How to Easily Change or Fake Your Android Device Model and Brand Name

Have you ever thought of changing your Android mobile or tablet device model? Actually you can change your Android device model very easily and this is helpful in some cases – for example you can make your device appear to be another particular device to any app. Or ever you faced any device restriction on Google Play while installing an app or game? For example a game developer can restrict your device from installing a particular game and make it available on other high-end devices like Galaxy Note 3 (just example) on Google Play just because that game isn’t optimized for your device or may run poorly. But there’s a big chance that your device could play that game. Now if you change your device model to Galaxy Note 3, you will be able to install that game from store – though it may not run well. Or you may want to show a different device model to an app for achieving something.

Things you Need

1. Phone must be rooted.
2. A File Manager with root support and built-in text editor.

Changing Device Model or Brand by Editing Build.prop File

For this procedure, I’ll use a free and powerful file-manager app X-plore. It’s a dual panel file explorer with root support and in-built text editor including many other features.

1. After downloading and installing X-plore, open it up, go to “Configuration” > “Root Access” and make it “Superuser + Mount writable” (assuming your phone is pre-rooted).

2. Now from /(Root) drive, locate /system folder. You should able to see a file named build.prop in that directory. This file contains some text strings used by OS and other apps to identify some of device’s information. Now long press on it, choose ‘Edit text’. Now you are ready to edit the file. Here, in lines, look for ro.product.model=**** and ro.product.manufacturer=****. Now change the value to any name after “=” as you want your device pretend to be. For example if you want your device pretend to be Galaxy S5(model SM-G900), the lines should be followings:

ro.product.model=SM-G900
ro.product.manufacturer=Samsung

You can set any name or number here though.

3. Now before closing the editor, got to options then save it. Or you should be asked if you close the editor without saving it. After successfully saving it, restart your device now. Now you have finished changing your device model.

It should reflect “About Device” info in Android settings too like following:

Note: Your network operator will see your fake model and vendor.

BTW, though it’s very easy to change or fake your Android mobile or tablet model, I wouldn’t recommend doing it unless you really need it. Because it may introduce malfunction to your device including existing apps incompatibility.

Author: 

Jaber is a Programmer and Tech Enthusiast Geek from Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is the founder and Chief-Editor of TechGainer. While he is away from his keyboard, either he's fishing or messing with wildlife. In case, you can contact him at rijans[at]techgainer[dot]com.

View Comments (142)

          • Sir . Try this method but whan i try restart phone . My phone not opning only showing sumsung galaxy grand prime . I also try vol+ `home and power off .on butten pricc one time . Than rebot and all option try not opning my phone last 2 day. Plz help mi ... my whats app number 7088224895 and contect number 9927546394

          • I use Sumsung galaxy grand prime s530h. I use your trick than . I enter sm- g900. And all info chang to x --plor .swich off phone and on phone. Only sowing sumsung galaxy grand prime. Plz slove parobalem as soon as posibal. Plz give me your whatsapp number

          • My phone not working . i have sumsung galaxy grand prime g530h .I am Swich on phone but not opning my phone only showing sumsung galaxy grand prime in the screen

          • This trick not working. When try this trick .swich off phone and than i power on butten click .but only showing sumsung grand prime in the screen. Plz help mi my phone not opning . I am very poor . My sumsung phone not opening . I many time try . But not opening phone plz guide mi. Need mi next step. I am very gilti filing . My mind tottly disterb . Plz tell me next step. My frind have laptop .

          • M bahut paresaani me hu . Kabhi kisi ne kiya kabhi kisi ne . . M murakhh jo hu sabke baato me aa jaata hu. Mene x-pore me g900 enter kiya id name sabhi chang kar diya thha uske baad use save kiya but jaise hi mene apna phone ko on karne ke liye power butten ko click kiya to khhali poore screen me sumsung galaxy grand prime likhaa hua aa rha h . Kya karu me ab bahut hi paresani me . Koi mhanubhaw h kya jo meri help kar sake.uska ahsaan me zindgi bhar ni bhhoolunga. Plz meri help kar do ab me kya karu . Mere family mammber ko abhi iske baare me kuchh pta ni h . Agar pta chal gya to bahut ptoblem ho jayegi . Koi to trick hogi yr iski . Mujhe ab kya karna chahiye. Pahli baat kya ab mera sahi ni hoga kya. Dusri baat agar ho sakta h to kaise ho m khhud mobile ko thhik kar sakta hu kya ya fir mujhr kahi dikhhana hoga . I again request plz help mi ..

  • Can you fake device info on a per-app basis? Samsung Galaxy Gift is an awesome app to get real free/discounted stuff. Would be nice to spoof the device info for app.

  • its worked with me but after rebooting the device everytings went back to the previous name and model number.

  • hi i am deleted this build.prop file from my sony xperia.
    and my device does not starts please help me

  • I have celkon ct3 tab can i change the name and build number so that i can update to latest version of OS? Please help me how can i update.