Family Link bypass on Xiaomi: methods and limitations

Xiaomi smartphone users often face restrictions imposed by Google Family Link. Parental controls can block app installation, limit screen time, and even prevent you from changing your system settings, making it necessary to find a way around these restrictions to gain full access to the device’s functionality.

However, it is worth noting that Family Link is not just an application, but deep integration at the level of the Android operating system. Attempts to delete or bypass it can lead to account locking or data loss. In this article, we will discuss the technical aspects of the system of restrictions and methods that allow you to regain control over a Redmi or Poco device.

It is important to note that complete bypassing without loss of data or password reset is not always possible. The effectiveness of methods depends on the version of MIUI, the Android version and the security settings set by the group administrator.

Use of Safe Mode for Deactivation

One of the most accessible ways to temporarily disable restrictions is to boot the operating system in safe mode, in which Android only runs with system applications, and the third-party software that Family Link refers to is not activated, which provides a window of opportunity to make changes to the settings.

To enter this mode on Xiaomi smartphones, you need to press the off button on the screen, and then (hold) the “Stop” icon until the offer appears to go to Safe Mode. Once confirmed, the device will restart. In the lower left corner of the screen will be the inscription “Safe Mode”.

While in this mode, you can try disabling the administrator rights from the Google app. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special Access → Administrator Apps. If Family Link is active as an administrator, you can try to disable it. After that, the normal reboot will return the phone to normal mode, but the restrictions can be removed.

⚠️ Note: On newer versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), Google has stepped up protection.The app can automatically reactivate when you exit Safe Mode or require an administrator password for any changes.

This method is good for diagnosis, but does not guarantee permanent results. Google Play Services security system constantly monitors the status of the device and can regain control at the first opportunity to connect to the network.

Resetting settings via Recovery Mode

If the soft methods don’t work, the radical option is a complete reset via Recovery Mode, which removes all data from the phone, including accounts, apps and files, returning the device to factory status. For Xiaomi owners, this is often the only way to completely get rid of someone else’s account.

The procedure for entering the receptacles on the MIUI shell requires precision, you need to turn off your smartphone, and then simultaneously press the Volume Up and Power buttons, hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, while continuing to keep the volume.

In the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons, and you can choose with the power button. You can select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data, and you can confirm the action. Once you've completed the process, you can select Reboot. The phone will start as new.

An important nuance for Xiaomi owners is that once you reset, the device will request a password from the Mi Account that was synced earlier, which is protection against theft. If you don't know this password, you won't be able to unlock the phone even after you reset, and you may also need to confirm your old Google account (FRP Lock) if the phone wasn't untied in advance.

Date and time manipulation

There is a time-based method, and some versions of Family Link depend on the correct time to check limits and locks, and if you change the system date to an earlier period (e.g., a year ago), the app may stop blocking the screen correctly.

To take advantage of this, you first need to access the settings. If the screen is locked, try calling Google Assistant or using voice input to go into the settings. The path is usually hidden deep: Settings → Additional settings → Date and time.

Once you've made the date a thing of the past, try running a blocked app, and if it works, you'll get temporary access, but it only works on older versions of Android (up to 10 inclusive), and newer systems have time-manipulation protection built into the kernel.

It's not a permanent solution, it's a solution that's more suitable for emergencies, when you have to make a call or send a message, and if you play it constantly, it can disrupt your work over time. SSL-certificates, and will stop opening websites or applications of banks.

Using ADB to remove packets

For advanced users, there is a method of removing system components through USB debugging (ADB), which allows you to deactivate the Family Link app without root rights, although this is becoming more difficult on newer versions of Android due to security restrictions.

First, you need to activate the developer menu. On Xiaomi, you need to click on the build number 7 times in the About Phone section. Then on the Developer menu, turn on USB Debugging. Connect the phone to your computer.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.kids.family.link

This command will attempt to remove the packet for the current user. If the command is successful, the application will disappear from the list. However, if the device is enabled with FRP protection or enterprise/educational device, the command will return the error.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse ADB-commands can lead to the "bricking" of the system or the removal of critical services of Google, which will make the phone inoperable before flashing.

After manipulation, be sure to check the list of frozen applications. Sometimes Family Link masquerades as other system processes. Using utilities like Universal Android Debloater can simplify the process by providing a graphical interface for packet management.

Hiding applications through MIUI settings

MIUI has a unique application hiding feature that can help disguise the presence of certain programs, although it does not remove the limitations of parental control.

The standard Security app (green zipper icon) has a Hide Apps section, and once activated, you can select apps that won't appear on the menu, but Family Link often blocks the ability to change those settings by requiring a password.

The alternative is to use the second space. Second Space creates an isolated environment in the phone, and if you can install a launcher or browser application in the second space, it can work regardless of the limitations of the main profile, because the system perceives it as another user.

It is worth noting that creating a second space also requires resources and can be blocked by the Family Link administrator if the device is enabled to prevent the creation of new users. → The phone. → Advanced settings → Users.

Why a complete reset may not help

Many users mistakenly believe that Hard Reset will solve all problems. In reality, after a reset on devices with Android 5.0 and above, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection is triggered.

If Family Link was set up as parental controls, the child's account is managed by the parent's account, and without input of parental data, you can't unlock the phone after the reset, and Xiaomi adds a second layer of protection, Mi Account Lock.

If the phone was linked to a Mi Account, it will ask for a password when it is reset, and if you don't know the password, the device becomes a brick, and you can only officially unlock it through a service center with a check of purchase, which confirms ownership.

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Always back up important contacts and photos to an external medium or to a cloud not associated with your Google account before trying to reset.

So before you take drastic measures, consider the risks. If the goal is simply to get more time to play games, it may be easier to negotiate with the administrator account owner than to try to hack into the security system created by Google engineers.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions