Best Secret Codes for Your Android Phone

Apr. 6, 2024

Have you ever encountered a hardware or network-related issue with your smartphone? Maybe you want to learn about your current data plan or hardware details of your device like its IMEI number. These options and settings are hidden within your operating system and can only be accessed through certain codes. So in this read, I’ll discuss several secret codes for your Android device and explain what they do.

What Are Secret Codes on a Smartphone?

No, we are not discussing the codes to unlock a treasure map. Instead, these are simplya series of numbers, asterisks (*), and hashes (#)that you enter into your phone’s dial pad to access hidden settings. It allows you to access information about your phone’s hardware, software, or manufacturing specifications. Or it will open a hidden menu to test different hardware or software-related components of your device. These can be further divided into two categories.

MMI (Man Machine Interface): MMI are codes configured by your smartphone’s manufacturer. These let you access hidden settings and even exclusive features within your device. However, they differ from brand to brand. So a code that works on a Samsung device might not do anything on a Motorola smartphone.

USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data): These codes are used to connect with your mobile service provider. Let’s say you want to know your current talk time balance or enable called ID for your number. Then you would use these codes. They start with asterisks and end with a hash.

Now that we have given you a general idea of secret codes, and what they do; it’s time to look at some of them. We have created a table of common codes that work across all Android devices. You just need to enter them through your phone’s dialer to use them.

These are some universal codes that will only work if you have an active SIM card inside your phone. It lets you enable or disable certain services offered by your network provider. They work on all models.CodesFunction*#67#Shows call forwarding details on your phone.*#61#Shows you the time it takes to forward your calls.*31#Enabled caller ID for your number.#31#Disabled caller ID for your number.*43#Turns on the call waiting option.#43#Turns off the call waiting option.

There might be other USSD codes specific to your SIM card provider. You need to contact customer support or check online to see what other codes are available for your SIM.

These are the MMI codes that we discussed above. They are specific to their manufacturers. So if you try a code exclusive for Samsung on a Pixel device then it won’t do anything. These codes let you check your device information, unlock secret easter eggs, or lets you run hardware diagnostic tests.

Google doesn’t offer any secret codes for its Android devices. Most of the ones we mentioned in under the common heading should work for it.

These are some of the best secret codes that you can find for your Android device. We tried others as well but most of them did not work across several devices that we tested out. While these codes might not be of use now and then, it is best to have a guide to refer to them if the need arises. Plus I feel it is good on the manufacturer’s part to offer certain options to check the state of your phone’s hardware.

Did you enjoy this list and find something useful here? If so then tell us in the comments below.

As a tech journalist, I dive into the ever-evolving tech landscape with a particular interest for smartphones, apps, and gaming. With a passion for sharing insights, my articles blend expertise with a friendly touch—think of me as your friendly neighborhood tech support.