How to find the Android version on a Redmi phone

Owners smartphones from a sub-brand Xiaomi are often faced with the need to clarify the exact version of the operating system. This is required not only out of curiosity, but also to install specific applications that have strict API requirements, or before the bootloader unlocking procedure. The interface MIUI or new HyperOS visually hides the “naked” Android, giving the user the feeling of a unique system, although under the hood there is a standard Google platform.

Understanding which build is installed on your device is critical when diagnosing errors. Some bugs are specific only to specific firmware versions, and knowing the exact build number speeds up the search for a solution on the forums. In addition, when reselling a device, an honest indication of the software version increases the buyer’s confidence and speeds up the transaction.

There are several methods for obtaining this information: from simply looking in the settings to using hidden engineering menus and third-party utilities. In this article, we will look at all the available methods, including those that work even on locked or partially faulty devices. We will also look at how to distinguish the real version of the kernel from marketing labels in the interface.

Standard method through the settings menu

The most obvious and safest way is to use the standard system interface. However, the path to the treasured numbers may differ depending on which shell is installed: the old MIUI 12-13 or the new HyperOS. In most cases, the information is located in the About phonesection, but the depth of menu nesting is sometimes changed by developers.

First, unlock the screen and find the gear icon. Go to the very bottom of the list and select About phone. Here you will see a large inscription with the MIUI or HyperOS version. To see the Android version, you need to click on this inscription several times or find a separate line below. In new firmware versions, information is often hidden under the item MIUI version, which needs to be clicked 3-5 times in a row.

After a series of clicks, a pop-up window will open or the display of the item will change, where the build number and Android version. Please note that on some Redmi models with global firmware this path may look like Settings → About phone → All characteristics → Android version. Do not ignore small inscriptions in gray, technical information is often hidden there.

• 📱 Open Settings and scroll down to the section About phone.
• 👆 Find the item MIUI Version or HyperOS version and click on it repeatedly.
• ℹ️ Look for the line Android version in the list of characteristics that appears.

⚠️ Attention: On some Chinese firmware versions (CN ROM), the menu may be completely on Chinese language. In this case, look for the hieroglyphs corresponding to the “About the device” section, usually this is the second or third item in the main settings menu.

Using the CIT engineering menu

If the standard menu is unavailable or the device is frozen at the boot stage, you can use the CIT (Customer Integration Test) service mode. This is a hidden diagnostic section pre-installed on all Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones. It is accessed through a special code in the “Phone” application.

Open the calling application and dial the combination ##6484##. The system will automatically recognize the code and switch you to the testing menu without having to press the call button. In the list that opens, you need to find the item associated with the software version. It is usually called Version Information or Software Version and is located at the very top of the list or in the section Common Tests.

Inside this section, detailed information about the build is displayed, including the model number, base Android version, Linux kernel version and firmware compilation date. This method is reliable in that it works at the level of system applications and is less susceptible to changes from the visual shell. Even if the MIUI interface is damaged, CIT often remains accessible.

It is worth noting that on some new models with MediaTek processors or latest security versions, access to the full engineering menu may be limited. In this case, the code may not work or may open a stripped-down version of the menu. This is normal practice to protect user data and prevent accidental changes to critical parameters.

What to do if the code does not work?

If the combination ##6484## does not work, try an alternative code ##4636##. It opens the Android testing menu, where you can also find the software version in the Phone Information section, although the data there may be less detailed than in CIT.

Analyzing the build.prop file through a file manager

For advanced users who need absolute accuracy, there is a method for reading the system configuration file. The file build.prop contains comprehensive information about the operating system build, including the Android version, pixel density and firmware region. To access it, you will need superuser rights (Root) or specific debugging settings. Without root access, you can try to find this file through some file managers with access to system partitions, for example, through the mode

Without root access, you can try to find this file through some file managers with access to system partitions, for example, through the MTK Settings on MediaTek processors, but most often the partition is closed for reading. If you have Root access through Magisk, use a root-enabled file manager, go to path /system closed for reading. If you have Root access via Magisk, use a root-enabled file manager, follow the path /system/build.prop and open the file as text.

Inside the file, look for the line ro.build.version.release. The value after the equal sign is your Android version. Also useful is the line ro.build.version.incremental, which indicates the exact build number. This method eliminates any possibility of visual deception by the shell, since you are reading the original system data.

ro.build.version.release=13
ro.build.version.incremental=OS1.0.2.0.UMNMIXM
ro.product.model=2201116SG

Parameter in build.prop	Description of value	Example data
ro.build.version.release	Android version	11, 12, 13, 14
ro.build.version.incremental	Build number firmware	V14.0.3.0.TKGMIXM
ro.product.device	Device code name	diting, mondrian, fuxi
ro.build.date.utc	Build date (Unix timestamp)	1678900000

⚠️ Attention: Do not edit or save the build.prop file unless absolutely necessary. Any change in syntax or deletion of key lines may cause the phone to stop booting (bootloop).

Use of third-party utilities and ADB

If the built-in tools seem insufficiently informative, applications from the Google Play Store come to the rescue. Utilities like CPU-Z, AIDA64 or Device Info HW read data directly from the system kernel. They show not only the Android version, but also the processor temperature, core frequency and sensor status.

Install the selected application, give it the necessary permissions and go to the System or Devicetab. It will clearly indicate the Android version and security patch level. The advantage of such apps is that they aggregate information in a convenient form and often indicate whether the current firmware version is relevant for a given model.

For PC users, there is a connection method via USB debugging (ADB). Connect your phone to your computer, enable debugging mode in Settings → For Developers and run the command in the terminal. This method is ideal if the phone screen is broken, but the system is working and you can blindly enable debugging or if it has already been activated previously.

adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release

Determinating the version by build number and model code

Sometimes it is necessary to understand what version of Android should be on the device theoretically, based on its model. The MIUI/HyperOS build number has a strict structure, which can be deciphered to determine the region and base platform. This is useful when buying a used device to check whether the phone will be updated to a global version with Chinese hardware.

The firmware version line looks something like this: V14.0.3.0.TKGMIXM. The last part of the line (before the last letters) indicates the region. For example, MI means the global version (Global), CN - China, RU - Russia, EU - Europe. Knowing the region, you can go to the official Xiaomi website, find your model and see what version of Android is declared for this update branch.

Device model code (for example, 2201116SG) also helps identify hardware. The letter at the end of the model code often indicates the region of sale. By comparing the model code with the GSMArena database or official catalog, you will find out the factory specifications. If a phone coded for China has global firmware installed, the Android version may not match the one expected for that region. data-i="122">— Europe (European version).

• 🌍 MI — Global (International version).
• 🇨🇳 CN — China (Chinese version).
• 🇷🇺 RU — Russia (Russian version).
• 🇪🇺 EU — Europe (European version).

Frequent questions and problems determining the version

Users often encounter confusion between the shell version and the kernel version systems. Xiaomi developers sometimes leave the old version of Android in the menu until a major update is released, or change the build number without changing the kernel version. It is important to understand the difference between API Level and the visual version.

There is also the problem of “fake” firmware on homemade devices or replicas. The settings menu may say Android 13, while inside there is old Android 8 with a modified config. Checking through AIDA64 or viewing installed applications (the presence of the correct version of Google Play services) helps to identify a fake.

Another nuance is beta versions of firmware. If you are participating in a testing app, your Android version may be higher than stable but may not be stable. The menu usually has a mark Beta or Internal. In such cases, standard verification methods work, but the build number will contain non-standard indexes.

Why does the Android version in the settings not match the data in the applications?

This may happen because some applications read data from a file build.propthat has been modified by the user or the firmware (for example, through Magisk Hide Props Config). It is also possible that the MIUI shell update was successful, but the system section with version information was not updated correctly (caching bug).

Is it possible to update Android on Redmi if the settings say that the version is current?

Officially - no, if Xiaomi servers do not send out an update for your region and model. However, you can manually install newer firmware through Recovery mode (update.zip file) by downloading it from the official website. This will allow you to get a new version of Android before the official release over the air (OTA).

Does changing the region in the settings affect the display of the Android version?

No, changing the region in the menu Settings → Advanced settings → Region affects only the content (news, recommendations, the operation of some services), but does not change the system version of the software. However, changing the region may unblock receiving OTA updates intended for another market.

How can I find out the exact installation date of the current version of Android?

This information is rarely displayed in the standard menu. Most accurately, the installation date can be found through battery usage statistics (if the system has not been reset) or through ADB commands: adb shell dumpsys package | grep "last update time" for system packages, or by analyzing the date of modification of system files through Root access.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI and HyperOS interfaces are constantly updated. The location of menu items may vary slightly depending on the specific firmware version and system language. If you do not find the specified item, use the search in the settings (magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen).

Hidden information about the kernel

In the “About phone” menu, when you repeatedly click on “Kernel version” (if the item is available), you can see detailed information about the compiler and configuration of the Linux kernel on which your Android is based.