Owners of Xiaomi Mi TVs often face the need to restrict access to certain content, especially if there are young children or elderly relatives in the house who may accidentally launch an unwanted app. YouTube is one of the most popular, but also the most difficult to control video sources, as it is often preinstalled in the Android TV system. Blocking a particular application at the operating system level requires an understanding of the structure of access rights and security settings.
There are several effective ways to do this, from using Google’s built-in parental controls to more complex manipulations of router network settings. The choice of the specific method depends on your goal – a temporary limit of viewing time or a complete ban on access to content. In this article, we will look at the technical details of each method so that you can choose the most suitable option for your Mi Box model or TV.
It's worth noting that the Android TV operating system, which is the basis of the PatchWall interface or the standard Xiaomi shell, gives the user broad rights, but does not have a single "Block the application" button. So we will have to resort to workarounds, which, however, guarantee the result. Complete removal of the YouTube system application without root rights is impossible, so we will use methods of hiding and blocking access.
Use of Google Family Link’s built-in parental controls
The most civilized and safe way to restrict access is to use the Google ecosystem, because Xiaomi TVs run on Android TV, they are closely integrated with the services of the search giant. To implement this method, you will need to create a separate Google account for your child (if it is not already created) and link it to your main account through the Family Link service.
Once you set up a family group, you can control apps on your TV remotely from your smartphone, which not only blocks YouTube from running, but also sets time limits for your device, and it's important to understand that to work, your TV and your parent's smartphone must have an active Internet connection.
The setup process requires care, as an incorrect configuration can cause a child to bypass the restriction simply by changing their profile. Make sure that the TV itself does not store a password from your main account in an easily accessible location.
- 📱 Install Google Family Link on your smartphone and create an account for your child.
- 📺 Sign in to this Xiaomi TV children’s account via the settings menu or when you launch YouTube.
- 🔒 In the application on the phone find the device"TV" or "Mi Box" and select the application management option.
- 🚫 Find in the YouTube list and set the switch to the "Block" position or set the time limit "0 minutes".
⚠️ Attention: If the child knows PIN-Your phone unlock code or access your Gmail account, it can unset Family Link. Never give your children passwords from management accounts.
Blocking through router settings MAC-address
A more radical and reliable method is to block access to YouTube servers at the network hardware level, which does not require installing additional software on the TV, but requires access to your router’s admin panel, the essence of which is to prevent a particular device (your TV) from accessing domain names owned by Google Video LLC.
First you need to know. MAC-The address of your Xiaomi TV is a unique network interface identifier that looks like a hexadecimal digit set, and you can find it in the settings menu of the TV by going to Settings. → Network and Internet → About TV or similar path depending on the firmware version MIUI for TV.
☑️ Preparation for network locking
Once you get the address, log in to your router settings (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). Different vendor interfaces (TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, Xiaomi Router) differ, but the logic is similar everywhere.
Modern routers often have a function of blocking by keywords or domains. You will need to blacklist the following addresses for the device with a blacklist. MAC-address of your TV:
- 🌐 youtube.com
- 🌐 m.youtube.com
- 🌐 youtu.be
- 🌐 googlevideo.com
- 🌐 youtube-nocookie.com
💡
Use static. IP-address for the TV in the router settings so that the filtering rules are applied correctly even after the device is restarted.
Once you have set up, you need to restart the TV, and when you try to launch the YouTube app, you'll see a connection error or an endless download, because the router will cut off the data packets going to those addresses, which is an efficient way that works regardless of the app's updates.
Hiding the application with third-party launchers
Android TV allows you to change the standard launch interface of applications. The standard launcher from Xiaomi or Google may not have icon hiding, but third-party solutions can easily cope with this. By installing an alternative launcher, you can remove the YouTube icon from the home screen, making it available only through deep settings or search.
For this you will need to download. APK-launcher, ATV Launcher or Flauncher.Since the TV may not have a built-in browser to download, the easiest way to use the Send Files to app is to use the app. TV To transfer the installer from your smartphone or upload the file to a flash drive. After installing a new launcher, the system asks how to open files or which interface to use by default - select a new one.
| The name of the launcher | Difficulty setting up | The possibility of concealment | Compatibility with Mi TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATV Launcher (Free) | Low. | Complete. | Tall. |
| Flauncher | Medium | Complete. | Tall. |
| Wolf Launcher | Tall. | Complete. | Medium |
| FLauncher | Low. | Partial | Tall. |
In the launcher settings you select, find Hidden Apps and add YouTube to it. Now the icon will disappear from the desktop. However, if the user knows about the app's existence, they can find it through voice search or system settings, so it's best to combine this method with Family Link locking to enhance the effect.