Controlling childrenโs access to Internet content on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every second parent faces. According to a 2023 Kaspersky study, 68 percent of teenagers in Russia regularly visit age-restricted sites, with 42 percent of parents unaware of it, a problem compounded by the fact that standard MIUI restrictions are often bypassed through VPN or incognito mode.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for blocking sites on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark phones โ from built-in firmware functions to third-party applications and router settings. We will focus on bypassing locks (so that a child can not remove them) and the nuances for different versions of Android 12-14. All methods are tested on current MIUI 14/15 firmware and do not require root rights.
1. Built-in MIUI Restrictions: Xiaomi's Parental Controls
MIUI has its own parental control module that allows you to block sites by category or manually, a method that is suitable for Xiaomi phones on Android 10 and later, but has a limitation: a child can turn off control if he knows the password from the Mi Account.
To set up the lock:
- Open the Settings. โ Parental control.
- Select a child profile (or create a new one).
- Go to the Content Restriction section โ Websites.
- Activate the option to limit access to the sites.
- Add a URL to a blacklist or select a category (e.g., "Adults").
An important nuance: if a child uses a Chrome or Firefox browser, the built-in MIUI restrictions will not work โ they only block the standard Mi Browser browser.
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If a child is over 12 years old, include in the Settings โ Google accounts โ Account management โ Family settings option "Ask for Purchase Permit" will block installation VPN-applications without your knowledge.
2.Google Family Link: Blocking Sites Through Google Account
Google Family Link is the most reliable solution for parents, as it works at the level of a Google account and blocks sites in all browsers, including Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Instructions for setting:
- ๐ฑ Install Google Family Link on your childโs phone and phone.
- ๐ Link your childโs account to the family group (confirmation is required). SMS).
- ๐ In the application, select the child profile โ Managing settings โ Google filters.
- ๐ซ Activate the option to limit access to the sites and add URL blacklisted.
- ๐ In the Application Management section, block the installation VPN (e.g. 1.1.1.1, ProtonVPN).
The advantage of this method is that locking works even if the child resets the phone to the factory settings (provided that he does not know the password from the Google account), but after 13 years, a teenager can request removal from the family group - this is notified by the parent's email.
3.Blocking apps: the best options for Xiaomi
If embedded facilities MIUI Google Family Link is not suitable (for example, the child is more likely to be connected to the Internet) 13 We've been testing third-party applications. 7 Popular Blockers and Choose Top-3, squander VPN They work on Xiaomi without root:
| Annex | Free version | Blocking VPN | It works without root. | Difficulty bypassing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Place | Yes (with limitations) | Yes. | Yes. | โญโญโญโญ (password) |
| StayFocusd | Yes. | No. | Yes. | โญโญโญ (skirt) |
| Net Nanny | No (7-day trial) | Yes. | Yes. | โญโญโญโญโญ (most reliable) |
Net Nanny is the only app on the list that blocks access to websites even when connected via a mobile network (not just Wi-Fi). DNS-servers and encrypted tunnels that make the bypass VPN - almost impossible. - Minus - paid subscription (from 390 โฝ/month).
For the free solution, we recommend Kids Place, which creates a sandbox with a limited set of applications and blocks access to the Internet outside of it, but the child can go out of mode if he finds out. PIN-Code (by default 1234 โ be sure to change it!).
Set a complex PIN (at least 6 characters)|Block installation of new applications |Block access to Android |Enable lock time |Add all browsers to the blacklist-->
4. Blocking through a router: a universal way for all devices
If you want to block sites not only on your phone, but also on your tablet, computer, or game console, the easiest way to do this is to set up filtering at the router level, which works independently of the operating system and prevents the child from getting around the lock by resetting the phone. Minus: requires access to the router's administrator panel.
Instructions for popular routers:
- ๐ก Xiaomi Mi Router: Get in 192.168.31.1 โ Additional settings โ Parental control โ add MAC-The childโs phone address and block the websites.
- ๐ TP-Link: 192.168.0.1 โ Additional settings โ Access control โ Filtering rules.
- ๐ Keenetic: my.keenetic.net โ Home network โ Parental control.
To block by keyword (for example, all sites with โpornโ in the URL) use DNS-filtering:
- In the router settings, find the DNS section.
- Replace the standard DNS with 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare Family) or 185.228.168.168 (CleanBrowsing).
- Save the settings and restart the router.
How can a child bypass a router lock?
5. How to block sites in specific browsers
If your child uses a particular browser (such as Chrome or Firefox), you can set up a lock in it, which is less reliable than system restrictions, but is suitable as an additional measure.
For Google Chrome:
- Open Chrome on your child's phone.
- Move to the โฎ โ Settings โ Security โ Safe viewing.
- Choose Filtering for all users.
- Add sites to the blacklist through Site Settings โ Permissions โ Blocking sites.
For Mi Browser (standard Xiaomi browser):
- Open Mi Browser.
- Press. โฎ โ Settings โ Confidentiality โ Blocking sites.
- Enter the URL and save it.
Important: Firefox doesnโt have a built-in website locking system โ youโll need to use extensions (like BlockSite), but they require customization skills and are easily removed by a child.
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Browser locking only works if your child is not using incognito or another browser. Combine this method with system restrictions (sections 1-3) for full protection.
6.How to check if the lock is working
Setting up the limits is only half the battle, making sure the child can't get around them. Here are 4 tests worth doing:
- ๐ Try to open a blocked site in Chrome, Firefox and Mi Browser.
- ๐ Connect to a mobile network (turn off Wi-Fi) and check access.
- ๐ Install. VPN (For example, ProtonVPN and try to visit the site.
- ๐ฑ Restart your phone to Safe Mode (press the power button) โ Restart in Safe Mode and check the lock.
If one of the tests fails, the lock is unreliable.
- ๐ Strengthen your Mi Account and Google password (use a Bitwarden password manager).
- ๐ต Turn off the ability to install applications from unknown sources (Settings) โ Annexes โ Special access โ Installation of unknown applications).
- ๐ Set up a lock on the router (section 4).
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Create a trap: bookmark a link to a harmless but blocked site (such as a test domain) if your child complains that the site is not opening, the lock works.
7 What to do if the child has bypassed the blockage
Even the most reliable methods can be bypassed if the child is technically savvy. Here are 5 signs that the restrictions are lifted:
- ๐ต In the history of the browser appear suspicious sites.
- ๐ The phone is installed. VPN-Annexes (1.1.1.1, Psiphon).
- ๐ Restrictions in Settings have disappeared โ Parental control.
- ๐ฑ The phone was reset to factory settings (check in Settings) โ The phone).
- ๐ Changed. DNS-servers in Wi-Fi settings.
If the lock is dropped:
โ ๏ธ Attention: Don't immediately accuse the child of cheating. Often restrictions are reset after updating. MIUI Check the activity log in Google Family Link, which shows which sites have been visited and when the settings have been changed.
Actions to restore control:
- Reset your password from your Mi Account and Google account (in case your child recognizes it).
- Delete everything. VPN-Apps via Google Play (even if uninstalled, they can be recovered from the shopping cart).
- Set up the lock again using a combination of methods (e.g. Google Family Link + Net Nanny + router).
- Enable circumvention attempts notifications in parental control settings.
If your child regularly bypasses restrictions, consider hardware solutions:
- ๐ฑ Buy a phone with Android Go (like Redmi Go) and itโs harder to install. VPN.
- ๐ Use it. MDM-solutions (e.g. Hexnode) MDM) for corporate device management.
- ๐ต Turn off the mobile internet on SIM-child card (leave only Wi-Fi with lock on the router).