Controlling a child’s phone from a Xiaomi smartphone: the full guide 2026

Monitoring a child’s activity on a smartphone today is not a whim, but a necessity. 2023 year, 68% child-age 8-12 Years of Context with Content "18+" first 6 months of using the gadget, and 42% Parents don't even know it. - Xiaomi-based smartphones MIUI They offer built-in parental controls, but they often go unnoticed, and this article will help you understand how to set up remote surveillance of your child's device from your phone without resorting to radical measures like spyware.

We will look at legal and ethical ways: from standard functions to the legal and ethical ways. MIUI (including hidden settings) to verified third-party applications with device synchronization. 2022-2026 years (Redmi Note) 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T And so, where the control algorithms have been significantly refined, you'll learn how to limit usage times, block dangerous sites, track location, and even get activity reports -- all without physically accessing a child's phone after initial setup.

Integrated Parental Controls in MIUI: Opportunities and Limitations

Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi has integrated basic parental controls right into the system, which don't require additional apps, but have a number of nuances. The main advantage is synchronization between devices via the Mi Account, which allows you to manage the settings of the child from your smartphone.

To activate control:

1. On the child's phone go to Settings → Special facilities → Parental control.
2. Choose Add User and log in to your Mi Account (it should be different from your child’s account!).
3. On your Xiaomi phone, open the same menu and now the Control [Child Name] option will appear.

What can be controlled through built-in tools:

• ⏰ Time limits (by week and individual applications).
• 🔒 Blocking the installation of new applications without your confirmation.
• 🌐 Category-based website filtering (based on Xiaomi Cloud database).
• 📍 Location tracking (only if your child’s phone is enabled).

💡

If there is no "parental control" item in the menu, update MIUI Check the firmware region for the latest version, or check the firmware region, and some global versions have a hidden feature that can be activated via ##4636## (Testing) → Settings of the region).

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ No way to view the history of messages in messengers.
• ❌ Activity reports come with a delay of up to 24 hours.
• ❌ Your child can turn off control by knowing the password from your Mi Account.

2. Set up family access via Google Family Link

Google Family Link is a free solution from Google that works on all Android devices, including Xiaomi, and its key advantage is remote management without linking to your Mi Account.

• 🕒 Set limits on screen time (up to the minute).
• 🛑 Lock the device manually (for example, during sleep or lessons).
• 📱 See the list of installed applications and prohibit new ones.
• 📊 Get weekly activity reports (including time in each application).

How to set up:

1. Download Google Family Link (for parents) to your phone and Family Link for children and teens to your child’s device.
2. Create a Google account for your child (if not) through families.google.com.
3. Connect both devices to the same family group.

Important: the child’s phone should be Android 7.0 or later. on Xiaomi models with custom firmware (for example, POCO Launcher) synchronization errors may occur - in this case, reset the launcher settings to standard before setting up.

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Google Family Link is suitable for children under 13 years of age, and after this age, the child can leave the family group on his own, unless you confirm the extension of control.

3. Third-party applications for extended control

If the built-in functions MIUI And Family Link isn't enough, so consider specialized applications that offer deep analysis of activity, including interception. SMS, Controlling social networks and even recording environments (legally only with the consent of the child!) We tested 5 popular solutions on Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 and the new model. POCO F5 — Here's the best:

• 🔍 Kaspersky Safe Kids - geofence lock, YouTube filtering, search query control. Free version limited to 1 device.
• 📱 Norton Family - Monitoring 45+ Social media, suspicious contact notifications, there's a 30-day trial period.
• 🕵️ mSpy (paid) - full access to correspondence, history of deleted files, keywords for alarm. Requires root rights on older versions of Android.
• 🌍 Qustodio – cross-platform solution with support MIUI, lock-in VPN and game accounts.

How to Establish Without Conflict with MIUI:

1. Allow installation from unknown sources on your child’s phone (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications).
2. Download. APK Applications from the official website (not from third-party stores!).
3. In battery settings, add the application to exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
4. Activate device administrator mode for the application (required to block removal).

Warning of legality:

⚠️ Note: Installing hidden surveillance applications (e.g. mSpy or FlexiSPY) without the consent of a child over 14 years of age may qualify as a violation of Art. 137 of the Criminal Code.

4.Shidden Control via Mi Cloud Account

Few people know, but the Mi Cloud account allows you to track some of the child’s activities without installing additional apps.

1. Make sure your child’s phone is synchronized with Mi Cloud (Settings) → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization).
2. Sign in with your phone under the same Mi Account as your child (or add them as a family member).
3. Go to i.mi.com → Devices → Choose the child's phone.

What can you see?

• 📍 Location (if Device Search is enabled).
• 📸 Photo and video from the gallery (if synchronization of media files is enabled).
• 📝 Notes and Records from the Appendix Notes.
• 🔄 Backup log (shows when the child reset settings).

Limitations:

• ❌ No access to messages and calls.
• ❌ The history of the browser is not saved (except for bookmarks).
• ❌ Your child will see your login in the activity log.

Enable Mi Cloud sync on your child’s phone|Adding the child’s device to the family group|Disable two-factor authentication (if it interferes with the)|Check that the child's phone is turned on "Device search"-->

5. Control through Find Device and Geo-fences

If your primary goal is location tracking, use Xiaomi’s built-in Find My Device feature, which works even if your child’s phone is in power saving mode (unlike Google Find My Device).

How to set up geo-fences (safety zones):

1. On your phone, open the settings. → Mi Account. → Find the device.
2. Select the child's device and go to Geozones.
3. Add key locations (school, house, sections) and adjust the radius (100m to 2km).
4. Activate the entry/exit notifications.

Advantages of the method:

• 📍 Accuracy of location – up to 10 meters in the city (thanks to) A-GPS GLONASS).
• 🔔 Instant notifications when leaving the zone.
• 🔋 Minimum battery consumption (unlike Google Maps in the background).

Important for models 2023-2026 year-end:

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 13/14 series and Redmi Note 12 Geo-fence function only works when High-precision location is enabled (Settings) → Location → Regime. → High accuracy: In Battery Saving mode, the coordinates are updated once in a while. 15-30 minute.

Alternative methods: SMS-commands and automatic data transfer

For tech-savvy users, there are ways to control through hidden SMS-For example, you can set up forwarding:

• 📩 SMS Calling your phone number (via apps like AutoForward).
• 📷 Photo from the front camera when unlocking (requires Tasker) + Secure Task).
• 🌐 Browser Stories (through synchronization with Firefox Account).

Example of setting up automatic forwarding SMS:

1. Install MacroDroid on your child’s phone (free on Google Play).


2. Create a macro with the trigger "Received SMS".




3. In action, select "Send SMS" to your number.




4. Add a time limit (for example, only from 20:00 to 8:00).




5. Hide macro notifications in the application settings.

Risks of the method:

• ⚠️ The child can find the application in the menu "Special access".
• ⚠️ Nana MIUI 14 Application background activity is limited – check macros once a week.

7.Ethical aspects and alternatives to total control

Psychologists warn that over-control can lead to loss of trust and circumvention of restrictions through left-wing SIM cards or resetting.

• 🗣️ Arrangements: Make phone rules together (e.g., no gadgets at dinner").
• 📱 Create a family account in the Netflix/YouTube child-like.
• 🎮 Alternative devices: For children under 10, consider Xiaomi Mi Bunny Story (children's phone with a phone with a new name) GPS) or POCO Phone Watch (smart watches with parental control).

If the child is over 12 years old:

• 🔓 Offer partial freedom in exchange for access to your main accounts (e.g., you don’t watch emails but see time on social media).
• 🛡️ Install. VPN Filtering (e.g. AdGuard Family) – This blocks dangerous content at the network level without intruding on personal space.

FAQ: Frequent questions about child’s phone control