Modern digital security systems like Google Family Link are designed to protect children from unwanted content and control their online pastime. However, on Xiaomi devices with their deeply modified MIUI or HyperOS shell, these systems often fail, and users face the inability to launch the desired application or lock down the phone’s system functions, which turns the device into a useless piece of plastic.
The need to remove restrictions can arise for various reasons, from the banal growing up of a child and reaching agreements in the family to buying a used smartphone that was tied to someone else's account. It is important to understand that bypassing locks is a process that requires technical literacy and caution. Inept actions can lead to complete loss of data or locking the device by IMEI through the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) mechanism.
In this guide, we will look at legitimate ways to disable control, methods of resetting through system vulnerabilities and the use of debugging tools. Xiaomi provides ample opportunities for customization, but also imposes its own limitations that must be considered. Before starting any operations, it is strongly recommended to study all risks, as some methods may violate the terms of use of Google services.
Analysis of the current situation and preparation of the device
Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand what type of lock you are faced with. Google Family Link can be installed as the main application-administrator that blocks the installation of other programs, or it can be embedded deep into the system through the binding of the child’s account. On Xiaomi smartphones, the situation is complicated by the presence of a Mi Account and a two-tier security system.
The first step is always to diagnose, see if you have access to your phone settings without entering your parent's password, and if the screen is locked right after you turn on, requiring you to enter your Google account password, it's not just time control, it's time control. FRP-In this case, simple methods of disabling applications will not help, and more serious interference with the system will be required.
⚠️ Warning: Trying to reset to factory settings on a locked device without first detaching your Google account will trigger the protection FRP. The phone will require entering the username and password of the previous owner, and without them it will be extremely difficult to unlock it.
If you have access to the Settings menu, but you can’t uninstall the app or change your usage time, Family Link has device administrator rights. In MIUI, this is often displayed as an active user profile with restrictions. To successfully bypass, you’ll need a stable Internet connection, a charged battery (at least 60%), and possibly a second smartphone or computer to manipulate your account.
Standard method: Disconnection through account settings
The right and safest way to (remove) restrictions is to use Google's official tools. If you have access to a parent device or know the password from a parent's account, this method will only take a couple of minutes. On Xiaomi phones, the process may be slightly different visually because of the shell, but the logic remains the same across the Android ecosystem.
You need to log in to the settings of the Family Link app itself on the parent's device, which selects the child's profile, and the control menu sets the option to completely disable control, the system will request a password confirmation, then you have to wait for sync on the Xiaomi phone, and often you need to reboot the device to apply the changes.
If the parent device is not available, you can try incognito by using your browser. Go to families.google.com and log in to your parent account. In the family management section, find the option to delete your child's account from your family group. After that on the child’s phone in the Settings section → Accounts must be deleted from the added Google account.
- 🔑 Go to Family Link settings on your parent’s device and select “Manage settings».
- 🗑️ Find the child’s name in the list and click “Delete Account” or “Disable Control».
- 📱 On Xiaomi phone go to Settings → Google → Parental control and confirm the disconnection.
- 🔄 Reboot the device to reset the cache of Google Play services.
However, if the password is lost or the parent is unavailable, this method becomes useless, and in such cases, Xiaomi users often resort to more radical measures related to the manipulation of system processes.
Using Safe Mode to Remove Administrator Rights
One effective way to get around locking on Xiaomi is to use Safe Mode, which only loads the operating system with basic system applications, and all third-party programs, including Family Link, are temporarily disabled, allowing you to access settings and remove administrator rights from the blocking application.
To enter Safe Mode on most Xiaomi models, you need to press the Shutdown button on your desktop. When the menu with the option “Stop” or “Reboot” appears, you need to press and hold your finger on the “Stop” icon (or “Reboot”, depending on the version of MIUI). The system will ask for confirmation of the transition to Safe Mode. After rebooting, the corresponding inscription will appear in the corner of the screen.
When in Safe Mode, go to Settings → Annexes → All apps. Search under the Google Family Link or Google Services Framework. Go to the app information and click on "Delete Updates" or "Stop." Then go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Confidentiality → Device administrators, uncheck Family Link, and now the app has lost the right to lock the phone.
☑️ Checklist of entry to safe mode
Once you have deactivated the administrator, you can reboot your phone as normal. The Family Link app will still be on the system, but it will no longer be able to block the screen or prevent installation of programs. It can be removed in a standard way through settings or the Google Play store. On some versions of HyperOS, this method may not work if the application is built into the system partition.
Reset via ADB and debug via USB
For advanced users who have not been helped by standard methods, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool remains, which allows you to control the device from a computer, sending commands directly to the operating system. To work with ADB on a Xiaomi phone, USB debugging must be enabled. If the developer menu is blocked by a password, this method will not work without preliminary tricks.
If you have access to the developer menu (often hidden in the About Phone section, you need to click on the MIUI version 7 times), turn on Debugging via USB. Connect the phone to your computer via the original cable. Xiaomi drivers and the ADB Tools platform should be installed on your PC. Open the command line or terminal in the ADB folder and enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. On the phone screen, a request for debugging permission will appear, it must be accepted.
To remove or disable Family Link, use the command to force the stop and clear data. Enter in the terminal:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.kids.familylinkThis command deactivates the Family Link application package for the current user. If you want to completely remove the updates, you can use the adb shell pm clear com.google.android.apps.kids.familylink. Once the commands are executed, the phone may need to restart. In some cases, this allows you to completely bypass the check when you boot the system.
⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB A mistake in the name of the package or using commands to remove system components MIUI It can cause the phone to “bootloop” when it stops loading.
It’s worth noting that Google is constantly changing package names and permission structures, so commands can vary. 13 and higher (relevant to the new Xiaomi) 13/14) Additional rights or use of specialized services may be required GUI-shell ADB, like-minded ADB AppControl that simplifies process visualization.
Comparison of Unlocking Methods and Their Effectiveness
The choice of method depends on the version of Android, the smartphone model and the specific lock configuration. Below is a comparative table that will help assess the risks and complexity of each method for Xiaomi devices.
| Method | Difficulty | Risk of data loss | Efficiency at MIUI 14+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official reset (password) | Low. | No. | 100% |
| Safe regime | Medium | No. | Tall. |
| ADB team | Tall. | Minimum | Medium |
| Hard Reset (button reset) | Low. | Total loss. | Low (FRP) |
As you can see from the table, Hard Reset is the least effective method in modern times because of FRP protection. It completely cleans the phone’s memory by deleting photos, contacts and apps, but when turned on, the phone will again request a Google account that was synced before the reset.
The most stable solution for Xiaomi owners is a combination of secure mode and manually clearing administrator rights, which does not require a connection to a PC and saves user data. However, if Google’s security system has updated its protocols, even this method may require confirmation via SMS or a parent’s backup email.
Why isn't Hard Reset helping?
Prevention of blocking and management of Mi-account
Xiaomi smartphone owners need to take into account the specifics of the Mi ecosystem. In addition to Google services, the device can be activated Mi Cloud and the function "Search for the device". If the phone was bought from hand and blocked not only by Google account, but also by the Mi-account of the previous owner, methods with Family Link will not help here.
To prevent accidental blockages in the future, it is recommended to set up Digital Well-being yourself.This is a built-in Android tool that allows you to limit the time of use of applications without being rigidly tied to external parental controls. On Xiaomi, it is integrated into Settings → Digital Well-Being and Parental Control.
- 🛡️ Check the list of active device administrators in security settings regularly.
- 📧 Make sure your personal backup email is added to your device to restore access.
- 🔒 Do not share your Google account passwords with third parties, even to “set up your phone».
- 📱 When buying a used Xiaomi always demand a full withdrawal of the seller from the Mi-account and Google-account with you.
There are also launchers for children that mimic the interface of the smartphone but do not allow access to the system settings, and using such applications is a softer alternative to the hard Family Link, allowing a child to use the phone but in a limited environment, and a parent can exit the child's mode at any time knowing the pin code.
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Tip: If you plan to sell your phone, be sure to log out of all accounts (Google, Mi, Samsung, etc.) before you reset to factory settings, guaranteed to save the new owner from FRP and lock issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I bypass Family Link without the internet?
What happens if you break the screen on a locked phone?
Will the phone be able to be reflashed on Global ROM?
How to delete Family Link if it is not deleted?
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The most reliable way to remove restrictions is to negotiate with the account owner, and technical methods of bypassing are temporary and may stop working after another security update to Google Play Services.
In conclusion, bypassing parental controls on Xiaomi is a balance between the technical capabilities of the system and security limitations. As long as there are methods of protection, there will be ways to circumvent them, but none of them gives a 100% guarantee on all versions of the software. Be careful when using third-party software to hack, as it may contain malicious modules that steal your personal data.