How to limit the time of using a child’s phone on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Monitoring your child’s smartphone time is one of the key tasks for parents today. Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer built-in screen time-limiting tools, but many users don’t know how to use them properly. In this article, we’ll look at everything from standard Digital Well-Being features to third-party apps like Google Family Link.

It is important to understand that simply limiting time without explanation can cause a child to protest, so we will also give recommendations on how to implement these restrictions as gently as possible, while maintaining a trusting relationship. POCO on MIUI 12/13/14 HyperOS.

If your child is already familiar with standard limitations (such as Developer Mode or Setting Reset), we will explain how to prevent this, and for those looking for alternative solutions, we will provide an overview of specialized applications with advanced monitoring functions.

1. Built-in tools MIUI: «Digital well-being»

The easiest way to limit time is to use the built-in Digital Wellbeing feature, which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 10 and later.

• 📱 Set daily limits on phone use
• ⏰ Set up a “sleep time” schedule (blocking at night)
• 📊 View usage statistics by application
• 🔒 Block specific applications (such as games or social networks)

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Digital Wellbeing and Parental Control. If this is not available, upgrade your MIUI to the latest version or install the Google Digital Wellbeing app from the Play Market (for devices with Google services).

An important caveat: a child can disable these restrictions if they know the password from their Mi Account or the phone pin. To avoid this, create a separate user profile (more about this in the next section).

2. Parental control through Mi Account (for children under 13 years old)

Xiaomi offers built-in parental controls through the Mi Account, a method that is suitable if the child has a profile on the system.

1. On your child’s phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Family.
2. Add your child as a family member (SMS or email confirmation is required).
3. In your account (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Family → Manage) select your child’s profile and activate options: 🕒 Limitation of time of use 🎮 Blocking games and applications 📵 Prohibiting purchases in the app store

The advantage of this method is that it synchronizes settings between devices, for example, if a child uses a Xiaomi Pad tablet, the restrictions will apply there, but there is a disadvantage: children over 13 can request deletion from their family account through Xiaomi support.

Create a Mi Account for a Child|Link it to a family account|Set a password for phone settings|Check the version. MIUI (must be at least 12 years old)-->

3. Google Family Link: Control for Android smartphones

If you have Google services installed on your Xiaomi smartphone, you can use the Google Family Link app.

• 📅 Set daily limits and sleep time
• 🔍 View the history of the locations (by GPS)
• 📱 Lock the device remotely
• 🛒 Control purchases in the Play Market

To set up:

1. Download Family Link to your phone (parent) and your child’s phone.
2. Create a Google account for your child (if not) through families.google.com.
3. In the app, select “Add Child” and follow the instructions.

Family Link automatically blocks access to apps with an age rating of 18+ (such as TikTok or some games).However, a child can bypass the restrictions if he deletes a Google account or resets the phone to factory settings. To avoid this, turn on Reset Protection in the Family Link settings.

4. Creating a separate user profile

If you’re afraid your child will reset or remove the restrictions, create a separate user profile for them with limited rights.This works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and newer.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → System → Additional → Multiple users.
2. Click on “Add User” and create a profile for your child.
3. Log in to a new profile and set up restrictions via Digital Wellbeing or Family Link.
4. Return to your profile and block the ability to switch between users without a password (Settings → Password and Security → User Blocking).

Advantages of this method:

• 🔐 The child will not be able to change the system settings.
• 📱 Applications and data will be isolated from your profile.
• 🛡️ You can set specific limits for each profile.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking) may not work in additional profiles due to Android limitations.

5. Third-party applications for extended control

If the built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, you can use third-party apps, and we tested some popular solutions and made a comparison table:

Check compatibility with your Xiaomi model before installing. Some apps (like Kids Place) may conflict with MIUI and cause interface lag. Also remember that most of these programs require you to turn off battery optimization in Android settings.

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Before installing a third-party parental control app, check its Play Market rankings and reviews over the past month. Many programs contain vulnerabilities that allow children to bypass them.

6 How to prevent the child from circumventing restrictions

Children quickly learn to bypass parental controls, and here are 5 of the most common ways they use them and how to block them:

1. Reset your phone to factory settings Solution: Enable Reset Protection in Family Link or set a password on Recovery Mode (requires unlocking the bootloader).
2. Delete Google/Mi Account Solution: Block Deletion of Accounts in Settings → Accounts → Account Management → Account Protection.
3. Developer Mode Solution: Disable Developer Mode or set a password to access it.
4. Phone flashing Solution: Lock the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
5. Use of the VPN Filter bypass solution: Block installation VPN-Applications via Family Link or Digital Well-being.

If your child is technically savvy, consider buying a special “child” smartphone (for example, Xiaomi Mi Bunny or Redmi A1+ with pre-set restrictions), these devices have a simplified interface and do not allow you to install third-party applications without parental permission.

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The most reliable way to prevent circumvention of restrictions is a combination of built-in tools (Family Link). + Digital well-being and physical control of phone access (e.g. storage) SIM-card).

7. Alternative methods: psychology and conventions

Technical constraints work better when supplemented by a child-based arrangement, and here are some proven strategies:

• 📝 Family contract: Make phone rules with your child (e.g., “no more than 2 hours a day,” “no gadgets at dinner”). Sign a contract and hang it in a prominent place.
• ⏳ Refrigerator timer: Use a physical timer (such as an hourglass) to keep your child on the phone.
• 🎁 Rewards system: Offer bonuses for compliance with limits (for example, +30 minutes for good grades).
• 🏠 Distressless areas: Identify places where the phone is not allowed (bedroom, bathroom, dining table).

Research shows that children are more likely to accept limitations when they understand them, explain that long-term use of gadgets harms vision, posture and sleep, and show by example: put your phone in a gadget box during a family dinner.

⚠️ Attention: If your child resists restrictions, don't introduce them drastically. Start with small limits (e.g. 3 hours a day) and gradually reduce time.

FAQ: Frequent questions about time limits on Xiaomi