A forgotten password on Xiaomi Redmi 9A is a situation that affects one in five smartphone users. According to service center statistics, 63% of device locks are due to loss of access due to a password, pattern lock or fingerprint. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of unlocking, from official methods through Mi Account to radical solutions like Hard Reset – with detailed instructions, risk warnings and answers to frequent questions.
It's important to understand that not all methods are equally safe. For example, resetting through Recovery Mode will delete all data from the device, and using ADB requires pre-debugging. We've assigned the methods according to the complexity, from the simplest to the most radical, so you can choose the best option depending on your situation. If the phone is synchronized with Mi Cloud, the chances of returning access without loss of data are much higher.
Before you start, check:
- 🔋 Battery level (must be at least 30%, otherwise the risk of "bricking" the device during the procedure)
- 📡 A stable Internet connection (for methods with authorization via Mi Account)
- 🔧 Access to a computer (required for methods of ADB or firmware)
1 Unlocking through Mi Account (official method)
The safest way to do this is to use a Xiaomi account that is linked to your device, and it works if:
- 📱 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network)
- 🔑 Remember the username and password from Mi Account
- 🔄 The device is enabled synchronization with the cloud
Instructions:
- On the lock screen, click Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password? in English firmware).
- Select the recovery option through Mi Account.
- Enter the email or phone number associated with the account, then the password.
- Confirm your login via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).
- Follow the system’s prompts to create a new unlock password.
Advantages of the method: does not require data reset, works on any firmware (including MIUI 12/13/14), takes no more than 5 minutes.
⚠️ Note: If you bought the phone with your hands, the previous owner may not have deleted his Mi Account. In this case, unlocking through the account is impossible - you will need to contact the service center with proof of purchase.
2.Reset via Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)
If Mi Account is lost and the phone is not synced to the cloud, the radical method is hard reset, which deletes all data, including photos, contacts and installed apps, but returns access to the device. On Redmi 9A, this method works even without an attached account.
Step-by-step:
- Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
- Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
- In the Recovery Mode menu, select Wipe Data (or Clear Data) with the volume buttons, and confirm the choice with the power button.
- Then select Wipe All Data and confirm the action.
- After the process is complete (it will take 2-5 minutes), press Reboot.
On Redmi models 9A firmware-old MIUI 12.5 After Hard Reset, you may need to enter data from a previously linked Mi Account (FRP-If you don't remember them, the phone will turn into a brick".
| Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|
| It works without the internet. | Deletes all data without recovery |
| Doesn't require a computer. | Can activate FRP-blocking |
| It is suitable for all versions of MIUI. | New firmware requires confirmation via Mi Account |
Turn off your phone | Charge the battery to 50%+| Download backup data (if available) | Prepare data from Mi Account (in case of FRP)
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3. Unlock through ADB (for advanced users)
The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is suitable if the phone has previously enabled USB Debugging. This is rare, but if you activated it in advance (for example, for a manual firmware update), the chances of success are high.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS
- 🔌 USB-cable (original, without damage)
- 📦 Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with ADB.
- Enter the commands in order: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/password.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot
- After resetting, the password will be reset.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13/14 This method may not work because of the changed system file structure, and root rights are required, which are disabled by default on Redmi. 9A.
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If ADB can’t see the device, try reinstalling drivers via the Mi Flash Tool or using a USB 2.0 port (on some PCs, USB 3.0 causes conflicts).
4. Use of service codes (hidden functions)
The Xiaomi Redmi 9A has hidden engineering codes that rarely help bypass locks. They are not officially documented, so their effectiveness depends on the firmware version. Before using, check if the code entry on your device is blocked (some firmware has this disabled).
Try the following combinations (enter the phone as a number in the app):
- ##7378423## – Reset lock settings (works on MIUI 11-12)
- #3646633## - Access to the Engineering Menu (see Security section)
- #4636## - Test menu (sometimes allows you to reset the pattern lock)
If you reboot your phone after you enter the code, and your password is still there, it doesn't work. Don't enter the codes in a row: between attempts, pause for 1-2 minutes, otherwise the system may block the input completely.
What do I do if the codes don't work?
5. Flashing through Fastboot (last resort)
If all the previous methods failed, you just have to reflash your phone through Fastboot mode, which is the most reliable, but also the most risky method: if you make a mistake, your phone can turn into a brick.
- 🖥️ Computer with installed Mi Flash Tool
- 📁 Official firmware for Redmi 9A (Download from Xiaomi website)
- 🔧 Cable USB (preferably original)
Step-by-step:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press the Power button + Volume down to log into Fastboot Mode.
- Connect the phone to the computer.
- Start the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware (.tgz format).
- Press Refresh – the program must identify the device.
- Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
- Wait for the completion (10-15 minutes) and reboot.
Important: once you flash it, it'll be like new, without data, but without locking it. FRP-protection, you will need to enter data from the Mi Account, which was tied before the reset.
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Fastboot flashing is the only method that is guaranteed to work on any version of MIUI, but requires strict compliance with instructions. A firmware selection error or process interruption can bring the phone down.
6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center
If independent attempts to unlock failed, you can contact the official service center.
- 🔒 The phone is locked through the previous owner’s Mi Account
- 🛠️ After Hard Reset, you need account data you don’t have.
- 📱 The device "buried" after a failed firmware
What will be required to unlock:
- Check or contract of sale (proof of possession)
- Passport (for proof of identity)
- Phone box (if saved)
The cost of the service in official Xiaomi services varies from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles (2026), the timeframe is from 1 to 3 days. In informal workshops, unlocking can be cheaper (500-1 500 rubles), but the risk of damage to the device is higher.
Tip: Before visiting the service, try contacting the previous owner (if you bought from hand) – sometimes people agree to delete their Mi Account remotely via the web version of Mi Cloud.