Smartphone owners often face the need to change security codes access, and model Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is no exception. Change password can be required for various reasons, from the desire to improve the security of the device to the banal forgetting of the old combination. Modern security systems Android and shells MIUI offer flexible tools access control, but their functionality is not always obvious at first glance. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to change the password lock screen, and also touch on the issues of restoring access to the Mi Account.
It’s important to understand the difference between a screen unlock password and a manufacturer’s account. A screen password is the code you enter every time you turn on your smartphone or after you’ve gone off sleep. A Mi Account is your digital profile in the Xiaomi ecosystem, which is essential for synchronizing data, finding a device, and running cloud services. The confusion between these concepts often leads to unnecessary problems, so we’ll clearly separate these procedures in the sections that follow. If you’re looking for a way to reset a forgotten code, you’ll also need special techniques, which will be discussed below.
Before you start changing your security settings, make sure you have access to the current state of your phone. Changing your lock password requires knowing the current code or using biometrics (fingerprint/face) if it is set up. Without this step, the system will view your actions as an unauthorized access attempt and block the change in settings. We will look at scenarios when access is available and situations when the user completely forgot the combination.
Setting up a new screen lock password
The process of changing the access code in the MIUI interface is standardized, but the location of menu items may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. First, you need to get into the basic settings of the system. Open the Settings app and find the section responsible for device security. Depending on the localization, it can be called Passwords and Security or simply Screen Lock. This is where the keys to your digital home are stored.
Once you log into the security menu, the system will require you to verify your identity. PIN-This is a critical step in protecting the password, the code, the pattern lock, or the password that you have installed right now, and if the password change menu were opened without checking, anyone who took your phone could have access to your data instantly. After successful authorization, a list of available unlock methods will open before you.
Select "Screen Lock" or "Screen Lock Type" and the system will offer you a choice of several protection options:
- 🔒 pattern lock – connection of points on the grid 3x3, popular.
- 🔢 PIN-code - combination of 4 or more digits, the classic version.
- 🔣 alpha-numeric Password is the most reliable option, including letters, numbers and special characters.
- 👆 Fingerprint – a biometric method that still requires a backup password.
When you choose a new method, the system will ask you to enter the desired combination twice for confirmation. Try not to use obvious birth dates or sequences like “1234.” Once confirmed, the new code will take effect immediately. If you use Smart Lock, remember that it only works under certain conditions, and the primary password is still necessary to reboot the device.
Change the password of the Mi Account
Unlike the local screen password, the Mi Account is linked to Xiaomi’s cloud servers, which can be changed either through the settings of the smartphone itself or through the web interface. If you have access to your phone and are logged in, the easiest way to do so is through the settings menu. Go to Settings → Mi Account.
In your account profile, look for a Security or Password section. To confirm a transaction, the system can request a confirmation code sent via SMS to the linked phone number or an email. This is two-factor protection that ensures that access to your account will not be changed by an attacker even if he recognizes your old password. Enter a new password, meeting the complexity requirements: usually it is a minimum of 8 characters, including letters of different registers and numbers.
If you decide to change your password through your browser on your computer, go to the official i.mi.com or account.xiaomi.com. Log in to your profile using current data. In the security section, select the password change option. Importantly, after changing the password from your Mi Account on all associated devices, you will need to re-authorize, and the sync of contacts, photos and notes will resume only after you enter new data.
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Use a password manager to generate and store complex unique passwords for your Mi Account so you don’t have to depend on memory.
What to do if I forgot the unlock password
The situation when the owner of Redmi Note 9 Forgetting a password, pattern lock, or PIN-The code is one of the most stressful. Unfortunately, modern versions of Android and shells. MIUI (verb 10-12 There were loopholes that allowed you to reset your password through a Google or Mi Account without losing data, but now security policies dictate different rules.
If you forget the unlock code, the only regular way to get back to your phone is to completely reset your phone, which removes all user information: photos, contacts, apps and settings. The phone goes back out of the box, so that if the device is stolen, the thief can't access the owner's personal information by simply dumping the phone.
To perform the reset, you will need access to the Recovery Mode recovery menu:
- 📴 Turn off the smartphone completely.
- 🔘 Press the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time.
- 🖐 Hold the buttons until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button while continuing to keep the volume up.
- 📋 In the menu that appears, select the language (English) and the option Wipe Data.
⚠️ Warning: After the reset, the phone will ask for a password from a previously entered Google or Mi Account (protection) FRP). If you do not remember the password from the account, unlocking the device will be extremely difficult or impossible without contacting the service center with purchase checks.
Using the “Find Device” function to reset
There is an alternative way to reset your screen lock password if the phone has enabled the Internet and the device search function. Google's Find Device service or a similar service from Xiaomi allows you to remotely control your smartphone. For the Google method, go to android.com/find from any other device.
Log in to the Google account that was the main one on the blocked Redmi Note 9. If the phone is online and geolocated, you will see it on the map. From the control menu, select the option “Erase Device” (Erase Device), which initiates the remote Hard Reset. The screen password will be deleted along with all data, but the phone will be available for configuration again.
Similarly, cloud.mi.com (formerly i.mi.com) works. If your phone has an active Mi Account and a search function enabled, you can log in to the web interface, select your device and click on the Delete button. The effect is the same: full memory cleanup and delocking the screen, and the good thing is that it doesn't require physical access to your smartphone buttons if you're at home, for example, and you're at work.
☑️ Pre-reset check
Comparison of data protection methods
The choice of password type directly affects the security and usability of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9. Different methods have different resistance to hacking and different input speeds. Below is a comparison table that will help determine the best protection option for your use case.
| Protection method | Level of security | Ease of input | Risk of selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| pattern lock | Medium. | High. | Medium (screen traces) |
| PIN-code (4-6 figure) | Low/Mediocre | High. | High (excessive) |
| A complex password | Very tall. | Low. | Minimum |
| Fingerprint. | High-pitched | Very high. | Low (but requires a reserve) |
As can be seen from the table, the pattern lock is convenient, but leaves fat marks on the screen, on which an experienced attacker can restore the drawing. PIN-It's easy to type code with one hand, but 4-digit combinations are sorted by special devices in minutes. The most reliable option is a complex password, but it can be annoying to type it constantly. A complex password as the primary method and fingerprint for daily unlocking.
Why? FAT-code is better than a pattern lock?
Frequent errors and problems when changing passwords
Redmi Note 9 users often face typical problems when trying to change security codes. One common mistake is ignoring password complexity requirements. The system may prevent the installation of too simple code (such as "0000" or "1234"), considering it unsafe, in which case you need to come up with a more complex combination.
Another problem is time desynchronization: If the phone has a time and date down, you may experience errors when you try to log in to your Mi or Google account to restore access, and make sure that the Date and Time settings check the "Use Network Time" box. Users often confuse the password from the lock screen with the PIN-code SIM-These are different things: code SIM The password is requested immediately after the phone is turned on before the system boots, and the screen password is requested after the Mi logo appears.
If the system writes “False Password” when you enter the correct one, it may have enabled “Power Button Lock” or “Pocket Mode” that could have accidentally activated false pressing. Try restarting the device. In rare cases, cleaning the cache of Google Play services or updating the system to the latest version of MIUI helps.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to enter your password by brute-force at random. 5-10 Failure to make Redmi Note 9 lock-in 30 second, then on 5 You may need to log in to your Google account to unlock it, even if you know the correct code.
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Regularly changing passwords and using biometrics is the best way to keep the balance between security and usability of a smartphone.
Additional security measures MIUI
The MIUI shell offers features that go beyond the standard password, such as Second Space, which allows you to create an isolated environment on your phone with a separate set of apps and a password, which is convenient for separating work and personal information, and you can log into the second space either through a special shortcut or by using another fingerprint.
Hide Content is also available for notifications. You can set your phone so that text messages don’t appear on a locked screen. Xiaomi uses a special gesture in a gallery or explorer to access hidden apps, which is also protected by a separate password. All these layers of protection are configured in the same Passwords and Security menu.
Remember, Emergency Call, even when the screen is locked, you can call emergency services, you can add emergency contacts to your security settings that are accessible without passwords, an important security element that should not be a loophole for attackers.