The forgotten password on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a situation that affects one in five smartphone users. According to service centers, 63% of device locks are due to the loss of a password or pattern lock. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of unlocking, including official methods from Xiaomi and alternative solutions that work even without being tied to a Mi Account.
It's important to understand that not all methods are equally safe. Some of them can lead to complete data loss or even "bricking" of the device if performed incorrectly. We will describe each step in detail, point out pitfalls and give recommendations for restoring information after unlocking. If you're looking for a way to bypass the lock without resetting to factory settings, there are options in the article.
Official method: unlocking through Mi Account
The most reliable and recommended method Xiaomi uses is a tied Mi Account, which works if:
- 📱 Device connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network)
- 🔑 You remember the username and password from the Mi Account that was linked to the phone.
- 📍 The "Find the device" function was activated in the settings
To unlock Redmi 9 with your Mi Account:
- On the lock screen, tap Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password?).
- Select the option to Sign in via Mi Account.
- Enter your email/phone and password from your account.
- Confirm unlocking via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
If the device is not connected to the network, connect it to Wi-Fi through the Quick Settings Panel (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).Caution: After 5 failed attempts to enter the password, the system will block the login for 30 minutes.
Recovery Mode Reset: When Nothing Helps
If Mi Account is lost or the device is not connected to the Internet, there is a hard reset via Recovery mode, which will remove all data from the phone, including photos, contacts and apps. Use it only as a last resort!
Instructions for Redmi 9:
- Turn off the phone with a long press of the power button.
- Press the Power Button + Volume up for 10-15 seconds at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
- In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
- Confirm the reset by choosing Wipe All Data.
- Once completed, select Reboot to reboot.
Get out. SIM-card and memory card (if any)
Charge your phone at least 50%
Prepare a backup (if you synced with Google)
Make sure you know the data from Mi Account to re-activate
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⚠️ Note: Some Redmi 9 firmware may require data entry from the Mi Account that was previously tied after reset via Recovery (protection) FRP). If you don’t remember this data, the phone will become a brick"!
If after reset, the phone requires data input from Mi Account, and you do not remember them, go to the section about bypassing FRP-blocking.
Factory Reset Protection (FRP) bypasses Redmi 9
FRP-Locking is a factory reset protection that is activated if the Mi Account was attached to the phone, and after resetting through Recovery, the system requires you to enter the account data:
| Bypass method | Difficulty | Required. | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Fastboot. | Medium | Computer, USB-cable, ADB-driver | Could throw off the IMEI. |
| Specialist FRP-applications | Low. | Another Android smartphone or PC | Viruses in the unofficial APKs |
| Through the service center | Absent. | Check of purchase or passport | Paid service (~1500-3000 rubles) |
The most reliable way is to use Fastboot.
- Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
- Connect the Redmi 9 turned off to your computer by clamping Volume Down + Power (Fastboot mode).
- In the command line (on behalf of the administrator) type: fastboot oem unlock Then: fastboot flashing unlock
- Follow the instructions on the phone screen.
What if Fastboot doesn’t recognize the device?
⚠️ Attention: Use of informal FRP-instruments, for example, FRP Bypass APK) You can install malware. download files only from trusted forums, such as XDA Developers or 4PDA.
Unlocking through ADB (if USB-debugging was included)
If Redmi 9 has been activated before USB-debugging, you can delete the file with the password through ADB. This method saves all the data on the device, but only works when debugging is enabled.
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
- Open the command line in the ADB folder and type in: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/password.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
- Reboot your phone with the command: adb reboot
After the reboot, the password will be reset, but the pattern lock or PIN may remain, in which case try to enter any arbitrary password - the system should skip.
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If ADB can't see the device, check if USB debugging is enabled in the developer settings. To activate them, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap it 7 times.
Alternative methods: Unlock without data loss
If none of the above methods are suitable, you can try:
- 🔧 Reset password through Google Account (works on Android 4.4 and below, but Redmi 9 on Android 10)+, So the method is irrelevant).
- 📞 Call to locked phone: call the device from another phone, accept the call and through the call menu try to go to the settings (does not work on all firmware).
- 🛠️ Use of special boxes (for example, UFi Box or Octoplus), which are in service centers.
- 🔄 Fastboot rolls back to an older version where there is no FRP-blocking (a risky method that can lead to loss of IMEI).
Redmi 9 with MIUI 12+ has a hidden Emergency Call feature that sometimes lets you bypass the lock screen. To do this, press Emergency Call, type ##4636#, then go back and try to open the settings. This method does not work on all devices and can be closed in new updates.
Data recovery after unlocking
If you had to make a reset to factory settings, you can restore data in several ways:
- ☁️ Cloud Backups: Check Google Drive (Contacts, Photos, Notes) and Mi Cloud (if sync was enabled).
- 💾 Local backups: if you made backups through Settings → Additionally. → Backup, connect your phone to your PC and check the folder MIUI/backup.
- 🔍 Recovery software: Dr.Fone, EaseUS MobiSaver, or DiskDigger can find deleted files, but the odds depend on how much data was written after the reset.
To recover via Mi Cloud:
- Sign in to the phone under the same Mi Account as before the reset.
- Go to Settings → About Phone → Data Recovery.
- Select the last backup and wait for the process to be completed.
⚠️ Note: If no data is available after recovery, check if the sync in the settings has been disabled. For example, photos are only synced if the Autoboot option in Mi Cloud has been enabled in the Gallery.
What do you do if nothing helps?
If all of these methods fail, there are two options:
- To unlock, you will need a purchase check or a box from your phone (to confirm ownership), the cost of the service is from 1500 to 3000 rubles, depending on the region.
- You'll need to manually flash your phone. You'll need to do this: Redmi 9 firmware file (download from the official website), Mi Flash Tool, Windows computer and original. USB-cable.
For flashing through the Mi Flash Tool:
- In the Mi Flash Tool program, select the firmware folder and press Refresh.
In all other cases, the data will be deleted.