Xiaomi’s current Android smartphones, which use MIUI or HyperOS, offer users a huge amount of personalization. However, there are times when it comes to restricting access to certain content or apps. How to block YouTube from your phone is becoming increasingly important for parents who want to keep their children away from unwanted video content, or for users struggling with procrastination. There are several effective ways to do this, each with its own characteristics.
Depending on your end goal — whether it’s a time limit or a complete lockdown of access to the application — you can choose the most suitable way. Some methods require the installation of additional software, while others use built-in features of the Xiaomi system. It is important to understand that blocking can be done at the application level, network access or even system files. In this article, we will discuss each of the options available in detail.
Before you take action, you need to determine what level of access you want to limit. Complete removal of the system application is impossible without root rights, which can lead to loss of warranty. So we will focus on safe methods that do not violate the integrity of your smartphone operating system. Below are proven ways to help you take control of the use of the video service.
Use of Google Family Link’s built-in parental controls
The most reliable and official way to restrict access to YouTube on Android devices is to use Google Family Link, a tool designed specifically to enable parents to manage their children’s digital well-being, installing the Family Link app on their phone (as a parent) and setting up a Google account for their child on the Xiaomi target device.
Once you pair your devices, you have full control over which apps can be installed and run, you can completely disable YouTube or set time limits, such as no more than 30 minutes a day, the system will automatically lock the app after the allotted time has expired, and you can only unlock it from your device.
⚠️ Note: For Family Link to work on the child’s phone, geolocation and a permanent Internet connection must be active, otherwise statistics and locks may not apply instantly.
What's special about this method is that it works at the level of a Google account, not just a specific device, so if a child tries to log in from another tablet or phone, the restrictions you set will also apply there, making Family Link a powerful tool for comprehensive control.
Setup digital well-being in MIUI and HyperOS
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, which are installed on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, have a built-in tool called Digital Well-Being, which allows you to track time spent in apps and set timers. To activate the restriction, go to Settings → Digital Well-Being and Parental Control.
In the settings menu, look for "Toolbar" or "App Timers." Here you'll see a list of all installed programs, including YouTube. If you set a time limit, like 15 minutes, you'll get a notification that the time is up and the app will be blocked until the next day, a mild way to combat addiction that doesn't require third-party software.
For more restrictive settings, you can activate Focus mode in the same menu, which allows you to create a profile where all distracting applications, including video services, are disabled, and the profile can be scheduled to run on a schedule or manually activated through the Quick Access Panel.
☑️ Setting up the application timer
It is worth noting that the user can reset the timer or ignore the warning if he knows the password to unlock the screen, so this method is more suitable for self-discipline adults or children who do not yet have the technical skills to circumvent restrictions.
Blocking through change DNS-server
One of the most effective technical ways to block access to YouTube on any device on the network or on a particular phone is to use blocking DNS servers. The DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) or DNS-over-TLS method allows you to redirect domain name requests through a server that filters content. In modern versions of Android (starting with version 9), this setting is available natively.
To implement this method on Xiaomi, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Here, select the option “Host Name of the DNS provider” and enter the address of a special server that blocks ads or certain categories of sites. However, to block YouTube, you will need a server that supports domain filtering, for example, services of the AdGuard family or NextDNS.
dns.adguard.comBy entering the address dns.adguard.com, you will block advertising in all applications, but to completely block the YouTube service itself with a more subtle setting through the personal account of the NextDNS service, where you can create a list of blocked domains (youtube.com, googlevideo.com and others) and get a personal DNS address.
| Type DNS | Server address | The blocking effect | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| AdGuard Default | dns.adguard.com | Advertising and trackers | Low. |
| AdGuard Family | dns-family.adguard.com | Advertising + Content 18+ | Low. |
| NextDNS (Custom) | Personal ID | Full customization | Tall. |
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | No locking (acceleration) | Low. |
Use of personalized DNS-You can use servers to manage access flexibly, and you can turn off the private one at any time. DNS You can use the phone to reset your YouTube, and that makes it easy to temporarily restrict access without installing any unnecessary apps.
Application of third-party blocking applications
Google Play and alternative repositories offer a variety of applications that specialize in blocking access to other programs, led by AppBlock, Stay Focused, and Freedom, which are designed to create “profiles” that are activated on a schedule or manually, preventing the running of selected applications.
AppBlock allows you to create a Strict Mode profile that adds YouTube, which means that you can't delete the blocker itself or change its settings while the timer is running, and it solves the self-control problem of a user watching a video in a fit of desire, simply turning off the restrictions.
⚠️ Note: When installing such applications, the system MIUI You may try to aggressively unload them from memory.Be sure to allow auto-start and remove battery restrictions from the menu → AppBlock → Battery → No restrictions".
Another powerful tool is BlockSite, which allows you to block not only apps, but also specific websites in your browser. If you try to open youtube.com via Chrome or MI Browser, you will see a screen stub with a motivating message. Some features in these applications are only available in paid versions, but the basic functionality is usually enough for simple tasks.
Secret mode in AppBlock
Modification of the hosts file for system locking
For advanced users who own root rights on their Xiaomi device, there is a method of blocking through the hosts system file. IP-By redirecting YouTube domains to a local address, you will render the app inoperable even if you have the Internet.
To edit a hosts file, you will need superuser rights (Root) and a file manager with support for system partitions, such as Root Explorer or MT Manager. The file is located along the /system/etc/hosts path. At the end of the file, you need to add lines that redirect queries.
127.0.0.1 youtube.com
127.0.0.1 m.youtube.com
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com
127.0.0.1 youtubei.googleapis.comAfter saving the changes and restarting the device, YouTube will stop downloading videos, giving a network error. This method is the most reliable, since the lock is at the operating system level and does not depend on running processes or DNS settings. However, obtaining root rights to Xiaomi requires unlocking the bootloader, which can lead to a data reset and loss of warranty.
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Before editing system files, be sure to create a full backup of the data, as an error in the hosts file can lead to unstable network or system operation.
Restricting access through router settings
If your goal is to deny access to YouTube on all devices connected to home Wi-Fi, including Xiaomi phones, it is most advisable to set up a lock at the router level. Most modern routers (Keenetic, MikroTik, Asus, TP-Link) have parental control or URL filtering features.
In the router interface, you need to find the Parental Control or Filter section. URL". You can create a rule here that prohibits domains that contain the word "youtube," and you can apply this rule to all devices, or you can select specific gadgets from their names. MAC-This would allow, for example, you to leave a video on your computer, but block it on your child's phone.
The advantage of this method is that the lock works regardless of which application or browser is used. Even if the user tries to bypass the lock via the mobile Internet, the home network will remain "clean" of video content. However, once the device switches to 4G/5G, the restriction will cease to apply.
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Router-level locking is the perfect solution for creating a secure home environment, but it doesn’t work outside of your Wi-Fi network.