How to find the Android version on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones

Owners of branded smartphones Xiaomi are often faced with the need to accurately determine the software installed on their device. This may be necessary when trying to install a specific application that requires a specific environment, or before deciding to update the firmware. The interface MIUI and the new HyperOS sometimes hide this information behind several levels of menus, which causes difficulties for inexperienced users.

Understanding which version of the operating system Android runs on your gadget is critical for software compatibility. Game and utility developers often specify minimum requirements, which, if ignored, will result in installation errors. In this article we will analyze in detail all available methods for obtaining this information, from simple clicks on the screen to the use of engineering codes.

Regardless of whether you own a flagship series Mi, budget Redmi or gaming POCO, the principles of obtaining data remain similar, although the menu paths may differ slightly. We will look at both standard shell tools and hidden features available through special modes.

Checking through the standard settings menu

The most obvious and safest way to find out the current software version is to use the built-in settings interface. Smartphone manufacturers are required to provide this information to the user, but in the shell MIUI it is often hidden deeper than in “pure” Android. You will not need additional apps or superuser rights to perform this procedure.

First, you need to go to the main menu Settings of your device. Depending on the firmware version, the item with information about the system may be at the very bottom of the list or placed in a separate section called About phone. In new versions HyperOS the menu structure has been redesigned, so you need to search carefully.

After entering the section About phone you will see the shell version logo (for example, MIUI 14 or HyperOS 1.0). To see exactly the kernel version Android, you need to click on this logo or on the line with the MIUI version number several times in a row. Typically, 3 to 5 quick presses are required.

• 📱 Open the application Settings on the home screen.
• ℹ️ Scroll down the list and select item About phone.
• 🖱️ Find the line MIUI version or system logo.
• 🔄 Quickly click on this element 5-7 times until a pop-up appears window.

After a series of clicks, an animation will appear on the screen, and a line will be displayed under the main information Android version with the corresponding digital designation (for example, 12, 13 or 14). This method works on the vast majority of brand devices, including older series models Redmi Note and new flagships.

⚠️ Attention: On some custom firmware builds, the “About phone” menu can be changed by enthusiasts. If the animation does not appear after 10 clicks, try rebooting the device and repeating the procedure.

Using the engineering menu and secret codes

For more advanced users or in situations where the system interface is damaged, there are special USSD codes. They allow you to enter a hidden engineering menu, where technical information about hardware and software is displayed. This method is considered more reliable, since it accesses system databases directly.

To use this method, open the standard application Phonethrough which you make calls. Go to the dialing tab and enter a special combination of characters. For devices Xiaomi the most universal code is ##6484##, which opens the hardware testing menu (CIT).

In the testing menu that opens, you need to find the item responsible for the software version or system information. It is often called Version or Software version. By clicking on it, you will receive a detailed list, where, among other things, Android Versionwill be indicated. This method is especially useful if the touch screen does not work correctly and it is difficult to navigate through the usual settings.

##6484##
##4636##
*#06#

Another useful code is ##4636##. It opens the testing menu, where you can select Information about the phone. Not only network information is displayed here, but also the operating system version. Please note that on some global firmware versions these codes may be blocked by the manufacturer for security reasons.

What to do if the codes do not work?

If entering the code does not lead to any action, then your firmware version blocks access to the engineering menu through dialing. In this case, try installing the "Activity Launcher" application from Google Play, find the "CIT" or "Testing" activity through it and launch it manually. This is a similar way to enter the same menu.

Viewing information through the "For Developers" menu

If standard methods are not available for some reason or you want to get a more detailed technical summary, you can use the menu For developers. This section is hidden by default, but it only takes a few seconds to activate it. It provides access to many debugging functions and detailed system information.

To activate this mode, return to the section About phonethat we talked about in the first section. Find the line MIUI version and click on it quickly and repeatedly (about 7-10 times). The system will notify you with a pop-up message: “You have become a developer!” After this, a new item will appear in the main settings.

Go to Additional → For developers. Scroll down the list to the section related to debugging or monitoring. In some versions MIUI the Android version is duplicated at the very top of this menu or in the item Device information. Here you can also see the security build number and patch date.

• 🔓 Go to Settings → About phone.
• 👆 Tap on MIUI versionuntil you see the inscription “You have become a developer.”
• ⚙️ Go back and go to Additional → For Developers.
• 📄 Look for information about the OS version in the top menu lines.

Using this section gives you more control over the device, but requires caution. Changing settings within the developer menu without understanding their purpose can lead to system instability. However, simply viewing version information Android is completely safe.

Comparison of Android versions and MIUI / HyperOS shells

It is important to understand the difference between the kernel version Android and the user shell version MIUI or HyperOS. Users often confuse these concepts, believing that updating MIUI automatically means switching to a new Android. This is not always the case: a manufacturer can release several interface updates based on the same kernel version.

The shell MIUI (and its successor HyperOS) is an add-on to Android that changes the visual style, adds functions and changes the operating logic. The Android version is the foundation on which all this is built. It is the foundation version that determines compatibility with applications from Google Play, while the shell version affects usability.

Device model	Shell version	Basic Android version	Support status
Xiaomi 13 Pro	HyperOS 1.0	Android 14	Current
Redmi Note 12	MIUI 14	Android 13	Support
POCO X3 Pro	MIUI 13	Android 12	Limited
Xiaomi Mi 9	MIUI 12.5	Android 11	Completed

As can be seen from the table, different models may have similar shell version numbers, but run on completely different versions Android. When looking for solutions to problems or instructions for installing mods, always check the kernel version, since the firmware files are strictly tied to it.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI version numbers (for example, 12, 13, 14) do not directly correspond to Android version numbers. MIUI 13 could run on both Android 11 and Android 12, depending on the phone model.

Determination of the version via a computer and ADB

For the most demanding users and repair specialists, there is a method of checking through a connection to a personal computer. Using the debug bridge ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to get the most accurate information that is not always visible in the user interface. This method is indispensable if the phone screen is broken or the system is stuck in the bootloader.

First you need to enable USB debugging in the menu For developerswhich we mentioned earlier. Then connect your smartphone to your PC using a quality cable. The platform tools package must be installed on the computer Android SDK Platform-Tools.

Open a command line or terminal in the ADB tools folder and enter the command to get system properties. The command will display a huge list of parameters, among which you need to find the line ro.build.version.release. It will indicate the exact digital version Android.

adb shell getprop | grep version

This method also allows you to find out the exact build number (ro.build.display.id), which is useful when diagnosing problems with the update. If the phone is detected by the computer, but the screen does not work, you can find out the software version blindly by simply analyzing the output of the command in the terminal.

Frequent problems and questions when determining the version

Often users are faced with a situation where the specified version does not match the expected one after an update. This may be due to the fact that the update came in stages: first the security version changed, but the kernel Android remained the same. Display errors are also possible due to the system cache.

Sometimes after flashing the phone to a custom version (Custom ROM), the information in the "About phone" menu may be incorrect if the firmware developer has not updated the corresponding system properties. In such cases, you should only trust checking through ADB or specialized applications like CPU-Z or AIDA64.

If you bought the phone second-hand and doubt the authenticity of the installed system, compare the version Android with the official specification for this model on the manufacturer's website. If the old device only claims to support up to Android 10, but you have 13, this is a clear sign of a modified firmware.

• 🔍 Use the application AIDA64 to obtain detailed information about hardware and software.
• 🌐 Check the data with the official website Xiaomi for your model.
• 💾 Clear the settings cache if the version is displayed incorrectly after updating.

⚠️ Attention: The interface and location of menu items may vary slightly depending on the regional firmware version (Global, China, EEA, Russia). If you do not find the item, try using the search inside the settings.

FAQ: Questions and Answers

Why did the Android version not change after the MIUI update?

Shell updates MIUI and cores Android often come separately. A manufacturer may release several versions of the interface based on one version of Android to optimize and correct errors. A major Android update usually occurs once a year or less.

Is it possible to find out the Android version if the phone does not turn on?

If the phone does not boot into the system, but is turned on in Recovery or Fastboot mode, the version can often be seen on the bootloader screen (Fastboot mode). In Recovery mode, this information may be missing, then you will need to connect to the PC via ADB in bootloader mode.

Does the Android version affect the speed of Xiaomi?

Yes, newer versions Android usually contain optimizations for working with memory and processor, which can have a positive effect on speed. However, on older devices, new versions may run slower due to increased resource requirements.

Where can I find the security build number?

The security patch number is usually located in the same menu About section phone, next to the MIUI version, or in the Settings → Passwords and security → Device security.

What to do if the settings say "Unknown version"?

This is a rare system bug. Try clearing the Settings app cache through the applications menu or rebooting your phone. If the problem persists, use third-party utilities like CPU-Z for diagnostics.