Forgot pattern lock on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 7 proven ways to unlock

Forgetting the pattern lock on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a frustrating but fixable situation. Unlike the iPhone, where unlocking without an Apple ID is almost impossible, Android devices (including MIUI firmware) offer several official and informal methods of restoring access. The main thing is not to panic and not to try to find the key at random: after 5 wrong attempts, the system will lock the phone for 30 seconds, and after 20 - may require a password from Mi Account.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to unlock the Redmi 9 (including the Redmi 9A/9C/9T models), from the simplest to the most technically complex. We will focus on the methods that allow you to save data on your phone – photos, contacts and messages. If a reset is inevitable, we will explain how to minimize losses and recover information after unlocking.

1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)

The most reliable and recommended way Xiaomi uses is to use a tied Mi Account, which works if:

• 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔑 You remember the username and password from your Mi Account (or you can restore them).
• 🔄 The device is synchronized with Mi Cloud.

After 5 incorrect attempts to enter the pattern lock, the button Forgot the password? or Unlock via Mi Account will appear on the screen.

1. Enter the email or phone number associated with the Mi Account.
2. Confirm your login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
3. Create a new pattern lock or PIN-code.

⚠️ Note: If the phone is not connected to the network, this method will not work, and Xiaomi can request proof of identity through a photo with a document (if you often try to unlock).

If the buttons Forgot your password? no, try entering the key at random 5 times in a row - the system should offer an alternative way to log in. On some MIUI 12/13 firmware, this item may be called Sign in via Mi Account.

2. Reset the pattern lock via Find Device (remotely)

If your phone is connected to the Internet but you don't have a Mi Account unlock button, use Find Device (i.mi.com) to:

• 🔒 Remove the pattern lock remotely.
• 📍 Find out the location of your phone (if it is lost).
• 🔋 Check the battery level.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. Select the blocked Redmi 9 from the list of devices.
3. Click Delete Data → Unlock the device.
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

After that, the pattern lock will be reset, but all data on the phone will be deleted (except for files on the phone). SD-The method works only with an active Internet connection on the phone.

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If the phone is discharged but on, plug it into charging for 10-15 minutes before using Find Device. the service may not see a device with a charge level below 5%.

3. Hard Reset (hard reset) via Recovery Mode

Hard Reset is an extreme measure that erases all data on your phone, including apps, settings, and files in internal memory.

• 🔌 The phone is not connected to the Internet.
• 🔐 You don’t remember the data from your Mi Account.
• 📵 Other methods didn't work.

Instructions for Redmi 9:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery Mode menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
4. Confirm the reset, wait for the process to be completed and restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI After Hard Reset, you may need to enter data from Mi Account, which was previously linked to the phone (Factory Reset Protection).If you do not remember the account, the phone will become a brick".

Turn off the phone.|Extract. SIM-map SD-card (if any)|Charge the battery to at least 30%|Prepare data from Mi Account (in case of a case) FRP)-->

4. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is suitable if the phone is on USB debugging and has access to a computer. It is one of the few ways to save data on the phone, but it requires pre-preparedness.

What you need:

• 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to activate the developer mode).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer via USB.


2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux).




3. Enter the commands in order:




adb shell




su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/locksettings.db




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal




rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm




4.Reboot the phone: reboot

After the reboot, the pattern lock will be reset. If the commands don't work, try the alternative:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.ChooseLockGeneric

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 12/13 With the latest security updates, this method may not work, and root rights are required, which are not available on most Xiaomi stock firmware.

5. Use of service codes (for older versions of MIUI)

On MIUI firmware older than version 12, you could reset the pattern lock through service codes, which is rare now, but it's worth a try:

If the code works, the phone will reboot and the pattern lock will be deleted. On new firmware, these combinations are usually blocked, but you can try them as a last chance before Hard Reset.

6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If none of the methods worked, you can contact the official Xiaomi service center.

• 🔒 Phone's locked. FRP (Factory Reset Protection) after discharge.

What will be required:

• 📄 Document confirming the purchase (check, box with IMEI).
• 🆔 Passport of the owner.
• 📱 The phone itself with a charge of at least 50%.

The service centre may:

• 📋 Provide help to unlock Mi Account (if the account is blocked).

⚠️ Attention: Do not contact unofficial services! Fraudsters can steal data from your phone or install malware. Xiaomi official centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service.

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The official service is the only legal way to unlock if the phone is tied to someone else’s Mi Account data (for example, when buying used ones).

7. How to recover data after unlocking

If you had to do a Hard Reset, not all the data is lost. Here's how to get it back.

Recovery methods:

• 🖥️ Mi Cloud: If sync is enabled, contacts, notes and photos can be returned via i.mi.com → Recover data.
• 📁 Google Account: Contacts, calendar, and certain settings are automatically restored when you first log in to Google after a reset.
• 💾 Local Backup: If you have made backups through Settings → System system → Backup, connect your phone to your PC and restore data from the folder MIUI/backup.
• 🔧 Recovery software: Dr.Fone, EaseUS MobiSaver, or Tenorshare UltData can return deleted files, but only if no new data is recorded on the phone after the reset.

What is usually not regenerated:

• 📱 Installed applications and their data (game progress, settings).
• 💬 Messages from messengers (if there was no cloud backup).
• 📂 Files in internal memory that are not synced to the cloud.

To avoid future losses, set up automatic backups:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Enable Automatic Backup in Mi Cloud.
3. Choose which data to save (contacts, messages, photos).

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Redmi 9