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Android does not have one universal catalogue of hidden dialer codes. The code is interpreted by the phone’s dialer, manufacturer software, carrier, SIM, and Android build. That is why a code can open a test screen on one Galaxy, do nothing on a Pixel, and trigger a carrier response on another phone.
The safest way to use these codes is to separate them into three groups: broadly supported identifiers, manufacturer-specific service codes, and carrier network commands. The tables below show what each code is known to do, where it may work, and what to use instead when a code fails.
How Android hidden codes work
Android’s documented secret-code format is:
*#*#<code>#*#*When a compatible dialer receives that pattern, Android can send an android_secret_code://<code> intent to an OEM or carrier component. Android defines the mechanism, but it does not define a universal consumer list of functions.
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- the phone manufacturer and model;
- the installed Phone app or dialer;
- Android and firmware version;
- the carrier and SIM configuration;
- whether the phone has telephony hardware; and
- whether the phone is unlocked and using the normal dialer rather than the emergency dialer.
Enter a code in the regular Phone app while the phone is unlocked. Some codes run as soon as the final character is entered; others require tapping the call button or waiting for a network response.
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Codes with the widest support
| Code | What it does | How dependable is it? |
|---|---|---|
*#06# |
Displays the phone’s IMEI number. Dual-SIM and eSIM phones may display more than one IMEI. | Broadly supported on cellular phones, but the Settings path is the supported alternative. |
*#*#<code>#*#* |
Android’s general secret-code syntax. The code inside the pattern has to be implemented by the manufacturer or carrier. | The format is documented; the individual codes are not universally defined. |
*43# |
Requests activation of call waiting. | Carrier-dependent network command. |
#43# |
Requests deactivation of call waiting. | Carrier-dependent network command. |
*#06#: display the IMEI
Dial *#06# to display the device’s International Mobile Equipment Identity number. It does not unlock the phone, bypass a carrier restriction, expose a Google account, or reveal a password.
Do not post an IMEI publicly. It is a device identifier and should normally be given only to a carrier, manufacturer, insurer, or other trusted support provider when required.
On a Pixel, use Settings → About phone → IMEI. A supported dual-SIM Pixel may also show IMEI (SIM slot 2). Menu labels vary by manufacturer.
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Common codes that are not universal
*#*#4636#*#*: testing or phone-information screen
This code is widely copied in Android code lists as a way to open a testing screen containing phone, battery, usage, or Wi-Fi information. It is not guaranteed on current Android phones. A manufacturer can remove the screen, replace it, restrict it to certain builds, or make the dialer ignore the code.
Do not treat an old list claiming that *#*#4636#*#* works on “all Android phones” as current documentation. If the screen does appear, avoid changing radio or network settings unless you understand the effect. A wrong setting can leave the phone without mobile data or voice service until it is restored.
*#0*#: Samsung hardware test menu
Samsung phones have historically used *#0*# to open a hardware test screen. It is a Samsung service function, not a standard Android code. It may be unavailable on a particular Galaxy model, firmware version, region, carrier edition, or dialer.
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The supported Samsung diagnostic route is:
- Open Samsung Members.
- Tap Discover.
- Choose Diagnostics.
- Tap Phone diagnostics.
- Run an individual test or choose Test all.
Depending on the model, Samsung Members can test NFC, mobile network, proximity recognition, buttons, speaker, camera, Bluetooth, SIM card, sensors, touchscreen, flashlight, vibration, microphone, Wi-Fi, fingerprint recognition, cable charging, and battery status.
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*#*#7465625#*#*: Pixel SIM-unlock troubleshooting
Google documents this code for a specific Pixel troubleshooting situation. If a carrier or seller has already removed a Pixel’s SIM lock but the phone has not registered correctly on the network, Google says to enter the code, wait about two minutes, and then check mobile-network service.
It is not a universal carrier-unlock code. It cannot bypass a carrier’s eligibility rules or remove a SIM lock without the carrier authorizing the unlock.
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Carrier and network commands
Codes such as *43# and #43# are network or MMI commands rather than Android diagnostic menus. The phone sends a request to the carrier, which decides whether the command is supported for the subscription and network.
| Command | Purpose | Possible result |
|---|---|---|
*43# |
Request call waiting activation. | Confirmation, an error, or no useful response if unsupported. |
#43# |
Request call waiting deactivation. | Confirmation, an error, or no useful response if unsupported. |
Roaming, carrier policy, VoLTE configuration, the SIM, and the phone’s telephony implementation can all affect the result. Similar-looking commands for call forwarding, voicemail, or call barring should not be copied from an unverified list: some change live supplementary services and can have consequences for incoming calls.
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| Task | Pixel | Samsung Galaxy |
|---|---|---|
| Find the IMEI | Settings → About phone → IMEI | Usually Settings → About phone, then IMEI information |
| Run device diagnostics | Settings → Device health and support on Pixel 6 and later, including Pixel Fold models | Samsung Members → Discover → Diagnostics → Phone diagnostics |
| Check network or SIM problems | Use the network and device-health checks in Settings, then contact the carrier | Use Samsung Members diagnostics, then contact the carrier |
These routes are preferable when available because they are documented for the device family and are less likely to expose experimental settings.
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Why a hidden code may do nothing
- The code is not implemented. Android’s secret-code syntax does not make every numeric sequence meaningful.
- The dialer is different. A third-party or carrier-customized Phone app may not process the code. Try the manufacturer’s normal Phone app, not an arbitrary dialer.
- The carrier does not support the command. Network functions can vary by subscription, SIM, roaming status, and country.
- The device lacks telephony. Wi-Fi-only tablets and similar devices may not have the dialer or telephony service required for these commands.
- The phone is locked. The emergency dialer deliberately blocks secret codes such as
*#06#and*#*#<code>#*#*. Unlock the device and use the regular dialer. - An update removed or restricted it. Firmware and dialer updates can change service-code behavior without changing the phone’s model name.
- The command needs time or confirmation. A network command may return only after the carrier responds, while another code may execute immediately without placing a normal call.
Claims about Android codes that should be avoided
| Claim | What is actually true |
|---|---|
“Every Android phone supports *#*#4636#*#*.” |
False. Testing screens are build-, manufacturer-, dialer-, and sometimes carrier-specific. |
“*#*#7465625#*#* unlocks any carrier-locked phone.” |
False. Google documents it as a Pixel troubleshooting step after the SIM lock has already been removed. |
“*#0*# is an Android code.” |
Misleading. It is associated with Samsung service software. |
| “Dialer codes cannot harm anything because they are not real calls.” | False. MMI commands can alter services such as call waiting or forwarding. |
| “A code list from an old Android article is still valid.” | Unsafe. OEM software, carrier restrictions, and supported diagnostic menus change over time. |
How to use a code safely
- Identify the exact phone model, carrier, Android version, and firmware version.
- Look for the manufacturer’s current support instructions before using a service code.
- Use the regular Phone app on an unlocked phone.
- Record the current setting before changing a carrier service.
- Do not publish or share the IMEI after displaying it.
- Stop if a code opens an unfamiliar service menu. Do not change radio, network, calibration, or provisioning values without reliable model-specific instructions.
- If a network command fails, contact the carrier rather than repeatedly retrying random variants.
FAQ
What is the most universal Android hidden code?
*#06# is the broadly supported code for displaying an IMEI on cellular phones. It only displays the identifier; it does not unlock or modify the phone.
Does *#*#4636#*#* work on every Android phone?
No. Its testing screen is not a guaranteed Android feature. Support depends on the manufacturer, build, dialer, and sometimes the carrier.
What does *#0*# do on Samsung phones?
On some Samsung devices it opens a hardware test menu. It is not guaranteed on every Galaxy model or firmware. Samsung’s supported alternative is Samsung Members → Discover → Diagnostics → Phone diagnostics.
Can hidden codes unlock a carrier-locked phone?
No general hidden code bypasses a carrier lock. Google documents *#*#7465625#*#* only as a Pixel troubleshooting step after the carrier or seller has already removed the SIM lock.
The Bottom Line
There is no reliable list of “all Android codes” that works across every phone. Treat *#06# as the main broadly supported identifier code, and treat testing menus such as *#*#4636#*#*, Samsung’s *#0*#, and network commands such as *43# as conditional. For diagnostics, use the supported Pixel or Samsung settings paths first; for carrier services, confirm the command with the network provider.
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