The situation when the owner of Xiaomi Redmi 9 forgets the installed access code is quite common, especially if the device is used by different family members or the code has not been entered manually for a long time. The lock screen is an important element of personal data protection, but it becomes an insurmountable barrier when losing password information. Fortunately, the MIUI operating system architecture on which the smartphone is based provides several regular and emergency ways to restore access to the interface.
Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand the consequences of most of the methods described below. Full reset (Hard Reset) is the most effective way, but it permanently deletes all user data: contacts, photos, correspondence in messengers and installed applications. If you did not back up in the cloud storage Mi Cloud or on your computer, it will be impossible to return information after the procedure.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms of actions for different scenarios, from an attempt to restore through a Google account to a forced reboot in Recovery mode. It is important to understand that after a reset, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection will work on the device, requiring the entry of a login and password from a Google account that was synchronized earlier.
Use the “Find Device” function from Google
The most civilized and safe way to unlock is remote control through Google services, which only works if a number of conditions are met: the smartphone must be turned on, connected to the Internet (mobile or Wi-Fi), and it must have a Google account with administrator rights activated.
To start the procedure, you need to take any other gadget (computer, tablet or phone friend) and go to the official website of the search service. Enter the account information that is tied to the blocked Redmi 9.
- 📱 Go to the page. android.com/find and log in to your profile.
- 🔒 Select the left-hand model of your smartphone Redmi 9.
- 🧹 Click the “Erase Device” button to delete all data and password.
Once the action is confirmed, the screen will be alerted that all data will be deleted, we agree and wait for the command to be executed, the smartphone will receive a signal, force reset to the factory settings and reboot, at which point the lock will be removed, but the device will need to be reconfigured as new.
⚠️ Warning: If the smartphone is offline, the command will be executed automatically as soon as it appears on the network.
The effectiveness of this method depends on the stability of the Internet connection on the locked device. If the mobile Internet is disabled and the Wi-Fi network is not familiar to the phone (or the router is turned off), the command from the server simply does not reach the destination, in such cases you have to resort to more radical measures through the hardware buttons.
Reset via Recovery (Hard Reset)
Recovery mode is a special diagnostic interface built into the phone’s memory regardless of the main operating system. This is where we get to when we need to perform a deep reset without access to the desktop. On Xiaomi smartphones, this mode is entered by a combination of physical buttons when the power is turned off.
First, turn off your Redmi 9 completely. Make sure the screen is off and the phone is not making any noise. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume key until the menu appears in English or Chinese.
☑️ Recovery login algorithm
Recovery does not support touch control. Navigation through menu items is done with volume buttons (up/down), and selecting the desired item is done with a short press of the power button. You need to find Wipe Data or Wipe & Reset. In some firmware versions, you will first need to select the language (English) if the menu opens in Chinese.
Then you'll get a confirmation request. Select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The data partition formatting process will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Upon completion, the screen will show "Data wiped successfully." After that, select Reboot → Reboot to System for normal boot.
⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI To enter Recovery mode, you may need to unlock the screen through a password, even in Recovery. If the system requests a code you forgot, this method may not work without first binding to Mi Account.
Unlocking with Mi Account and Cloud Service
Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own analogue of Google services. If a Mi Account was entered and activated on a blocked Redmi 9, and the Find Device feature is enabled, you can try to remove the lock remotely, this is especially true if Google services have been disabled or not configured.
Go from your computer or other smartphone to i.mi.com. Sign in using the same phone number or email as on the locked device. From the main menu, select your phone icon. If you have established a connection to the device, you will see its location and status.
In the available feature menu, find the "Clear Data" or "Unblock" button. The system will warn you that all files will be deleted. Confirm the operation. The phone, after receiving a signal over the Internet, will reset the settings and remove the pattern lock or pin code.
An important nuance is the operating system version. On older versions of MIUI, there was sometimes a vulnerability that allowed you to reset the password without losing data, but in current firmware for Redmi 9, security is enhanced, and deleting the password is always accompanied by formatting the user partition.
Comparison of Redmi 9 Unlocking Methods
The choice of the specific method depends on the initial conditions: the availability of the Internet, knowledge of credentials and firmware version. Below is a comparative table that will help determine the optimal algorithm for actions in your situation.
| Method | I need Internet on my phone. | Data security | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Find My Device | I'll be sure. | Data is deleted | Low. |
| Hard Reset (Buttons) | Not required | Data is deleted | Medium |
| Mi Cloud Service | I'll be sure. | Data is deleted | Low. |
| ADB (USB Debugging) | Not required | Possible preservation | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, most of the methods available to the user lead to complete deletion of information, which is done by developers specifically to protect the owner's data in the event of a device being stolen. The USB debugging (ADB) method theoretically allows you to save data, but it only works if the debugging function was included in the developer's menu in advance, which is rare.
If none of the software methods worked, the problem may be hardware or a serious software failure, which requires flashing the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility, but this already requires a special firmware file and certain technical skills.
FRP problem and Google account after reset
After successfully running Hard Reset and rebooting the Xiaomi Redmi 9, you will encounter the initial setup screen.The Android security system will trigger FRP (Factory Reset Protection) verification.
You will be prompted to connect to the Wi-Fi network and enter the login and password from the Google account that was synced to the phone before locking, and if you enter incorrect data or try to skip this step, the device will remain locked.
- 🔑 Enter only the account that was used on this phone before.
- 📶 Make sure the time and date on the device are set correctly, otherwise the Google server may reject authorization.
- 🔄 If your Google password is also forgotten, restore it through your computer before entering your phone.
In some cases, if the phone hasn't been connected to the network for a long time, the system may "backtrack" from the server and not request a password right away, but this is a temporary phenomenon, and the request will still arrive at the first opportunity to communicate with the activation servers.
⚠️ Attention: There are paid services and programs for bypassing FRP, Unprofessional interference with system files can lead to a complete inoperability of the smartphone (the “brick”), which cannot be fixed software.
Prevention of blocking and creation of backups
To avoid the situation with a forgotten password taking you by surprise in the future, you should take care of regular backup. Xiaomi smartphones have a powerful tool for creating local and cloud copies. Regular backup will allow you not to worry about losing contacts and photos in an emergency reset.
Set up automatic contacts and calendar sync with your Google account. This is done in the Settings → Accounts and Sync menu. It is also recommended to periodically connect your phone to your computer and copy important documents and media files to your hard drive.
Use password managers or Google's autocomplete feature to store passwords, eliminating the need to remember complex character combinations, remembering one master password or using biometrics to access a password database.