How to change IMEI to Xiaomi: Technical Guide

Changing the unique IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) identifier on Xiaomi smartphones is a complex technical procedure that is most often required by enthusiasts to test software or recover lost data after unsuccessful firmware experiments. A unique number is assigned to each mobile device in the factory and is necessary to register it in cellular networks. Owners often look for ways to change this parameter when faced with a locking device by a carrier or want to circumvent restrictions imposed on a particular device.

The process of replacing IMEI with Xiaomi is fraught with high risks. Mistakes can lead to the fact that the smartphone will turn into a “brick” and stop catching the network at all. Modern versions of the operating system MIUI and HyperOS have enhanced protection of the bootloader and system partitions, making standard methods that worked on older models useless. You will need not only root rights, but also a deep knowledge of the structure of the Android file system.

Before you start any manipulation, you need to weigh the pros and cons. The legality of such actions in your country may be questioned, because in many regions, changing the equipment ID is prohibited at the legislative level. If your goal is simply to hide your real number from the identifiers, there are more secure methods that do not require interference with system files. However, if you are firmly determined to proceed, study the material to the end.

Legal aspects and risks of changing IMEI

Changing IMEIs on Xiaomi and other brands is a sensitive topic from a legal perspective. Many countries, including the Russian Federation, have laws prohibiting the manufacture, acquisition and use of devices with changed unique identifiers.This is because IMEIs are used by law enforcement to track stolen phones. If you change this number, the device can be automatically blocked by the carrier if a discrepancy in the database is detected.

Beyond legal issues, there are serious technical risks: Xiaomi's Android operating system checks the integrity of system partitions. NVRAM or EFS If you don't have the proper certificates, it can disrupt the modem, and as a result, the phone will turn on, but it won't see. SIM-map or work with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as these modules are often tied to a single hardware identifier.

⚠️ Attention: Change IMEI The repair of the factory number after that will be impossible without contacting the authorized service center with checks for purchase.

Also worth mentioning is the loss of warranty: Any interference with the code required to change the IMEI (unlock the bootloader, obtain root rights) automatically voids Xiaomi's warranty obligations. Even if you return all settings back, there will be traces of unlocking in the server logs, which will be the reason for refusing free repairs.

Necessary tools and device preparation

To successfully implement the IMEI change task to Xiaomi, you will need to prepare a specific set of tools. The basic requirement is that you have superuser rights (Root), without which access to the system files where the ID is stored is closed, most often using a bundle of unlocked bootloader (Bootloader) and installed custom TWRP, through which Magisk is installed.

The second important component is a computer with Windows operating system and drivers installed. ADB And Fastboot. Mobile apps that promise a change. IMEI In one click, 99% of cases are fraudulent or contain viruses, all serious manipulations are carried out through console commands or specialized software on a PC. USB-cable, preferably original, to avoid connection breakdown at critical time.

Don’t forget to make a full backup of the section EFS or Protect_F (It's on the new Xiaomi models. That's where yours is stored. IMEI, MAC-address Wi-Fi/Bluetooth And other modem calibration data, and if you damage this partition in the process, it's going to be extremely difficult to reconnect even with a backup from another phone, because the calibration of the antennas is different for each device.

Method of Change through Engineering Menu (MTK Engineer)

One of the most famous, but only working on MediaTek processor devices (such as some older Redmi Note models), is the use of an engineering menu. It is usually accessed using a special code in dialer, such as ##3646633## or ##4636##. If the code does not work, it can be activated through third-party launcher applications of engineering modes that require root access.

After entering the menu, you need to find the Connectivity tab or CDS Information. Then you select Radio Information. In the field that opens, you'll see the current values. IMEI first and second SIM-They're being changed by a team. AT+EGMR=1.7," YOUR NEW_IMEI" for the first SIM and AT+EGMR=1.10," YOUR NEW_IMEI" It's important to type a command without spaces or quotation marks, unless the specific version of the interface requires it.

⚠️ Note: On Snapdragon processors (most of Xiaomi's flagships), this method doesn't work. AT-commands on Snapdragon via the terminal will not give results, as access to the modem is closed at a lower level.

Once you have entered the commands, press the Send AT button and restart the device. You can check the result by typing the standard code *#06#. If the number has changed, the procedure is successful. However, on modern versions of MIUI (starting with version 11-12), access to the entry to this section through the engineering menu is often closed software, even if root permissions are available.

Use of Xposed Framework and Modules

A more versatile but difficult to install method is the use of the Xposed framework (or its modern version of LSPosed), which allows you to enter the processes of system applications and change their behavior on the fly. For Xiaomi, there are modules such as IMEI Changer or XPrivacyLua that can replace the identifier transmitted to applications, or, in rare cases, change it at the system level.

The installation process is as follows: first install the framework itself through the Magisk Manager (Zygisk module). Then the desired plugin for working with IMEI is downloaded and activated in the module repository. After activation and reboot, the desired IMEI is prescribed in the module settings. The advantage of the method is that it does not affect the NVRAM system partition directly, which reduces the risk of “bricking” the modem, but the changes can be unstable after resetting.

Importantly, many Xiaomi apps and services have learned to detect Xposed and block the device or specific features when it is detected.You may need to use concealment modules (such as Hide My Applist) to keep the system from seeing interference, making the process a constant cat-and-mouse game with security updates.

Change IMEI through ADB and console commands

For advanced users who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method of direct editing configuration files via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires that the phone be connected to the PC in debugging mode. First you need to get a list of all partitions and find the one that is responsible for storing IDs. On different Xiaomi models, it can be called differently: persist, misc or modem.

The commands are entered in the terminal on the computer after the smartphone is connected.

adb shell


su




echo"AT+EGMR=1,7,\"123456789012345\"" > /dev/pttycmd0

However, direct writing to devices (/dev/...) on new Linux kernels used in Android 11/12/13/14 is blocked by SELinux policies. Even with root rights, you can get a denial of access (Permission denied). In such cases, enthusiasts use utilities like Chameleono (for older devices) or specialized scripts that are patched by the libril.so system libraries responsible for the operation of the radio interface.

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Use only the originals. USB-Cheap cables may not provide a steady current, which will cause the phone to shut down when critical data is stored in memory, which is fatal for the system.

Professional Methods and Programmers

The most reliable but expensive way to change IMEI to Xiaomi is to use professional hardware called boxes (e.g. Octoplus, Chimera, UnlockTool) that connect to a smartphone in a special mode (EDL or Preloader) and have direct rights to write to protected memory areas, bypassing the operating system’s software protections, a method often used in service centers to recover phones from failed firmware.

Using such software requires subscriptions and certain hardware skills. Often it takes disassembling the phone and closing certain contacts on the board (Test Point) to put Xiaomi in deep diagnostic mode. This eliminates the possibility of accidental software error, but requires physical disassembly of the device, which again affects moisture protection and appearance.

⚠️ Note: Using paid programmers on devices with a locked bootloader may require prior authorization through your Mi Account. Make sure you know the password from the Mi Account tied to the device, otherwise the phone may be locked forever.

If you are not a specialist in mobile repair, this method is better left to professionals. the cost of the service is often lower than buying a software license and the risk of spoiling the expensive flagship Xiaomi with their inept actions» IMEI, This reduces the likelihood of being blacklisted by operators.

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Professional boxes are the only way to guarantee a change in IMEI on modern Xiaomi smartphones with Snapdragon processors and a closed bootloader, but it requires disassembly of the device and special knowledge.

Restoring the factory IMEI

If you experimented with your IMEI to 000000000000000 or null, your phone would lose the ability to make calls. Recovery is only possible if you backed up the EFS or Persist partition in advance. Without a backup, it is almost impossible to restore your unique factory number, since it is not stored in the Xiaomi cloud in an open form.

The recovery process involves writing back the saved image file to the appropriate partition of memory, and this is done via the fastboot or recovery console. The command looks something like this: fastboot flash persist.img, where persist.img is your saved file. After this operation, you need to perform a full reset (Wipe Data) so that the system re-initializes the modem with the recovered data.

In cases where there is no backup, the only legal way is to contact the official Xiaomi service center with documents confirming the purchase. Engineers can reflash the device on the factory equipment, returning the original ID from the manufacturer's internal database. This is long and can be paid, but this is the only way to return the phone to full functionality without the risk of using "gray" methods.