Android Secret: Hidden Android Testing Menu Reveals Detailed Diagnostics

Have an Android phone?  If you do, there’s a secret testing menu hidden within the operating system where you can see detailed diagnostic information not available in your phone’s standard menus.

To access the hidden menu, open up the Dialer application and type the following code:

* # * # 4 6 3 6 # * # *

Once you press the last *, you’ll automatically be taken to the hidden menu where you can check out the following options:

Phone information

This menu contains a huge amount of information about your phone’s network connections.  The Ping Test is useful if you’re having connection issues, and you can also view your phone’s signal strength.

There are a few extra buttons at the bottom but you should probably leave them alone if you don’t know what they do.

Battery information

This menu is pretty simple but gives you a little more information than the standard Android battery menus.  Here you can check out your battery’s health, voltage, and temperature.

Battery history

The battery history menu provides highly detailed information about what has been using your phone’s battery.  The default Battery Usage application only shows information since the last time you unplugged your phone, but this menu allows you to specify viewing since you last booted the phone.

You can view battery use by component, such as CPU, network, GPS, sensor, and partial wake.  When viewing the application list, titles have a percentage bar displaying how much of the battery they actively used.

Usage statistics

Usage statistics shows you how much you (or your phone) used specific applications.  This displays the number of times launched and the total amount of time the application was used.

Photo credit: lwallenstein

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23 responses to “Android Secret: Hidden Android Testing Menu Reveals Detailed Diagnostics”

  1. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Techerator. Techerator said: Android Secret: Hidden Android Testing Menu Reveals Detailed Diagnostics http://goo.gl/fb/elIsl […]

  2. Jumpjack Avatar
    Jumpjack

    I really think all these data are sent to Google databases without user intervention…
    If I understand correctly, Android phones are constantly connected to internet…

  3. Evan Wondrasek Avatar

    All smartphones are constantly connected to the internet in practical terms, so Android really is no different here. The good news is that since Android is an open source project (unlike other mobile OSes), it’s feasible somebody could identify which data is going where. http://source.android.com/

  4. Javooooo Avatar
    Javooooo

    Hi,
    My HTC Desire HD says my battery health is “good” however it is a very new phone. Is “good” the highest level? I’d expect it to be excellent….
    Thanks!

    1. Evan Wondrasek Avatar

      I can’t say for sure, but I think the battery health labels are very generalized. I wouldn’t be surprised if it even came down to just “good” and “bad”.

  5. […] If you enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in other hidden menus in Android. […]

  6. +254734936145 Avatar
    +254734936145

    Great with Vanilla Lattes; Let me invite you to come to Nairobi, then I’ll serve you a nice, singing hot, strong tasting class AA Capuccino in the Local Java House, Koinange Lane, Nairobi.
    Techerator seem to be a great invention !
    David Svarrer, CEO, Digital Age Institute, Group CTO, Genacoverigen

  7. doyle Avatar
    doyle

    Awesome!  This is exactly what I wanted.  Thanks.

  8. Madsen0yea Avatar
    Madsen0yea

    Sadly when I punch the last * into my HTC Evo 4G (as modded by Sprint) it wipes the rest of the code. 

  9. MMakoto Avatar
    MMakoto

    this code no longer works on my t-mo samsung galaxy s2 ever since upgrading to 2.3.6. any new codes out there or it simply don’t work no more?

    1. deenie1219 Avatar
      deenie1219

      It works on my LG V20. I got my Internet back fiddling with the hidden app. I don’t know what I did maybe the jostling did it. I have heard of peeps putting their phone in a plastic bag and putting it in the freezer and getting back on the web after some time in cold storage. Anyway, I put the app’s number in the contact list for future electronic alchemy.

  10. Joycie1115 Avatar
    Joycie1115

    Can someone capture messages from your phone and have them send/copied and forward without you knowing? If so how do I find that app on the phone?

  11. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I downloaded an app called AnyCut to do this, but you can access the testing menu just by dialling the above code!

  12. Peter Avatar
    Peter

    can you access these by other means not with the dialler i.e. with terminal explorer?? if so how?

  13. Aranda Avatar
    Aranda

    Sweet but how do I find this information on an android tablet?

    1. deenie1219 Avatar
      deenie1219

      Dial the number *#*#4636#*#* and the info will pop up.

  14. Chico Latino Avatar
    Chico Latino

    it doesn’t work in samsung galaxy s3

  15. Shaun D. Avatar
    Shaun D.

    Does NOT work with Samsung Galaxy S3.

  16. sumit kumar Avatar
    sumit kumar

    @Evan my android phone- micromax a 63 is not supporting wifi tethering from 1st sim but it does so from 2nd sim. what could be the possible reason for that?also my phone has 3.5 mm jack but why is not supporting jbl t100a earphone(with mic)

  17. john olive Avatar
    john olive

    1+ phone not booting up after battery is fully charged, any one help please

  18. JayWye Avatar
    JayWye

    my LG L90 kitkat4.4 doesn’t have the battery history function. 🙁
    my 2 yr old phone sometimes drains the battery very quickly,even after a new battery.

  19. Goga Suladze Avatar
    Goga Suladze

    in my xperia X after dialing this number shows only “phone info”, “usage statistics” and “wifi info”. But I need battery info 🙁 and it isn’t on list.

  20. deenie1219 Avatar
    deenie1219

    This app has been very useful to me. I use it to reset the network and it seems to have special juju over the normal network reset in Settings, So, I can get the phones connected to the Internet reliably. I found too that the number must be manually dialed versus putting it into contacts and activating the app from there. Our phones are LG’s V20 and G5.

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