It looks like that you’re using the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 handset and somehow you’ve started encountering the IMEI, Baseband, MAC, NVRAM WARNING, or NVDATA...
Subodh Gupta
Last updated on August 14, 2025
Subodh Gupta
Author
Subodh loves to write content whether it may be tech-related or other. After writing on tech blog for a year, he becomes passionate about it. He loves playing games and listening to music. Apart from blogging, he is addictive to the gaming PC builds and smartphone leaks.
It looks like that you’re using the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 handset and somehow you’ve started encountering the IMEI, Baseband, MAC, NVRAM WARNING, or NVDATA CORRUPTED related issues on your device after flashing a custom firmware or something like that. Well, an improper flashing method or incompatible file can cause Invalid or NULL IMEI apart from NVDATA CORRUPTED, Baseband, Wi-Fi MAC, Bluetooth MAC error, etc
It’s one of the most common issues that several Xiaomi device users are experiencing for years and when it comes to the Redmi Note 9 (Codename: Merlin), the issue becomes widespread for Engineering Firmware most probably. Nevertheless, here we’ve shared the easiest way to fix IMEI, Wi-Fi MAC, Bluetooth MAC, NVRAM, NVDATA, unknown Baseband regarding issues. A big thanks to VD171 (XDA Senior Member) for the guide.
Warning: GetDroidTips won’t be held responsible for any kind of issue that may happen on your handset while/after following this guide. You should know what you’re doing and do it at your own risk.
Note: This guide requires the backup to be done when the IMEI was present!
You can use SP Flash Tool, TWRP, PBRP, DD, ADB Fastboot, MTK Droid Tool, or any other tool that you want. Here we’ll gonna use SP Flash Tool as the Redmi Note 9 has a MediaTek processor.
Pre-Requisites:
Make sure to follow all the requirements properly to successfully fix the issue.
1. You Need a PC or Laptop and a USB cable
First of all, you’ll require a Windows desktop/laptop and a USB cable to easily connect your Redmi Note 9 handset with the computer. It’s necessary.
2. Charge Your Phone
Make sure to charge your device battery sufficiently (more than 50%) to avoid any kind of occasional shut down during the unbricking process.
Make sure to download the Xiaomi USB driver and then install it properly on your computer. A USB driver is always required to easily connect to a handset with the computer for a successful data transfer or flashing files, etc.
5. Download SP Flash Tool
You’ll require the SP Flash Tool to be installed on your computer. [Important]
Steps to Restore or Fix IMEI, Baseband, MAC, NVRAM, NVDATA
Open your Scatter File and search for NVRAM.
Rename the file from none to NVRAM.img and is_download: as from False to True.
Run the SP Flash Tool on your PC.
Select the Scatter File for your device.
Here, select only the NVRAM.img file.
Now, turn off your Android Device and connect it to your PC via a USB Cable.
Click on the Download button.
Once the flashing process is completed, disconnect your Android Device and turn it back on.
That’s it! You have successfully restored your IMEI/ NVRAM Backup.
Partition Details with Screenshots
Keep in mind that you’ll have to use the same block, start address, and length as mentioned below.
1. Partition: nvcfg
Description: This partition stores variable configs of NVDATA and NVRAM.
Size: 32.768 KiB (32 MiB)
Block: /dev/block/mmcblk0p11
Start address: 0xa4a2000
Length: 0x2000000
Image Credit: XDA
2. Partition: nvdata
Description: This partition stores variable data of secure and identifying info for your device. Like IMEI, WiFi MAC, Bluetooth MAC, calibration data, and others.
Size: 65.536 KiB (64 MiB)
Block: /dev/block/mmcblk0p12
Start address: 0xc4a2000
Length: 0x4000000
Image Credit: XDA
3. Partition: nvram
Description: This partition stores persistent data of secure and identifying info for your device. Like IMEI, WiFi MAC, Bluetooth MAC, calibration data, and others.
Size: 65.536 KiB (64 MiB)
Block: /dev/block/mmcblk0p21
Start address: 0x19f00000
Length: 0x4000000
Image Credit: XDA
4. Partition: persist
Description: This partition stores persistent data for factory reset protection. Like Google account and Mi Account/Mi Cloud.
Size: 49.152 KiB (48 MiB)
Block: /dev/block/mmcblk0p13
Start address: 0x104a2000
Length: 0x3000000
Image Credit: XDA
5. Partition: proinfo
Description: This partitions stores persistent data of default structure for NVRAM/RADIO/MODEM/BASEBAND.
Size: 3.072 KiB (3 MiB)
Block: /dev/block/mmcblk0p19
Start address: 0x18200000
Length: 0x300000
Image Credit: XDA
6. Partition: protect1 (or protect_f)
Description: This partition stores variable data of SIM/RADIO/MODEM/BASEBAND settings and info.
Size: 8.192 KiB (8 MiB)
Block: /dev/block/mmcblk0p15
Start address: 0x164a2000
Length: 0x800000
Image Credit: XDA
7. Partition: protect2 (or protect_s)
Description: This partition stores variable data of SIM/RADIO/MODEM/BASEBAND settings and info.
Size: 11.640 KiB (11,36 MiB)
Block: /dev/block/mmcblk0p16
Start address: 0x16ca2000
Length: 0xb5e000
Image Credit: XDA
How to Take a Backup of IMEI/ NVRAM via SP Flash Tool
Once the restoration process is completed, you should take a backup of the restored IMEI/Baseband/NVRAM, etc for future reference. Make sure to back up the listed partitions mentioned above. To do so:
Open your Scatter File and search for NVRAM.
Now, note down the values of ‘physical_start_addr:’ and the ‘partition_size:’.
Open the SP Flash Tool on your PC > Select the Scatter File for your device.
Then click on ReADBack.
Click on Add and double-click on the created file.
Select any folder where you would like to save the backup file and click on save.
Now, enter the previously noted down ‘physical_start_addr:’ and the ‘partition_size:’ values into the Start Address and the Length text fields respectively.
Click on the OK button and then click on the Read Back.
Connect your Redmi Note 9 device to your PC via a USB cable.
Wait for the reADBack process to get completed.
Once the process is completed, you’ll get the Backup file ‘NVRAM.img’ in the selected folder.
You’re good to go.
That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.
However, if you’re facing issues with the VBMETA or NULL IMEI or even an invalid Baseband issue on your Redmi Note 9 then you can visit the XDA link below to ask for help.
