How to unblock Xiaomi Mi 9T: from unlocking the bootloader to installing firmware

Xiaomi Mi 9T (codenamed davinci) is one of the most popular smartphones of the brand, but its owners often face the problem of “bricking” after unsuccessful experiments with firmware, rooting or reset via Fastboot. Unlike the new models with ARB 4.0+ protection, the Mi 9T can still be restored even without an official unlocker, but the process requires accuracy and understanding of each step.

In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of unblocking - from unlocking the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool to installing custom custom TWRP and firmware through EDL-Special attention will be paid to bypassing the Mi Account lock (if it is activated) and restoring the system. IMEI, The Hyde is suitable for both soft bricks (hang on the logo, bootloop) and hard bricks (full breeze, no reaction to buttons).

Reasons for the “bricking” Xiaomi Mi 9T and their diagnosis

Before you start rebuilding, it is important to determine what type of brick your device has, which determines the choice of method and the chances of success:

• 🔄 Soft brick: The phone turns on but gets stuck on the Mi logo, loads into Fastboot, possibly hitting Recovery (even stock). TWRP Magisk module conflict.
• 🚨 Hard brick: the device does not respond to buttons, is not determined by the computer, the screen is black or illuminated. EDL, damage to the boot section or persist.
• 🔒 Mi Account lock: Once reset or firmware is installed, the phone requires you to enter Xiaomi account data, even if you haven’t tied it to it.
• 📡 Loss of loss IMEI/serial number: after firmware disappears network, in the settings displayed zeros instead of IMEI. The culprit is damage to the nvram or modem partition.

For diagnosis, connect your phone to your PC and check the reaction:

• If it is defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 is the EDL-The chances of recovery are high.
• If you see it as Android Fastboot, you can stitch it through fastboot.
• If the computer makes a connection sound, but the device does not appear, there is a problem with the drivers or USB controller.

⚠️ Attention: If your Mi is yours 9T If you bought it from hand and were previously linked to someone else's Mi Account, you'll be blocked through the official Mi Flash Tool, which will require you to bypass your account.

Preparation for recovery: tools and drivers

To get the Xiaomi Mi 9T, you will need:

Also install the drivers:

1. Qualcomm Driver HS-USB (for EDL-mode - download here.
2. ADB/Fastboot Driver – Automatically installed with Platform Tools
3. Disable the driver signature in Windows (if the QDLoader driver is not installed).

Unlock the bootloader with the Mi Unlock Tool

If your Mi 9T still reacts (enters the Fastboot), the first step is to unlock the bootloader, without which you can not flash custom recovery or unofficial firmware.

Instructions:

1. Download and install Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account (should be tied to your phone!).
3. Transfer the phone to Fastboot: turn off, press Volume down + Power.
4. Connect to your PC, launch the Mi Unlock Tool and follow the instructions.

Important nuances:

• 🔗 If the phone hasn’t been unlocked before, you’ll have to wait 72 to 168 hours (depending on the Mi Unlock version).
• 📵 If Mi Account is not yours, unlocking is not possible without bypassing (see next section).
• 🔄 After unlocking the phone will automatically reset to factory settings!

⚠️ Note: Since 2023, Xiaomi has tightened account verification, and if the phone was bought with hands and tied to someone else's Mi Account, official unlocking will result in permanent lockdown (proof of purchase required). EDL (described below).

Bypassing the lock Mi Account on Xiaomi Mi 9T

If after a reset or firmware, the phone requires you to enter Mi Account data that does not belong to you, there are two ways to bypass:

Method 1: Through EDL (for hard bricks)

You'll need to run a firmware through EDL that disables account verification.

1. Download the modified firmware without checking Mi Account (e.g., from here).
2. Install the Qualcomm 9008 driver and transfer the phone to EDL-Mode: (a) Turn off the phone. (b) Press the Volume up + Volume down and connect to PC. in) Hold the buttons for 10-15 seconds until the QDLoader 9008 device appears.
3. Sweat through the Mi Flash Tool with the clean all option.

Method 2: TWRP (for soft bricks)

If the phone is loaded into TWRP:

1. Download the zip file to disable the Mi Account.
2. Move it to your phone via ADB sideload or an external memory card.
3. In TWRP, select Install → Select zip → Sweeten.
4. After the firmware, reset via Wipe → Format Data (enter yes).

⚠️ Note: Bypassing Mi Account may violate Xiaomi’s policy. After recovery, we recommend that you delete your old account through settings and link yours to avoid re-blocking.

Installation of TWRP and firmware custom ROM

If the bootloader is unlocked but the stock firmware is not loading, the best option is to install custom recovery (TWRP) and flash an alternative ROM (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

Instructions:

1. Download the latest version of TWRP for Davinci from the official website.
2. Transfer the phone to Fastboot and connect to the PC.
3. Open the command line in the folder with fastboot and execute: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-davinci.img fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-davinci.img
4. In TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data (required!), then run the selected ROM.

Recommended firmware for Mi 9T:

• 📱 Pixel Experience – pure Android with support for all features.
• 🔄 LineageOS – stable and fast, but without the branded chips Xiaomi.
• 🎯 MIUI Pro - modified MIUI free of bloat and with improved performance.

💡

If your mobile network is missing after you have installed custom ROM, check IMEI in Settings → About Phone. If you have zeros instead of zeros, restore the backup of the nvram partition via TWRP (you can download the backup on XDA).

Recovery through EDL (for hard brick)

If the phone doesn't respond to buttons and is not detected in Fastboot, then only the firmware is left with EDL (Emergency Download Mode), which works even when the bootloader is damaged, but requires special software and drivers.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Flash Pro or QFil and firmware in.mbn format (for example, from here).
2. Install the Qualcomm 9008 driver (see Preparation section).
3. Transfer the phone to EDL-regime (see above).
4. In Mi Flash Pro, select firmware, press Refresh, then Flash.
5. Wait for the end (10-15 minutes) and the phone will automatically restart.

Critical: Firmware via EDL will reset all data, including IMEI and serial number, and after recovery, be sure to check it and restore it through the engineering menu (#4636##).

💡

Firmware through EDL is the last chance for a hard brick, but requires strict adherence to instructions, and an error at this stage can lead to the inability to recover further (for example, if the partition persists).

Recovery of IMEI and serial number

Once you're running through EDL or Fastboot, you often have IMEI, Baseband and serial number, and without them, the phone won't catch the network, and you can recover them in two ways:

Method 1: Engineering menu (if known IMEI)

1. Open the dialer and type ##4636##.
2. Go to Phone Information and check your current IMEI.
3. If you have zero numbers, enter the correct ones. IMEI (indicated on the box or under the battery) via the command: su setprop sys.usb.config diag,serial_cdev,rmnet,adb echo 'AT +EGMR=1,7,"IMEI_1"' > /dev/ttyUSB2 echo 'AT +EGMR=1,10,"IMEI_2"' > /dev/ttyUSB2

Method 2: Maui Meta (if IMEI is lost)

You will need Maui Meta and nvram backup:

1. Download the Maui Meta and the MediaTek Preloader driver (yes, even for Qualcomm!).
2. Connect your phone to Fastboot and launch Maui Meta.
3. Select the Diagnostic port and restore the IMEI from the backup or enter manually.

⚠️ Note: Introduce incorrect IMEI (For example, random numbers) can cause the network to be blocked by the operator. Use only the original numbers from the box or stickers under the battery!

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even with the right instructions, there can be problems.

• 🔌 The phone is not determined in Fastboot/EDL: Check the cable (you need an original or high-end USB-Type C). USB-port 2.0). Install drivers manually through Device Manager.
• 🔄 Anti-rollback error when firmware: Download firmware with version MIUI No lower than the current one (check in Fastboot with fastboot getvar anti command). Use the Mi Flash Tool with the clean all and lock option (but this will block the bootloader!).
• 📵 No network after recovery: Check IMEI (Switch modem and nvram modules separately through Fastboot: fastboot flash modem. NON-HLOS.bin fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn

If none of the methods worked, there may be a problem with hardware damage (such as a memory chip dump), which would require repairs at a service center.

fastboot pull /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/persist persist.img

This will save calibration data for the camera, sensors and module. NFC (if).-->

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions