How to Block YouTube on Xiaomi Phone: Protecting Children

Today’s parents often face a dilemma: Xiaomi is a powerful learning tool, and a limitless source of entertainment that can drag a child out for hours, YouTube is becoming especially popular, but also dangerous in terms of time loss. Shorts’ endless short tape or long-running game streams can steal a student an entire evening, disrupting sleep patterns and reducing academic performance.

Fortunately, the HyperOS operating system and earlier versions of MIUI provide users with flexible tools for digital education.You don't have to be a programmer to restrict access to certain content. In this article, we'll look at proven ways to effectively block YouTube on a Xiaomi device using built-in system features and third-party solutions.

It's important to understand that full lockdown is not just a ban on an application, it's a set of measures that include traffic filtering, time limits, and control of new software installation, and we'll look at methods of varying severity, from soft time management to hard lockdown at the network level.

Using the built-in application Digital Well-being

The easiest and most native way to control your child’s screen time is to use Google’s built-in service, which is already pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones.The Digital Well-Being feature allows you to set time limits for specific applications without having to download additional software.

To activate the protection, you need to open your phone's settings and find the appropriate section. Here you will see detailed statistics on the use of the gadget. By clicking on the YouTube icon, you can set a timer, for example, 30 or 60 minutes a day. Once the limit is exhausted, the application will stop running until the next day.

But there is a significant drawback to this method: a child can simply turn off the timer if they know the password from a Google account or have access to basic settings, so it is more suitable for disciplined teenagers who need help structure time than to completely block access.

• 📱 Open Settings and go to Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls.
• ⏱️ Find the YouTube app in the list and click on the hourglass icon.
• 🔒 Set the desired time limit or select the lock option after the deadline has expired.
• 🔐 Be sure to install it. PIN-Code to change settings in the Parental Control menu.

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Use the Sleep Mode feature in the same menu to automatically block YouTube and other distracting apps at night, ensuring your child has a healthy rest.

It is worth noting that the settings may vary slightly depending on the version of the firmware MIUI 13, 14 or new HyperOS. In new versions, the interface has become more minimal, but the functionality remains the same. If you do not find the right options, search by settings, typing in the query "app restriction".

Set up Parental Controls via Google Family Link

A more reliable solution is to use Google Family Link, a dedicated application that allows you to stream settings from a parent’s device to a child’s phone, providing remote control, and is the most effective method for parents who want to fully manage their son’s or daughter’s digital space.

To get started, you’ll need to install the Family Link app on your phone and create or log in to a child’s Google account on their Xiaomi device. Once paired, you’ll have the ability to see in real time which apps are running and block them remotely in one click.

⚠️ Note: Family Link must be logged into a Google account that is managed as a “child” account on a child’s phone to operate a Family Link.

Once you have set up the link, you can not only block YouTube, but also prevent the installation of new apps from the Play Market without your approval, which will prevent a child from simply downloading an alternative browser or YouTube client to get around the ban.

• 📲 Download the Google Family Link app to your smartphone from the Play Market.
• 👶 Create a new Google account for your child or add an existing one to your family group.
• 🔗 Follow the instructions on the screen to pair devices through QR-code.
• 🚫 In the app menu, find YouTube and select the option “Block the app".

A major benefit of Family Link is the ability to set up a “sleep time” when a child’s phone is locked completely, except for emergency calls, which solves the problem of nighttime use of the gadget, when a child can secretly watch videos under the blanket.

Blocking through DNS settings to filter content

If you don't want to install additional controller apps, you can use an advanced network-level locking method, and by changing the DNS (Domain Name System) settings on the Android operating system, you can redirect requests to YouTube servers to nowhere or to the filter.

This method is good because it blocks access to video hosting in all browsers and applications at once, regardless of whether your phone is connected via Wi-Fi or a 4G/5G mobile network. You do not need superuser rights (Root), you just need access to the settings menu.

To implement this method, we will use a filtered DNS service, where you have to enter a special address in the "DNS provider hostname" field, which is known for its ability to block unwanted content, which is a more technically complex but very reliable way.

family.adguard-dns.com

Once you enter the address and save the settings, Xiaomi will start filtering all outgoing traffic. Trying to open YouTube will cause a connection error. The child will not be able to simply delete the application, since the lock works at the network level.

Note that this method can also block some other Google services if the filter is set too strictly, however, the address listed above typically only blocks YouTube and adult sites, leaving the rest of Google's ecosystem functional.

Application of third-party blocking applications

There are many apps in the Google Play store and alternative directories that are specifically designed for parental control, offering features that go beyond the standard Android experience, and popular solutions include BlockSite, AppBlock, or Kaspersky Safe Kids.

These programs often have their own deletion protection mechanisms, for example, they can request device administrator permissions, which will prevent a child from simply uninstalling an application without your password. Some of them allow you to create complex lock schedules.

So if you look at the functionality of these applications, you'll need to use it, and maybe you'll need to give it administrator permission, and then you'll need to use it, and these are critical steps that will prevent it from intercepting YouTube.

• 🛡️ Install a blocker app (e.g. BlockSite) from the Play Market.
• 🔑 Provide all permissions requested, including access to the device.
• 📝 Add YouTube to the Blacklist of Apps or Sites.
• 🔐 Set a password to the entrance to the settings of the blocker itself so that the child can not turn it off.

Using third-party software provides flexibility, but requires care. Some free versions may display ads that are not desirable for a child's device, so choosing a reliable paid solution is often more economical in the long run.

Restrictions through Guest Mode or Second Space

Xiaomi smartphones have a unique feature called Second Space, which is basically creating a second virtual phone inside a physical device, so you can set up the main space for yourself, and in the second, you can leave only the apps that your child needs.

This is ideal if the phone is shared, you simply switch between spaces using a fingerprint or password, and in the child space, YouTube may simply not be installed, or it may be prohibited by your account settings.

To activate this feature, go to the settings and find "Second Space" and the system will suggest creating a separate desktop, and it is important to remember to set different passwords or biometric keys to log into each space.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the Second Space, all the data inside it (photos, apps, correspondence) will be permanently deleted.

The alternative is Guest mode, which temporarily hides your personal data and apps. However, Guest mode is often reset after a reboot, whereas Second Space is permanently stored.

Blocking through router and home network

If your child is using the phone primarily at home via Wi-Fi, the most effective solution is to set up the lock at the router level. Modern routers (Keenetic, TP-Link, Asus) allow you to create profiles of devices and set up a schedule for them to access the Internet or specific sites.

You will need to log in to the router control panel (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).Look for Parental Control or Filtration. URL". Here you can add the domain youtube.com and its subdomains to the blacklist for the MAC-child's phone address.

The advantage of this method is that it doesn't load the phone's processor and it works in a completely transparent way for the user, and the child may think that the Internet is just "bad" or that the video is not loaded because of a failure, and it also restricts access from any device in the house if you set up a network profile.

However, this method has a vulnerability: once the child switches to mobile Internet, the lock will cease to work, so it is better to combine this method with the settings of the smartphone itself for comprehensive protection.

• 🌐 Log in to your Wi-Fi router’s settings via browser.
• 📱 Find a list of connected devices and determine the child’s phone by MAC-address.
• 🚫 Add YouTube Domains to the List of Banned Sites (URL Filter for this device.
• ⏰ Set up a schedule: for example, to prohibit access to video hosting from 16:00 to 20:00 on weekdays.

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The combination of locking on a router (for home) and Family Link (for mobile) provides the maximum level of protection against unwanted content at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)