line or even the rights of the superuser (root). In this article, we will discuss three proven methods of changing the Xiaomi model, their pros and cons, and also tell you how to minimize risks.

Why change the phone model in Xiaomi settings?

At first glance, changing the device model may seem like a pointless action, but in practice, there are several good reasons for this procedure:

• 🔄 Firmware testing: Some custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) require the device model to match the supported configurations, and changing the identifier allows you to install software that is not officially intended for your model.
• 🌍 Bypassing regional locks: some features (e.g. Google Pay or Netflix) HD) Changing the model to a global version (Redmi Note 10 Global instead of Redmi Note 10 India) sometimes helps solve the problem.
• 🛠️ Diagnostics and repairs: Service centers sometimes change the model in settings if the device was assembled from different modifications of parts (for example, after replacing the motherboard).
• 🎮 Gaming hackers and cheaters: Some mobile games place restrictions on specific device models, and changing the ID can fool the system (although it violates the rules of most platforms).

But it’s not all that rosy. Changing the phone model causes DRM certificates to be reset (Widevine L1 → L3), which makes it impossible for you to watch high-resolution video on streaming services, and some banking applications (such as Sberbank Online or Tinkoff) can block access by detecting hardware discrepancies.

Before you start the procedure, ask yourself if you really need it, and if you can achieve it with safer methods, such as changing the region in the MIUI settings or installing Magisk modules.

Method 1: Change the model through the engineering menu (no root)

The simplest, but also the most limited, method is to use a hidden engineering menu (Engineer Mode), which does not require superuser rights, but it does not work on all Xiaomi models (mostly on devices until 2020), if you have a Redmi Note 9 Pro, Poco X3 or a newer model, it probably will not work.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll down to the Set ro.product.model field (on some firmwares it may be called Model Name).
4. Enter a new model name (e.g., M2007J20CG for Redmi Note 9 Pro Global) and press Set.
5. Reset the device.

Backup data | Battery charge at least 50% | Make sure the model supports Engineer Mode | Record the original model in case of rollback-->

If the Set ro.product.model field is missing or inactive, your firmware is blocking this method, in which case move on to the next method.

⚠️ Note: After changing the model through the engineering menu may stop working OTG-This is because the system reads the configuration of the iron components from the build.prop file, which now contains incorrect data.

Method 2: Edit build.prop (root required)

The build.prop file is an Android configuration file that contains key device parameters, including model, manufacturer and firmware version. editing it gives maximum flexibility, but requires superuser (root) rights. If you don't have them, get root first using Magisk or SuperSU (you can find instructions for unlocking the bootloader for Xiaomi in a separate article).

Step-by-step:

1. Install any file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/build.prop.
3. Make a backup copy of the file (copy it on the SD-map).
4. Open build.prop in the text editor and find the lines: ro.product.model=... ro.product.name=... ro.product.device=...
5. Replace the values after the sign = with the desired ones (for example, ro.product.model=M2101K7AG for Redmi Note 10 Pro).
6. Save the file and restart the device.

If after the reboot the phone is stuck on the MI logo, then you made an error in the syntax of the build.prop file.

• Load to the recavery (hold Power + Volume Up when turned on).
• Connect your phone to your PC and replace the damaged build.prop with a backup with ADB:

This method is the most persistent, but the risks are higher, for example, if ro.product.device is changed, it may stop working:

• 📡 Communication modules (LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth);
• 📸 Camera (due to driver mismatch);
• 🔋 Fast charging.

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (e.g. Alpha-Click) scan the build.prop file for modifications, and if they detect changes, access to the account will be blocked "on suspicion of rooting".

Method 3: Use ADB-commands (without root, but with unlocked bootloader)

If you have a bootloader unlocked but no root rights, you can try changing the model through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method less invasive than building.prop editing, but requires a computer connection and Google’s Platform Tools installation.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute in the command line: adb shell su setprop ro.product.model "New model"
3. Check the change by team: getprop ro.product.model
4. Reset the device.

Unfortunately, this is a temporary way of rebooting the original model, and to record the changes, you need to:

• 🔧 Prescribe the command to the initialization script (init.d) if your firmware supports it;
• 🔄 Repeat the procedure after each reboot;
• 📱 Install an app like Prop Editor that will apply changes automatically.

💡

If you are changing the model to install custom firmware, check the compatibility of the kernel and drivers first. For example, the firmware for the Poco X3 NFC (surya) will not work for the Poco X3 Pro (vayu), even if you change the model in build.prop.

What if the phone does not turn on after changing the model?

If you've edited your system files and your device stopped booting (it's stuck on the MI logo or it's gone to the bootloop), don't panic. In 90% of cases, you can fix it without going to the service center. Here's the algorithm:

1. Hard reset: Hold the Power + Volume Up for 10 to 15 seconds to force the device to shut down, sometimes enough to get out of the reboot cycle.
2. Recovery via TWRP. If customized Recovery are installed: Load to TWRP (Power + Volume Up). Select Mount → System. Connect your phone to your PC and replace the damaged build.prop with a backup.

Firmware through Fastboot

Mi Flash Tool

fastboot flash system system.img


fastboot reboot

If none of the methods worked, the /system partition may be damaged, which would require a full flash-all flash-cleaning device.

⚠️ Warning: After firmware is flashed through fastboot, all will be reset anti-rollback (backward protection on the old version). MIUI). If you then try to install an older firmware, the phone will turn into a brick".

Alternative methods: Magisk modules and Xposed

If you are afraid of the risks of direct editing system files, consider safer alternatives:

• 🧩 Magisk modules. Magisk repository has modules like Props Config that allow you to change device properties (including the model) without directly interfering with build.prop. Install the module using Magisk Manager and select the desired model from the list.
• 🔧 For older versions of Android (up to 8.0), you can use the Xposed BuildProp Editor module. It provides a graphical interface for editing system properties.
• 📱 Deception apps, programs like Device. ID Changer or Fake Device temporarily replace device identifiers for specific applications (e.g. games.

The advantage of these methods is that they:

• ✅ No need to edit critical files;
• ✅ Easy to roll back (just remove the module or application);
• ✅ Keep the warranty (unless root is used).

However, keep in mind that Magisk and Xposed may conflict with some system applications (e.g. Mi Pay or Game Turbo).

💡

Magisk modules are the safest way to change the phone model, but they only work on firmware that supports Magisk (most custom and some stock MIUIs).

How to get back the original phone model?

If the experiment failed or you just want to get it back to the way it was, use one of the following methods:

1. Restore from backup. If you backup build.prop or the entire /system partition, just return the original files via TWRP or ADB.
2. Reset via the engineering menu. Enter the phone app ##4636##, search the Set ro.product.model field and enter the original model.
3. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website and run it through the Mi Flash Tool (choose the Clean all option).
4. Remove Magisk modules. If you used Props Config, deactivate the module in Magisk Manager and restart the device.

After returning the original model, it may be necessary to:

• 🔄 Re-registration of fingerprints;
• 📱 Re-authorization in Mi Account;
• 🔐 Resetting of certificates DRM (via DRM Info).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi model change