Anúncios
Secret Phone Codes & Hidden Menus
Unlock Hidden Menus
Your phone ships with a second layer of software that almost nobody sees: service menus built for factory technicians, network engineers and repair shops. You reach them by typing short strings of digits and symbols into the dialer — no root, no jailbreak, no extra permissions. Type the sequence, and a hidden screen opens instantly.
These secret codes can tell you the real signal strength in dBm, confirm whether the touchscreen has dead zones, reveal the exact battery health, or expose call forwarding rules that a scammer quietly left on your line. Below you’ll find which codes still work in 2024–2025, what each screen actually shows, and — just as important — the handful of sequences you should never type by accident. 📱
What a “secret code” really is (and why some work only on certain phones)
What people call secret codes are actually three different technologies wearing the same costume. Knowing which is which explains why *#06# works on every handset on Earth while *#*#4636#*#* fails on a brand-new Samsung.
USSD codes: they talk to the carrier
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) sequences leave your phone and hit the operator’s network. They usually start with * or # and end with #, and you must press the call button. Balance checks like *123# and data-plan queries are USSD. Because the carrier answers, the same code gives different results on Vodafone, Vivo or T‑Mobile.
MMI and SS codes: the GSM standard
Supplementary Service codes are standardized by 3GPP and behave the same worldwide: call forwarding, caller ID blocking, call waiting. That’s why *#21# or ##002# works in Brazil, Portugal and Germany alike.
Manufacturer codes: pure local software
Sequences wrapped in *#*#...#*#* never reach the network. They’re intercepted by the Android dialer app and open an activity baked into the firmware by Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola or LG. Manufacturers add, rename and delete these menus with every major update, so a code that worked on Android 11 may be gone on Android 14. ⚙️
Universal dialer codes worth memorizing
Start with the short list that works on the widest range of devices. Type them in the phone app; most trigger the moment you finish typing, without pressing call.
| Code | What it does | Works on |
|---|---|---|
*#06# | Shows IMEI (and EID for eSIM) | Android + iPhone |
*#*#4636#*#* | Testing menu: network type, signal in dBm, ping test | Many Androids (removed on recent Samsung/Pixel) |
*#*#232338#*#* | Displays the Wi‑Fi MAC address | Android (varies) |
*#*#7780#*#* | Resets apps and data, keeps internal storage files | Older Android |
*#*#34971539#*#* | Camera firmware info | Older Android |
*#*#1234#*#* | Firmware/build version detail | Samsung and others |
*3001#12345#* | Field Test Mode (engineering radio data) | iPhone only |
The single most useful of them is *#06#. Before buying a used phone, compare the IMEI shown on screen with the one printed on the box and the one in Settings → About phone. If the three don’t match, walk away — the device may have a replaced motherboard or a rewritten identity. You can also run that IMEI through your national blocklist database to confirm it was never reported stolen. 🔍
Android hidden menus by brand
Manufacturer service menus are where the real diagnostics live. These are the same screens repair technicians use to decide whether a fault is hardware or software.
Samsung: the most complete toolkit
Samsung’s *#0*# opens a grid of hardware tests that has survived for more than a decade across the Galaxy S and A lines. Each tile is a self-contained check:
- Red / Green / Blue — fills the panel with a solid color to expose dead pixels or burn-in on AMOLED screens.
- Touch — draw across a grid to find unresponsive zones after a screen replacement.
- Vibration, Speaker, Receiver, Mic — isolate audio faults in seconds.
- Sensor — accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, light sensor and barometer in one panel.
- Grip Sensor / Black — checks the proximity behavior that makes the screen go dark during calls.
Two other Samsung codes deserve a mention: *#0228# opens ADC/battery status with voltage and temperature, and *#1234# shows the AP, CP and CSC firmware strings — essential for confirming the phone runs official, region-correct software instead of a repackaged ROM.
Note: on One UI 6 and later, some legacy codes have been locked down. If *#0*# doesn’t respond, Samsung Members → Support → Phone diagnostics runs the same tests through a supported interface.
Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO
Xiaomi centralizes everything in a single CIT (Component Integration Test) menu. Type *#*#6484#*#* — on some models *#*#64663#*#* or *#*#4636#*#* — and you get a checklist of roughly 25 to 40 tests. Each one you pass turns green, so it doubles as a used-phone inspection sheet.
An alternative route without any code: open Settings → About phone and tap Kernel version several times on many HyperOS/MIUI builds to reach the same hardware test panel.
Motorola, OnePlus, realme and vivo
- Motorola: the Moto app hides a diagnostic tool, and
*#*#372733#*#*opens a checkup menu on several models.*#*#4636#*#*still works on many Moto G devices. - OnePlus:
*#808#launches the engineering mode with automatic, manual and single-item test tabs — one of the best-organized menus around. - realme:
*#899#opens the engineering test list. - vivo:
*#558#reaches the hardware test screen on most models. - ASUS ROG / Zenfone:
.12345+=typed in the dialer opens the service menu on several generations.
Google Pixel is the odd one out: Google stripped nearly all hidden dialer codes. Diagnostics live inside the pre-installed Device Diagnostics app instead.
iPhone Field Test Mode: reading your real signal
Apple keeps exactly one meaningful hidden menu, and it’s a good one. Dial *3001#12345#* and press call to enter Field Test Mode. Signal bars are a marketing abstraction; this screen gives you engineering values.
On iOS 16 through iOS 18, navigate to LTE → Serving Cell Measurements (or NR for 5G). The numbers that matter:
| Metric | Excellent | Usable | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSRP (power) | -80 dBm or higher | -90 to -100 dBm | Below -110 dBm |
| RSRQ (quality) | -10 dB or higher | -10 to -15 dB | Below -20 dB |
| SINR (noise ratio) | Above 20 dB | 5 to 13 dB | Below 0 dB |
Practical use: walk around your home with Field Test open and note the RSRP in each room. A jump from -105 dBm in the kitchen to -85 dBm by the window tells you exactly where to place a signal booster or where to sit during important calls. The same screen shows your Cell ID and band number — handy for confirming whether your carrier’s 5G in your neighborhood is real n78 mid-band or repurposed low-band spectrum. 📶
Android users get the same data through *#*#4636#*#* → Phone information, where the signal strength appears in dBm alongside the active network type.
Call forwarding codes and the “*#21# hacking” myth
Supplementary Service codes are the most genuinely useful category for everyday life, and also the most misunderstood.
| Code | Function |
|---|---|
*#21# | Check unconditional call/SMS forwarding status |
*#62# | Check forwarding when unreachable (off / no signal) |
*#61# | Check forwarding when unanswered |
##002# | Cancel all forwarding rules at once |
*#31# | Check caller ID status |
#31# + number | Hide your number for a single call |
*#43# | Check if call waiting is active |
A viral claim insists that if *#21# returns anything, you’ve been hacked. That’s false. The screen normally reports “Voice: Not forwarded” or lists your own voicemail number under Data and Fax — completely standard carrier configuration.
What is worth checking: if *#21# or *#62# shows an unfamiliar mobile number receiving your voice calls, someone may be intercepting SMS verification codes. In that case, dial ##002# to wipe every forwarding rule, then change the passwords on accounts protected by SMS two-factor authentication. This is a real attack vector, especially after handing your phone to a stranger for “a quick call”. 🔒
Codes that can erase your phone in one tap
A few sequences execute instantly, with no confirmation dialog. Treat this list as a “do not type” reference rather than an experiment.
*2767*3855#— full factory reset with firmware reinstall on many Samsung models. No warning, no undo.*#*#7780#*#*— resets app data and accounts.*#*#7594#*#*— changes the power button behavior to shut down immediately, skipping the menu.- Random codes found in comment sections — some manufacturer menus can alter radio band selection or NV memory, leaving the phone unable to register on the network.
Rule of thumb: read-only menus are safe, write operations are not. Screens that display information (IMEI, firmware, signal, sensors) carry no risk. Screens with toggles, band selectors or “reset” buttons deserve respect. And never run any of them on a phone you don’t own. ⚠️
Hidden menus you reach without typing a single code
Some of the most valuable hidden panels sit inside Settings, unlocked by repeated tapping instead of dialer strings.
Developer Options on Android
Go to Settings → About phone and tap Build number seven times. A new menu appears in Settings with genuinely practical tools:
- Window / Transition / Animator scale: set all three to 0.5x and the interface feels noticeably faster — the single best perceived-speed tweak on mid-range phones.
- Running services: shows real RAM consumption per app, far more accurate than any “cleaner” app.
- Background process limit: caps how many apps stay resident.
- Force peak refresh rate: keeps a 120 Hz panel from dropping to 60 Hz.
- USB debugging: required for ADB, screen mirroring and data recovery tools.
Android’s System UI Tuner and hidden flags
On several Android builds, holding the gear icon in the notification shade for five seconds unlocks the System UI Tuner, which lets you hide individual status bar icons and customize quick settings. Chrome users can also type chrome://flags in the address bar to reach dozens of experimental browser features — a hidden menu in its own right.
iPhone’s quieter secrets
iOS has no developer menu for regular users, but it hides features in plain sight: Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap turns double or triple taps on the back panel into shortcuts. Analytics Data under Privacy stores crash logs that reveal which app is draining your battery. And holding the spacebar on the keyboard turns it into a trackpad for precise cursor placement.
When a code does nothing: quick troubleshooting
Roughly half the “this code doesn’t work” complaints come down to four causes.
- Wrong dialer app. Third-party dialers (Truecaller, Google Phone on non-Pixel devices) often don’t intercept manufacturer codes. Switch to the stock phone app.
- Android version. Google has been tightening access to hidden activities since Android 9; several legacy codes were simply removed.
- Carrier-locked firmware. Operator-branded phones frequently ship with service menus disabled.
- Region variant. The same model number can carry different firmware in Brazil, India and Europe, with different code sets.
If nothing works, apps that catalog codes by brand and model — like the one linked at the top of this article — save a lot of trial and error, since they keep updated lists per manufacturer and can launch the menus directly.
A five-minute inspection routine before buying a used phone
Put everything together into a checklist you can run in front of the seller. This routine catches the majority of problems that surface only weeks after a purchase.
- 1. Dial
*#06#and compare the IMEI with the box, the SIM tray and Settings. - 2. Run the brand hardware menu (
*#0*#,*#*#6484#*#*,*#808#) and test screen colors, touch grid, speakers, microphone and vibration. - 3. Check every sensor — a broken gyroscope breaks navigation and camera stabilization, and it’s invisible in casual use.
- 4. Verify battery health: Samsung
*#0228#, iPhone Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below 80% capacity means a replacement is due. - 5. Confirm firmware authenticity with
*#1234#on Samsung, and make sure the phone isn’t stuck in a demo or store mode. - 6. Dial
*#21#to ensure no forwarding rules were left behind by the previous owner.
Six steps, about five minutes, and you’ll know more about the device than the seller does. The same routine works on your current phone whenever something feels off — a call that sounds muffled, a screen that ignores your thumb in one corner, a battery that drops 20% overnight.
Hidden menus won’t turn an old handset into a flagship, but they replace guesswork with measurements. Instead of wondering whether the signal is bad or the phone is faulty, you get a number in dBm. Instead of suspecting the touchscreen, you see the exact dead zone. That’s the real value of these codes: they hand you the same information a technician would charge to look up. 🚀
