Why it is important to monitor the time of smartphone use
Xiaomiβs current MIUI or HyperOS smartphones have become an integral part of our lives β we spend an average of 4-6 hours a day with them, according to a 2026 study. But few people think about whether it takes time to do useful tasks, social media, games or pointless scrolling through the feed. Tracking usage statistics helps not only control digital addiction, but also optimize productivity.
In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to look at the time spent on a Xiaomi phone, from standard features to hidden tools and third-party applications. We will also discuss how to interpret the data and what to do if the statistics suddenly disappeared after the system update. The instructions are relevant for all models, from the Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Method 1: Integrated MIUI (Digital Wellbeing) statistics
Starting with MIUI 10, Xiaomi has introduced Google's Digital Wellbeing tool, which shows not only total screen usage time, but also app distribution, unlock rates, and even comparisons to previous days.
- Open the settings (cog icon).
- Go to Digital Well-Being and Parental Control (some versions simply Digital Well-Being).
- Slip the chart at the top of the screen - detailed statistics will be displayed here.
If you have HyperOS (the latest firmware for the Xiaomi 13/14 series), the path will change a little:
Settings β Applications β Digital Well-being β Control Panelπ‘
V MIUI 14+ Statistics can be exported to CSV-To do this, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the Digital Well-Being section and select Data Export".
Note the 3 key metrics that are displayed here:
- π Total use time β total screen activity time per day.
- π Number of unlocks β how many times you have picked up your phone (norm: up to 50 times per day).
- β±οΈ Time in apps - top-3 "Time eaters (most often TikTok, Instagram or YouTube).
Method 2: Use log in battery settings
Few people know, but the Battery section in Xiaomi also stores the time of the screen activity, and this method works even on older versions of MIUI 9 and below, where there is no Digital Well-Being.
- Go to Settings β Battery and Performance β Battery Use.
- Slip the icon in the upper right corner (on some models you need to first select the period - "Last Charging" or "Last 7 days").
- Scroll down to the screen usage time block β here will be the total time in ChCh:MM format.
This method is less detailed than Digital Wellbeing, but has one advantage: the data is stored even after resetting (unless a full wipe has been performed).
Why are the data in βBatteryβ and βDigital Well-beingβ different?
| Method | Accuracy of data | Details | Works on MIUI 9-14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital well-being | βββββ | Applications, unlocks, comparison by day | Yeah (except MIUI 9) |
| Battery magazine | βββ | Total screen time only | Yes (including MIUI 9) |
| Third-party annexes | ββββ | Advanced analytics, goals, locks | Yes. |
Method 3: Third-party applications for deep analysis
If Xiaomiβs built-in tools arenβt enough, try specialized apps that offer advanced analytics, such as:
- π ActionDash β visualizes data in the form of graphs, shows βpeakβ hours of activity.
- π‘οΈ StayFree β allows you to set limits on applications and block them after exceeding them.
- π QualityTime β Analyzes how often you check your phone at night (good for sleep).
- π Digital Wellbeing (from Google) β an alternative to the standard tool MIUI more flexible.
To install these apps, download them from Google Play and provide access to Usage Statistics in your Android settings. For example, for ActionDash:
Settings β Applications β Special Access β Usage Statistics β ActionDash (include)Install an app from Google Play
Provide access to usage statistics in Android settings
Start initial data synchronization (may take 5-10 minutes)
Set up notifications of exceeding limits (optional)
-->
One of the key benefits of third-party apps is cross-platform, such as StayFree, which can sync data between Xiaomi and other Android devices if you use the same Google account.
π‘
Third-party time trackers consume additional battery power (up to 3-5% per day) and may conflict with built-in MIUI tools. If you notice that the phone has become faster to discharge - check the battery consumption in the settings.
Method 4: Hidden statistics through ADB (for advanced)
If you like to dig deeper, you can extract usage time data through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that works for Xiaomi on all versions of MIUI/HyperOS, but requires a connection to a computer.
- Turn on Developer Mode on Phone: Settings β About Phone β MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
- Activate Debugging by USB in the Developer Menu.
- Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) and type in: adb shell dumpsys usagestats
- In the output, find the mPackageStats block β here will be the usage time for each application in milliseconds.
For convenience, you can use a Python script that converts raw data into a readable format.
import re
import json
Connect to the device and get the data
result = subprocess.run(["adb", "shell", "dumpsys", "usagestats"], capture_output=True, text=True)
data = result.stdout
Take time for each packet (in milliseconds)
package_stats = re.findall(r'mPackageStats\{.?pkg=(\S+).?totalTime=(\d+)', data)
for pkg, time_ms in package_stats:
hours = int(time_ms) // 3600000
print(f"{pkg}: {hours} hours)What if the ADB canβt see the device?
This method is suitable for technically savvy users who want to:
- π§ Get data for an arbitrary period (not just for a day/week).
- π Save statistics in a file for long-term analysis.
- π οΈ Integration of data with other systems (e.g., for automation through Home Assistant).
π‘
If you often work with ADB, install Scrcpy.It not only duplicates the Xiaomi screen on the PC, but also allows you to control the phone from the keyboard, which is convenient for long debugging sessions.
Method 5: Parental Control (for family use)
If you want to track the time a child or other family member uses a Xiaomi phone, use Parental Control, which is available in the same Digital Well-Being section, but requires a Mi Account link.
- Open Settings β Digital Well-Being β Parental Controls
- Select Add User and follow the instructions (SMS confirmation will be required).
- Once you've tied it down, you can: π Setting time limits on applications. π« Block access to certain programs. π View weekly statistics from any device via Mi Account.
An important nuance: for parental control to work on the child's phone, the Internet must be turned on (data synced with Xiaomi servers), if the device is offline, the statistics are not updated.
π‘
Xiaomiβs parental controls donβt work on devices with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware like LineageOS. In this case, use third-party apps like Kids Place or Google Family Link.
What to do if the statistics are not shown or dropped
Xiaomi users sometimes experience time data suddenly disappearing, and here are 4 main reasons and ways to fix it:
- π Update MIUI/HyperOS β after major updates (for example, with MIUI 13 on 14) The statistics can be zeroed out. Solution: wait. 24 In the hour, the data will start to be collected again.
- π§Ή Cache cleaning - if you manually cleaned the cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.guardprovider), the stats will reset.Solution: Don't clear the cache for services related to Digital Well-being.
- π Resetting β when you return to factory settings, all data is erased. Solution: use third-party trackers with backup (for example, ActionDash exported to Google Drive).
- π οΈ Synchronization error β if the statistics are not updated, check: Settings β Accounts. β Mi Account β Synchronize data Make sure that the Digital Well-Being item is enabled.
If the problem is not solved, try to force the data to update:
Settings β Applications β Application Management β Three points (menu) β Show system β Find βDigital Well-Beingβ β Storage β Clear Dataπ‘
Once the Digital Well-Being data is cleaned, restart the phone, and the statistics will start to recollect after 1-2 hours of active use.
How to reduce your phone use time: 5 working tips
Knowing statistics is just the first step, and the key is to act, and here are some proven methods that can help you reduce your phone time without compromising your productivity.
- Set up grey wallpaper β studies show that black and white screens reduce the urge to pick up your phone. At Xiaomi, this is done through Settings β Wallpaper β Colors β Monochrome mode.
- Use Do Not Disturb Mode during business hours: Settings β Notifications β Do Not Disturb Mode β Schedule Set up automatic turn on from 9:00 to 18:00.
- Replace social media with RSS β instead of endless scrolling on Instagram or TikTok, use apps like Feedly or Inoreader to read news by interest.
- Turn on the app timer β Digital well-being allows you to set limits (e.g. 30 minutes a day for gaming).
- Buy a "stupid" phone is a radical but effective method. For example, the Nokia 2720 with KaiOS will allow you to call and write. SMS, but not distracted by social media.
Another powerful technique is to disable notifications from unnecessary apps, and Xiaomi does this:
Settings β Notifications β Notifications Management β Select the App β Disable βShow Notificationsβπ‘
According to research by RescueTime, turning off notifications reduces phone usage time by 20 to 30 percent in the first week, starting with instant messengers and social media, which generate up to 60 percent of all alerts.