How to block a site on a Xiaomi phone: all the ways from MIUI to the router

Why Xiaomi Owners May Need to Block Websites

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer a wealth of content control capabilities, but not all users know how to effectively restrict access to certain web resources. Blocking sites is relevant in several scenarios: parents want to protect children from unwanted content, employees want to restrict access to social networks during working hours, and some users simply seek to increase their productivity by removing distracting platforms.

Unlike iOS, where the lock is implemented through Screen Time, MIUI does not have a built-in universal tool to block sites in all browsers. However, this does not mean that the task is impossible: the system offers alternative ways through security settings, third-party applications and even router parameters.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, including built-in Xiaomi features, setting popular browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser), specialized utilities and even locking at the Wi-Fi level. Each method is tested on current models of Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13T with MIUI 14/15.

Method 1: Blocking through Digital Well-Being (MIUI 12 and later)

The easiest way to restrict access to websites is to use the built-in Digital Wellbeing tool, which is suitable for blocking sites in Google Chrome and Mi Browser, but has a limitation: it only works for the user profile that enabled the feature.

To activate the lock:

1. Open Settings → Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls.
2. Slip on the chart "Control Panel" and select the Timer of use of applications.
3. Find Chrome or Mi Browser in the list and click on the settings gear.
4. Activate the option to limit access to sites and add the URL to the blacklist.

Important: this method does not block sites in other browsers (for example, Firefox or Opera), and after rebooting the phone or resetting the settings, the list of blocked sites can be reset.

Update MIUI to the latest version (minimum MIUI 12 required)

Make sure that the browser (Chrome/Mi Browser) is updated in Google Play

Turn off VPN – it can bypass restrictions

Sync your Xiaomi account to save your settings-->

Method 2: Using Mi Browser (built-in lock)

Xiaomi’s proprietary Mi Browser browser has a built-in website blocking feature that works independently of “Digital Wellbeing” and is suitable for users who prefer standard solutions and do not want to install third-party apps.

Instructions for setting:

1. Open the Mi Browser and tap the three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Go to Settings → Privacy and Security.
3. Choose Block Sites and add URLs manually (e.g. vk.com or tiktok.com).
4. Activate the switch Enable the lock.

Features of the method:

• 🔒 Only works in Mi Browser – other browsers ignore this list.
• 📱 Supports keyword blocking (for example, the word “casino” will block all sites with it in the Internet). URL).
• 🔄 The lock list syncs with the Xiaomi account if the appropriate option is enabled.

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If the site is not blocked, try adding it with the prefix https:// or http://. Some versions of the Mi Browser are sensitive to the URL format.

Method 3: Third-party applications for blocking (BlockSite, StayFocusd)

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t cover your needs, you should look at specialized apps from Google Play. The most popular solutions are BlockSite and StayFocusd, which offer flexible settings and cross-browser support.

Advantages of third-party applications:

• 🌐 Works in all browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc.).
• ⏰ Allows you to set a lock schedule (for example, only during working hours).
• 🔐 Supports blocking by keywords in URL and page titles.
• 📊 Keep statistics of visits and attempts to bypass the lock.

How to set up BlockSite:

1. Install the app from Google Play and grant permission to access special features (Settings → Special Features → BlockSite).
2. Add sites to the blacklist through the main menu of the application.
3. Activate the option to Block in the background to work without an open browser.

Limitations:

• ⚠️ Some apps require root rights to be completely blocked (e.g., to restrict games or social media).
• ⚠️ After removing the application, all restrictions are automatically removed.

Method 4: Blocking through hosts files (for advanced users)

The hosts file editing method is one of the most reliable ways to block sites at the system level, and works in all browsers and applications, but requires superuser rights (root) or use of the site. ADB-team.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate USB Debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times to unlock the developer menu).
2. Open the command line on PC and execute: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system echo "127.0.0.1 vk.com" >> /system/etc/hosts mount -o ro,remount /system
3. Reboot the phone.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Works at the system level – blocks sites even in applications (for example, the built-in browser on Instagram).
• 🚀 It does not require constant operation of background processes (unlike applications).
• 🔒 You can block thousands of sites by massively adding entries to hosts.

Risks:

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of the hosts file can lead to loss of Internet access or malfunction of applications.Always back up the original file before making changes.

Method 5: Blocking at the Wi-Fi Router Level

If you want to block sites on all devices on your home network (including phones, tablets, and PCs), the most effective way is to set the restrictions directly on your Wi-Fi router, which is independent of your phone model and works even on devices without special software.

Instructions for routers Xiaomi Mi Router:

1. Open the router’s web interface at 192.168.31.1 (the default login and password is usually admin/admin).
2. Go to the Access Control section → Blacklist.
3. Add site domains (like facebook.com) and save settings.
4. Apply the rules to specific devices on their MAC-addresses (optional).

Comparison of blocking methods:

The advantages of blocking through the router:

• 🌍 It works on all devices on the network, including smart-TB and laptops.
• 🕒 You can set a lock schedule (for example, from 22:00 to 7:00).
• 🔒 Bypassing restrictions VPN Only if they are configured on the device, not on the router.

💡

Blocking at the router level is the only method that works even if the user reinstalls the firmware or resets the phone to factory settings.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you set up the lock correctly, Xiaomi users may encounter difficulties.

Problem 1: The site is blocked but opened via a VPN.

Solution: VPN encrypts traffic and bypasses most blockages, to prevent this:

• 🔌 Lock the installation. VPN-Applications through Settings → Annexes → Special access → Device administrators.
• 🌐 Set up the lock. VPN-sites (e.g. protonvpn.com) via router.

Problem 2: After the MIUI update, the lock was reset.

Solution: Xiaomi's built-in features (e.g., Digital Well-being) can be reset with major updates.

• 📱 Use third-party apps (such as BlockSite) with a Google account link.
• 🔧 Regularly export the list of blocked sites to the file (available in the settings of most blockers).

Problem 3: The locking is unstable (it works, then it does not).

Solution: Instability is usually associated with DNS caching.

• 🔄 Clear the cache DNS via DNS Changer.
• 📵 Reboot your phone and router.
• 🛠️ Disable the function "Smart resolution" DNS" in the Wi-Fi settings (Settings) → Wi-Fi → Additionally).

⚠️ Note: If you are using duality SIM-If you switch between mobile internet and Wi-Fi frequently, the router lock will stop working when you change network. + BlockSite).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions