How to prescribe IMEI on Xiaomi: recovery methods

The situation when on the screen of the smartphone appears the inscription “Valid” IMEI» Or the device will stop seeing. SIM-This is a common problem for Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco users who have experimented with superuser rights or tried to install custom firmware. Loss of the unique identifier means that the phone will not be able to register with the operator’s network, making the call and mobile Internet function unavailable.

IMEI recovery is the process of writing digital code to a special partition of the device's memory called NVRAM. Without this code, the smartphone actually turns into a portable media player, without communication. It is important to understand that the procedure requires care, since incorrect actions can lead to complete inoperability of the communication module.

Before you start taking action, you need to make sure you have a factory backup or the original EFS partition backup. If you have never backed up critical partitions, the task becomes more complicated, but in most cases, with devices based on Qualcomm and MediaTek processors, the solution still exists.

Causes of IMEI loss and diagnosis of the problem

The main reason for the disappearance of the ID is interference with system files at the root-right level. Users often get administrator rights to remove ads or install specific modifications, but when you flash or reset settings, the NVRAM partition can be erased or damaged.

There are several ways to diagnose the problem, and the easiest way to do this is to type *#06# into the ringer. If the screen shows zeros, scrolls, or an error message, the data is lost. A deeper check can be done through an engineering menu or through special applications that read information directly from the chip.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone stopped seeing the network after updating the official firmware without obtaining root rights, perhaps the problem lies in the modem hardware damage, not in the software failure.

It is worth noting that on modern versions of Android and the MIUI shell, access to memory partitions is strictly controlled, and the security system can block writing to protected areas if the device bootloader is unlocked, but does not re-flash with all data cleared.

Preparing for recovery: tools and drivers

To do this successfully, you’ll need a Windows computer. macOS or Linux operating systems will require complex emulation or Wine, which can lead to unstable utilities. The first step is to install the right drivers that will allow the PC to “see” the phone in boot mode.

You will need the following components:

• 📦 Qualcomm drivers USB Driver (for Snapdragon processors) or MTK VCOM Drivers (for MediaTek).
• 🔧 Utilities for working with firmware: QPST, QFIL or SP Flash Tool Depending on Platform.
• 📱 Original. USB-cable capable of transmitting data, not just charging the device.
• 💾 Backup of the file persist.img or backup section EFS (if).

Installation of drivers is often difficult, as Windows can block them due to the lack of digital signature, in which case you need to temporarily disable the driver signature verification when you boot the operating system. Without this step, the computer simply does not recognize the smartphone in QDLoader 9008 mode.

Method 1: Use of engineering menus (only for older models)

On devices released a few years ago and running older versions of Android, an easy way to recover through an engineering menu was often available.This method does not require a computer connection, but its functionality is severely limited in new Xiaomi models.

To enter the menu, you use the code ##3646633## or ##4636##. If the menu is opened, you must go to the Connectivity or CDS Information tab. There is the Radio Information section where you can manually write IMEI with the command AT+EGMR=1.7, "your IMEI".

However, on modern smartphones, this input is often blocked by the manufacturer. Attempting to enter commands may not work or require root rights and special application terminals for emulating input. AT-If the menu doesn't open or the commands don't save, move on to more powerful tools.

Method 2: Recovery through QPST and QFIL (Qualcomm)

This is the most efficient way for Snapdragon-based devices. QPST (Qualcomm Product Support Tools) allows you to interact with low-level partitions of the phone. To get started, the phone needs to be switched to 9008 (Emergency Download Mode), often by a combination of volume buttons and cable connectivity, either through the adb reboot edl command.

Once you connect your device in QDLoader 9008 mode, new hardware should appear in Windows Device Manager. Launch QPST Configuration, add a new port, and go to Start Clients → Software Download. Here, it's important to select the Restore QCN option if you have a backup file. The.qcn file contains all calibration data, including IMEI.

If there's no backup, it's more complicated. You can try to use Write IMEI in some versions of the software by entering code from the back of the device. However, just entering numbers is not enough, you need to match the checksum.

⚠️ Note: Use of Other People's Files QCN, downloaded from the Internet, can lead to the fact that your phone will be “glow” in the networks of operators strangers IMEI, which will result in the blocking of the device at the request of the operator.

Method 3: Work with the Persist section via Fastboot

The persist partition contains key data for sensors and the communication module, and its damage often leads to the loss of IMEI. If you have an unlocked bootloader, you can try to restore this partition through the command line of the PC.

First, download the original firmware for your exact smartphone model. Remove the file persist.img. Connect the phone in Fastboot mode. Open the command line in the ADB tool folder and type in the command:

fastboot flash persist persist.img

Once you have successfully recorded, reboot fastboot reboot. This method is effective if the persist.img file in the firmware contains template data that the system can properly initialize, although restoring your unique IMEI in this way is only possible if the firmware is taken from the same device.

There is also a method of using the MIUI IMEI Repair Tool (found in modified software), which automates the recording process, but trusting third-party sofa is only from trusted sources, as the risk of malicious code implementation remains high.

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Always check the checksum of the downloaded file persist.img, if you take it from the official firmware. version mismatch can lead to a bootloop (cyclic reboot).

Alternative solutions and service centers

If the software methods don't work, it's possible that the problem is hardware-based or requires specialized boxing (like UnlockTool or Chimera) used by service centers, which are paid tools that require a license key, so it's not advisable to buy them for one-time use.

In some cases, a complete reset of the re-activated device helps. Go to Settings → The phone. → Status SIM-Check if the card is “floating” IMEI. If the numbers change with each reboot, there is a serious software conflict.

For owners of new models with MediaTek processors (Helio, Dimensity), the method of editing configuration files in the root directory sometimes works, but this requires root rights and a file manager with access to system folders, for example, Root Explorer or MT Manager.

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The most reliable way to restore the IMEI is to have your own backup of the EFS/NVRAM partition, made before root rights or reflashing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)