How to open Xiaomi Redmi 9T: all ways to unlock your smartphone

Forgot the password from Xiaomi Redmi 9T or bought a used device with a locked screen? The situation is familiar to many — a smartphone turns into a “brick” if you do not know how to unlock it. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of unlocking, from a standard reset through Recovery to bypassing the binding to the Mi Account. It is important to understand that each method has its own nuances and risks — for example, a complete reset will delete all data without the possibility of recovery.

Redmi 9T

lime

Snapdragon 662

MIUI

Xiaomi

"This device is locked"

"Too many pattern attempts"

In the article you will find:

• 🔓 Recovery Reset – a universal method for unlocking the screen (suitable if not tied to Mi Account).
• 📱 Bypass FRP — If the smartphone requires the data of the old Google account after the reset.
• 🔑 Unlock the bootloader - the official way through the Mi Unlock Tool (needed for firmware).
• ⚠️ Risks and Warnings – What Could Go Wrong and How to Avoid It.
• 🛠️ Hardware methods – when software methods do not help (for example, a damaged display).

1 Unlock through reset in Recovery Mode

The easiest way to get Redmi 9T back is to hard reset the recovery menu, which deletes all data, including apps, photos and settings, but is guaranteed to remove the screen lock. Importantly, the method only works if the phone does not activate the binding to the Mi Account (otherwise, after the reset, you will need to enter the username / password).

To enter Recovery:

1. Turn off your smartphone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press Volume Up + Power at the same time and hold for 5-7 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see a menu in English or Chinese.
4. Use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select the Wipe Data (or Clear Data) item.
5. Confirm the reset by using Wipe All Data → Confirm.

Once you reboot, the phone will be like new, just reset it. If you request Mi Account data after the reset, move on to the next section.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI Wipe Data can be called Factory Reset or Erase All. Do not confuse it with Wipe Cache - this is a cache clearer that will not remove the lock screen.

2. bypassing the lock Mi Account (if the phone is linked to the account)

If Redmi 9T requires Mi Account data after a reset, then the previous owner has not untied the device, and there are three legal ways to unlock it:

• 📧 Contact the previous owner – ask them to untie the device via account.xiaomi.com (Devices section).
• 📄 Provide a purchase check – if the phone is officially purchased, Xiaomi can unblock on request to the support team (you need data from the box).
• 🛠️ The official unlocker is the Mi Unlock Tool (more in the next section).

If you can't contact the previous owner and you don't have a check, you can only bypass FRP (Factory Reset Protection). Redmi 9T has working methods through Fastboot or special utilities like Mi Account Bypass Tool. However, these methods require ADB skills and can lead to IMEI blocking if used incorrectly.

Example of commands for bypassing FRP via ADB (works on some versions of MIUI):

adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gsf.login/


adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gsf.login.LoginActivity

⚠️ Note: Using unofficial tools to bypass Mi Account may violate Xiaomi’s policies and result in device locking at the server level.

3 Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool

If you need to not just unlock the screen, but flash custom firmware or get root rights, you will need to unlock the bootloader. Xiaomi officially allows you to do this through the Mi Unlock Tool utility, but the process has several nuances:

1. Download the Mi Unlock Tool from the official website (the version must match your MIUI).
2. Sign in to the program under the same Mi Account as on your phone.
3. Put Redmi 9T into Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
4. Connect your phone to your PC and follow the instructions in the program.

Usually, it takes 72–168 hours (3–7 days) to unlock, which is Xiaomi’s limit to protecting against random actions. Once successfully unlocked, you can flash TWRP or custom firmware.

💡

If the Mi Unlock Tool gives you a “Couldn’t unlock” error, try using an older version of the program (e.g. 3.5.501.24) or check if USB debugging is enabled in the developer settings.

4. unlocking the pattern lock or PIN-codeless

If you have forgotten the pattern lock or PIN-code, but remember the Mi Account data, you can try to unlock Redmi 9T without losing data:

1. On the lock screen, enter any key 5 times in a row until the message “Forgot your password?” appears.
2. Click on this label and select Unblock via Mi Account.
3. Enter the username and password from your Xiaomi account.
4. Create a new PIN or pattern lock.

If this method doesn’t work (for example, there is no Internet connection), try unlocking through Find Device:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the Devices section, select your Redmi 9T.
3. Click Unlock the device and confirm the action.

This method only works if the phone has location services enabled and has access to the network.

💡

Unblocking through Mi Account is the safest way, as it does not require a data reset and does not violate the warranty.

5 Hardware Unlocking Methods (if the screen is not working)

If the Redmi 9T display is damaged or does not respond to touch, but the phone turns on, you can try unlocking it via USB-OTG and mouse:

1. Connect. USB-mouse to phone OTG-adapter.
2. With the mouse cursor, enter a PIN or pattern lock.
3. If the screen is completely black, but the phone is making sounds, try connecting via ADB and execute the command:

adb shell input text 1234 && adb shell input keyevent 66

(where 1234 is yours PIN-66 is the Enter command and the Enter command).

In extreme cases, if the device does not respond at all, only disassembly and connection to the programmer remains, this method requires special equipment (for example, UFi Box or Medusa Pro) and is used in service centers, the cost of unlocking this is from 1500 to 3000 rubles.

⚠️ Attention: Self-disassembly of Redmi 9T without experience, it can damage the plumes or contacts. If you are not sure of your abilities, contact the service center.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you unlock the Redmi 9T, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔌 "Unable to connect to Mi Unlock Tool – check if Qualcomm drivers are installed and disable antivirus.
• ⏳ "The 168-hour wait is not over – try linking your phone to another Mi Account and start the process over again.
• 📵 "After the reset, there is no network, which means that IMEI Restore it via the engineering menu (#4636##) or firmware.
• 🔒 "The device is locked after the firmware is "snap-stitched" so you're not stitching the firmware for your model. MIUI via Mi Flash Tool.

Another common mistake is to use unofficial firmware without unlocking the bootloader, which leads to a bootloop, and the phone turns into a brick. To avoid this, always check the firmware compatibility with the lime model (codenamed Redmi 9T).

7. Alternative methods: unlock through EDL and test point

If all previous methods failed, the last option is to unlock through EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode, which requires:

• USB Type-C Cable with EDL support (preferably original).
• The Mi Flash Tool or QFil program.
• Firmware file in.mbn format for your model.
• Test point (if the bootloader is blocked).

Algorithm of action:

1. Open the back of the phone and find a test point (for the Redmi 9T, these are contacts near the battery).
2. Close the contacts with tweezers and connect USB-plug-in.
3. The phone will be called the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
4. In the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware and press Flash.

This method will reset all the data and return the phone to factory status, and only use it if other methods have failed.

💡

EDL mode is the “last hope” for unlocking, even on locked bootloaders, but requires disassembling the phone and risks voiding the warranty.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions