Parental Controls on Xiaomi: Setup and Management

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones provide children with access to a wealth of information, but also carry the risk of encountering unwanted content. How to put parental control on a xiomi phone is becoming a topic for most parents who want to keep their child safe in the digital space. The flexibility of the MIUI shell allows for several effective protection methods, ranging from built-in system tools to third-party applications.

Screen time restriction and blocking of certain applications are basic features that need to be configured first. It is important to understand that there is no single magic switch: full protection requires a comprehensive approach that includes traffic filtering and control of purchases in the app stores. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods so that you can choose the best option for your situation.

Built-in security features in MIUI

The first step in a safe environment is to use native operating system capabilities. The MIUI shell is equipped with a powerful tool called Security, which allows you to manage access to applications without installing additional software. To activate this feature, you need to go to the Settings menu → Applications → Access Configure or use the standard desktop security application.

Here you can set a password or a graphical key that you will need to run your chosen programs, which is the perfect way to hide social networks, browser or Google Play from your child, but it is worth remembering that this method only protects against running applications, but does not filter the content inside them and does not limit the time of use.

To fine-tune it, you can use the Guest or Second Space mode, which creates an isolated environment on the device where only the apps you allow will be available, and the child will work on his profile without access to your personal data, photos or payment systems.

⚠️ Warning: Enabling system application access restrictions (e.g., “Settings” or “Phone”) may cause the device to be unstable or unable to make emergency calls.

• 🔒 Set a password to launch specific applications through the security menu.
• 👤 Creating a separate user profile to isolate data.
• ⏱️ Limiting screen time through digital well-being.
• 🚫 Blocking the installation of new programs from unknown sources.

Set up Google Family Link on Xiaomi

The most effective and popular solution for Android devices is Google’s bundle of apps. Family Link allows parents to remotely control a child’s device, track its location and limit usage times. To get started, you need to install the Google Family Link app (for parents) on your phone and Google Family Link (for children) on a Xiaomi device.

The setup process requires you to create a separate Google account for your child if they are not already registered, and once you log in to that account on your child's phone and confirm the connection between the devices, you'll have complete control over your digital habits, you'll be able to set limits on how to use specific apps, lock the device remotely, and track your location in real time.

A feature of Xiaomi is aggressive battery optimization, which can prevent the correct operation of background services. To Family Link does not “fly out” and always shows the current location, you need to manually change the energy saving settings for this application. Go to Settings → Battery and performance → Select the application → Family Link and set the “No restrictions” mode.

Restricting purchases and content on Google Play

One of the most painful issues for parents is the occasional or deliberate purchases within games and apps, and Google Play provides flexible tools to protect your wallet, and you need to set up a mandatory authorization for each purchase. To do this, open the Settings. → Authentication and select “Require confirmation for all purchases».

In addition to financial security, it is important to limit access to non-age-appropriate content, and in the Play Store profile settings, there is a section called Parental Control where you can set an age rating for games, movies and books, and once activated, above the specified level will be hidden from the results.

It is also recommended to remove linked bank cards from your child’s account or use a separate account without payment means. Even with a password for purchases, accidentally clicking can lead to an automatic renewal subscription, which is difficult to cancel after the fact.

Use of the DNS-filtering to block websites

Browser traffic is another risk area where a child may encounter fraudulent sites or banned materials. The most effective way to filter at the system level is through the use of a private DNS. This method does not require the installation of applications and even works in incognito mode.

To set up, go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Private DNS. Here, select DNS Host Name and enter a trusted filter address, such as family.adguard-dns.com or dns.familyshield.opendns.com. Once saved, all requests to malicious or adult sites will be blocked automatically.

The advantage of this method is that it applies to the entire device, including apps that use the built-in browser, but if the child is technically savvy, he can turn off this setting if he has access to the basic settings of the phone, so it is better to combine this method with restricting access to the settings menu.

• 🌐 Blocking Ads and Trackers on All Websites.
• 🛡️ Protection against phishing resources and viruses.
• ⚙️ Work without installing additional software.
• 📉 Reducing traffic consumption by blocking advertising.

Third-party control applications

When built-in tools are scarce, third-party solutions come to the rescue, with apps like Kaspersky Safe Kids, Qustodio, or Norton Family offering advanced functionality not available in standard Android settings, which can track browsing history even after it is cleared, read messaging messages, and analyze a child’s mood from texts.

Installing such programs on Xiaomi requires care, as the system can try to kill the process to save energy. You must give the application all the permissions you need, including access to geolocation, microphone and over other windows. It is also important to fix the application in the list of recent tasks so that it does not close when cleaning the memory.

Some advanced programs allow you to create virtual sandboxes, inside which a child can only run approved games, which creates a strong barrier, which is almost impossible to break out without a parent's password, but it is worth considering that such applications can significantly consume battery power.

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When installing third-party antivirus or controllers on Xiaomi, be sure to enable auto-run for that application in Task Manager, otherwise the system will continually terminate it.

Problems with optimizing the MIUI battery

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where configured parental controls stop working after a few hours, due to the aggressive memory management system MIUI, which forcibly closes the background processes, to ensure that parental controls work consistently 24/7, you need to perform a series of actions to exclude the application from optimization.

First, find the app in the installed program list, click on it and select Battery. Set the value "No restrictions." Then go to the Security application → Permissions → Autostart and activate the switch opposite the desired application. This ensures that the service will start immediately after the phone is turned on.

Additionally, it is recommended to block the application in the multitasking menu. Open the list of running applications, click on the lock icon next to the control program window. Now, when you clear the memory ("cross" or swipe), this application will remain in the background and continue to perform its functions.

⚠️ Warning: If your firmware update has reset, check the Battery section again. MIUI Often return standard, more aggressive energy saving settings.

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Stable operation of any parental control application on Xiaomi is possible only after manually turning off energy savings and turning on auto-start.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)