Xiaomi’s current smartphones have a huge potential that is often used for entertainment. However, excessive mobile app craze can lead to lower productivity or negative impact on children. How to block games on Xiaomi’s Android phone is becoming increasingly important for parents and those who want to clean up the digital space. There are several levels of access restriction, from built-in features to third-party solutions.
Owners of devices with a MIUI shell or a new HyperOS have powerful tools for managing screen time. Digital well-being allows you to flexibly adjust timers and block the launch of specific programs. It does not require the installation of additional software and works at the operating system level, making the method reliable and energy efficient.
In some cases, standard tools may not be enough, especially if you need tight control or remote control, and specialized applications and security features come to the rescue. In this article, we will detail all the available ways to restrict access to gaming applications on Redmi and Poco devices.
Use of built-in application limiter
The first step to restrict access to games is to use the App Limiter feature, which is built directly into the MIUI shell and allows you to block the running of selected programs with a password or fingerprint. To activate this feature, you need to go to the Settings menu → Applications → Application Limiter. Here you can select specific games that you want to hide from prying eyes or restrict access.
Once you select the applications, the system will suggest setting the unlock password, and it's important not to use the same code as when you want to unlock the screen if you want to create an extra layer of protection, and you can set up automatic locking after a certain time or immediately after the screen closes, which creates an effective barrier to spontaneously launching games.
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Use a complex password for an application limiter other than a screen unlock password to improve protection effectiveness.
It's worth noting that this feature works locally on the device, and if the user knows the password, they can undo the constraint, so it's more suited to self-discipline or to protection against accidental launch than it is to strict parental control, but when combined with other methods, it's a great thing.
- 🔒 Allows you to hide application icons from the general list.
- ⏱️ You can set the timer of automatic locking.
- 👆 Supports fingerprint unlocking for quick access.
Setup Digital Well-Being and Parental Control
A more advanced tool is Digital Wellbeing, which, unlike a simple limiter, allows you to set time limits for each app category or individual game. Go to Settings → Digital Wellbeing and Parental Control. In App Timers, select the game you want and set the daily limit.
When the time is up, the app icon turns gray, and you can't run it until the next day without changing your settings. Parents have Family Link, which allows you to control your child's device remotely, and you can see usage statistics and block games right from your smartphone, even when you're away.
Digital Wellbeing is a feature of the Do Not Distract mode, which blocks notifications and visuals that can trigger games to start, helps you focus on your studies or work, removing digital stimuli, and analyzes usage patterns and can suggest optimal settings.
- 📊 Detailed statistics of time spent in games.
- 🌙 Automatic “Sleep” mode to block entertainment at night.
- 👨👩👧👦 Remote management through Google account.
Blocking through Security and Antivirus
Xiaomi smartphones have a Security app preinstalled, which also has restrictive features. Although its main task is virus protection, it has a Traffic Limitation or Blocking section. Going to Security → Lock, you can add numbers or, in some versions of firmware, restrict access to certain network functions for selected applications.
If you turn off internet access for online gaming, it will stop functioning properly. This is an effective way to combat addiction to network projects. In the Security app, you can also find the Cleanup tool, which sometimes suggests closing background processes, but for permanent blocking, you better use specialized settings.
⚠️ Warning: A complete internet shutdown can disrupt system applications and instant messengers, so use this method selectively only for game profiles.
Additionally, Security has a Child Protection feature that can be activated depending on the region and version of MIUI, which allows you to create profiles with a limited set of applications. If your region does not support this feature natively, the system may suggest downloading the plugin or using alternative methods.
☑️ Checking security settings
Creating a guest mode and a second space
The unique feature of MIUI is the Second Space feature, which creates a completely isolated environment on your phone, as if you had two different devices, you can create a profile for work or for a child, where you simply don't have gaming apps installed, and you switch between spaces through a password or a fingerprint.
In the main space, games can be installed, but in the second one, they won't be visible or accessible. This is the perfect option for separating personal and work, or adult and child use. To create a second space, go to Settings → Second space and follow the instructions of the setup wizard.
The second space user will not be able to see files, contacts and apps from the main profile, which provides a high level of privacy and control, you can set different wallpapers, Google accounts and settings for each space, which makes the method a very flexible tool for content management.
| Function | Main space | Second space | Guest mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to games | Complete. | Limited (no installation required) | Temporary access |
| User data | All data. | Isolated. | Not preserved. |
| Password login. | Basic | Separate | Not required |
| Installed annexes | All right. | Hand-picked | Basic set |
Third-party Parental Control Applications
If Xiaomi’s built-in tools aren’t enough, Google Play’s specialty apps come to the rescue, with Google Family Link, Kaspersky Safe Kids, and Qustodio leading the way, not only blocking games, but also tracking geolocation, filtering content, and setting a device’s usage schedule.
To set up parental controls, you need to create an account for your child and link it to the parent's account, and then you can remotely block any apps, including games, from running at any time, so if your child has to do lessons, you can block all entertainment apps on their phone at a click.
How do you get around the lockdown?
Most of these apps run in the background and have shutdown protection, and even if a child tries to shut down the internet, the app will keep statistics and apply restrictions once the connection is restored, making third-party solutions the most reliable for strict control.
- 🌍 Geolocation and tracking of child movements.
- 🚫 Blocking Unwanted Content in the Browser.
- 📅 Flexible phone usage schedule by day and hour.
Restriction of purchases and in-game transactions
Often the problem is not only time spent in the game, but also financial losses. To block purchases in games on Android Xiaomi, you need to configure the settings in the Google Play Store. Open the Play Store, click on the profile avatar and select Settings → Authentication.
This will prevent accidental or unauthorized spending of funds associated with the card, and it is also recommended to remove payment data from the app store, unless you plan to make purchases yourself, leaving only the possibility of downloading free content.
⚠️ Note: Do not store bank card details in your child's profile. use Google Play gift cards with a fixed face value to control your budget.
You can also check subscriptions. Go to Settings → Google Play Subscriptions and cancel all active subscriptions to gaming services if they are not needed. This will help avoid automatic chargebacks after the trial period expires.
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A comprehensive approach that combines time restriction and payment prohibition is the most effective way to control gaming spending and habits.