How to disable the password on Xiaomi Redmi 9: step-by-step instructions

Modern smartphones store huge amounts of personal information, and protecting access to them is a priority. However, users often face a situation where the password becomes an obstacle for the owner of the device, this can be a forgotten combination of characters, an inconvenient pattern lock or simply a desire to make it easier to unlock the screen. On Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones running the MIUI shell, the procedure for removing protection has its own features that must be considered.

Before you start taking action, it's important to understand that there are multiple scenarios: You may know the current code and just want to delete it, or access to the system is completely lost. In the first case, the process will take a couple of minutes, in the second case, you will need a more radical approach with a complete cleanup of data. In any case, Xiaomi Redmi 9 provides tools for solving both problems.

In this article, we will discuss all available methods of unblocking, we will look at the standard Android operating system tools and hidden recovery mode capabilities, and we will also focus on the security issues associated with the Google account and Mi Account, since ignoring these aspects can lead to a complete lock of the device after a reset.

Preparation for the removal of the lock and precautions

Any manipulation of system security settings requires prior preparation. If you have access to a smartphone menu, first of all make sure that the data you do not want to lose is saved. Resetting, which is often the only way to remove a forgotten password, will irrevocably destroy photos, contacts and messages.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 owners should check the status of their accounts. MIUI security is closely integrated with the company's services and Google. If the phone was enabled to search for a device, after reset, the system will require you to enter the username and password from the account that was last authorized on this gadget.

⚠️ Note: If you don’t remember the password from your Mi Account or Google account, you don’t make a full reset.You risk getting a locked device that can’t be activated without your account data.

It is also recommended to charge the smartphone battery to a minimum of 60%.The process of rebooting and cleaning the memory can be energy intensive, and a sudden shutdown at a critical moment can damage the software part.

For those planning to use a computer for backup or debugging, install ADB drivers beforehand. Although in this tutorial we will focus on PC-free methods, having a backup option is always helpful. Check if USB debugging is enabled in the Developer section if you plan to have complex manipulations in the future.

Removing password through system settings

If you remember your current password or you have a fingerprint login set up, the easiest way to turn off protection is to use the regular settings menu, which doesn't require deleting data, and it takes literally a minute, and you need to unlock the screen in any way you can and go to the main menu.

Find the Settings icon, which usually looks like a gear. In the settings list that opens, scroll down to the Passwords and Security section. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be simply called Screen Lock or inside the Device Protection tab. The interface may vary slightly depending on the regional version of the software.

Inside the menu, select Screen Lock. The system will ask you to verify your identity by entering your current password, PIN-If you do that, you'll see a full range of security settings, and you'll see the current type of lock and the ability to change it.

Click on the option Turn off password or No. The phone will again request confirmation with the current code. After that, the protection will be completely removed, and the lock screen will stop requesting data entry when the device wakes up. This is the safest and most correct way if you have access to the system.

It is worth noting that disabling the password also deactivates the fingerprint scanner and facial unlock, since this biometric data requires the main digital key for encryption. If you decide to re-installe the protection, all biometric settings will have to be re-registered.

Resetting a forgotten password through Recovery Mode

Passwords are the most common, and in this case, you can’t log in in normally, and the only solution is to force a reset via the Recovery menu, which allows you to perform low-level operations on the smartphone file system, including a complete cleanup of user data along with passwords.

To enter recovery mode on Xiaomi Redmi 9, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but continue to hold the volume until the main Recovery menu appears.

Navigation in this menu is done with volume keys (up and down), and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Then the system will suggest you select Wipe All Data. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.

⚠️ Note: Wipe All Data completely removes all files from the phone’s internal memory. You can’t recover photos or documents without a prior backup in the cloud.

After the confirmation, the formatting process will begin. The progress bar will be displayed on the screen. Once the cleanup is complete, the system will prompt you to return to the main menu (Back to Main Menu) or reboot.

The first run after a reset will take longer than usual, as the system will reconfigure files. Be prepared for the fact that when connected to Wi-Fi, the phone may request a password from a Google account that was synced earlier, a standard measure of protection against theft.

Use the “Find Device” function from Google

An alternative way to unlock, which doesn’t always require data resets (although this is less common in modern Android versions), is to use Google’s Find Device service, which only works if the smartphone is connected to the Internet (mobile or Wi-Fi) and geolocated.

Go from your computer or other smartphone to the site android.com/find. Log in to the Google account that is linked to the blocked Xiaomi Redmi 9. If there are several devices, select the one you need in the list from above.

In the service interface, you'll have three options: "Discover location," "play signal" and "Clear device." We're interested in the last item. Clicking on "Clean device" will initiate a remote reset to factory settings.

This method is good because it does not require physical interaction with the buttons of the smartphone, which can be useful if the buttons are damaged. However, as with Recovery, all data will be deleted. Once cleaned, the phone will reboot and the password on the lock screen will be removed.

It is important to understand that if the phone is turned off or has no access to the network, the reset command will be executed only when it is connected to the Internet.

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Remote reset via Google is only possible with an active Internet connection on a locked device and the geolocation function enabled.

Mi Account and FRP lock problems

Once a password is reset, users often face an additional layer of protection known as FRP (Factory Reset Protection) or Mi Account lock.This is a security mechanism to prevent the stolen phone from being used after flashing.

If you have a Mi Account on the Xiaomi Redmi 9, it will require you to enter the password from the Mi Account, not Google, which is a security requirement of Xiaomi. If you don't remember the data, restoring access can be a difficult task.

The table below shows the main differences between the types of locks that can be encountered:

If you can't remember your Mi Account password, use the recovery procedure on i.mi.com, which requires access to your linked phone number or email, without which it's almost impossible to unlock your device officially.

There are service centers that can help in removing the Mi Account lock if there are documents confirming the purchase of the device (check, box with IMEI).

Frequent errors and ways to fix them

When passwords are removed, users often make mistakes that make things more difficult, and one of the most common is to repeatedly enter the password incorrectly before locking, in which case MIUI may require a certain time to wait or enter the Mi Account unlock code.

Another mistake is interrupting the reset process. If the battery runs out or crashes during memory formatting in Recovery mode, the phone can go into a "bootloop" and the device will constantly display the logo and restart without booting the operating system.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the process of recording data or formatting, even if it seems that the phone is getting stuck.

Users also often confuse boot modes. Trying to reset in Fastboot mode through a menu on a computer without proper knowledge can lead to installing incompatible firmware.

If the phone does not respond to touch or does not work properly after reset, the persist file or other system partitions may be damaged, in which case you need to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.

Remember, after the reset, the network settings will also be deleted, you'll have to re-enter the Wi-Fi passwords and set up Bluetooth headsets, which is normal after you get back to factory.

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Save screenshots of important settings (APN, Wi-Fi passwords) before resetting if possible, saving time resetting the Internet and periphery.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions