How to turn on wireless charging on Xiaomi Mi 9T

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face confusion about model names, especially when it comes to technical specifications such as wireless charging support. Users looking for a way to enable wireless charging on the Xiaomi Mi 9T often find themselves at a standstill without finding the appropriate item in the settings menu, which is puzzling, because many modern flagships have long acquired such a convenient feature.

But we have to disappoint you, or perhaps just make it clear: the standard version of the Xiaomi Mi 9T smartphone, as well as its global counterpart Redmi K20, are not technically equipped with a wireless induction charging module. Inside the case, there is simply no necessary coil and power controller responsible for transmitting power without wires.

However, there is a nuance associated with the model Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro. Despite the similar design and even the presence of a glass back cover, which is often associated with wireless charging, even the Pro version in the global version lacks this module. In this article, we will discuss in detail why this happened, how to distinguish the modifications and what are the real ways to get the desired functionality.

Technical limitations and lack of module

The main reason you can’t find wireless charging option in Settings → Battery is hardware. Xiaomi engineers in developing the Mi 9T/Redmi K20 series bet on other features, such as a retractable front-facing camera and a powerful processor, sacrificing some premium features to keep the price competitive. The lack of a Qi coil is a physical fact that can’t be circumvented by software crutches.

The glass back, which is often used as an argument for wireless charging, is purely aesthetic and provides the best signal for communication modules. If the module was installed, the system would automatically identify it and activate the corresponding drivers. In the case of the Mi 9T, the MIUI or HyperOS operating system simply does not see the hardware component needed to start the process.

⚠️ Warning: Installing third-party apps from the Play Market that promise to “activate” wireless charging doesn’t make any sense. These programs only simulate the animation of charging on the screen, but the real energy consumption through the back cover does not occur, and in the worst case, can contain malicious code.

There may have been experimental versions or special editions in some markets, such as China, but mass global batches that have reached the CIS and Europe are not available, so if your phone is not charging from a power bank site, it is not a fault, but a design feature.

The Mi 9T vs. Mi 9T Pro

Before looking for workarounds, you need to accurately identify your device model. Often users confuse the regular Mi 9T with the Mi 9T Pro version, believing that the "Pro" console automatically adds all possible functions, including wireless charging. However, in this particular case, the difference lies in the processor and wired charging speed, but not in the presence of an induction module.

Both models, despite the difference in chipset performance (Snapdragon 730 vs. Snapdragon 855), share identical battery-area interiors. Neither version supports Qi Wireless Charging at the factory level, as evidenced by the lack of appropriate labeling on the back cover and in user documentation.

To check your modification accurately, you can use the engineering menu or standard settings. Go to Settings → About Phone and click on the MIUI kernel version several times to open the extended menu, or just check the model in Settings → About Phone → All specs.

Below is a table showing a comparison of charging characteristics of the models discussed:

As you can see from the table, only the regular Xiaomi Mi 9 (not Pro or T-version), which was released earlier, had full wireless charging. The 9T series models were created in a different form factor with an emphasis on bezel-freeness, which imposed restrictions on the interior space.

Hardware installation method (Modification)

For tech-savvy users, the only real way to get wireless charging on the Xiaomi Mi 9T is to install an external receiver on your own, which requires disassembling the device, which automatically voids the warranty if it is still valid and requires high accuracy.

The essence of the method is to buy a thin receiver module with a USB Type-C connector. This module is inserted into the charging port of the smartphone, and the board itself with the coil fits between the back cover and the battery. Since the rear panel of the Mi 9T is glass, the signal passes through it without problems.

The installation process is as follows:

• 🔌 Heat the perimeter of the back cover with a hair dryer or heating stove to a temperature near 80-90 degrees to soften the glue.
• 🛠️ Carefully peel off the back glass panel with a sucker and mediator, trying not to damage the plume of the fingerprint scanner.
• 📱 Insert the receiver connector into the charging port, gently lay the coil on the battery and glue it with double-sided tape.
• 🔄 Collect the device in reverse order, making sure that the wires are not clamped.

It is important to consider that installing such a module will increase the thickness of the smartphone and can lead to a loose fit of the back cover.In addition, the charging speed through such receivers is usually limited to 5-10 watts, which is much slower than regular wired charging.

Alternative solutions and accessories

If you're not ready to disassemble your gadget, the accessories industry offers less invasive solutions, one of which is the use of cases with a built-in coil of wireless charging. These cases have their own connector that plugs into the Type-C port of your Xiaomi Mi 9T.

The advantage of battery cases or receiver cases is that you don't have to break the integrity of the case, you just put the case on and put the smartphone on any charging pad, but it's worth remembering that this case will significantly thicken the device and add weight to it.

⚠️ Warning: When using cases with built-in wireless charging, watch for heating. Smartphone combination + case + wireless charging can lead to overheating of the battery, which negatively affects its life.

Another option is universal receivers that can be temporarily plugged in, so you can carry one in your bag and only plug it in when there's wireless charging nearby and then remove it, which is a trade-off between convenience and functionality.

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Use 18-27W wired charging for daily use, which is faster and safer for the battery than any homemade wireless charging methods.

Set up optimisation of wired charging

Since wireless charging is not available on the Xiaomi Mi 9T, it is crucial to make the most of the wired.The MIUI system has built-in battery life extension tools that are often ignored by users.

First of all, activate accelerated charging. To do this, go to Settings → Battery → Upper Right gear → Settings. Make sure all the options associated with accelerated charging are enabled. In the Pro version, this will give 27 watts, which allows you to charge the device from 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes.

Also worth paying attention to is the Charging Optimization feature, which is a smartphone that learns your habits and can pause charging at 80%, completing the process only when you wake up, which reduces the battery time in the maximum voltage state.

You can use a hidden menu to check the battery status ##6485##. In the menu, find the parameters. MB_06 (state of health and RF_02 (This will help us understand if it's time to think about replacing the battery.

Frequent charging problems and their solution

Users waiting for wireless charging sometimes mistake wired charging contact issues for a module malfunction.If your Xiaomi Mi 9T is charging poorly, check the USB Type-C port first. It often gets dust and pile from your pockets, which prevents tight contact.

Cleaning the port should be done carefully, using a wooden toothpick or plastic spatula. Metal objects are not recommended to use, so as not to close contacts. After cleaning, wipe the port with compressed air.

Problems can also be caused by poor-quality cables: Quick Charge 3.0/4.0+ fast charging requires cables with the appropriate bandwidth; cheap cables for 100 rubles often support only 5-10 watts, which makes charging very long.

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The lack of wireless charging on the Mi 9T is not a defect, but a design feature, and the best solution is to use quality accessories for fast wired charging.