How to remove parental control on Xiaomi: all working methods

Parental controls on Xiaomi smartphones are a useful feature to limit children’s access to unwanted content, but sometimes it becomes an obstacle for adult users. You may have bought a used phone with activated restrictions, forgotten the password from control, or just want to return full access to the device. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to disable parental control on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO — from standard methods through settings to bypassing through recovery mode and ADB-team.

It’s important to understand that the manufacturer deliberately complicates the process of removing restrictions to protect children from accidental unblocking. Therefore, some methods require technical knowledge or reset the device to factory settings. We will look at options for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), as well as universal solutions that work on most models – from the Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

If you are not sure about your actions, we recommend that you first try safe methods (through settings or Mi Account), and then move to radical measures like reset or firmware. Some ways can lead to data loss - back up important files in advance.

📊 Why You Should Turn Off Parental Controls?
I bought a used phone with restrictions.
Forgot the password from the control.
The child is grown, no restrictions are needed.
I want to set up control in my own way.
Another reason.

1. Disconnect via MIUI settings (if you know the password)

The easiest way to do this is to use the standard MIUI interface if you have access to the Parental Control Administrator password, which works on all current firmware versions (including MIUI 14) and requires no additional tools.

Instructions:

  • 📱 Open the Settings app (cog icon).
  • 🔒 Go to the Password and Security section → Parental control.
  • 🔑 Enter the current administrator password (if requested).
  • ⚙️ Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner or select the option to Disable Parental Controls.
  • 🗑️ Confirm the action – the restrictions will be lifted immediately.

If there is no Parental Control on the menu, try an alternative route:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. In the search box, enter Parental Controls.
  3. Select the app found and click Disable.

💡

On some models (e.g. POCO F4), parental control may be hidden in the Special Features → User Management section.

If your password is lost or you are not an administrator, go to the following methods:

2. Reset password through the Mi Account (official method)

Xiaomi has provided a mechanism to restore access to parental control through an attached Mi Account. This method works only if:

  • 📧 The device is linked to your Mi Account.
  • 🔄 The phone has Internet access (Wi-Fi or mobile network) enabled).
  • 🔐 Remember the login and password from the account.

Step-by-step:

  1. Open Settings → Mi Account and make sure you are logged in.
  2. Go to Password and Security → Parental control.
  3. Click Forgot Password? (or similar option)
  4. The system will offer to restore access through SMS or email associated with the account.
  5. After confirmation, you can set a new password or disable control.
What to do if your Mi Account is not tied?
If the phone was bought by hand and not tied to your account, this method will not work, in which case try to contact the previous owner or use alternative methods (see sections below).

Important: If the device activates Device Protection Mi (enables lock after reset), resetting to factory settings may require you to enter your previous account data. Make sure you have access to it, or use methods without completely resetting.

Bypassing parental control through Safe Mode (Security Mode)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try disabling parental controls via Safe Mode, which disables all third-party applications, including control modules, and is suitable for MIUI 12-14 and most Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO models.

How to start Safe Mode:

  • 🔄 Turn off the phone.
  • 🔘 Press the power button before the Mi logo appears.
  • 👆 As soon as the logo appears, release the power button and immediately press the volume down button.
  • 📱 Keep it until the system is fully loaded – in the lower left corner the inscription Safe mode will appear.

Next:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Find the Parental Controls app (or Digital Wellbeing on some models).
  3. Press Stop or Disable.
  4. Restart your phone in normal mode.

☑️ Preparation for Safe Mode

Done: 0 / 4

Limitations of the method:

  • ❌ On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) Parental controls are built into system services and are not disabled in Safe Mode.
  • ❌ After the reset, the control can be turned on again.
  • ✅ Works for Redmi. 9A, POCO X3 and other budgetary models.

4. reset to factory settings (radical method)

If other methods fail, the radical solution is to completely reset the device, which will delete all data, including the parental controls settings, but also delete:

  • 📸 Photos and videos
  • 📱 Contacts (if not synchronized with the Google/Mi)
  • 🎮 Installed applications and their data
  • 📝 Messages and call history

How to reset:

  1. 🔄 Turn off the phone.
  2. 🔘 Press the power button and volume button at the same time.
  3. 🤖 Wait for the Recovery Mode menu (Mi logo with Android robot).
  4. 📛 Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
  5. 🗑️ Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data on some Factory Reset models).
  6. 🔄 Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

💡

Reset via Recovery deletes all data without recovery. If the phone was linked to the Mi Account with the function of Protect the device, after the reset, you will need to enter the username and password of the previous owner!

Alternative way to reset via settings (if login is available):

  1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
  2. Choose to erase all data.
  3. Enter. PIN-code.
  4. Confirm the reset.

On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), a reset via Recovery can block the bootloader if the Mi Account protection was previously activated.

5.Use of ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If you have access to the debugging USB (USB Debugging, you can turn off parental control through ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires a computer and basic command line knowledge, but it stores data on the phone.

Step-by-step:

  1. 🖥️ Install. ADB Fastboot Tools on the computer.
  2. 📱 On the phone, activate the Developer Mode:

🔌 Connect the phone to the computer by USB (Use the original cable).

Command line.

Terminal

📋 Take the commands in turn:

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear)

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.guardprovider

(Removes the parental control module for the current user)

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.guardprovider

(disables control service)

If the commands don’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell settings put global parental_controls_enabled 0

Possible problems:

  • ❌ Nana MIUI 14 Some system applications are protected from removal through ADB.
  • ❌ If debugging is on USB It was not activated in advance, this method will not work.
  • ✅ It runs on the Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro and other models with unlocked loader.

💡

If ADB issues a device unauthorized error, the phone will receive a request for debugging permission, resolve it, and repeat the commands.

6. Alternative methods and circumvention of restrictions

If none of these methods worked, you can try less obvious solutions that are suitable for specific cases and require additional manipulation.

Removal via TWRP (Castom Recovery)

If you have TWRP installed on your device, you can manually delete the parental control files:

  1. Boot to TWRP (Power button + Volume increase).
  2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
  3. Delete the folders:

Reboot the phone.

Update of MIUI

Sometimes the restrictions are reset after the firmware update:

  • 🔄 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
  • 📥 Download and install the latest version MIUI.
  • 🔄 After the update, check if the control settings have reset.

6.3 Creation of a new user

On some models, you can create a new user without restrictions:

  1. Open Settings → System → Multiplayer mode.
  2. Add a new user.
  3. Switch to it – parental controls only apply to the main user.
MethodDifficultyLoss of dataIt's working on MIUI 14.PC required
Through settings⭐❌ No.✅ Yes.❌ No.
Mi Account⭐⭐❌ No.✅ Yes.❌ No.
Safe Mode⭐⭐❌ No.⚠️ Partially.❌ No.
Reset to factory⭐⭐⭐✅ Yes.✅ Yes.❌ No.
ADB-team⭐⭐⭐⭐❌ No.⚠️ Partially.✅ Yes.

💡

The most reliable method without data loss is to use a Mi or ADB account. Resetting to factory settings is guaranteed to remove restrictions, but also all personal files.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you try to disable parental control, users often face typical problems, and let's look at some of the most common mistakes and how to fix them.

⚠️ Warning: If after resetting the phone requires the data entry of the previous Mi Account, do not try to guess the password - after 5 unsuccessful attempts, the device will be locked for 24 hours.

Error 1: “Failure to disable parental control” in the settings.

  • 🔹 Make sure you are logged in under an administrator account.
  • 🔹 Check your internet connection – some features require synchronization with Xiaomi servers.
  • 🔹 Restart your phone and try again.

Error 2: After a reset, the phone asks for an old Mi Account.

  • 🔹 This means that the function of the device protection Mi has been activated.
  • 🔹 Try entering the data of the previous owner or contact Xiaomi to unlock.
  • 🔹 On some models, firmware helps through Fastboot from the official website.

Error 3: ADB cannot see the device.

  • 🔹 Install Xiaomi drivers for your model.
  • 🔹 Check if the debugging is included USB developer-setting.
  • 🔹 Try another one. USB-cable.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Some system applications (including parental controls) can automatically recover after being deleted via the ADB. In this case, only a reset or firmware will help.

Can I turn off parental control without a password?
Yes, but it will require a factory reset, use Safe Mode or ADB-commands (if debugging is enabled) Without a password, standard shutdown through settings is impossible.
Will the ADB work on MIUI 14?
On some devices with MIUI 14, Xiaomi has tightened protection for system applications, so ADB may not work. In this case, try alternative commands or reset via Recovery.
What to do if after resetting the phone is blocked on the account Mi?
This means that the previous owner has activated the Mi Device Protection. You will need to: Contact the former owner for account data. Or provide proof of purchase to the Xiaomi service center for unlocking.
Can parental controls be turned off on POCO without losing data?
Yes, if you have access to a Mi Account or USB debugging enabled. Use methods via settings or ADB. On POCO with pure Android (without MIUI), control is implemented via Digital Wellbeing - it can be disabled in Google settings.
How to check if parental controls are enabled on my Xiaomi?
Go to Settings → Password and Security. If there is an Active Parental Control, it means that the restrictions are on, and the signs can be: Application Installation Lock, Time Limit, Restriction of access to certain sites in the browser.