If you happen to be an ardent tech enthusiast, chances are high you know about most of the secret codes for android phones, you know, the ones that usually begin with “*#.” For those unaware, mobile phones have long had hidden codes that can be used to access interesting hidden apps and settings.
These codes can be broadly classified into two main categories USSD codes and MMI codes. While mostly not very useful to the average smartphone owner, these hidden codes can be used once in a while just to satiate your curiosity. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to create a comprehensive list of these secret codes for Android devices.
What are USSD and MMI codes?
Meaning and uses of USSD and MMI codes
While the average user might not even need to know the difference between these two, it is always good to know what the differences are. Both USSD and MMI codes usually begin with an asterisk or a pound symbol/hashtag. These codes are updated regularly as new versions of Android software are released, and some manufacturers have their own additional special codes.
The code entry procedure is very simple and only requires you to bring up your dialer keypad and enter the appropriate number sequence. It’s important to note that some codes are carrier-specific, so they won’t work on all devices. So if your phone doesn’t respond to a code, don’t dwell on it, just move on and find another one.
USSD Codes | Android phones
USSD stands for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, and these codes are typically used to communicate between your smartphone and your mobile network operator. This also means that you almost always need to be connected to your carrier for USSD codes to work.
In the past, USSD codes were used to start/stop specific value-added services. They were also helpful in letting you know about the data usage and prepaid balance and to access a whole lot of carrier-specific information.
While these are still used by smartphone enthusiasts, USSD codes have largely fallen out of favor among general users because most carriers have their own app/website where most of this information could be easily accessed. USSD codes are typically carrier-specific and will differ from one carrier to another. You will need to contact your carrier for the ones relevant to you.
MMI Codes
As for MMI codes, these are part of something known as the Man Machine Interface schema and are generally specific to a smartphone brand or model. MMI codes let you access several interesting things on your smartphone – ranging from your IMEI number and SAR values to hidden menus that are generally used by smartphone engineers and repair services.
For example, several smartphones let users type in an MMI code and let them access a ‘test’ menu. This menu lets users quickly perform various tests on their smartphone ranging from the camera and vibration motor tests to speaker and display tests.
Note that there are only a few MMI codes that typically work on all Android smartphones. We have listed the most popular ones in the generic list of codes below.
Generic secret codes for Android phones
These codes are mostly universal and should work on all Android devices, no matter the manufacturer. There might still be carrier restrictions on certain codes, though, so they’re not all guaranteed to work.
Generic secret codes for Android phones (Info codes)
| Codes | Description/Function |
|---|---|
| *#06# | Show phone’s IMEI |
| *#07# | Displays the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value of the device |
| *#*#225#*#* | Displays calendar storage info |
| *#*#426#*# | Google Play Services info or Firebase Cloud Messaging diagnostics (Select devices |
| *#*#759#*#* | Access Rlz Debug UI (Select devices only) |
| *#0*# | Info menu (Select devices only) |
| *#*#4636#*#* | Info menu (Select devices only) |
| *#*#34971539#*#* | Camera info (Select devices only) |
| *#*#1111#*#* | FTA software version (Select devices only) |
| *#*#1234#*#* | PDA software version |
| *#12580*369# | Software and hardware info |
| *#7465625# | Device lock status |
| *#*#232338#*#* | MAC address |
| *#*#2663#*#* | Touchscreen version |
| *#*#3264#*#* | RAM version |
| *#*#232337#*# | Bluetooth address |
| *#*#2222#*#* | Hardware version |
| *#*#44336#*#* | Software version and update info |
| *#*#273282*255*663282*#*#* | Backup all media |
Testing codes | Android Phones
| Codes | Description/Function |
|---|---|
| *#*#197328640#*#* | Test mode |
| *#*#232339#*#* | Wi-Fi test |
| *#*#0842#*#* | Brightness and vibration test |
| *#*#2664#*#* | Touchscreen test |
| *#*#232331#*#* | Bluetooth test |
| Bluetooth test | Field test |
| *#*#1472365#*#* | GPS quick test |
| *#*#1575#*#* | Full GPS test |
| *#*#0283#*#* | Packet loopback test |
| *#*#0*#*#* | LCD display test |
| *#*#0289#*#* | Audio test |
| *#*#0588#*#* | Proximity sensor test |
Configuration codes
| Codes | Description/Function |
|---|---|
| *#9090# | Diagnostics settings |
| *#301279# | HSDPA/HSUPA settings |
| *#872564# | USB logging settings |
Developer codes | Android Phones
| Codes | Description/Function |
|---|---|
| *#9900# | System dump mode |
| ##778 (+green/call button) | EPST menu |
Manufacturer-specific codes
Samsung codes
Samsung codes and Function
| *#0*# | Access diagnostics |
| *#011# | Network details and serving cell information |
| *#0228# | Battery status |
| *#0283# | Loopback Test menu |
| *#0808# | USB Settings |
| *#1234# | Software version/ Model details |
| *#2663# | Firmware details (Advanced) |
| *#7353# | Quick test menu |
| *#9090# | Advanced debugging tools |
| *#9900# | SysDump |
| *#2683662# | Service mode (Advanced) |
| *#34971539# | Camera firmware details |
Xiaomi Codes | Android Phones
CodeFunction
| *#*#64663#*#* | Access test menu |
Realme codes
CodeFunction
| *#800# | Feedback menu |
| *#888# | Engineer mode – displays PCB number |
| *#6776# | Software version |
OnePlus codes
CodeFunction
| *#66# | Encrypted IMEI |
| *#888# | Engineer mode – displays PCB number |
| *#1234# | Software version |
| 1+= (In stock calculator app) | Displays ‘NEVER SETTLE’ on the calculator app |
| *#*#2947322243#*#* | Wipes internal memory |
Asus codes
Asus codes and Function
| *#07# | Regulatory labels |
| .12345+= (In calculator) | Open engineering mode |
Motorola
CodeFunction
| *#*#2486#*#* | Opens engineering mode |
| *#07# | Shows regulatory information |
| ##7764726 | Hidden Motorola Droid menu |
HTC Codes and Functions
| *#*#3424#*#* | HTC test program |
| ##786# | (Caution!) Phone reset menu |
| ##3282# | EPST menu |
| ##3424# | Diagnostic mode |
| ##33284# | Field test |
| ##8626337# | Launch Vocoder |
| *#*#4636#*#* | HTC info menu |
Sony codes
Sony codes and Function
| *#*#73788423#*#* | Access service menu |
| *#07# | Certification details |
Nokia codes
Nokia codesCodeFunction
| *#*#372733#*#* | Open service menu (FQC Menu) |
Other codes
CodeFunction
| *#7780# | (Caution!) Factory reset |
| *2767*3855# | (Caution!) Full factory reset |
| *#*#7594#*#* | Power off the phone |
| *#*#8351#*#* | Activate dialer log mode |
| #*#8350#*#* | Deactivate dialer log mode |
Stay away from these codes!
Think before using!
CodeFunction
| *#*#7780#*#* | (Caution! Risk of data loss and rendering phone useless) Factory data partition reset |
| *2767*3855# | (Caution! Risk of data loss and rendering phone useless) Format device |
USSD codes for US carriers
These aren’t the secret ones, but they’re not so well known. USSD, or Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, codes connect to the phone’s network once dialed to perform certain functions, like finding out how much credit you have left on your prepaid phone or how much data you’ve used this month. They change often, and the codes vary from carrier to carrier. Here are a few you can try for some of the major US carriers, along with links to more carrier-specific codes:
AT&T
- Check your data and SMS usage: *3282#
Verizon
- Check your data and SMS usage: #3282
T-Mobile
- Check your data usage: #932#
Sprint
- Check minutes, messages, and other usage stats: *4
There’s a good chance you’ll never need to use most of these codes, but if you do, then now you know where to find them.