How to Set Up Parental Controls on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide 2026

Why do you need parental controls on Xiaomi smartphones?

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI or HyperOS have become an integral part of the lives of children and adolescents. According to a study by Kaspersky in 2023, 68% of Russian children aged 8-12 years spend more than 3 hours a day online, and one in five children have experienced cyberbullying or unwanted content. Parental controls help restrict access to dangerous sites, monitor the time of use of the gadget and even track the location of the child.

Unlike the iPhone, where Screen Time is built into iOS, Xiaomi devices (such as the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 11 Lite) offer several ways to adjust the restrictions: through proprietary MIUI tools, Google Family Link services or third-party applications like Kids Place or Norton Family.

It's important to understand that parental control is not surveillance, it's digital security, it teaches kids how to use technology responsibly, it protects them from fraud, and it helps them avoid gadget addiction, but before setting up, you can talk to your child about the rules, and they'll see the restrictions as care, not punishment.

Method 1: Built-in Parental Controls in MIUI/HyperOS

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI 14 and later (including HyperOS) have a built-in Parental Control feature that allows:

• 🕒 Limit the time of use of the device
• 🌐 Block access to certain applications and sites
• 📍 Track location (when switched on) GPS)
• 📊 View activity reports

To activate it, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Parental Controls.
2. Click Start and select I am a parent.
3. Create a PIN (remember it! When you lose it, you can only recover it through resetting).
4. Add your child’s account by specifying his Mi Account (if not, register a new one).
5. Set time limits, apps and content.

Make sure that the device is installed MIUI 14 or HyperOS|Check if your child has a Mi Account.|Write the PIN code to a safe place|Update your smartphone to the latest version-->

Note that built-in control only works on devices with one user profile. If your child is using guest mode or a second account, restrictions will not apply. Also, the feature may conflict with some launchers (for example, Nova Launcher), so return the standard MIUI before setting up.

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If the child has forgotten the PIN code from parental control, reset it can only be through a complete reset of the device settings (Settings → About the phone → Reset settings).

Method 2: Google Family Link is a universal solution

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools seem limited, use Google Family Link, a free service from Google that works on all Android devices, including Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark.

• 📱 It works even on older versions. MIUI (Starting with Android 7.0)
• 🔒 Allows you to block the installation of new applications
• ⏰ Flexible settings for use times (up to minutes)
• 📈 Detailed activity reports (which sites you visited, how much time you spent playing games)

To set up:

1. Download Google Family Link for parents on your smartphone (available on Google Play).
2. Install Google Family Link for children and teenagers on your child’s device.
3. Create a Google Account for your child (if you don’t have one) or link an existing one.
4. In the parent app, select the child’s device and set the restrictions.

MIUI |Google Family Link| App Party (Kids Place, Norton)|I haven't decided-->

An important nuance: Google Family Link does not block Xiaomi system applications (such as Mi Browser or GetApps).To restrict access to them, you will have to manually delete or disable them through Settings → Apps.

Method 3: Third-party applications for extended control

If standard features aren’t enough, consider specialized applications that offer advanced features such as:

• 🔍 Monitoring of messages in messengers (WhatsApp, VK, Telegram)
• 🚨 Alerts about suspicious activity (for example, attempts to circumvent restrictions)
• 🎮 Blocking microtransactions in games
• 📱 Remote device management (locking, data cleaning)

Top.-3 applications for Xiaomi 2026 year:

Before installing third-party software, check compatibility with your Xiaomi model. For example, Kids Place may not work properly on HyperOS devices due to changed application permissions. Also remember that some programs require administrator rights, which may conflict with system updates.

Method 4: Restriction through Xiaomi router

If a child is using a Xiaomi device at home, you can set up parental controls on the router, which blocks access to dangerous sites on all devices connected to the network, including smartphones, tablets and PCs. The feature is available on Xiaomi Mi Router 4A, AX3600, AX6000 and others with MiWiFi firmware.

Instructions for setting:

1. Connect to the router via the browser at 192.168.31.1 (username and password is usually admin).
2. Go to Additional Settings → Parental control.
3. Add the device of the child by MAC-address (you can find it in Settings → About phone → General information).
4. Set up an internet access schedule and block the categories of sites (e.g. Adults, Gambling).
5. Save the settings and restart the router.

The advantage of this method is that it can't be bypassed without accessing the router's settings, but it only works at home, outside the network, the child can use the Internet without restrictions, and some applications (for example, YouTube or TikTok) cache content, so blocking may not work immediately.

How to limit purchases and payments in apps

Children often make occasional purchases in games or subscriptions to services, and to avoid this, set up payment limits:

1. On Google Play:

• Open Google Play → click on profile avatar → Settings → Family → Parental Controls.
• Activate control and set a PIN code.
• In the Restrictions for Purchases section, select Authentication Required.

2. IN MIUI:

• Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account → Payments and Subscriptions.
• Turn off the Quick Payments option.
• Set a password to confirm each transaction.

In banking applications:

• In SberBank Online, Tinkoff or another bank, set limits on transfers on a card associated with the child’s device.
• Activate notifications for each transaction.

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Even with parental controls enabled, children can make purchases through the SMS-Payments or services like Qiwi, to eliminate risk completely, link a separate zero-balance bank card or a virtual limit card to your child's device.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When setting up parental controls on Xiaomi, users encounter common errors.

1.Parental controls reset after MIUI update

⚠️ Note: When updating firmware through Settings → System updates some security settings may reset:

• Back up the restrictions (in Google Family Link, this happens automatically).
• Write down PIN codes and passwords from your accounts.
• After the update, check the control manually.

2.The child removed the control app

⚠️ Note: If your child has admin rights or knows the password for Mi Account, they may delete Google Family Link or Kids Place to prevent this from happening:

• Turn off the ability to remove applications in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Delete applications.
• Set a password to Settings through Security → Block Applications.
• Use apps that require a password to uninstall (e.g. Norton Family).

3. Website blocking does not work

If blocked sites still open, check:

• Does your child use a VPN or Tor Browser?
• Is the filter database in the control application updated?
• Have you not been able to use the router (if the lock is set up on it)?

FAQ: Answers to popular questions