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

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have become an integral part of teenagers’ lives, but they carry risks along with their capabilities: access to unwanted content, cyberbullying, addiction to games or social networks. Parental control is not surveillance, but a tool for forming healthy digital habits. In this article, we will analyze all the ways of restrictions on Redmi: from built-in functions MIUI Google Family Link and Kaspersky Safe Kids.

It's important to understand that one method doesn't cover all the risks, like limiting screen time in the environment. MIUI It doesn't block access to dangerous sites, and Family Link doesn't work with Chinese apps (like Douyin or WeChat), so a combination of tools is often required. 12/13, Redmi 10C and POCO X5 s MIUI 14/15 — The instructions are universal for most of the brand’s devices.

Before you start setting up, talk to your child about how to use your phone. According to a Kaspersky Lab study (2023), 68 percent of teens are positive about parental control if they understand the purpose of it. Secret mode or circumvention is a signal that your child doesn't trust your methods. Start with a dialogue, and then move on to the technical part.

1. the built-in parental control functions in MIUI

Xiaomi Integrated Basic Control Tools Directly Into the Shell MIUI. They do not require the installation of third-party applications, but have limitations: they work only on devices with a wide range of applications. MIUI and do not block content in browsers.

To activate control:

1. Open Settings → Password and Security → Parental Controls
2. Click on “Add Child Profile” and create PIN-code (remember it!)
3. Select your child’s Mi Account or create a new one.
4. Set limits by category: games, apps, purchases.

The table below shows the capabilities and limitations of built-in control:

Critical vulnerability: if the child knows PIN-code from your Mi Account, it can reset parental controls through Settings → Accounts. → Delete the child's profile. Always use the complex PIN (Not your date of birth! and don’t keep it in your phone’s notes.

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Create a separate Mi Account for Parental Control with a unique email and password, which will prevent resets if your child accesses your primary account.

2. Google Family Link: Full Control of Android

Google Family Link is the most powerful parental control solution on Redmi, as it works at the Android level.

• 🕒 Set strict time limits (including sleep time»)
• 🔒 Block the installation of new applications
• 📊 See location history (if included) GPS)
• 🛑 Banning purchases on Google Play

To set up Family Link:

1. Download the Google Family Link app on your phone.
2. Create a Google account for your child (if not) through families.google.com.
3. On your child’s phone, log in to their Google account and confirm the invitation.
4. In the Family Link app, set up rules: limit time, block games with a 12 rating+.

Important: If a child is over 13, they can leave the Google Family Group at any time without your consent. 14 teens+ It is better to combine Family Link with other methods.

Example of restrictions in Family Link:

• 🎮 Ban on rated games PEGI 18 (e.g, GTA Call of Duty)
• 🕘 Locking the phone from 22:00 to 7:00
• 📱 Limiting TikTok time to 40 minutes a day

3 Third Party Apps: Kaspersky Safe Kids, Norton Family

If built-in tools aren’t enough, use specialized apps that offer advanced features like filtering web content, monitoring messaging, and even analyzing search queries.

Comparison of top-end applications:

Instructions for setting up Kaspersky Safe Kids:

1. Install the app on your phone and on your child’s device.
2. Create a My Kaspersky account and link both devices.
3. In the child’s settings, select categories to block (for example, “Violence”, “Gambling”).
4. Activate the Safe Search feature for Google and Yandex.

Warning: Some applications (e.g. Qustodio) may conflict with MIUI Before installing, check compatibility on the developer's website.

4.Blocking dangerous content in browsers and YouTube

Even with parental control, children can come across malicious content through a browser or YouTube. Here's how to prevent it:

On Google Chrome:

• 🔗 Turn on “Safe Search”: Go to Google.com → Settings → Search settings → Filtration of results.
• 🔒 Install BlockSite extension to block specific sites.

On YouTube:

• 🎥 Activate “Limited Mode”: Profile → Settings → General. → Restricted regime.
• 👶 Use YouTube Kids app for children under 12 years old.

V MIUI Browser (built-in browser):

• 🌐 Go to the browser settings → Confidentiality → Safe viewing.
• 🚫 Add Dangerous Sites to the Blacklist Manually.

Lifehack: If your child is using TikTok, turn on Digital Well-Being Mode in the app settings, which will limit scrolling time and turn off live streams.

Is there a secure search on Google?

Are dangerous websites blocked through BlockSite?

Is limited mode activated on YouTube?

Are browsers updated to the latest version?-->

5. Location and geofence monitoring

Geofencing allows you to receive notifications when a child leaves a safe area (such as a school or home), which is useful for controlling movement, but requires activation. GPS And the Internet on the child's phone.

How to set up geofences in Google Family Link:

1. Open the app and select a child profile.
2. Go to the "Location" section.
3. Click "Add Geo-fence" and circle the desired area on the map.
4. Set a radius (e.g. 500 meters around a school).

Alternative tracking applications:

• 🚗 Find My Kids is a Russian-language solution with the function of listening to the environment (legally only with the consent of the child!).

⚠️ Note: Location tracking without the consent of a child over 10 years of age may violate Article 152.2 of the Civil Code on the right to privacy).

6. Hidden Threats: How Children Sidestep Restrictions

Teenagers learn quickly to bypass parental controls, and here are the most common ways to prevent them:

1. Installation of a second user on Android

On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) You can create a second user through the settings. → System system → Additionally. → Multiplayer. Solution: disable this feature in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers → Disable multiplayer mode).

2.Use of VPN block-by-lock

Apps like ProtonVPN or Psiphon can mask traffic. Solution: block installation VPN Google Family Link or Kaspersky Safe Kids.

3. Resetting the phone to factory settings

If the phone does not have a Mi Account attached, the child can reset via Settings. → The phone. → Reset. Solution: activate Device Protection in Settings → Password and security → Protect your device and link your phone to your Mi Account.

Installation of modified APK (hacked versions of applications)

Sites like APKMirror or BlackMod can download games without restrictions. Solution: disable installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special rights → Installation of unknown applications).

⚠️ Attention: If a child is tech-savvy, they can root Redmi and disable any parental controls. On bootloader models, this is done in 10 minutes. The only solution is to regularly check system integrity through Settings. → The phone. → Status. MIUI (should be “Official»).

7. Alternative methods: setting up the router and DNS-filtering

If a child uses home Wi-Fi, you can block dangerous sites at the router level, and this works even if the phone has disabled parental control.

Instructions for routers Xiaomi/Redmi:

1. Go to the router control panel at 192.168.31.1 (username and password is usually admin).
2. Go to Additional Settings → Access control.
3. Add in. MAC-The child's phone address in the list of controlled devices.
4. Set rules for blocking (for example, banning social networks from 22:00 to 8:00).

DNS-filtering through Cloudflare or Yandex.DNS:

• 🔄 Change. DNS on a phone or router on 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare Family) or 77.88.8.7 (Yandex.DNS Family).
• 🛡️ This will block access to sites with adult content, gambling and drugs.

Pros of the method:

• ✅ Works on all devices on the network (including tablets and PCs).
• ✅ No need to install software on the child’s phone.

Cons:

• ❌ Do not block mobile traffic (only Wi-Fi).
• ❌ A child can change. DNS hand-phone.

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DNS-Filtering is the most reliable way to block dangerous content, as it works at the network level and does not depend on the settings of the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about parental controls on Redmi