How to Block YouTube on Xiaomi Phone: From Parental Controls to System Restrictions

Why YouTube's standard removal doesn't work and what to do

You tried to just remove the YouTube app from Xiaomi's screen, but it reappeared after the reboot? MIUI. YouTube is on most Redmi smartphones, POCO Black Shark is installed as a system application (even if you downloaded it separately from Google Play), and it automatically restores it when you first connect to the Internet or update Google services.

Another trap: Even if you turn off auto-update in the Play Store, YouTube itself can be updated through a Background Update. MIUI (is in the settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-update applications. So just "delete and forget" won't work. We need more radical measures, from parental controls to editing system files.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 working ways to block YouTube on Xiaomi, including:

• 🔒 Built-in parental controls MIUI (non-partisan)
• 📱 Restrictions on Digital Well-Being (Android 9)+)
• 🛡️ Lock-in DNS (It works even without root)
• 🔧 Shutdown through ADB (for advanced users)
• 📴 Alternative launchers (if you need to hide YouTube visually)

Each method tested on Xiaomi 13 Pro (MIUI 14), Redmi Note 12 (MIUI 13) and POCO F5 (If you have a different model, check the version. MIUI In Settings → About the phone and choose the right way.

Method 1: Parental control MIUI (rootless and third-party applications)

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in Parental Control feature in the MIUI. She lets her:

• 🕒 Set time limits for using YouTube
• 🚫 Completely block the launch of the application
• 🔍 View your activity history (which videos you watched)

How to set up:

1. Open the Settings. → Parental control.
2. Click Start and create. PIN-code (remember it! If you lose it, you'll have to drop your phone).
3. Select a child profile (or create a new one).
4. In the Application Limitations section, find YouTube and set a limit: 🔘 Block – Complete launch ban ⏰ Limit time – for example, 30 minutes a day

⚠️ Note: If your child knows your Mi Account password, they can reset parental controls through Settings → Xiaomi account → Delete your account. To avoid this, link your phone to your account and enable Device Protection in your Mi Account settings.

Method 2: Digital Well-Being (Google Family Link is not required)

If you don’t need complex settings MIUI, You can use the built-in Android solution, Digital Well-Being, which is on all Xiaomi smartphones with Android 9 and later (including HyperOS:

• 📊 It works without a Google account (unlike Family Link)
• 🔄 You can set a lock schedule (for example, from 22:00 to 7:00)
• 📵 Blocks all ways to launch YouTube (including widgets and notifications)

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls.
2. Press the Control Panel. → Sleep schedule or app timer.
3. Select YouTube from the list and set a limit: 🕘 For a full lock, set a limit of 0 minutes. ⏳ For a time limit, select the right number of minutes.

Forced shutdown

💡 Helpful tip: If you block YouTube for yourself (for example, to get less distracted), turn on Focus Mode in the same menu.It turns off all entertainment apps for a selected period, but leaves access to calls and instant messengers.

Method 3: Block YouTube through the DNS (work-in)

This is a good method if you want to block YouTube at the Internet connection level.

• 🌍 Works on all devices connected to this Wi-Fi (including tablets and PCs)
• 🔒 Bypasses VPN Proxies (unless configured manually)
• 📱 No need for root rights or complex manipulation

Change the lockdown. DNS-server in Wi-Fi or mobile network settings:

⚠️ Attention: Some DNS-Servers (e.g., Cloudflare's 1.1.1.3) block YouTube only in the browser, not in the app. Use 185.228.168.168 to block YouTube completely or set up your router (if you need to lock on all devices at home).

After the shift DNS YouTube is still open, check if it's using your phone. VPN Or a proxy. Turn them off in Settings. → Connections and sharing → VPN.

Method 4: Disable YouTube via ADB (advanced)

If you are ready for technical manipulation, the most reliable way is to disable YouTube at the system level through the Internet. ADB (Android Debug Bridge.It won't remove the app completely, but it will make it invisible and inaccessible to run:

• 🔧 It works without root rights.
• 🔄 It is not reset after updates (unlike parental controls)
• 📱 It does not affect the performance of the phone.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Mac/Linux
• 📋 Included debugging by USB phone-on
• 🔌 USB Type C C Cable (Original, Not Cheap)

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Activate debugging via USB: Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging via USB
3. Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
5. Open the command line (Terminal on the Mac/Linux) file ADB Enter: Adb devices (you should have your device)
6. Run the command to disable YouTube: adb shell pm hide com.google.android.youtube To unlock thelater use: adb shell pm unhide com.google.android.youtube

⚠️ Attention: After you execute the pm hide command, YouTube will disappear from the app menu, but stay on the system. If you reset the settings, the lock will be removed. MIUI Can restore hidden applications – in this case, repeat the procedure.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.youtube

This command completely disables the application for the current user (without deleting).-->

Method 5: Alternative launchers and hiding icons

If you don’t want to block YouTube so much as hide it from prying eyes (like colleagues or children), you can use third-party launchers with app hide feature.

💡 Important: Hiding the icon ≠ You can still run YouTube through the lockdown:

• 🔍 Searching for Google or MIUI Search
• 📌 Widgets (if they were added to the main screen)
• 🔗 Links from messengers or browser

To block the entire system, combine this method with parental control or DNS-filtering.

💡

Alternative launchers are a cosmetic solution. Use system methods to securely block YouTube (ADB, DNS parental control).

What to do if nothing works: radical measures

If all of the above methods did not help (for example, the child bypasses the blockages or you can not resist the temptation), there are extreme measures:

1. Delete Google account: YouTube requires authorization through Google Account. If you delete your account from your phone (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Delete your account, the app will request logins every time you run it, minus Gmail, Play Store and other Google services will stop working.
2. Firmware without GMS: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) you can install custom firmware without Google services (for example, LineageOS), in which case YouTube will have to be installed manually through the Internet. APK, Cons: loss of warranty, risk of "bricking" the phone.
3. Physical lock: Sounds weird, but it works: stick opaque tape on the front camera (so you won’t be tempted to shoot YouTube videos) or use a lock case (such as Xiaomi Smart Cover) that locks your phone without unlocking.

⚠️ Note: Deleting a Google account or flashing your phone may result in:

• 📵 Loss of access to purchases in the Play Store
• 🔄 Problems with updates MIUI
• 📱 Resetting the phone to factory settings (if you do not follow the instructions)

Before radical measures, try a social experiment: negotiate with yourself (or your child) a week's worth of money without YouTube, and often psychological methods work better than technical ones.

FAQ: Frequent questions about blocking YouTube on Xiaomi