Screen time is one of the key metrics that helps control smartphone usage. On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI branded shells, this feature is not as obvious as on βpureβ Android. Many users face the problem: statistics are either hidden in the depths of the menu or not in the standard settings. In this article, we will examine all the available methods, from built-in tools to third-party applications that will help track how much time you spend behind the screen.
It is important to understand that MIUI is regularly updated, and the location of functions can vary depending on the firmware version.We took into account the current versions of the shell (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14 based on Android 11-14), as well as the features of different product lines. If you do not find the right item on the menu, check the version of your firmware in Settings β About Phone β MIUI version.
1. Standard usage statistics in MIUI (Digital Wellbeing)
On most modern Xiaomi smartphones, screen time tracking is integrated into Googleβs Digital Wellbeing section, but in some versions of MIUI, this section can be hidden or renamed.
Open the settings and do one of the following:
- π In the search bar, enter Digital Well-Being or Time of Use.
- π± Go to Settings. β Annexes β Time of use (for example, for MIUI 12β13).
- π On some models, the path: Settings β Accounts and synchronization β Google β Digital well-being.
If there is no section, this may mean:
- π« Your version. MIUI obsolete (until old) MIUI 10).
- π§ The feature is disabled by the manufacturer for your model (often found on budget Redmi).
- π΅ Google services disabled (on devices for the Chinese market).
What can be seen in the statistics:
- π± Total screen usage time per day/week.
- π Distribution by application (how much time is spent on each application).
- π Number of unblocks and notifications.
- π Sleep time (if Do not disturb mode is enabled).
β οΈ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) statistics can be reset after rebooting. MIUI, which is only corrected by firmware updates.
Alternative method: "Battery and performance"
If there is no Digital Well-Being section, try to get the data through battery statistics, which works on all versions of MIUI, but only shows the total screen activity time (without app detail).
Instructions:
- Open Settings β Battery and Performance.
- Check out the battery usage (or battery statistics).
- At the top of the screen you will see a chart marked Screen and time in hours/minutes.
This method is suitable for quick check, but has limitations:
- β±οΈ Shows only total time, without breakdown by day.
- π Statistics are reset after fully charging the phone.
- π Does not take into account the time when the screen was turned on, but the phone was not used (for example, while listening to music).
π‘
If you need to save battery statistics before reset, take a screenshot or write down data manually β MIUI does not export this data to the file.
3. Hidden function: "Developer Mode" and ADB
For advanced users, there is a way to get detailed statistics through the developer mode and ADB team. This method works on all Xiaomi devices, but requires a connection to a computer.
Steps:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings β About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Enter the Mi Account password if needed.
USB debugging
Settings β Additional β For Developers
adb shell dumpsys usagestatsor for a specific application:
adb shell cmd usage listWhat you'll get:
- π Complete history of application use in the last 7 days.
- β° The exact activity time of each application in milliseconds.
- π± Data on unlocks and switches between applications.
β οΈ Attention: Teams ADB Requires Android installed SDK Platform-Tools on a computer. Misuse ADB If you are not sure, use third-party apps (section 4).
How to save the output of ADB to the file?
4. Third-party applications for screen time tracking
If embedded tools MIUI You don't like it, you can use third-party apps that offer advanced statistics, graphs, even parental controls.-3 tested solutions:
| Annex | Features | Cons | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ActionDash | π Detailed schedules by day/week. π Analysis of the most used applications. π Tracking sleep time. | β Paid after 14 days. π± Requires permission to access usage statistics. | Google Play |
| Digital Wellbeing (from Google) | π Free and no advertising. π Integration with Google Account. π± It works even on older versions. MIUI. | β οΈ Some Xiaomis require manual installation APK. π Less detailed statistics than paid counterparts. | Google Play |
| StayFree | π Flexible settings for reporting periods. π‘οΈ Application blocking function. π€ Export of data to CSV. | β Advertising in the free version. π§ Requires manual permission settings. | Google Play |
Before installation, check:
πΉ Enable the permission to "Access to usage statistics" in the Android settings
πΉ Disable battery optimization for the application
πΉ Provide rights to display over other windows (if required)
πΉ Restart the phone after installation-->
On Xiaomi devices with Chinese firmware (without Google services), these applications may not work, in which case use the ADB method (section 3) or install the APK manually through third-party sources.
5. Features for different Xiaomi models
Screen time tracking functionality may vary depending on the device line. Here's what you need to know:
Redmi Note 10/11/12 and POCO X3/X4/X5
On these models, statistics are usually available through Settings β Battery β Battery Use. However, the application detail is often lacking.
- π² Install Digital Wellbeing manually (download) APK APKMirror).
- π§ Use it. ADB to obtain complete data (Section 3).
Xiaomi 12/13/14 and Mi 11
The flagship models have a full-fledged Digital Well-Being section, but it can be hidden to activate it:
- Go to Settings β Applications β Application Management.
- Find Digital Well-Being on the list and include it.
- After that, the section will appear in the main settings.
Devices for the Chinese market (without Google)
On smartphones without Google services (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro China ROM), the built-in statistics are limited.
- π± Use Mi Fit (if synced to your Mi Account).
- π₯οΈ Connect through ADB (section).
- π Install global firmware (risky, can lead to loss of warranty).
π‘
On Chinese ROM devices, screen time tracking is often blocked at the system level, and the only reliable way to do this is to use ADB or flash it to a global version of MIUI.
6. How to reset or reset screen time statistics
If you want to start tracking from scratch or hide the data from outsiders, you can reset the statistics.
For the built-in MIUI statistics:
- Go to Settings β Applications β Use time.
- Put it on the icon. βοΈ (settings) in upper right corner.
- Choose Reset Data or Clear Statistics.
For Digital Wellbeing:
- Open the Digital Well-Being app.
- Go to Settings (βοΈ) β Reset the statistics.
For third-party applications:
In most cases, it is sufficient:
- ποΈ Clear the application data in Settings β Annexes.
- π Reinstall the application.
β οΈ Note: Resetting statistics through ADB Use the command: adb shell cmd usage reset Only if you are confident in your actions.
7. Frequent problems and their solutions
Xiaomi users often encounter errors when trying to watch screen time, and here are the most common cases and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| There is no section on Digital Well-Being. | An outdated version of MIUI. Google services are missing. | Update your firmware through Settings β System Update. Install Digital Wellbeing manually (APK). |
| Statistics not updated | Battery optimization blocks data collection. The application is frozen by the system. | Turn off the optimization for the application in Settings β Battery β Battery Optimization. Reboot the phone. |
| Data is reset after rebooting | Bug in MIUI (frequently POCO) | Update your firmware to the latest version. Use third-party apps (Section 4). |
| ADB doesn't show statistics | Lack of rights. USB debugging is not on. | Check the connection: adb devices. Grant rights: adb shell pm grant com.android.settings android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS. |
If none of these methods worked, try:
- π Reset your phone settings (pre-reverse your phone backup!).
- π₯ Install custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
- π§ Contact Xiaomi Support through Settings β Revocation.