How to unlock Xiaomi Redmi 9: official and unofficial ways in 2026

Forgot the password from Redmi 9 or want to install custom firmware, but the phone is locked? unlocking Xiaomi smartphone – a process that requires attention to detail, especially if we are talking about the model of the 2020 release with the release of the smartphone MIUI. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of unlocking, from officially unlocking the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool to bypassing the pattern lock without losing data. This can be a blocked bootloader, Mi Account, PIN-finger-print.

Many users experience a problem after buying a used phone or a failed firmware. For example, when trying to flash Redmi 9 through fastboot, the system may give an error "This device is locked." Or after resetting, the phone requires an old Xiaomi account that you do not have access to. We will look at solutions for all these cases, including legal methods (with a waiting 72-360 hours) and alternative methods (for power users).

Types of locks on Xiaomi Redmi 9: what exactly is blocked?

Before you start unlocking, you need to determine exactly what type of lock you are facing, and it depends on how you decide to solve the problem. Redmi 9 (codenamed lancelot) has the following types of locks:

• 🔒 Bootloader lock is Xiaomi’s standard protection that prevents you from installing unofficial firmware or modifying the system. MIUI.
• 📱 Screen locking — PIN-a code, pattern lock or password that the user has set himself, may require resetting to factory settings.
• 👤 Link to the Mi Account - after resetting the settings, the phone requires you to enter a login and password from the previous owner (relevant for used devices).
• 🔧 Locking after a failed firmware – the phone does not boot, hangs on the Redmi logo or gives an error “No command".

For example, if you see the message "This device is locked. Unlocking the bootloader will erase all data" when you connect to the Mi Unlock Tool, it's about locking the bootloader. And if after the reboot, the phone asks you to enter a password from your Xiaomi account, even if you didn't tie it, this is Mi Account lock, which is often found on hand-buying devices.

Note that Redmi 9 with MIUI 12/13/14 firmware may have additional restrictions, for example, if the phone was released for the Chinese market (CN suffix version), unlocking the bootloader may require a Chinese phone number to confirm.

2. Official unlocking of the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool

The most reliable and recommended way Xiaomi is to use the official utility Mi Unlock Tool, which is suitable for unlocking the bootloader and allows you to install custom firmware, obtain root rights or restore the phone after bricking.

• ⏳ Wait 72–360 hours (3–15 days) after linking your account to your device.
• 📱 You need access to the phone’s operating system (if the screen is locked, you first need to unlock it).
• 🔌 It requires original USB-cable and stable connection to PC.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and 7 times click on the line with the version to activate Developer Mode. Then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlock.
2. Link your Mi Account to your device: In the same Developer Menu, find Mi Unlock Status and click Add Account and Device. The system will ask you to enter your Xiaomi account password.
3. Download Mi Unlock Tool: The official utility can be downloaded from en.miui.com/unlock (autonomy required). Make sure you have Xiaomi drivers installed for PC.
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode: Turn off Redmi 9, then press Volume Down + Power to log in to Fastboot. Connect your phone to your PC and launch the Mi Unlock Tool.
5. Start unlocking: Sign in to the utility under the same Mi Account as your phone. Press Unlock and wait until the process is complete. If a waiting message (e.g., "Wait 168 hours") appears, turn off the phone and try again after a specified time.

Developer mode activated|Debugging is on. USB and unlock OEM|Mi Account is tied to the device|Download the latest version of the Mi Unlock Tool|Installed drivers Xiaomi on PC-->

An important caveat: if you bought a Redmi 9 b/d, the previous owner could not untie your account, in which case unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool will not be possible until the original account is deleted from the device (see the Mi Account section).

3. unlock the screen (PIN, pattern lock, password)

If you forget the password from the lock screen, you have several ways to return access to Redmi 9. Important: most methods lead to data loss, so if there is important information on the phone, try to remember the password first or use the Find a device from Xiaomi (if it was activated).

Methods of unlocking:

The easiest way is to reset through Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
3. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (control – volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. After resetting, the phone will reboot to the initial setting.

Critical information: If the phone was enabled Mi Account and you do not remember the login details, after resetting via Recovery, the device will require you to enter the username and password from the previous account, in which case additional unlocking will be required (see section 4).

💡

If you have previously synced your contacts with your Google account, they will automatically reset when you first connect to the Internet.

4 Unlock the Mi Account binding (if the phone requires an old account)

One of the most common problems when buying a used Redmi 9 is blocking the Mi Account. Even after resetting the phone may require you to enter the username and password of the previous owner. Xiaomi officially does not provide ways to circumvent this protection, but there are several legal and informal methods.

Official method (if you have access to the previous owner):

• 📧 Ask the previous owner to delete the device from your Mi Account via account.xiaomi.com (Device Management section).
• 🔄 After deleting, restart your phone – the lock should disappear.

Unofficial methods (if there is no connection with the previous owner):

• 🛠️ Through EDL-It requires boxing (like a UFi Box or EasyJTAG) and firmware for Redmi 9 (codenamed lancelot). It works, but it's risky, if you make a mistake, you can turn the phone into a brick".
• 📱 Test mode bypass. Some versions. MIUI You can log into the engineering menu and reset the account binding, but this method is unstable and may not work on the latest firmware.

⚠️ Note: Using unofficial methods to unlock Mi Account may violate Xiaomi’s user agreement.In addition, after such manipulations, some functions may stop working (for example, Find a device or pay through Mi Pay).

If you are not sure about your skills, it is best to contact the Xiaomi service center with documents confirming the purchase of the device.

5 Unlocking after a failed firmware ("brick")

If Redmi 9 doesn't turn on, hangs on the Redmi logo, or gives out a "No command" error, there's probably a firmware error, and then flashing it through Fastboot or EDL will help.

• 🔄 Soft-brick: The phone turns on but doesn't load beyond the logo.
• 🧱 Hard-brick: phone doesn't respond to buttons, doesn't detect PCs. EDL (9008 mode).

Recovery via Fastboot (for Soft-Brick):

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi 9 (codenamed lancelot) from Xiaomi Firmware. Choose the Fastboot version (file with the.tgz extension).
2. Unpack the archive and install the Mi Flash Tool.
3. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (clamp Volume down + Power).
4. Connect to your PC, launch the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder, and press Refresh.
5. Press Flash and wait until the process is complete (usually 5-10 minutes).

Recovery through EDL (for Hard-Brick):

This method is more complex and requires special equipment (for example, a Deep Flash Cable cable or a UFi box). If you are not an experienced user, you should contact a service center. EDL:

python mi_edl.py -p COM3 -f firmware_firehose.mbn


fastboot flash all firmware.img

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL Without official permission, Xiaomi may be blocked. IMEI. On some versions of Redmi 9 (especially Chinese) after such a procedure, you may need authorization through Xiaomi servers, which is impossible without special software.

6. Alternative Unlocking Methods (for Power Users)

If the official methods have not helped or you want to speed up the process, alternative methods can be used, they are suitable for users who understand the risks and are ready for possible consequences (loss of warranty, blocking IMEI, etc.).

1. Unlock the bootloader by bypassing the wait (without 72/360 hours)

Some versions of the Mi Unlock Tool can reset the waiting timer by rolling back system time on a PC or using modified versions of the utility. However, this method often leads to the blocking of Mi accounts for suspicious activity. Since 2023, Xiaomi has tightened protections: if you try to bypass the wait, the account can be blocked for 30 days.

2.Use of Custom Recovery (TWRP)

If the bootloader is already unlocked, you can install TWRP and reset your password or flash a modified firmware. Redmi 9 (lancelot) has informal TWRP builds, but they may not support data encryption (FBE), which, once installed, will not see the internal memory.

Hardware methods (JTAG, ISP)

In extreme cases (e.g., if the phone is not identified in either the Fastboot or the EDL), soldering equipment can be used to connect to test points on the board, a method that requires soldering skills and knowledge of Redmi 9 circuitry.

💡

Alternative unlocking methods can violate warranty conditions and have irreversible consequences, and only use them if the official methods have failed and you understand the risks.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you unlock Redmi 9, users often encounter typical problems, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:

If you see an “Anti-rollback check” error when you’re running your firmware, it means you’re trying to install an older version of MIUI than the one on your phone before, in which case you’ll need to download the same or newer version of the firmware.

What do you do if nothing helps?

• 🔧 Contact the official Xiaomi service center (if the phone is guaranteed).
• 💬 Seek help in forums, for example, XDA Developers (Redmi 9).
• 🛒 If the phone is not recoverable, consider buying a new motherboard (cost) ~30-50% of the price of the device).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions