Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones today are equipped with powerful security tools that parents often use to restrict children’s access to content. PIN-The question of how to remove parental control from the phone becomes critical when restrictions interfere with the normal operation of the gadget.
In most cases, this term refers to the operation of Google Family Link or the built-in digital well-being features in the MIUI shell. The deactivation process depends on how the restrictions were set and whether you have access to an administrator account. In this article, we will discuss in detail all legitimate methods of unlocking, from standard settings to radical measures.
It's worth noting that trying to circumvent security without the account owner's knowledge can lead to a device lock. Digital security is a two-way process, and understanding the mechanisms of how restrictions work will help avoid data loss. We'll look at scenarios where you know the password and situations where access to management is lost.
Determination of the type of restrictions
Before you start taking action, you need to clearly identify which tool limits your capabilities. On Xiaomi devices, two main types of protection are most often found: system restrictions through your Google account and local settings of the smartphone itself, and the next algorithm of your actions depends on this choice.
If you see the Family Link logo on the lock screen or in notifications, you can control it remotely from another device, and you can't just turn it off, you need a parent to confirm it, and if you can't install apps or screen time limits without an explicit link to an external account, you can use local MIUI settings.
- 🔍 Check if the Family Link app is on the list of programs.
- 🔍 Pay attention to requests PIN-code when trying to change the settings.
- 🔍 Make sure the device is not in "Guest" or "Second Space" mode".
It is important to distinguish between these terms, as the methods of bypassing are radically different: Google’s system limitations require intervention through the company’s servers, while Xiaomi’s local settings can often be reset through the recovery menu.
Disable Family Link through the Parent App
The most correct and safe way to restrict the device is to use the parent's device, which has the control app installed on it, which does not require a data reset and saves all the settings of the smartphone. To start, open the Family Link app on the parent's phone and select the child's profile.
In the management menu, find the "Account settings" or "Settings management" section, and you'll need to find the activity control item, and the system can request proof of the identity of the parent, so make sure you know the password from your Google account, and once you enter the data, access will be unlocked.
⚠️ Warning: Once the control is disabled, the child will have full permission to install any applications and access the browser.
If you plan to remove the binding completely, select the "Stop Control" option in your child's account settings, the system will warn you of the consequences of this action, confirm the operation, and within a few minutes the restrictions will be removed, and the child's device may need to reboot or re-enter the account.
☑️ Checklist for Family Link shutdown
Removing restrictions through smartphone settings
In some cases, especially when the child is already at a certain age (usually 13 years), the system allows you to remove restrictions directly from the user's device, you need to go to the settings menu of the Xiaomi smartphone itself. Open Settings and find the section Digital Well-being and parental control.
The current control status can be displayed inside this menu, and if the system allows, next to the profile name, there will be a control button or a gear icon, and if you click on it, you can see the deactivation option, but often you will still need to enter a password from the parent's account to confirm this action.
An alternative way is through your Google account settings. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Select your account and check the Google Account Management section. You can change the security settings here, although full changes often require authorization on your computer.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Passwords and security.
- 📱 Find the Privacy section.
- 📱 Check the status of special opportunities.
It's worth noting that on the newer versions of Android and MIUI, the local shutdown capability without parental input is minimal, and this is done specifically to protect minors, and if standard pathways are closed, more sophisticated methods will have to be used.
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If the disable button is grey or unavailable, then parental controls are active at the Google server level and cannot be removed locally.
Use of the unlock code when access is lost
When a parent has forgotten their password or the parent's phone is unavailable, the family link provides an emergency mechanism, and the child lock screen, where permission to act is requested, often has a link "Forgot your password?" or a similar option.
When you click on this link, the system will prompt you to enter an access code, which is generated in the parent's application, you need to open Family Link on the parent's device, click on the menu (three bars), and select "Access Code." This code is valid for a short time, usually a few minutes.
Enter the code on a locked Xiaomi device, which will temporarily remove restrictions or access settings to completely disable control, and if you don't have access to a parent's device, this method, alas, won't work, because the code is dynamic.
| Action. | Access required | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|
| Disconnection through the application | Parent's phone | No. |
| Unlocking code | Parental appendix | No. |
| Resetting (Hard Reset) | Physical access | Total loss. |
| Account recovery | Mail/Phone | No. |
It's important to understand the difference between the unlock code and the Family Link access code. These are different numbers, and they're not interchangeable. The access code is specifically used to authorize parental control activities.
Radical method: Complete reset of the device (Hard Reset)
If none of the softer methods work, the only technically feasible option is to completely reset the device to factory settings, which removes all data from the phone, including photos, contacts and apps, but completely clears the system of any software restrictions, including Family Link.
To do this, Xiaomi Redmi needs to turn off the phone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo or Recovery menu appears. The menu uses volume buttons to navigate and the power button to select.
Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm → Back to Main Menu → RebootOnce you select Wipe Data, the system will ask you to confirm the action. Select Wipe All Data and confirm. The process will take a few minutes. Once complete, select Reboot. The phone will turn on as new.
⚠️ Note: After resetting when you first set up, the phone will request a Google account that was synced earlier (FRP If you don’t know the password of this account, the phone will remain locked.
What is FRP Lock?
This method is only effective if you remember the password from the main Google account associated with the phone, otherwise the device will turn into a brick.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Xiaomi users often face technical nuances when removing restrictions, such as when settings are reset, the phone may require a Wi-Fi connection, which can also be blocked by a parental-controlled router. Make sure you use a mobile network or an open access point for initial setup.
Another common problem is cyclical reboot or logo getting stuck after trying to tamper with system files, and if you tried to manually remove system components from Google Play Services, it could have disrupted the integrity of the system, in which case only flashing through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility would help.
- 🔌 Use the original cable USB PC-connect.
- 🔌 Make sure the battery is at least 50%.
- 🔌 Check the stability of the Internet connection.
If the phone belongs to a child, but the parent’s account is lost forever, the only legal way is to restore access to the Google account through the recovery procedure on google.com. Without this, it is almost impossible to bypass the protection of Family Link due to the high level of encryption and binding to servers.
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A full reset removes the restrictions, but requires knowledge of the password from a Google account to activate the phone once turned on.