How to unlock Xiaomi 9T: from password to bootloader (Step-by-step)

Xiaomi Redmi 9T is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even it is not immune to locks. Have you forgotten the pattern lock? The phone requires an old Mi Account after reset? Or want to install custom firmware but the bootloader is locked? In this article, all the current ways to unlock with the features of the 9T model (codename lime).

We will look at both software methods (via Mi Unlock Tool, ADB, Fastboot) and hardware (using Test Point), as well as bypassing FRP (Google Factory Reset Protection).Importantly, the procedures for the Redmi 9T are different from other Xiaomi models - for example, there is no infrared port for alternative unlocking, and the MIUI 12/13/14 firmware versions require different approaches.

We warn you right away: some methods can erase all data or cancel the warranty. If the phone is bought from hand, there is a high risk that the previous owner linked it to his Mi Account, and then unlocking will be more difficult.

1. unlock the screen: if you forgot the password or pattern lock

The most common problem is a locked screen. There are several ways around this on the Xiaomi 9T without losing data, but they don't work in all cases.

Method 1: Unblock through your Mi Account

• 🔑 If the phone is linked to your Mi Account, after 5 failed attempts to enter, the button Forgot the password?. Press it and log in to your Xiaomi account - the system will offer to reset the lock.
• ⚠️ But if you don't remember your account details or you bought your phone with your hands, this method won't work, and it's not available if you've previously disabled your sync with Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Works on MIUI 12.5 and later. Older versions may require a Wi-Fi connection.

Method 2: Reset by Find Device (Mi Cloud)

• 🌐 Log into i.mi.com from your PC, log in and select blocked Redmi 9T.
• 🔄 In the device menu, click Delete Data → Delete Device.The phone will be reset to factory settings but unlocked.
• ⚠️ Warning: you'll then need to enter the Mi Account that was tied to the phone before the reset, and if it's not your account, the phone will become a brick!

Method 3: ADB (if debugging is enabled)

If USB debugging was previously activated on the phone, you can delete the password file via ADB:

adb shell


su




rm /data/system/gesture.key




rm /data/system/password.key




rm /data/system/pattern.key




reboot

After the reboot, the screen will be unlocked, but fingerprints and account data will be saved.

💡

If USB debugging wasn’t enabled, but your phone recognizes your fingerprint, try unlocking it in emergency mode (hold the power button for 10+ seconds, then use the fingerprint to log in to the menu).

2 Unblocking the Mi Account after reset (bypassing the binding)

If you dropped the Xiaomi 9T through Recovery or Fastboot, and now the phone requires an old Mi Account, it's a classic anchoring problem that can be solved in a number of ways, but without the previous owner's data, the odds are slim.

Method 1: Official request to Xiaomi

• 📧 Write in support of Xiaomi (link) with proof of purchase (check, box with IMEI).They can unpeg in 3-7 days.
• 💳 If the phone is purchased by hand, ask the seller to provide his Mi Account details or checks.
• ⏳ Review time is up to 2 weeks. Redmi 9T requires IMEI (you can find it on the box or under the battery).

Method 2: Test Point bypass (for advanced)

If the official method doesn’t work, you can try hardware unlocking through test points on the board. For Xiaomi 9T, the procedure looks like this:

1. Turn off the phone, remove the back cover (need a mediator and a hair dryer to soften the glue).
2. Find the TP point on the motherboard (for the 9T, it is usually the contacts near the battery connector, marked as GND and CLK).
3. Close them with tweezers while connecting the phone to a PC with the Volume Down button clamped.
4. In the Mi Flash Tool, run an authorized firmware (e.g., lime_global_images...).

Method 3: Firmware through EDL (Emergency Mode)

If Test Point doesn’t work, you can try EDL (Emergency Download Mode) and flash it through Mi Flash:

fastboot oem edl

But for the Xiaomi 9T, this method is often blocked by anti-rollback protection, and if the firmware version is lower than the current one, the phone will turn into a brick.

💡

Bypassing the Redmi 9T Mi Account is only possible with the risk of loss of warranty or breakdown, and a formal request for support is the safest option.

3. Unlock the bootloader (Bootloader Unlock)

If you want to install custom recavers (like TWRP) or firmware (like LineageOS), you first need to unlock the bootloader. On Xiaomi 9T, this is done through the official Mi Unlock Tool tool, but there are nuances.

Step 1: Preparation

• 🔧 Install the Mi Unlock Tool from the official website (version must be at least 5.5.224.24 for 9T).
• 📱 Turn on your phone: Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode). Settings → Additional → Developer → Unlock OEM and Debug USB.
• 🔗 Link your phone to your Mi Account in Settings → Xiaomi Account.

Step 2: Unlocking process

Download Mi Unlock Tool|Activate Developer Mode |Enable OEM Unlock and USB Debugging|Tie your Mi| Account Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot-->

1. Turn off the phone, press Volume Down + Power to log into Fastboot.
2. Connect to your PC, launch the Mi Unlock Tool and log in.
3. Click Unlock. On Redmi 9T, the waiting time is 72–168 hours (depending on your account activity).
4. Once unlocked, the phone will automatically reset.

Challenges and solutions:

💡

If the Mi Unlock Tool gives a 0x80004005 error, try connecting the phone to another USB- port (preferably USB 2.0) or disable the antivirus.

4 bypass FRP (Google Factory Reset Protection)

If the Xiaomi 9T requires an old Google account after a reset, it is FRP- lock. On this model, it can be circumvented in several ways, but without the previous owner’s data, the chances are minimal.

Method 1: Via Wi-Fi settings (for MIUI 12–13)

1. On the welcome screen, connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Go back, click on Additional settings → Help → Feedback.
3. In the text box, enter any character, highlight it and click Web Search (Google Chrome will open).
4. Click on the download link for FRP Bypass APK (e.g. GSM Forum), install and follow the instructions.

Method 2: TalkBack (for MIUI 14)

• 🔊 On the lock screen, activate TalkBack (hold two fingers on the screen).
• 📱 In the TalkBack menu, click Settings → Help → Video tutorials (youtube will open).
• 🔍 Search YouTube for “FRP Bypass Xiaomi” and follow the video instructions.

⚠️ Warning: Bypassing FRP on Redmi 9T with MIUI 14 and later is often blocked by security patches. If the phone is updated after reset, these techniques may not work and you will need to firmware through EDL.

5. Unlock after firmware (brick, bootloop)

If Xiaomi 9T doesn’t turn on after a bad firmware (hangs on the MI logo or flashes a red indicator), it’s a brick. You can restore it via Fastboot or EDL.

Option 1: Fastboot firmware

• 📥 Download the official firmware for Redmi 9T (lime code) from MIUI Downloads.
• 🖥️ Unpack the archive and run the script flash_all.bat (for Windows) or flash_all.sh (for Linux/Mac).
• ⚠️ Important: If your phone has been unlocked, use flash_all_except_storage.bat to save data.

Option 2: Recovery with the Mi Flash Tool

1. Install the Mi Flash Tool and Qualcomm drivers.
2. Transfer your phone to EDL (close Test Point or use the fastboot oem edl command).
3. In Mi Flash, select firmware and press Flash (Clean All mode).

Option 3: If the IMEI is lost

After running through EDL, the network on Xiaomi 9T can disappear. You can restore the IMEI through the SN Writer Tool:

1. Download the SN Writer Tool and firmware for your model.


2 Enter the IMEI (indicated on the box or under the battery).




3. Connect the phone in EDL mode and press Start.

6. Alternative methods (for experienced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try more complex ones, which require firmware knowledge and risk building the phone.

Method 1: Installation of TWRP and Magisk

• 🔧 Once the bootloader is unlocked, set TWRP for Redmi 9T (version must support MIUI 13/14).
• 📦 Use TWRP to run Magisk for root rights.
• 🔑 You can delete lock files with Magisk (/data/system/locksettings.db).

Method 2: Using OrangeFox Recovery

OrangeFox is an alternative to TWRP with MIUI OTA support. For Xiaomi 9T:

1. Download OrangeFox for lime from the official website.
2. Fastboot: fastboot flash recovery orangefox.img fastboot reboot recovery
3. In OrangeFox, select Format Data (Erase all data but unlock Mi Account).

Method 3: Reflashing on Global ROM

If the phone was originally on Chinese firmware (CN ROM), you can reflash it on Global ROM to remove some locks:

• 🌍 Download Global Stable ROM for Redmi 9T.
• 🔄 Sweat through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All and Lock mode (bootloader locks again!).
• ⚠️ But: This method won't help if the phone is linked to a Mi Account.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When unlocking the Xiaomi 9T, users often face typical problems. Here’s how to prevent them:

⚠️ Warning: Redmi 9T with MIUI 14 and later, FRP has become more tightly locked. If the phone has updated automatically after reset, bypassing TalkBack or Wi-Fi may not work, in which case only the firmware through EDL with an authorized Xiaomi account remains.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions