Modern Smart TV has turned the living room into a real entertainment center, where access to content is almost limitless. However, for parents, this opens up not only opportunities, but also certain risks associated with unwanted content. Xiaomi owners often wonder how to protect children from accidentally turning on inappropriate movies or games.
The Android TV operating system that powers Xiaomi Mi TVs provides powerful access control tools. Competent customization will allow you to control what your child is watching and how much time they are watching. In this article, we will take a closer look at all available methods of access restriction.
Turning on protection requires understanding the logic behind MIUI for TV, and we'll look at both built-in features and third-party solutions that are often even more effective, and it's important to approach this issue comprehensively to ensure maximum security.
Built-in restrictions in the Android TV interface
The first thing to start with is to learn the standard operating system features. Basic parental controls at Xiaomi are often hidden in the depths of system settings or service-specific. The standard interface doesn’t always offer a single lock-all button, so you need to act point-by-point.
The main method of protecting embedded content is to install PIN-This will prevent the child from accidentally paying for subscriptions or buying games. To activate this feature, go to the Google Play profile menu.
Click on the user avatar in the upper right corner of the home screen, then select Settings. In the list that opens, look for Parental Controls or Parental Controls. The system will prompt you to create a four-digit code that will be requested when you try to make transactions.
⚠️ Attention: Standard PIN-Google Play code protects only against financial transactions, but does not block the launch of already installed applications or viewing YouTube.
You also need to look at the settings of your Google account, and if you're a child using your TV, you need to create a separate profile with limited rights, so you can separate your browsing history and recommendations.
Block YouTube and YouTube Kids
YouTube remains the most popular source of video content for children, and unfortunately, there is no built-in full filter for the main version of the app on Xiaomi TVs, but there are workarounds. The most reliable way is to use the version of YouTube Kids.
Install YouTube Kids from the Google Play Store on your TV, and when you launch, it will suggest you set up your child's profile, you can select an age range that will automatically filter the content, and you'll need to solve a math example or enter a code to exit your child's mode.
If your child is using regular YouTube, you can activate Safe Mode. Go to the app settings, scroll down and find the Safe Mode switch, which will hide videos with potentially adult content, although it's not a guarantee.
- 🔒 Install YouTube Kids app for automatic filtering.
- 🔢 Activate the security code in the YouTube Kids profile settings.
- 👁️ Enable Safe Mode in the main YouTube app.
It's important to understand that kids can be creative, so blocking apps may not be enough, so combine software constraints with personal time control behind the screen.
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Check your Google browsing history regularly to understand what content your child is consuming, even if filters are enabled.
Using third-party applications to block
Because Xiaomi’s built-in tools may seem inadequate, experts recommend using specialized software. The Google Play store on the TV has a number of apps built specifically for parental control.
One of the most effective solutions is BlockerX or similar apps like Kids Place, which allows you to create sandboxes, which are environments where only programs you approve are available, and any other application will be blocked by a password.
The installation process is standard: search for the application in search, click Install and open it. When you first start, the system will request device administrator permissions, which is necessary so that the application can block the launch of other programs.
☑️ Set up a third-party blocker
Some apps allow you to remotely control access from your smartphone, which is especially useful if you want to limit your viewing time remotely, for example, you can set a timer, after which the TV will lock.
| Annex | Type of protection | Difficulty setting up | Availability of timer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Family Link | Account management | Medium | There is. |
| Kids Place | Interface locking | Low. | There is. |
| YouTube Kids | Content filtering | Low. | No. |
| BlockerX | Application lockdown | Medium | There is. |
⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party blockers, make sure they are compatible with remote control, as there is no touch screen or mouse on the TV.
Customization of guest mode and profiles
Android TV allows you to create multiple user profiles, ideal for families with both adults and children using TV, and you can create a separate Children profile that doesn't have access to your personal data.
To create a profile, go to Settings → Accounts & Login → Add an account. Create a new Google account specifically for your child or use an existing child profile. Once switched to this profile, recommendations on YouTube and Netflix will be based solely on children’s preferences.
In the profile of the guest or child, you can hide the icons of certain applications from the home screen. Although this is not a full lock (the child can find the application through a search), this greatly reduces the likelihood of accidental launch.
How to hide applications from the main screen?
Using separate profiles also helps keep your child private: Your child won't see your search history or movies you bought, which may not be designed for his or her age.
Screen time limiting through Google Family Link
The most powerful tool in the Google ecosystem is Family Link, which allows you to control your child’s device (in this case, an Android TV) from your smartphone, and requires you to set up your child’s account first.
First, create a Google account for your child (if you don’t have one) and add it to your family group through the Google Family Link app on your phone. Then sign in to this account on your Xiaomi TV.
The functionalities shall include:
- ⏰ Setting a time limit for the use of the device per day.
- 🌙 Locking your device at a certain time (for example, overnight).
- 📱 Remote locking of the TV on demand.
It is important to note that to work Family Link TV must be constantly connected to the Internet, and the functionality can vary depending on the version of Android TV installed on your Xiaomi model.
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Google Family Link is the only solution that allows you to remotely block your TV from your parent’s phone at any time.
Frequent problems and methods of their solution
Users may encounter various difficulties in setting up the process, and it often happens that after updating the firmware, the settings are reset or menu items change their location, which is standard behavior for the Android platform.
If you forget the set-up PIN-It's hard to recover the parental control code, and in most cases, you'll need to reset the Google Play Store app to factory values or reset the TV completely.
Sometimes blocking apps can conflict with MIUI TV system processes, causing the interface to freeze, in which case it is recommended to remove the third-party application and try the analogue or return to standard Google tools.
If you have login errors, check the date and time on your TV, and time mismatch can block security services and synchronization of profiles.