Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro remains one of the most popular smartphones of the brand even years after its release. But what to do if the device is blocked? The reasons can be different: a forgotten pattern lock, locking your Mi Account after resetting, a bug when updating your firmware or even a hardware failure. In this article, 5 proven ways to unlock, including official and alternative methods, given the current restrictions of Xiaomi in 2026.
It's important to understand that not all methods are equally secure. For example, unlocking through Fastboot can lead to data loss if you don't backup in advance. And bypassing your Mi Account sometimes requires up to 72 hours of waiting because of Xiaomi's security policy, and we'll break down each option with pros, cons and hidden nuances that aren't written about in the standard instructions.
1 Unblocking through Mi Account (official method)
If your phone is locked due to multiple misentry of your password or after resetting, try to restore access through your linked Mi Account first.
- 🔹 You have access to an email or phone number linked to your account;
- 🔹 The device is enabled mobile Internet or Wi-Fi (for confirmation);
- 🔹 The smartphone was not bought with hands tied to someone else’s account.
Instructions:
- Choose the method of recovery: via SMS or email.
⚠️ Note: If the error “This device is linked to another account” appears when you restore your Mi Account, then the previous owner did not untie it. In this case, you can officially unlock the smartphone only through Xiaomi support with the provision of a purchase check. 2. Recovery Mode reset (without data loss is not always possible) The method is suitable if you forgot the password, but do not want to lose data. However, this does not work on all firmware Redmi Note 9 Pro. MIUI 13, Xiaomi tightened protections, and a reset via Recovery often leads to a requirement to enter a password from Mi Account after rebooting.How to log in to Recovery Mode: Turn off the phone (press Power) + Volume up for 10 seconds. Hold power. + Volume up before the Mi logo appears. Select Wipe Data from the menu → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power to confirm). Disable Google Account in Settings (if available) Make a backup on PC via Mi PC Charge your phone at least 50% Check if you remember the password from your Mi Account--> If you have a request to enter Mi Account after the reset and you don't remember it, move on to the next method. MIUI 12 sometimes helps roll back to an earlier version via Fastboot, but it requires an unlocked bootloader. 3 Unlocking via Fastboot (for power users) This method requires an unlocked bootloader and is suitable if: 🔧 You are ready to lose all your data; 🔧 You have a PC with Xiaomi drivers installed and the Mi Flash Tool tool; 🔧 The phone is not locked with your Mi Account (or you know your username/password) Step-by-step: Download the official firmware for the Redmi Note 9 Pro (select the Fastboot version). Unpack the archive into a folder on your PC. Turn off the phone and switch to Fastboot mode (hold power). + Volume down. Connect your smartphone to your PC and launch the Mi Flash Tool. Select the firmware folder and press Refresh, then Flash. ⚠️ Attention: If the bootloader is locked, you must unlock it before the firmware through the official Xiaomi tool. The process takes up to 720 hours (30 days) of waiting for confirmation. Without unlocking the Fastboot method will not work! What to do if the Mi Flash Tool gives an error? If the firmware error "Couldn't load device" appears, check: 1. HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (you can download it) XDA Developers). 2. Do you use the original USB-cable (not all cables support data transfer). 3. If the antivirus and firewall on the PC are disabled - they can block the Mi Flash Tool. 4. Bypassing the blocking of Mi Account through EDL If Redmi Note 9 Pro is blocked by Mi Account after resetting, and the official methods do not help, some users resort to using the same method. EDL-This method allows you to flash the device without standard checks, but has serious risks: 🚨 Possible Brick (complete failure); 🚨 Authorized account required EDL (It’s sold on forums, but it violates Xiaomi’s rules); 🚨 On new firmware, Xiaomi has closed this loophole for most models.Algorithm (for power users): Download Mi Flash Pro and firmware in.mbn format. EDL (Close the Test Point contacts on the motherboard or use the adb reboot edl command if you have access to the ADB). Connect the device to your PC and run through Mi Flash Pro. Before resorting to radical methods, check out alternative unlock options that are often overlooked: Method of Fingerprint Restriction Conditions On the device the fingerprint is registered Only if the screen is not damaged Smart Lock (reliable places) The feature in security settings Requires connection to a trusted Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth device Voice unlock Configured in Settings → Security → Voice unlocking Does not work on all firmware Face (Face Unlock) Configured face recognition may not work in low light If none of these methods did not work, and the official methods do not help, there are two options: Contact the service center Xiaomi with a check purchase; Buy the unlock code on specialized forums (for example, XDA), But it's in violation. Since 2023, Xiaomi has been actively blocking unofficial firmware through the EDL, So the chance of success is about 30 percent. If you're not sure about your skills, you should go to a service center. 5. 💡If you have Google sync enabled, try unlocking your device through Find My Device, which requires knowing the details of the Google account linked to your phone. Frequent errors and how to avoid them Many users make critical mistakes when trying to unlock the Redmi Note 9 Pro, which leads to a breakage of the device: 🔸 Using unofficial firmware without unlocking the bootloader → lamb; 🔸 Interrupting the firmware process through Fastboot → The smartphone may stop turning on; 🔸 Attempt to bypass Mi Account through "holes" in firmware → lockdown IMEI; 🔸 Forgetting to untie an account before selling → The new owner will not be able to use the phone. Minimize the risks: 📌 Always backup through Mi. PC suite ADB; 📌 Check the firmware version before resetting (in Settings) → The phone); 📌 Don’t buy Redmi Note 9 Pro without checking your Mi Account status. 💡If the phone is bought from hand and blocked by someone else’s Mi Account, it can be officially unlocked only through Xiaomi support with the provision of proof of purchase (check, warranty card). FAQ: Can I unlock the Redmi Note 9 Pro without losing data: 🔹 You remember the password from Mi Account and can restore access through Forgotten password?; 🔹 You have a fingerprint or face unlock set up; 🔹 Use it. ADB To delete gesture.key (not all firmware) otherwise, the data will be lost? The cost depends on the reason for the lock: 💰 Forgotten password (without binding to Mi Account): ~1 500–2 500 ₽; 💰 Blocking Mi Accounts: ~3 000–5 000 ₽ (purchase check); 💰 Hardware failure (e.g., damaged memory chip): from 5,000 ₽. In informal services, the price may be lower, but the risk of losing the warranty is higher. What to do if after resetting via Recovery, the phone requires an old password? MIUI Solutions: Enter the password from the Mi Account that was linked to the device; If you don't remember, restore access via account.xiaomi.com; If you bought the phone from hand, contact the previous owner for account details. Can I unlock Redmi Note 9 Pro through Google Account. Unlike pure Android devices, Xiaomi smartphones do not support unlocking through Google Find My Device if Mi Account lock is enabled: 🔹 Delete device data (but not unlock it); 🔹 Find the phone on the map; 🔹 Call the device (if it's on). How to check if the bootloader is unlocked on the Redmi Note 9 Pro? To find out the status of the bootloader: Turn off the phone; Press the power + Volume down to log into Fastboot; Connect the device to your PC and type in the command line: fastboot oem device-info If there is a line Device unlocked: true in the answer - the bootloader is unlocked. If false - blocked.