Google Family Link parental controls on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) are often a source of conflict between children and parents. On the one hand, the app helps limit the time of use of the gadget, block unwanted content and control the installation of programs. On the other hand, excessive restrictions can interfere with the educational process, communication or even the basic functioning of the phone. If you are faced with the need to disable Family Link – whether by agreement with parents or bypassing their control – this article will provide relevant ways for MIUI 14/13 and earlier versions.
It's important to understand that completely removing Family Link is only possible if you have administrator rights (parental account) or reset your phone to factory settings. However, there are alternative methods, from temporarily circumventing restrictions to legally de-assigning the link through Google settings. We'll look at all options, including hidden MIUI features that allow you to disable control without resetting data, and see what actions can lead to locking the device.
This article is relevant for all modern Xiaomi models, including Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13/14 and other devices based on Android 12-14 with a MIUI shell. If your phone runs on pure Android One (for example, Xiaomi A-series), some steps may differ - we will also mention this separately.
1. Legally disable Family Link through your parent account
The easiest and safest way to do this is to remove the restrictions with the consent of the parents, so you don't have to drop your phone or use a workaround.
- 📱 On the parent device: Open the Family Link app, select your child’s profile, and go to Settings Management → Delete the account.
- 🔒 Confirmation: the system will request a password from the parent Google account, and once the restrictions are entered, they will be automatically removed.
- 🔄 On your child’s phone: Restart your device – changes will apply after you re-enter your Google account.
If parents agree to disconnect but don’t know how to do it, they can send them an official Google instruction, which is important: once the link is removed, all of the child’s account details (including Google Play purchases) will remain intact, but the parents will lose access to activity reports.
⚠️ Note: If your parent account has been deleted or blocked, you can only restore access to Family Link settings through Google Support, and attempts to reset your password without proof of ownership of the account will result in a temporary lock.
Circumvention of restrictions without resetting: interim solutions
If you can't legally shut down, you can use temporary bypass methods, which won't remove Family Link completely, but will allow you to access blocked features. MIUI 12-14:
- 🕒 Developer Mode: Activate it in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times. Then in the Additional settings → For developers, disable Family Link Restrictions (if available).
- 📥 Installation APK: Download application files (.apk) from trusted sources (such as APKMirror) and install them through the file manager. Family Link does not block manual installation.
- 🌐 Guest mode browser: use Google Chrome in incognito mode or Firefox Focus browser – they bypass some web restrictions.
These methods won’t remove the Family Link app, but will temporarily bypass locks, such as installing.apk will help you run TikTok or games even if they’re not allowed in parental controls settings, but once you reboot your phone or update your MIUI, the restrictions may come back.
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If you need to install an app urgently, but Family Link is blocking Google Play, use alternative stores like APKPure or Aptoide, but remember, downloading APK from unreliable sources can harm your device.
3.Reset Xiaomi phone to factory settings
The radical but effective way is a hard reset, which will delete all data, including the Family Link link, but will require you to back up important information. Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO:
Save photos and videos to your PC or cloud|Export contacts to VCF-file|Remember the Xiaomi account details (Mi Account)|Make sure your phone is at least 50 times charged%-->
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Choose Delete all data and confirm the action.
- After the reboot, skip signing in to your Google account (if possible) or create a new account.
Important: If the device protection (FRP) function was activated on the phone, you will need to enter the username and password from the previous Google account after the reset, a security measure that is legally impossible to circumvent. On some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi 9A), the FRP turns off in the developer settings before the reset.
⚠️ Warning: Reset will not remove your child's Google account from the family group, parents can re-link the phone to Family Link if they still have access to profile management.
4. Remove Family Link via Google Settings (adult)
If you are of legal age (13+ in some countries, 18+ in Russia) but Family Link is still active, you can request de-linking via Google’s settings, which only works for accounts that were originally created as “children’s” but now meet age requirements.
- 📧 Open myaccount.google.com on your phone or PC.
- 🔍 Go to the Information → Personal data → Birthday and update date of birth (set age 18)+).
- ⏳ Wait 24-48 hours – the system will automatically prompt you to switch to a standard Google account without restrictions.
After the age update, all Family Link restrictions will be lifted, but parents will receive a notification of the change in account status, which will not work if parental controls were set up via MIUI (and not Google Family Link), in which case a phone reset will be required.
What if Google doesn’t allow you to change your date of birth?
5. disable parental controls in MIUI (without Google Family Link)
On some Xiaomi devices, parental controls are not configured via Google Family Link, but through built-in MIUI features.
- Go to Settings. → Parental control.
- Enter. PIN-code (often used by default is 1234 or parent's date of birth).
- Disable the feature or delete the child's profile.
If PIN-code unknown, you can reset it through Settings → Passwords and security → Parental control → Forgotten. PIN?. The system will ask for a response to a control question or a request to send to the parent's email. MIUI 14 also has the option of resetting via Mi Account (Xiaomi account) if the phone is tied to it.
| Method of disconnection | Is a reset required? | Does it work without parental consent? | The risk of blocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal removal via Family Link | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
| Bypassing the developer mode | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Low. |
| Reset to factory settings | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Medium (FRP-lockdown) |
| Change of date of birth in Google | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes, if 18.+) | ❌ No. |
| Removal through MIUI Parental Control | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes, if known. PIN) | ❌ No. |
6 What not to do when disabling Family Link
Attempts to circumvent Family Link by illegal means can lead to serious problems, from blocking a Google account to a brick of the phone.
- 🚫 Use third-party programs to remove Family Link: Many “hackers” contain viruses or spyware.
- 🔧 Make changes to system files (build.prop, settings.db): this can disrupt the work MIUI and lead to a loading cycle.
- 📵 Long-term Internet Disconnection: Family Link Can Block Your Device If You Have No Communication for More than 30 Days.
Also, don’t try to remove updates for Family Link via Settings → Apps.The system will automatically restore them the next time you connect to the Internet.If the phone is locked due to multiple bypass attempts, you may need to contact the Xiaomi service center with proof of purchase.
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The only legal way to remove Family Link completely without consequences is to agree with your parents or wait until you reach adulthood, and all other methods are either temporary or risky.