How to remove parental controls on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all working methods

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its owners often face a problem: the device is blocked by parental control. This can happen after buying a used phone, forgotten password restrictions or failed experiments with the MIUI settings. Unlike iPhone or Samsung, where removing restrictions often requires contacting the service, Xiaomi has several ways to solve the problem on its own – from simple to technically complex.

It is important to understand that parental controls on Redmi 9 can be implemented on three levels: 1 through built-in MIUI (app restriction, time-of-use), 2 through Mi Account (family access), 3 through third-party applications (e.g. Google Family Link).

Each case requires a different approach. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for Redmi 9 based on MIUI 12, 13 and 14, including ADB bypass and resetting.

Warning: some ways can lead to loss of data or locking of the Mi Account. If the phone is purchased from hand, make sure that the previous owner untie the device from his account. Otherwise, after reset, you can get a activation lock (Mi Cloud Lock), which is almost impossible to remove without proof of ownership.

1.Parental Control Type Check on Redmi 9

Before you try to disable the restrictions, you need to understand what mechanism is used. On Redmi 9, it can be:

• 🔒 Local control MIUI — Configures in the Settings menu → Parental control, it requires. PIN-code.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Mi Account – linked to Xiaomi account managed via account.xiaomi.com.
• 📱 Google Family Link – if the phone is linked to a Google child account, it is disabled via Google Settings.
• 🔧 Third-party apps (e.g. Kaspersky Safe Kids, Norton Family) require removal via Settings → Annexes.

To determine the type of lock:

1. Try opening Settings → Parental Controls. If the menu is available but requires a PIN, this is local MIUI control.
2. Check if the phone is requesting Mi Account details when trying to change settings – this is a sign of family access.
3. Go to Settings → Google Accounts → Family Sharing. If you have a child profile link, there is a problem with Google Family Link.

Important! If you see a message on the lock screen that says, "Device is managed by administrator" with the Xiaomi logo, it's 100% family access through Mi Account, and you can't turn it off without the owner's account data.

Disable local MIUI parental control (if known PIN)

If the restrictions are set through standard settings MIUI and you know PIN-code, the procedure will take no more than a minute:

1. Open the Settings. → Parental control.
2. Enter. PIN-code that was installed during the setup.
3. Go to Restrictions Management and disable all active features: Time limiting Use Blocking Applications Content Filtering

Disable parental control

Confirm the action by entering the PIN again.

If PIN forgotten, but you have access to the basic phone settings, try resetting it through Forgotten PIN? (If this option is available, on some versions MIUI The system offers to restore access to Mi Account.

Try the standard combinations (0000, 1234, date of birth)

Check if the Mi Account is linked to the device

Connect your phone to Wi-Fi for recovery through the cloud

Backup of important data

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⚠️ Attention: Redmi 9s MIUI 14 with three times incorrect input PIN The system can block the possibility of further attempts for 24 hours, and if you are not sure about the code, you should immediately switch to alternative methods.

3. Unlocking restrictions through Mi Account (family access)

If parental controls are linked to the Mi Account, you can only turn it off via the Xiaomi web interface or from another device where the account owner is authorized.

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in with the account that manages the device.
2. From the menu, select Device Management → Family Access.
3. Find your Redmi 9 (it can be displayed as the M2003J15SC, a model for the global market).
4. Click Remove Device or Disable Parental Controls (depending on the version of the interface).
5. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

If you don’t have access to the owner’s account, but the phone was purchased legally (not stolen), you can try:

• 📧 Contact Xiaomi with a purchase check and request to untie the device.
• 🔄 Reset your phone to factory settings (but this will lead to Mi Cloud Lock if your account is not untied!).

⚠️ Note: If you try to reset via Recovery phone requires you to enter the data of the Mi Account, which was tied before the reset is Mi Cloud Lock. You can only remove it through official support Xiaomi with the provision of proof of purchase. EDL or the firmware does not work on new versions MIUI (starting in 2021).

4. bypassing parental controls via ADB (for advanced users)

If the local PIN is unknown and a reset via Recovery leads to Mi Cloud Lock, you can try removing the restrictions via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

• 🔌 The phone's debugging on. USB.
• 🖥️ You have access to a computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔓 The phone is not locked with a pattern lock or PIN-screen-code.

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi 9 to your computer via USB-cable.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device appears in the list – you can continue.
4. Run the command to remove the parental control administrator: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.guardprovider If an error occurs, try the alternative command: adb shell pm clear com.miui.guardprovider
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

After the reboot, check if the restrictions have disappeared. If not, try removing the cache of the com.android.settings app:

adb shell pm clear com.android.settings

1. switch USB connection mode to File Transfer (MTP).

2. Install Xiaomi drivers manually through the official website.

3. Enable Debugging by USB (Developer parameters, if it has been disabled.-->

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It may disrupt some system functions MIUI. After the manipulation, check: Google Play Services (app updates); Mi Account functionality (contact sync, notes); Display notifications; If you have problems, reset settings through Settings. → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.

5. Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If no other method has worked, you can still reset hard through Recovery Mode, which will remove all data from your phone, including photos, messages and apps installed, and only use it if:

• 📱 The phone is not tied to Mi Account (or you will get Mi Cloud Lock).
• 🔄 You have made a backup copy of important data.
• 🔧 Other methods didn't work.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off Redmi 9.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons) and confirm the choice with the power button.
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. Confirm the reset by selecting Confirm.
6. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

The phone will reboot and suggest that you configure it as new, and if you request Mi Account data after the reset, it means that the device was linked to the previous owner's account.

• 📄 Contact Xiaomi with a check for purchase.
• 🔗 Try to contact the seller (if the phone is purchased with hands).

6. Alternative methods (if nothing helps)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can try less obvious solutions:

Removal via Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

Some third-party parental control apps (such as Kaspersky Safe Kids) can be removed from Safe Mode:

1. Press the power button until the shutdown menu appears.
2. Hold your finger on the Turn off option until the prompt to switch to Safe Mode appears.
3. In Safe Mode, go to Settings → Applications and remove the application responsible for control.
4. Reboot the phone.

6.2. Change in date and time

On some versions of MIUI, a failure in the date system can reset the parental control time limits:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Date and time.
2. Automatically and manually set the date 1-2 years ahead.
3. Reboot the phone.
4. Try re-entering Parental Controls – sometimes the system drops the restrictions.

6.3 Firmware through Fastboot

The last resort for power users is to run the phone through Fastboot, which will delete all the data and reinstall MIUI, but requires:

• 🖥️ Computers with Mi Flash Tool and drivers installed.
• 📥 Official firmware for Redmi 9 (download at en.miui.com).
• 🔧 Unlocked bootloader (if the phone is new, it will take 7-15 days to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool).

Firmware instructions:

1. Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters.
2. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to log into Fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your computer and start the Mi Flash Tool.
4. Select the firmware folder and press Flash.
5. Once completed, the phone will restart.

💡

Fastboot firmware is the most radical method that is guaranteed to remove all restrictions, but it is only suitable for users with experience, as incorrect actions can lead to a break in the phone (brick).

FAQ: Frequent Parental Control Questions on Redmi 9