How to permanently disable Digital Well-Being on Xiaomi with MIUI 11: 5 working ways

Digital Wellbeing in MIUI 11 is a useful feature for monitoring smartphone usage times, but not everyone likes it. Intrusive limit notifications, app blocking and constant activity monitoring can be annoying, especially if you self-adjust your screen time. Unfortunately, Xiaomi has not provided an obvious “Disable Forever” button – the feature can only be suspended or circumvented by indirect methods.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to deactivate Digital Well-Being on MIUI 11 devices, including hidden settings, ADB bypasses, and even radical measures for those willing to sacrifice functionality for freedom. It’s important to understand that some methods require technical skills, while others can affect system stability — so carefully assess risks before taking action.

Why is digital well-being hindering MIUI 11 users?

The Digital Wellbeing feature was introduced in Android 9 Pie and adapted by Xiaomi for its shell, which in theory should help reduce the time spent on the gadget, but in practice many people face the following problems:

  • 📵 Intrusive notifications about exceeding the daily limit, which appear even when you actively use the navigator or work applications.
  • 🔒 Automatically lock applications without the ability to quickly unlock (entry required) PIN-code-print).
  • 📊 Collecting statistics without the explicit consent of the user, which raises privacy questions.
  • ⚙️ Inability to completely shut down through standard settings – only a 24-hour “pause.

The problem is particularly acute on MIUI 11, where the interface is more integrated than in the newer versions of the shell, for example, MIUI 12/13 has the option to hide notifications, and in MIUI 11 even this can not be done without additional manipulation.

⚠️ Note: Disabling Digital Well-Being may affect parental controls if you have them set up. Before deactivating, check if restrictions are being used for other users of the device (such as children).

Method 1: Temporary suspension through settings (official method)

The easiest, but also the most limited, way is to use the built-in suspension feature, which doesn't permanently shut down Digital Wellbeing, but allows you to freeze the collection of statistics and notifications for 24 hours.

Instructions:

  1. Open Settings → Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls.
  2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ (gear) in upper right corner.
  3. Select to suspend the use of Digital Well-Being.
  4. Confirm the action by pressing Suspend.

Cons of the method:

  • ⏳ Only 1 day is effective, then you will have to repeat the procedure.
  • 📵 Does not disable the collection of statistics completely (data continues to be recorded, but notifications do not arrive).
  • 🔄 After restarting the device, the suspension is reset.
📊 How Often Are You Irritated by Digital Well-Being Notifications?
Every day.
Several times a week
Nearby, but not disturbed.
Turned off immediately after buying the phone.

Method 2: Disabling notifications (partial solution)

If you're only annoyed by pop-up alerts, not the monitoring function itself, you can turn off notifications separately, and that won't stop collecting statistics, but at least it will eliminate annoying reminders.

How to do this:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Find Digital Wellbeing (or Digital Wellbeing) on the list and tap it.
  3. Select Notifications.
  4. Turn off the Allow Notifications switch.

You can also block notifications for specific types of alerts:

  • 📌 Exceeding the daily limit - the main annoying notification.
  • 🔕 Break reminder – appears if you use one application for a long time.
  • 🛑 Blocking the application - notification of forced closure of the program.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 11 (especially custom) item Digital well-being may not be on the list of applications. ADB-method (described below).

☑️ Preparation for deactivation of notifications

Done: 0 / 4

Method 3: Deactivate through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but allows you to completely disable Digital Well-being without root rights.

Step-by-step:

  1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version until the message "You're a developer" appears.

USB debugging

  • Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
  • Turn on the debugging switch over USB.
  • Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.wellbeing adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.wellbeing

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files may cause device instability or update errors MIUI. Before the procedure, make a full backup through TWRP!

Advantages of the method:

  • ✅ Complete removal of the function without the possibility of recovery through settings.
  • ✅ Free up to 50-100 MB of system memory.
  • ✅ All related services, including parental controls, are disappearing.

Disadvantages:

  • ❌ Requires unlocking the bootloader (data reset!).
  • ❌ Risk of “bricking” in case of error.
  • ❌ After updating MIUI function can return.

Limitations of the method:

  • 🔄 After updating MIUI You may need to re-configure.
  • 🛡️ Some permissions cannot be turned off without rooting.
  • 📊 The statistics will still be collected (but will not interfere with the data).

Alternative annexes:

  • 🔧 Package Disabler – allows you to freeze system packages.
  • 🚫 Debloater – removes unnecessary system applications (requires) ADB).
  • 🔒 Island – creates a sandbox for limited applications (bypassing locks).

💡

Third-party apps do not guarantee 100% disabling of Digital Well-Being, but they can significantly reduce its impact on the user experience.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, there are two options:

  1. Update to the new version MIUI: V MIUI 12/13/14 The Digital Wellbeing interface is redesigned, and there's an option to completely disable notifications. → The phone. → Updating the system. ⚠️ Note: Updating may cause data loss if you use custom firmware or modified software!
  2. Switching to custom firmware: Firmware like LineageOS, Pixel Experience or HavocOS doesn’t include Digital Wellbeing by default, minus the loss of Xiaomi branded features (like Second Space or Game Turbo), and look for installation instructions on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums (a section of your model).

If you are not ready for such measures, you can only accept a temporary suspension or use a second account on your phone (Digital Wellbeing will be disabled by default).

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off digital well-being

❓ Can you turn off digital well-being without a computer?
Yes, but only temporarily - by suspending settings (method 1) or disabling notifications (method 2). ADB rooting is impossible.
❓ Will the function return after resetting the settings?
Yes. When you hard reset, all system applications, including Digital Wellbeing, are restored, and if you delete it through TWRP, you'll have to repeat the procedure.
❓ Does the shutdown affect the performance of the phone?
No, Digital Wellbeing doesn't consume much resources. The most you'll win is freeing up ~50MB of memory when completely deleted.
❓ Can you turn off parental control, leaving statistics?
In Digital Well-Being → Parental Control, you can delete your child’s profile without affecting personal limitations.
❓ Why After Updating MIUI function?
System update restores remote system applications. To avoid this, before updating: Backup via TWRP. After updating, re-delete Digital Wellbeing.