Children's YouTube mode on Xiaomi phone: how to turn on and configure

Enabling YouTube’s child mode on a Xiaomi smartphone (or Redmi/POCO) is a challenge that many parents face when they want to protect their child from unwanted content. Despite its apparent simplicity, the process has nuances, from the app version to the features of the MIUI shell. In this article, we’ll discuss all the ways to activate the mode, including hidden settings, avoiding possible errors and tips for additional security.

It’s important to understand that YouTube Kids (a separate app) and the children’s mode are basically two different tools: the first one offers fully adapted content for children, and the second one just filters recommendations in the regular app. We’ll focus on the second option, since it doesn’t require additional software installation and works on all Xiaomi models, from the Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

If you use MIUI 14 or later, some menu items may be different — we’ve taken this into account in the instructions, and we’ll also consider what to do if the child mode does not persist after the phone is restarted (relevant for devices with aggressive battery optimization).

How YouTube’s Child Mode is Different from YouTube Kids

Before we get to the settings, let’s look at the key differences between the two tools from Google, which will help you choose the best option for your child.

• 🔍 Content Filtering: Child-friendly YouTube blocks age-restricted videos (18)+), But there's a risk of getting to unwanted content through search or recommendations. YouTube Kids uses a rigid premoderation of all videos.
• 🎯 Target audience: Children’s mode is designed for teenagers 13-17 years old, while YouTube Kids is aimed at children 3-12 years old with a focus on educational videos.
• ⚙️ Parental control settings: YouTube Kids allows you to set a usage timer, disable search, and select an age category.
• 📱 Usability: Child Mode is enabled in 2 clicks directly in the main app, whereas YouTube Kids requires separate installation and profile customization.

If your child is under 10, you should stop at YouTube Kids, which is a simple way for teenagers to activate filtering in the main app, but with additional security measures (we will discuss them at the end of this article).

Step-by-step: how to turn on the children’s mode in YouTube on Xiaomi

The activation algorithm is the same for all Xiaomi models, but may vary slightly depending on the version of the YouTube app and the MIUI shell.

1. Open the YouTube app on your Xiaomi.
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner (if not authorized, log in to your Google account).
3. In the drop-down menu, select Settings.
4. Scroll down to General and click Child Mode (in some versions – Limited Mode).
5. Transfer the slider to the position On.. the system can request a password confirmation from the Google account.

After activation, an icon will appear in the upper right corner of the screen. 👤→🔒, Note that the filtering only works for your current Google account, and if your child logs out or uses guest mode, the restrictions will be lifted.

Google Account Authorized|YouTube Settings Enable "Children Mode"|Badge 🔒 displayed in the upper right corner|Trial search for prohibited queries does not give results-->

Why the Child Mode May Not Work on Xiaomi

Sometimes, once turned on, the filtering is not applied, or the mode spontaneously turns off. These are typical problems for Xiaomi devices due to the features of MIUI.

If the problem persists, try reinstalling YouTube via Google Play. Before doing so, save your login details to your Google account, as you may need to re-authorize after you delete the app.

Additional safety measures for children on Xiaomi

Child mode on YouTube is only the first step, and to fully protect the child from unwanted content and control the time of use of the device, we recommend you to configure:

Combine these tools to maximize efficiency, for example, you can block access to YouTube at night through Digital Well-being, and allow use only with the child mode on during the day.

💡

Create a separate user profile for your child in the MIUI settings (Settings → System → Multiple Users) to set individual limits and not worry about your child accessing your data.

How to turn off the child mode if you forgot the password

If you activated the child mode on YouTube, but forgot the password from your Google account, you can't turn it off in the standard way.

1. Restore access to your Google account: Go to [accounts.google.com](https://accounts.google.com). Click Forgot email or password? and follow the instructions. Once access is restored, turn off child mode in YouTube settings.

Reset YouTube settings (resulting in loss of history and subscriptions):

• Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Storage.
• Click Clear Data (NOT "Clear Cache").
• After restarting the application, the mode will be disabled, but you will need to re-authorize.

⚠️ Note: If your Google account is linked to your device as a primary (e.g., Xiaomi with factory firmware), YouTube data reset may affect other services.

Comparison of YouTube’s Child Mode and Alternative Solutions

YouTube offers basic content filtering, but for full control, it is worth considering alternative apps and services.

For most Xiaomi users, the best solution would be a combination of a children’s mode in YouTube + Google Family Link.It’s free and covers basic security needs.If advanced features (like location tracking) are needed, consider Kaspersky Safe Kids.

💡

Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14+ can use the built-in “For Kids” mode in lock screen settings, which simplifies the interface and limits access to system functions, but does not replace filtering content on YouTube.

Frequent questions about the children's mode on YouTube on Xiaomi