How to set up parental controls on a Xiaomi phone: the full guide 2026

Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They've become an integral part of adolescents' lives, but without the right settings, they carry risks, from addiction to accessing unwanted content, and parental controls on these devices allow you to limit your use time, block dangerous apps, and even track your child's location. However, standard tools MIUI Often hidden in the depths of the menu, and third-party solutions require careful customization.

In this guide, we will cover all the protections you need, from built-in features to apps like Google Family Link and Kaspersky Safe Kids. 13/14, Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5, Even if your child is trying to bypass the locks, and how to track your browser history and stop buying in games without them. SMS-confirmation.

Integrated Parental Controls in MIUI: Opportunities and Limitations

Xiaomi Integrated Basic Control Tools Directly Into the Shell MIUI, But they're not as functional as specialized applications, and the main advantage is that you don't have to install anything, and you have to attach your settings to your Mi Account.

To activate the built-in control:

1. Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account → Family.
2. Click on “Add Family Member” and select the role of “Child”.
3. Link your child’s account (if not, create it through Settings) → Accounts. → Add an account).
4. In the menu of management of the family account will appear section "Parental control".

What can be limited through MIUI:

• 🕒 Time of use: setting limits on screen time (e.g. 2 hours on weekdays and 4 hours on weekends).
• 🎮 Blocking applications: banning the launch of games or social networks at certain hours (for example, from 22:00 to 7:00).
• 📍 Geolocation: tracking the location of the child's device (requires enabled) GPS).
• 🛒 Restriction of purchases: blocking payment without confirmation SMS fingerprint.

⚠️ Attention: Built-in control MIUI It's easy to get around by resetting your settings or deleting your Mi Account. If your child is tech-savvy, use additional apps.

2. Google Family Link: Full control of Android smartphone

Google Family Link is the most reliable solution for parents, because it works at the Android level.

• 📱 Set strict limits on the time of use of the device (up to minutes).
• 🔒 Block access to specific applications (such as TikTok or Telegram).
• 🕵️ View activity reports: how much time your child spent playing games or social media.
• 🛍️ Stop buying on Google Play without your confirmation.

How to set up Family Link on Xiaomi:

Download Family Link to your phone (for a parent) and to your child’s device|Create a Google account for your child (if not) or link an existing one|In the app, select “Add Child” and follow the instructions.|Set up the rules in the “Management” section (time, applications, purchases)|Activate Safe Search on Google and YouTube-->

Important: for children under 13, Family Link is in Managed Google Account mode, giving maximum control. 13 teens+ Part of the function becomes optional.

Family Link Limitations:

• ❌ Does not block websites in the browser (apps only).
• ❌ A child can delete the app if they know the password from their Google account.
• ❌ Does not work on devices without Google services (for example, on some models for China).

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If your child has deleted Family Link, check the installed history of apps in Google Play (Device Management section) and see when and which app was removed.

3 Third-party apps: Kaspersky Safe Kids, Norton Family and others

If the built-in tools MIUI Google Family Link is not enough, use specialized programs. They offer advanced features, such as:

• 🌍 Filtering websites by category (violence, gambling, adult content).
• 📱 Controlling SMS Calls (viewing contacts, blocking unwanted numbers).
• 📍 Geozones: Notifications if a child has left a safe area (e.g. school).
• 🔍 Monitoring of social networks (tracking publications in the VK, Instagram, Telegram).

Comparison of popular applications:

How to install Kaspersky Safe Kids on Xiaomi

1. Download the app from Google Play to both devices (parent and child).
2. Register and create a profile of your child.
3. On your child’s device, allow all permissions (access to location, SMS, magazine).
4. In the web panel (my.kaspersky.com), set up the rules.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Norton Family) require power saving to be turned off for Xiaomi, otherwise they will stop working in the background. → Annexes → Permits → Autostart and enable autostart for the program.

4. How to block purchases in games and applications

Children often spend money on games (Free Fire, Roblox, Genshin Impact) or social media subscriptions to avoid:

Method 1: Password for purchases on Google Play

1. Open Google Play. → Menus (☰) → Settings → Authentication.
2. Select “Require authentication for purchases.”
3. Set “All Purchases” and confirm with a password from your Google account.

Method 2: Limitations on the MIUI

• Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Payments and security.
• Activate Payment Protection and install PIN-code.
• Enable the option “Confirmation of the SMS» for all transactions.

Method 3: Virtual Card for a Child

If your child needs a card to purchase (such as Steam or Donation Alerts), get a virtual card with a limit of 500-1000. ₽/A month:

• 💳 Tinkoff Junior (with parental control).
• 💳 Savercard for teenagers (limit set by the parent).
• 💳 Revolut <18 (with notification of each transaction).

5. Blocking Unwanted Sites and Secure Search

Even with parental control, children can access dangerous websites through a browser to avoid:

Method 1: Safe Searching on Google

1. Open the Google search settings.
2. Enable “Safe Search” and block its change with a password.
3. On the child's device in Settings → Annexes → Google → Check that the option is active.

Method 2: DNS-Filtering (for advanced users)

Change. DNS-servers on the child’s device to family, which automatically block malicious sites:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → DNS settings.
2. Enter 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare Family) 208.67.222.123 (OpenDNS FamilyShield)
3. Save and restart the device.

Method 3: Blocking through a router

If you use the Xiaomi Mi Router at home, you can configure filtering at the network level:

1. Go to the router control panel (192.168.31.1).
2. Go to the Supplementary → Parental control.
3. Add in. MAC-address of the child’s device and set rules (for example, blocking social networks from 23:00 to 8:00).

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DNS-Filtering works even if your child is using the mobile internet (3G/4G/5G), Since the settings apply to all device traffic.

6 How to track a child's location without their knowledge

If you want to know where your child is but don’t want to install app app app, there are a few ways to do this:

Method 1: Hidden mode in Google Maps

1. On your phone, open Google Maps.
2. Go to Shared Access and select the child’s contact.
3. Set a time limit (e.g., “Until I turn it off”).
4. On the device of the child in the background will be transmitted geolocation.

Method 2: Appendix "Where are my children"

This Russian application allows:

• 📍 Tracking location in real time.
• 📞 Listen to the environment (on request).
• 📵 Get notifications when entering/leaving school or home.
• 🔋 View the battery level.

Minus: The child will see the notification of surveillance, if not to turn it off in the settings.

Method 3: Hidden installation of Kaspersky Safe Kids

When you install Kaspersky Safe Kids, select Hidden Mode, the app will run in the background, and the icon will not appear in the menu.

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Show all applications.
2. Enable the display of system applications.
3. Find Kaspersky Safe Kids on the list.

⚠️ Caution: Hidden tracking can violate trust in the family, and use this method only in extreme cases (for example, if a child is missing or in danger).

7 How to Bypass Parental Controls: What Children Know

Teenagers learn quickly to bypass restrictions, and these are the most popular ways they use:

• 🔄 Resetting: Returning the phone to factory settings removes all restrictions.
• 📱 Guest mode: in MIUI There is an option "Guest mode" (Settings) → System system → Additionally. → Guest mode where there is no parental control.
• 🌐 VPN: connection VPN (For example, ProtonVPN or 1.1.1.1 bypasses DNS-filtering.
• 📲 Second account: Creating a new user profile in Android (available on some Xiaomi models).
• 🔧 ADB-commands: using adb shell pm uninstall, you can remove parental control applications.

How to protect yourself from bypasses:

• 🔐 Set a password for resetting settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings → Protection MIUI).
• 🚫 Lock the installation. VPN Google Family Link (Managed Applications section»).
• 📵 Turn off guest mode in the settings MIUI.
• 🔧 Stop debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap. → Developer's permissions → Turn off the debugging. USB»).

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If your child is technically savvy, the best way to control it is to have a trust relationship, explain why you set limits, and negotiate rules for sharing the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about parental controls on Xiaomi