The modern smartphone has become an integral part of life, and children access gadgets at an increasingly early age. For owners of Xiaomi devices running the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, the issue of digital security of the child is especially acute. Standard settings for adults often contain content that is not intended for young users, or allow you to make random purchases in apps.
The solution to this problem is to set up a child’s account or use specialized profiles, and in the Android ecosystem, this is done through a bundle of Google Family Link and built-in access restriction features, and the right configuration will allow you not only to block unwanted sites, but also to monitor the time spent by the child behind the screen, and track their location.
In this article, we will explore the process of creating a separate space for a child, setting up parental controls and implementing restrictions that cannot be circumvented without your knowledge. You will learn how to turn a smartphone into a secure tool for learning and entertainment, eliminating the risks of accidentally deleting system files or accessing banking applications.
Preparation of the main account and devices
Before you start creating an isolated environment, you need to make sure that the main Google account on the parent’s device is configured correctly, which will act as the administrator of the Family Link group. Make sure that your smartphone has the latest version of Google Play services installed, as older versions may not support new family group management features.
The second step is to prepare the device that the child will use, and if you plan to allocate your phone to your child based on Xiaomi, it is advisable to pre-reset it to factory settings, which will allow you to start setting up from scratch, avoiding conflicts with previously installed applications or saved passwords.
⚠️ Note: Do not use the same Google account for a parent and child, making it impossible to separate content, search history and geolocation, and depriving you of remote management tools.
To work all the functions of time control and geo-positioning on both devices (your and children's) must be turned on the Internet. Also make sure that the child's phone is activated geolocation, otherwise the search function of the device in emergency situations will not work.
☑️ Preparation for setup
Creating a profile for children through Google Family Link
The primary tool for creating a child account is the Google Family Link app, which is available on the Google Play Store and is completely free. Once you install the app on your phone, select the option “Create an account for a child” and the system will prompt you to enter your name, date of birth and gender. Date of birth is critical, as it depends on the level of automatic content filters.
During the registration process, the system will ask you to link the payment method, which is necessary to verify the identity of the parent and adjust the family payment, but you can set up a mandatory approval for each purchase so that the child cannot write off the money from your card without your digital consent.
- 📱 Download the Family Link app for parents on your device.
- 🔑 Log in to your main Google account and follow the instructions of the customization wizard.
- 👶 Create a new Google account specifically for your child by specifying their real age.
- 🔗 Accept the terms of use and set up a family group.
Once you have created an account, log in to your child's device, and when you first log in, the system will ask you to confirm that the device belongs to the child, and will prompt you to install the Family Link app for children/teens, and the app will run in the background, transmitting statistics to you and receiving lock commands.
Configure restrictions in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi smartphones have their own security layer on top of Android, called the “Second Space” or digital well-being feature. To create a completely isolated environment, you can use the “Second Space” feature, which actually creates a second profile with its apps and files.
To activate, go to Settings → Second Space, where you can create a separate interface protected by a unique password or fingerprint, where you won't see your personal photos, messages or banking apps, and your child will think he's using a regular phone, but inside a limited perimeter.
However, for more flexible management, it is better to use the Family Link bundle and the built-in Focus mode, where you can temporarily block distracting applications in focus mode, leaving only training programs or calls available, which is especially useful during lessons or homework.
⚠️ Note: The Second Space feature may consume additional RAM resources. On low-end Redmi or Poco models with low RAM, this may lead to a slowdown in the system.
It is also important to set limits within your Google Play account. Go to the app store settings, select Settings → Parental Control. Activate the function and set a PIN. You can prevent apps from installing above a certain age rating, for example, by blocking games marked 18+ or 16+.
Managing screen time and schedule
One of the biggest problems of today's childhood is digital addiction: Family Link allows you to set time limits on your device, you can set, for example, 2 hours a day for entertainment apps, after which the phone will lock for games and videos, but remain available for calls.
In addition to daily limits, it is extremely effective to set “Sleep Time” during this period (for example, from 21:00 to 07:00), the child’s phone is completely blocked, which helps to adjust the mode of the day and avoid situations when the child is sitting on social networks in the late night under the blanket.
| Parameter | Description of function | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Day limit | Total time of use of the device | 2-3 hours |
| Sleep time. | Complete lockdown at night | 21:00 – 07:00 |
| Breaks. | Pauses in application use | 15 minutes every 2 hours |
| Blocking purchases | Requesting a password for each write-off | Always on. |
The flexibility of settings allows you to adapt the rules for the weekend, for example, on Saturday and Sunday, limits can be increased, and the time of withdrawal can be shifted to a later time, all changes are applied instantly and are displayed on the child's device.
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Install a clock and calendar widget on the child's lock screen, which will help them better navigate through time and understand how many minutes are left until the end of the authorized session.
Content Filtering and Secure Search
Internet security starts with search engines, and a child's Family Link account automatically activates the SafeSearch filter in Google, which hides pornographic and explicit content from search results, but this is not enough to fully protect them.
If your child is using Google Chrome, make sure it is synced to the child profile. For YouTube, be sure to install the YouTube Kids app, which contains strictly moderated content. Regular YouTube, even with restrictions, can skip unwanted videos through comments or recommendations.
You can use additional protection for DNS-Filtering. By changing the settings. DNS In the Connection section → Private DNS to a dedicated server address (e.g. AdGuard Family), you can block advertising and well-known phishing sites at the entire operating system level.
⚠️ Attention: Children often find workarounds by installing alternative browsers. Check the list of installed apps regularly and block the installation of new ones without your permission in the Google Play settings.
Also worth considering is the possibility of installing third-party antiviruses with web protection function that can block the passage of dangerous links coming in messengers, this is especially true for school-age children who actively communicate in chat rooms.
Location and geofence monitoring
The geolocation function in Family Link works very precisely using GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks. You can always see where the child is, in real time, on a map in the app, and it's useful not only for security, but also for coordinating meetings.
A more advanced feature is geofences, so you can map the school, the sports section, or the home, and when a child crosses the border, you'll get a notification on your phone, like when they come to school, or if they leave early.
To work in the background, you need to properly configure power saving on Xiaomi smartphones. Aggressive optimization of the MIUI battery can kill the tracking process. Go to Settings → Battery → Applications, find Google Maps and Family Link, and select No Limits mode.
What to do if the geolocation is not updated?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can a child remove the Family Link app?
Does the control work if there is no internet on the phone?
Does my child see my search history?
What will happen when the child turns 13?
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The main goal of the setup is not total control, but digital hygiene, and explain to your child why restrictions are necessary so that they are perceived as protection, not punishment.