Secret Android Codes: How to Unlock Hidden Functions

Oct 22, 2024, 11:00 PM

Jade Bryan Junior Editor

Have you ever come across "secret codes" for phones that usually begin with "#"? These codes have been around for a long time and can still be used today to access hidden settings and information. In this article, we’ll explain what these codes are and reveal some of the most important ones.

These codes fall into two main categories: USSD codes and MMI codes. While they might not be particularly useful to the average smartphone owner, these hidden codes can be fun to try out once in a while to satisfy your curiosity. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive list of these secret codes for Android devices.

Before diving in, it’s helpful to understand what these codes are and the key differences between MMI and USSD codes. However, if you're in a hurry, feel free to skip ahead to the section where we explore specific smartphone codes.

What are USSD and MMI codes?

To use these codes, all you have to do is enter them in the dialer. / © nextpit

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, or perhaps only on older models. So if your phone doesn't respond to a code, don't dwell on it, just move on and find another one.

USSD codes

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 accessing 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.

General secret codes for Android

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.

General secret codes for Android phones (Info codes)

Code	FUNCTION
*#06#	Display phone's IMEI
*#07#	Display of the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the device
##225##	Displays calendar storage info
##426##	Google Play Services info or Firebase Cloud Messaging diagnostics (Select devices only)
##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
#12580369#	Software and hardware information
*#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
##273282255663282##*	Backup all media
*#2263#	RF (Radio Frequency) band selection

Test codes

Code	Function
##197328640##	Test mode
##232339## or ##526##*	Wi-Fi or WLAN test
##0842##	Brightness and vibration test
##2664##	Touchscreen test
##232331##	Bluetooth test
##7262626##	Field test
##1472365##	GPS quick test
##1575##	Full GPS test
##0283##	Packet Loopback Test
##0##*	LCD display test
##0289## or ##0673##	Audio test
##0588##	Proximity sensor test
##0589##	Light sensor test
#0782*#	Clock test

Configuration codes

Configuration code	Function
*#9090#	Diagnostics settings
*#301279#	HSDPA/HSUPA settings
*#872564#	USB logging settings
#0782*#	USB 12C mode control

Developer codes

Code	Function
*#9900#	System dump mode
##778 (+Green/call button)	EPST menu
*#745#	RIL dump mode
*#746#	Debug dump mode

SIM card and call management

Code	Function
*04oldPINnewPINnewPIN#	Change PIN
*05PUKNew PINNew PIN#	Unlock SIM card's PIN or PUK (Personal Unblock Key)
*#21#	Display call forwarding status
*21#	Activate call forwarding
##21#	Deactivate call forwarding
##8255##	Google Talk monitoring service
50057672#	Show SMS message center number
*#67#	Open call forwarding information and menu
*31#	Turn on or activate caller ID
#31#	Turn off or deactivate caller ID
*43#	Turn on or activate call waiting
#43#	Turn off or deactivate call waiting
*#22558463#	Reset call time

Manufacturer-specific codes

Samsung


Code	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

Code	Function
##64663##	Access the test menu

Realme

Code	Function
*#800#	Feedback menu
*#888#	Engineer mode - displays PCB number
*#6776#	Software version

OnePlus

Code	Function
*#66#	Encrypted IMEI
*#888#	Engineer mode - displays the PCB number
*#1234#	Software version
1+= (In the calculator app)	Displays 'NEVER SETTLE' in the calculator app
##2947322243##	Wipes internal memory

Asus

Code	Function
*#07#	Regulatory labels
.12345+= (In calculator)	Open developer mode

Motorola

Code	Function
##2486##	Opens developer mode
*#07#	Shows regulatory information
##7764726	Hidden Motorola Droid menu

Sony


Code	Function
##73788423##	Access service menu
*#07#	Certification details

Nokia

Code	Function
##372733##	Open service menu (FQC menu)

HTC

Code	Function
##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

Other codes

Code	Function
##7594##	Power off the phone
##8351##	Activate dialer log mode
##8350##*	Deactivate dialer log mode

Stay away from these codes!

Think before you use them!

Code	Function
~~##7780##~~ or *#7780#	(Caution! Risk of data loss and rendering the phone unusable) Factory data partition reset
27673855#	(Caution! Risk of data loss and rendering the phone unusable) Format device

USSD codes for US providers

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

Code	Function	Code with Spanish reply
*3282#	Check your data and messaging (SMS) usage (DATA# \| DATO#)	*3286#
*646#	Check your remaining minutes credit (MIN# \| USO#)	*876#
*225#	Check your balance, find out the next bill due date, and the last payment received (BAL# \| SAL#)	*725#

Verizon

Code	Function
#3282	Check your data usage (#DATA)
#225	Check your credit balance (#BAL)
#646	Check your minutes (#MIN)

T-Mobile

Code	Function
#225#	Check your account balance and last contract payment (#BAL#)
#999#	Check prepaid account balance
#646#	Check minutes used (#MIN#)
#674#	Check SMS usage (#MSG#)
#932#	Check data used, data plan, and expiration date (#WEB#)

There’s a good chance you’ll never need to use most of these codes, but if you do, now you know where to find them. Do you have any secret codes you use regularly? Or are there any interesting ones we missed? Please let us know in the comments!

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