How to see the firmware version on Android: all methods for any smartphone

The firmware version on Android is not just a set of numbers, but the key to understanding the capabilities of your smartphone. It determines what features are available on the device, what applications will work correctly, and even how secure your personal information is. For example, outdated firmware may contain vulnerabilities that hackers use to steal data, and latest updates often bring performance improvements and new interface features.

But how to find out which one Is the firmware installed on your phone? There are several ways - from standard settings to hidden engineering menus. In this article we will look at all current methods for devices Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, Realme, Oppo and other brands, including those cases when the phone does not turn on or is locked. You will also learn what to do if the firmware version is not displayed, and how to check its authenticity before installing custom (unofficial) assemblies.

Important: some manufacturers (for example, Huawei or Google Pixel) may use their own designations for software versions. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will work on 99% of devices.

1. Standard method: through Android settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in settings of your smartphone. It works on all devices, regardless of Android brand and version. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the application Settings (gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Scroll down and select section About phone (on some devices it may called Information about phone or About device).
3. Find item Android version —the current version of the operating system will be indicated here (for example, Android 14).
4. To see full information about the firmware, tap several times on the item Build number (or MIUI version on Xiaomi, One UI on Samsung). After several clicks, the developer menu will open (if it is not already activated) or extended information will appear.

On devices Samsung Galaxy the path may be slightly different:

• 📱 Settings → Device maintenance → Phone information → Software version
• 🔧 Here you will see One UI version (for example, One UI 6.1) and Build number (for example, AP12.230515.003).

On Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO look for:

• 📱 Settings → About phone → MIUI version (for example, MIUI 14.0.5).
• 🔧 Below will be Android version i Number assembly (for example, V14.0.5.0.TMCRUXM).

⚠️ Attention: On some devices Huawei and Honor after updating to EMUI 12+ or Magic UI information about the firmware may be hidden behind additional tabs. If you do not find the item you need, check. section System update.

2. Using the engineering menu and USSD codes

If the standard settings do not provide complete information (for example, on some Meizu or Nokia), you can use hidden codes. These commands work on most devices, but may differ depending on the manufacturer.

The most universal codes for checking the firmware:

• 📞 ##4636## - will open the menu Testing, where in the section Information about the phone The firmware version, device model and other technical data will be indicated.
• 📱 #0000# or #9999# —works on some Samsung i LG, shows the software version and date of assembly.
• 🔧 ##7780## —reset settings to factory settings (not to be confused with a full reset!), but before that it will show the current firmware version.

For devices Qualcomm (most smartphones with Snapdragon) suitable code:

##225##

It will open the calibration menu, where in the section Software info the version radio firmware (of the modem part) will be indicated, which is useful for diagnosing problems with the network.

⚠️ Attention: Do not enter codes that promise to “unlock hidden features” or “increase performance” - this may lead to lost warranty or locking the deviceUse only verified commands from official sources.

What to do if the code does not work?

If nothing happens after entering the code, try:

- Remove spaces and symbols (sometimes the code is entered without asterisks and hash marks).

- Use an application to dial codes (for example, Secret Codes from Google Play).

- Check if access to the engineering menu is blocked by the manufacturer (relevant for some Chinese brands).

3. Checking the firmware via a computer (ADB and Fastboot)

If the phone is not turns on or the touchscreen does not work, but the device is detected by the computer, you can find out the firmware version via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or Fastboot. This method requires minimal technical skills.

What you will need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed drivers. for your smartphone.
• 🔌 USB cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utilities ADB i Fastboot (can be downloaded as part of Platform Tools from Google).

Instructions for ADB (if the phone turns on, but the screen does not work):

1. Connect the phone to the PC and turn it on USB debugging (if the screen works, activate it in Settings → For developers).
2. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command:

   adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release

   It will show the Android version.

4. For complete information about firmware, use:

   adb shell getprop ro.build.display.id

   This will display a line like RP1A.200720.012 —build number.

If the phone does not turn on, but boots into mode Fastboot:

1. Hold the button Power + Volume Down (the combination can differ).
2. Connect the device to the PC and enter the command:

   fastboot getvar all

3. In the output, find the lines version-bootloader i version-baseband —this is data about the bootloader firmware and modem.

⚠️ Attention: Commands Fastboot may irreversibly damage the dataif entered incorrectly. Do not use commands like fastboot erase or fastboot flash without fully understanding the consequences.

4. Third-party applications for checking the firmware

If you need more than just the version firmware, but also additional information (for example, build date, kernel version or processor type), you can use specialized applications. They are convenient because they show data in a structured form and often offer to compare your firmware with the latest updates.

Top 5 applications for checking firmware:

Application	What it shows	Link	Features
CPU-Z	Android version, build number, processor model, RAM information	Google Play	Supports all brands, no ads
AIDA64	Full information about the firmware, including build date and bootloader version	Google Play	Paid version reveals more data
DevCheck	OS version, build number, root access information	Google Play	Minimalistic interface, no unnecessary functions
Phone INFO ★Samsung★	Specialized for Samsung, shows the version One UI and Knox	Google Play	Works only on devices Samsung
Droid Hardware Info	Firmware version, hardware information, processor temperature	Google Play	Supports exporting data to a file

Example of displaying data in CPU-Z:

• 📱 Tab "System": Android version, build number, compilation date.
• 🔧 The "Device" tab: device model, manufacturer, bootloader version.

The advantage of such applications is that they often show hidden parametersthat are not displayed in the standard settings. For example, you can find out whether custom firmware is installed on your phone (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), even if outwardly it looks like a standard one.

5. How to find the firmware if the phone does not turn on

The situation when the smartphone does not respond to the power button, but you urgently need to find out the firmware version, is less common, but can also be solved. Here's what you can do:

Method 1: Look on the box or in the documents

• 📦 The original box often indicates the Android version at the time of sale (for example, "Android 12").
• 📄 The warranty card or receipt may indicate the model and version Software.

Method 2: Use Recovery mode

1. Turn off the phone (if it is frozen, hold down the power button for 10+ seconds).
2. Press the button combination to enter Recovery:
   • 📱 Samsung: Power + Volume up + Bixby
   • 📱 Xiaomi: Power + Volume up
   • 📱 Google Pixel: Power + Volume down

In the menu Recovery find item Apply update from ADB or View recovery logs —the firmware version can be displayed here.

Method 3: Connect to PC in bootloader mode

If the phone is detected by the computer in mode Fastboot (when connecting USB the charging indicator is on), use the command:

fastboot getvar version-bootloader

This will show the version bootloader, which often matches the firmware version.

⚠️ Attention: If the phone does not turn on after an unsuccessful update, do not try to flash it yourself without experience. Contact a service center - incorrect actions can lead to total loss of data or "bricking" the device.

6. Verifying the authenticity of the firmware (for custom assemblies)

If you have installed unofficial firmware (for example, LineageOS, Resurrection Remix or Pixel Experience), it is important to make sure that it installed correctly does not contain malicious code. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Check via TWRP Recovery

• 🔧 Go to TWRP (press Power + Volume Up when turning on).
• 📝 Go to Mount → System and check the files in the folder /system/build.prop —firmware data is stored here.

Step 2: Using hash sums

Download the official firmware image from the developer's website (for example, LineageOS) and compare its hash sum (MD5 or SHA-256) with what is indicated on the site. To do this:

1. Download the firmware file (.zip).
2. Use a utility like 7-Zip or HashMyFilesto get the hash.
3. Compare it with the official value.

Step 3: Checking for viruses

Before installing custom firmware, check the file via VirusTotal or Kaspersky VirusDeskEven popular builds may contain backdoors.

Signs that the firmware may be damaged. fake:

• ⚠️ Mismatch between Android version and build date (for example, Android 13 with date 2020).
• ⚠️ Lack of information about the developer in Settings → About phone.
• ⚠️ Requests for unusual permissions (for example, access to SMS or calls) from system applications.

7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When checking the firmware version, users often encounter typical problems. Here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

Error 1: The build number is not displayed

• 🔍 Reason: The manufacturer has hidden the information (relevant for some Chinese brands).
• 🛠️ Solution: Use the application AIDA64 or code ##4636##.

Error 2: Codes do not work

• 🔍 Reason: Manufacturer blocked engineering menu (for example, on Huawei after sanctions).
• 🛠️ Solution: Try entering the code without * and # or use applications for hidden menus.

Error 3: ADB does not see the device

• 🔍 Cause: Drivers are not installed or USB debugging is disabled.
• 🛠️ Solution:
  1. Install drivers from the manufacturer's website.
  2. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
  3. Try another USB cable (preferably original).

Error 4: The phone froze after checking the firmware

• 🔍 Cause: Conflict with the engineering menu or application.
• 🛠️ Solution: Press the power button for 10+ seconds to force a reboot.

If none of the methods worked, perhaps your device modified firmware, which blocks access to system information. In this case, only flashing through Fastboot or ODIN (for Samsung).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

🔹 How to find out what firmware is on the phone if it is locked?

If the screen is locked, but the phone turns on, use recovery mode (Recovery) or connect device to the PC and check via ADB (command adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release). If the phone is completely locked (for example, after resetting and asking for a Google account), contact the service center - independent intervention may lead to data loss.

🔹 What is the difference between the Android version and the Android version? firmware?

Android version (for example, Android 14) is the version of the operating system from Google. Firmware version (for example, MIUI 14.0.5.0.TMCRUXM) is the assembly released by the manufacturer (includes Android + its own modifications). The firmware can be updated more often than the Android version.

🔹 Is it possible to roll back the firmware to an older version?

Technically yes, but it is risky:

• 📉 On most devices, this will reset all data.
• 🔒 Protection Anti-Rollback may work (for example, on Huawei or Xiaomi), and the phone will be blocked.
• ⚠️ The warranty will be void.

If you need to rollback, look for official instructions for your model on forums like XDA Developers.

🔹 Why doesn't my firmware update automatically?

There are several reasons:

• 🔌 There is no Internet connection or there is not enough space on the device.
• 📵 The manufacturer has stopped supporting your model (relevant for devices older than 3-4 years).
• 🔒 Custom firmware is installed that blocks OTA updates.
• 📡 Regional restrictions (for example, firmware for Europe is not updated in Russia).

Check the update settings in Settings → System → Software update.

🔹 How to check if the firmware is original on phone?

Signs of original firmware:

• ✅ In Settings → About phone the official build number is indicated (for example, for Samsung this is a line like G975FXXU7FUE1).
• ✅ There are no warnings about bootloader modification when turned on.
• ✅ All system applications (for example, Google Play Services) are updated via the Play Market.

For For an accurate check, use the application Phone INFO (for Samsung) or compare the hash sum of the firmware with the official one.