How to know the activation date of Xiaomi phone: from settings to hidden commands

The first activation date of a Xiaomi smartphone is often required when you buy a used device, for warranty service or authentication. This information helps to detect fraud (for example, if the seller hides the real age of the phone), confirm the right to warranty repair or simply satisfy curiosity. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not display this date on the home screen, but it can be found in several ways, from standard MIUI menus to engineering commands.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods, from simple (via phone settings) to advanced (using ADB and service codes), pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12-14) and models – from budget Redmi Note to flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

1. Check through phone settings (the fastest way)

The most affordable method is to look up the date in the About Phone menu, which works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 10 and later, but has a limitation: it does not show the exact date of activation, but the date of the first binding of the Mi Account. If the phone was sold without a link or the account was deleted, the data may not be available.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone.
• 🔍 Scroll down to the "All characteristics" block".
• 📅 Find the Date of First Activation or First Attachment of Mi Account.
• 📌 If there is no string, go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Security → Devices and check the date of connection of the current device.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for the European market) this option may not be available, in which case use alternative methods in the following sections.

2.Use of IMEI: Verification through official services

Each Xiaomi phone is assigned a unique IMEI, which allows you to know the date of production and first activation through the manufacturer’s services, which is more accurate than the phone’s settings, but requires access to the Internet.

Steps:

1. Find out. IMEI your phone: 📞 Type *#06# and a window with a 15-digit code will appear. 📄 Or look at the box/under the battery (for models with removable lids).

Xiaomi Verify

Enter IMEI and CAPTCHA, and the system will show the date of production and first activation (unless the phone is fake).

⚠️ Note: If the service shows a production date rather than activation, add 1-3 months (logistics and sales time) to it, for example, the phone was released in January 2023, but activated by the buyer in March.

Make sure the IMEI is not changed (check the box match)

Use official services, not questionable sites

If you have a phone with two SIMs, check both IMEIs.

Take a picture of the results for warranty disputes-->

3. Engineering menu and hidden commands (for advanced)

Xiaomi has a hidden engineering menu that stores service information, including the date of the first system boot, a method that requires caution — wrong actions can disrupt the phone.

Instructions for MIUI 12-14:

1. Open the Phone app and dial ##4636## (for some models, ##284### works).
2. Choose Phone Information or Usage Statistics.
3. Scroll down to the First Boot Time block, which is the date of the first activation.

Important: Some models (e.g. POCO F5) have the engineering menu blocked, so use the ADB method (Section 4).

4.Apply through ADB (for technically savvy)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to access system logs, which store information about the first download, a method that is universal, but requires a computer and basic command-line skills.

Step-by-step:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and run the command line in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter the commands in order: adb devices adb shell su cat /proc/uptime (if su does not work, root rights are required).
5. To view the first download logs, use: adb shell dumpsys package | grep firstInstallTime The result will be in timestamp format (convert it via epochconverter.com).

💡 If you don’t have root, try an alternative command:

adb shell content query --uri content://settings/global --where "name='device_provisioned_time'"

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If ADB doesn’t see the device, check the drivers (download Mi PC Suite>) and restart the phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when turned on).

5. Check through Mi Cloud account (if phone is tied)

If a Xiaomi account was linked to a phone, the first activation date can be found via the Mi Cloud web version, which works even remotely (for example, if the phone is stolen or lost).

How to check:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Device tab or Find Device.
3. Click on your phone model and the card with the date of the first connection will open.
4. If the device is untied, check the Activity Log section (available 30 days).

⚠️ Note: If the seller of the phone dropped it through Fastboot, the data in the Mi Cloud may disappear. IMEI or ADB.

Alternative methods: checks, box, warranty card

If digital methods don’t help, check the physical documents:

• 📦 Box: On the sticker with IMEI Sometimes the date of production (format) is specified. YY/MM).
• 📄 Warranty Card: The date of sale usually coincides with the date of activation (if the phone is new).
• 🏷️ Check: In the Xiaomi Store or official partners check contains the date of sale.
• 🔧 Service center: When contacting an authorized SC (for example, Mi Service) can provide a serial number statement.

📌 Important: On used phones, the date on the box may not match the actual activation date (for example, if the device was in stock.

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The most reliable method is the combination of IMEI + ADB. If both methods show the same date, it can be considered reliable.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi activation date