What to do if you forget the password from the phone Xiaomi Redmi 9

When you pick up your smartphone, press the power button, but instead of your desktop, you see a password screen you can't remember, it causes panic. This is a common problem faced by owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 and other Android devices. A forgotten pattern lock, digital code or complex letter password can completely block access to your contacts, photos and apps.

Fortunately, the current MIUI operating system provides several mechanisms for access recovery, although they require certain conditions to be met. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available methods for unlocking your device, from the regular Google features to the more radical but effective ways through the engineering menu.

It’s worth noting right away that most of the techniques involved in removing protection completely will result in the complete deletion of data from the phone’s internal memory, so if you have the ability to recall at least a portion of your password or sync your data through the cloud, try to do so before you start active resetting actions.

Using Google’s Find Device feature

The most civilized and safe way to unlock is to use remote device management via a Google account.This method only works if a blocked Redmi 9 has logged in to a Google account, has internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) enabled, and has geolocation enabled. If these conditions are met, you can delete the current lock screen password without losing data, although on newer versions of Android this often results in a reset of security settings.

To start the procedure, you will need access to another device with Internet access, such as a computer or tablet, you need to go to the official website of the device search service. In the service interface, select your device from the list if there are several. Remote cleaning is a command that initiates a factory reset, which will automatically delete the forgotten password.

It's important to understand that once you do this, the phone will reboot and require you to enter a password from the Google account that was the main one on the device, a theft protection measure known as FRP. If you don't remember the password from your Google account, it will be much harder to restore access.

⚠️ Note: Remote reset via Google Find My Device will result in the complete erasure of all photos, contacts and apps that do not have a backup in the cloud.

Reset via Recovery (Hard Reset) menu

The most versatile method, which works even when the Internet is not available or GPS is disabled, is a Recovery Mode reset, which is available on any Android smartphone, including the Xiaomi Redmi 9, and does not require installing additional software on the computer.

The process of entering recovery mode on Xiaomi devices has its own peculiarities: first, you need to turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume until the main Recovery menu appears.

Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. In some versions of MIUI, you may need to additionally select Wipe All Data and confirm action by choosing Confirm.

After the cleaning process is completed, which takes a few seconds, the system will prompt you to return to the main menu (Main Menu) or immediately reboot (Reboot). 5-10 minute.

Unlocking through Xiaomi Cloud

Xiaomi smartphone owners often use a branded Mi Account, which provides advanced device management capabilities. Xiaomi Cloud service (formerly known as Mi Cloud) allows not only backups, but also remote control of the phone, including the function of erasing data to unlock.

To use this method, go to i.mi.com from any browser. You need to log in using the same Mi Account that is active on the blocked Redmi 9. In the interface, find the "Find Device" or "Find Device" section. If the phone is online and the search function is enabled, you will see it on the map.

From the list of available actions, select the Wipe Data option, the system will warn you about the consequences of this operation, after confirmation, the phone will receive a reset command, and the screen lock password will be deleted along with all the contents of the memory, this method is especially effective if Google's standard tools for some reason do not work or were not configured.

⚠️ Note: If the phone has enabled the “Find Device” feature in the Mi Account settings, after resetting the phone will require you to enter a password from Mi Account, not just from Google.

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Using ADB to delete system files

For more advanced users who want to try to save data or bypass standard restrictions, there is a method of using the Android debugging bridge (ADB). This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer through USB-cable and availability of drivers and platform tools installed on the PC. The effectiveness of the method depends on the Android version and security settings. MIUI.

The essence of the method is that if the phone was previously enabled debugging on USB And the computer has been given permission to access, and you can send a command to delete a file that stores information about the pattern lock or password. /data/system/.

You will need to execute the following commands in the computer command line after connecting the phone:

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

Once the commands are executed, the device needs to be restarted. If it is successful, the phone can be unlocked with any code entered or just a swipe. However, on modern versions of MIUI with updated security patches, this method often does not work without root rights, since the system partition is protected from writing.

Comparison of Redmi 9 Unlocking Methods

The specific way you can restore access depends on your situation: whether the Internet is turned on, whether you remember passwords from your accounts, and whether you are willing to donate data. Below is a table that will help you compare the methods and their requirements.

As you can see from the table, Hard Reset through Recovery is the most reliable method, because it does not depend on external services or network availability, but it is guaranteed to delete information. Remotely controlled methods are good in that they allow you to initiate the process even if the phone buttons are faulty.

If neither of these methods worked, it may be a hardware button malfunction or a corrupting of the firmware system files, which may require flashing the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool, which is a more complex procedure.

Prevention of blocking and safety advice

To avoid such situations in the future, it is recommended to set up several ways to unlock in advance. For example, use the "Fingerprint" bundle. + pattern lock or "Face" ID + PIN-Biometrics allow you to quickly log in to your phone, and a backup password is only needed in rare cases of rebooting.

Be sure to set up sync contacts and photos with Google Photos and Google Contacts. In this case, even if you have to do a full reset, you will only lose the installed apps and their settings, but all important personal information will be stored in the cloud and automatically returned after you log in to your account.

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Write down a complex password from your Google or Mi Account account to a secure location (notebook or password manager). Once you reset your phone without that password, the device will turn into a brick because of FRP protection.

It's also helpful to check periodically for Find Device, go to Google or Mi Account settings and make sure the switch is activated, which will take a couple of minutes, but can save the day.

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Regular synchronization of data with the cloud is the only guarantee that a forgotten password will not lead to the irretrievable loss of important photos and documents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)