How to put a password on YouTube on a Xiaomi Mi TV: all ways to protect

Protecting content on Xiaomi Mi smart TVs is becoming more and more relevant, especially if you have children in the house or want to restrict access to certain YouTube videos. Unfortunately, the service itself does not provide built-in password blocking directly through the TV app, but there are several workarounds. In this article, we will discuss all working methods from using parental control in MIUI TV to third-party solutions.

It is important to understand that approaches differ depending on the TV model (e.g. Mi TV 4S, Mi TV Q1 or Mi TV P1) and the firmware version. Some methods require additional devices, such as a router with content filtering function, while others require only the right settings in the TV itself, and we will look at options from the simplest to the more complex so that you can choose the best one for your situation.

If you’re looking for a way to block YouTube not only on your TV, but on other devices as well (smartphones, tablets), some of the methods in this article will be universal, but the main focus is on Xiaomi’s ecosystem and its MIUI for TV branded shell.

1. Built-in parental controls in MIUI TV

The most obvious and secure way to restrict access to YouTube is to use the built-in parental control feature, available on all modern Xiaomi Mi TVs (starting with MIUI TV 3.0 firmware and later), which does not block the app completely, but allows you to limit the time of use or request a password at each launch.

To activate parental control:

1. Open the settings on the remote (button with a gear).
2. Go to the System and Device section → Parental control.
3. Enter the standard. PIN-code (by default 0000 or 1234 if not changed).
4. Select App Management and find YouTube in the list.
5. Set limits: time lock or request a password when you start.

If the standard PIN doesn't work, it may have been changed before, in which case you'll have to reset your TV to factory settings (on this in one of the following sections), and note that MIUI TV's parental controls only work for apps installed through the official store. If YouTube is installed manually (via APK), this method may not work.

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If you forgot. PIN-Parental control code, try entering a combination from your TV’s release date (e.g. 2021 for 2021 models).

2. Block YouTube through Google Account Settings

If you use a Google Account for sync on a Xiaomi Mi TV (for example, to access the Google Play Store or YouTube), you can restrict content directly through your profile settings, which is suitable if you want to filter videos for age restrictions or completely disable access to the service.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open myaccount.google.com on your computer or smartphone and log in with the same account as you do on your TV.
• 🔍 Go to the Google Account Management section → Data and personalization → Content settings for you.
• 🎬 Select YouTube and activate Restricted Mode (it hides age-restricted videos).
• 🔒 To block YouTube completely, remove YouTube from the list of permitted services in the Security section. → Devices and activities.

The downside of this is that it works on all devices that use this Google Account, so if you want to restrict access only to your TV, you'll have to create a separate TV profile or use other methods.

3. Installation of a third-party launcher with a password

If the built-in methods don’t work, you can go to radical measures to install an alternative launcher for Android TV, which supports password blocking applications, for example, ATV Launcher or Wolf Launcher allow you to hide applications or request PIN when they open.

How to do this:

1. Download. APK-launcher USB-drive (for example, from the Aptoide website) TV).
2. Connect the flash drive to the TV and install the application through the File Manager (allow installation from unknown sources in the security settings).
3. In the launcher settings, find the App Lock section and add YouTube to the list of blocked apps.
4. Set a password (preferably not the same as the one you use). PIN-parental control code).

The advantage of this method is flexibility: you can block not only YouTube, but also other applications (for example, Netflix or games). However, there are risks: not all launchers are stable on MIUI TV, and some may conflict with system processes.

4. Content Filtering via Router

One of the most reliable ways to block YouTube from a TV is to set up filtering at the router level, which will limit access to the entire service or only to certain videos (for example, keywords), which works independently of the TV model and does not require changes in its settings.

This is done with the support of Parental Control or DNS-Popular models: Xiaomi Mi Router 4A, TP-Link Archer C6, Instructions for Xiaomi Mi Router:

1. Open the router control panel at 192.168.31.1 (or miwifi.com).
2. Go to Additional Settings → Parental control.
3. Add the TV to the list of devices (find it by MAC-address IP).
4. In the Filtering Sites section, add domains: youtube.com www.youtube.com m.youtube.com youtu.be googlevideo.com
5. Set a lock schedule (for example, from 20:00 to 8:00) or activate it constantly.

If your router does not support parental controls, you can use third-party DNS-Services like OpenDNS or CleanBrowsing:

• 🌐 Register on the OpenDNS website and set up filters.
• 🔧 Change the router settings DNS-servers on the service provided (e.g. 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123 for family filtering).

5. reset the TV to factory settings (if the password is forgotten)

If you lose your password from parental controls or launcher, and other locking methods don't work, the radical solution is to reset your TV to factory settings, which will delete all installed apps, accounts and personal data, but will return access to the settings.

How to perform the reset:

1. Open Settings → System and device → Reset and restore.
2. Select Reset All Settings (not to be confused with Network Reset!).
3. Confirm the action by entering PIN-code (default 0000 or 1234).
4. Wait for the reboot (it will take 3-5 minutes).

After resetting, you will need to reset the TV: connect to Wi-Fi, log in to accounts and install apps. On Xiaomi Mi TV 5 Pro models and later after reset, you may need to activate via the Mi Home app on your smartphone.

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Resetting to factory settings is a last resort. Before you try to remember the password or contact Xiaomi in support (for some models, you can reset through service mode).

6.Alternative methods: SmartTubeNext and restriction via Mi Account

For advanced users, there are two other ways to restrict access to YouTube:

1. Install SmartTubeNext (YouTube mod)

It is a modified YouTube app with advanced features including password-blocking, but it requires unlocking the bootloader and root rights, which voids the warranty.

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool (power users only!).
• 📥 Install SmartTubeNext through ADB magisk.
• 🔑 In the application settings, activate Parental Controls and set a password.

2. Mi Account Restriction (for TVs with Xiaomi account binding)

If the TV is linked to Mi Account, you can remotely control the installed applications:

• 📱 Open the Mi Home app on your smartphone.
• 📺 Find your TV in the list of devices.
• 🚫 In the device settings, disable access to YouTube or delete it.

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SmartTubeNext not only blocks content, but also removes ads, allows background playback and customizes the interface, but installing it can disrupt system applications on some Xiaomi Mi TV models.

Comparison of YouTube blocking methods on Xiaomi Mi TV

The choice of method depends on your technical skills and requirements. For most users, the best solution is a combination of built-in parental control and router filtering. If you need maximum protection and you are willing to sacrifice convenience, consider SmartTubeNext or an alternative launcher.

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On Xiaomi Mi TV A2 and newer models, the built-in parental control is more stable thanks to the updated MIUI TV 5.0 interface.

FAQ: Frequent questions about blocking YouTube on Xiaomi Mi TV