Xiaomi Redmi 9T, released in early 2021, is still popular due to its excellent autonomy. However, over time, the regular operating system may stop receiving updates, start operating unstable or simply stop meeting your requirements. In such cases, the only right solution is manually flashing, allowing you to install a fresh version of Android or change the region.
The process of replacing software on Xiaomi devices requires careful and strict adherence to the algorithm of actions. Error at any stage can lead to the fact that the device turns into a “brick” or loses some functionality. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to prepare the Redmi 9T, unlock the bootloader and install a new firmware, avoiding typical beginner errors.
It is worth noting that official methods through the settings menu do not always work, especially if the phone has already been modified or is on a global version with a blocked update. So we will focus on using specialized utilities and boot modes that give full control over the file system of the gadget.
Before you start any manipulation of the system partition, you need to make sure that you have all the components. 9T, Original or quality certified USB-And the use of damaged cables often causes a connection to break at a critical moment, which is unacceptable.
Make sure to back up all your important data. During the flashing process, especially when you change your firmware type (e.g. from Global to China or vice versa), your internal memory will be completely cleaned up. Your photos, contacts, and instant messaging correspondence will be lost irrevocably unless you back up in advance.
⚠️ Warning: The battery charge of the smartphone should be at least 60%.If the process of writing system files energy runs out, the recovery of the device will require complex hardware intervention.
You also need to download and install the ADB and Fastboot drivers, and without these components, the computer won't see the phone in bootloader mode, and they're usually part of Google's SDK Platform Tools, which you can find on the official developer website.
Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader)
The key step for any deep modification of the Xiaomi Redmi 9T is to unlock the bootloader, a security mechanism that prevents you from installing software that is not signed by the manufacturer. Without removing this lock, installing custom recoveries or third-party firmware is impossible.
First, link your Mi Account to your device. Go to Settings → About Phone and click on the MIUI version several times to activate the developer menu. Then, in Advanced Settings → For developers, find “Mi Unlock bootloader Status” and click “Add Account and Device.”
Once you've tied it, you'll download the official Mi Unlock Tool to your computer. Launch the program, log in to your account, and put your phone into Fastboot mode, press the power and volume buttons, connect the device to your PC and press the Unlock button.
Xiaomi’s security system may require a wait of 7 to 168 hours (7 days) after the first attempt to unlock, which is a normal procedure to protect the user from data theft.
What to do if the timer is not going?
Sometimes the unlock timer freezes, in which case, try logging out of the Mi Account in your phone's settings, rebooting, logging in again and re-associating the device in the developer menu. Also make sure that you use mobile internet instead of Wi-Fi, although this requirement is often ignored in the latest versions.> Selection of firmware type: Global, EU China Firmware Market for Redmi 9T The official versions are divided into China (Chinese), Global (global) and EEA (Chinese versions often come with a stripped-down set of Google services and lack some frequencies. LTE, Custom builds such as Xiaomi.eu are tailored Chinese versions with Google services installed, Russification and optimizations. They are devoid of advertising and pre-installed garbage, making them ideal for everyday use. 🌏 Global Stable: Official, stable version for the world, fully certified by Google and Netflix. 🇨🇳 China ROM: Basic firmware, often updated first, but requires manual installation of Google services. 🇪🇺 Xiaomi.eu: Unofficial but time-tested build based on Chinese, cleared from advertising and optimized. When choosing a file, look for the extension. To update through Recovery (recovery menu) you need.zip archives. Fastboot uses.tgz archives that contain partition images and scripts to write them. Method 1: Update via Recovery (no PC) The easiest way to reflash Redmi 9T — Use the built-in Recovery menu. This method is suitable if the bootloader is unlocked or if you are upgrading within the same region (for example, from the older Global to the newer Global).+. From the menu that appears, select the language (usually English and Chinese) and go to “Install”. update.zip» Or "Choose update package." If you downloaded a firmware file in.zip, put it in the root of the internal memory and select it from the list. The system will check the integrity of the file and compatibility. If everything goes well, the installation process will begin. The screen can go out and light up, and the log will show lines of code — that's normal work. ⚠️ Note: When you try to roll back to an older version of the firmware (Downgrade) through standard Recovery, you will get an error. To roll back the Android version or MIUI Fastboot mode and complete data cleanup are required. Method 2: Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool) Fastboot is the most reliable and versatile way to use the Mi Flash Tool in conjunction with Fastboot mode. This method allows you to completely re-mark the disk, eliminate software errors and change the region. First, unpack the downloaded firmware archive (.tgz format) to the root of the C disk so that the path is Cyrillic-free and short. Run the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Translate Redmi 9T In Fastboot mode (power clamping) + Volume-) and connect to the PC. Press the button "Refresh" in the program - your device with the serial number should appear in the list. The most important point is to choose the type of cleaning at the bottom of the utility window: Mode Description Data Saving Clean all Complete cleaning and flashing of all partitions No (data deleted) Save user data Update system without affecting user files Yes Clean all and lock Full cleaning and re-locking bootloader No (data deleted) After selecting the mode, press "Flash" process takes from 2 to 10 minutes. At this time it is strictly forbidden to turn off the USB cable, since the interruption of the recording in the partition or system is guaranteed to disable. Upon completion, the status will change to "Succes" and the phone will automatically reboot, even the error occurs when the phone is overloaded. In most cases, this is solved by logging into Recovery and executing the Wipe Data command. If the device has stopped responding to commands and only the charging indicator or the Fastboot logo is on, the bootloader may be damaged. In this case, only flashing through Fastboot with the option "Clean all" will help (EDL) on the Redmi 9T often requires disassembly of the body and closure of contacts on the board, which is better to trust the specialists. 🔌 Driver error: If your computer doesn’t see your phone in Fastboot, reinstall drivers manually through Windows Device Manager. 🔒 Account error: After firmware, you may need to enter a password from a Mi Account that was on the device before. 📉 Speed drop: After the first boot, the new system can run slowly.Give the phone 15-20 minutes to optimize applications in the background. In some cases, especially when switching from Android 10 Android 11/12, You may need to unlock the bootloader again if the previous one was reset by a security update (FAQ) Can I get Redmi to flash? 9T Update to a newer version of Android if there are no updates OTA? Yes, it is possible. You can manually download the latest available firmware for your model (e.g., Android-based firmware). 12 or 13 You can use the HyperOS shell if it's available for lime, and you can install it through Fastboot, but you can jump over the major versions of Android (for example, with the Fastboot). 10 straight away 13) Without data loss, you will not succeed - you will need a full reset. Will the warranty fly after unlocking the bootloader? Formally, unlocking the bootloader is a violation of the terms of use of Xiaomi software and can cause a denial of warranty service, especially if the software breaks down. However, many service centers, when hardware problems (screen, battery) are ignored, if there is no physical interference. What is A/B partition and how does it affect firmware? Redmi 9T uses the structure of the A/B partitions. This means that two copies of the system are stored in memory. While you use one, the second is updated in the background. When you are running through Fastboot, both slots are updated, which makes the process safer, but requires more time and free space on the PC. How to return to the factory firmware after custom? To return to the run, you need to download the official firmware for the Flash, if you have a copy of the castle, and it is completely blocked from the device.