How to completely disable Digital Well-Being on Xiaomi with MIUI 12:5 proven ways

The Digital Well-Being feature in MIUI 12 was designed to help users control their smartphone usage time, but it has become a source of annoyance for many, as constant notifications of exceeding limits, blocking apps and limiting functionality interfere with full-fledged use of the device, especially for owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO X3 NFC and other popular models based on MIUI 12, where the feature is activated by default and it is not always obvious how to deactivate it.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to disable Digital Well-being, from standard settings to advanced methods using ADB and modifying system files. You’ll learn how to remove restrictions without losing data, what to do if the function is not disabled through the menu, and what hidden MIUI 12 options allow you to bypass the lock forever. Instructions will be suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with the MIUI 12 and later (including MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 13 with backward compatibility).

What is Digital Well-Being in MIUI 12 and Why You Want to Turn It Off

Digital Wellbeing is a tool from Google integrated into MIUI 12 that analyzes user activity: app usage time, screen unlocks, notifications and even physical activity, which should theoretically help reduce dependence on the gadget, but in practice many face the following problems:

• 🔄 Automatically lock apps after reaching the daily limit, even if you are actively working.
• ⏰ Intrusive notifications about “excessive” smartphone use every 15 to 30 minutes.
• 📵 Restriction of functions at night (Do Not Disturb mode with forced gray filter).
• 🔒 Inability to turn off via the standard menu on some firmware (especially on Chinese versions) MIUI).

It’s important to understand that Digital Well-Being works differently in MIUI 12 than in pure Android. For example, in MIUI it is closely integrated with Parental Control and Screen Time, which makes it difficult to deactivate it. In addition, on some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi 10T or Redmi K30 Pro) after upgrading to MIUI 12.5, the function can be re-enabled after upgrading to MIUI 12.5, which few warn.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI 12 settings

The simplest method is deactivation through the settings menu, which is suitable for most users who have not modified the firmware and no restrictions from the carrier.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls (may be called Screen Time on some models).
3. In the upper right corner, click on ⋮ → Settings (three points).
4. Select Disable Digital Well-being or Delete Use Data.
5. Confirm the action by entering PIN-code or pattern lock (if previously installed).

If there is no option to disable, try an alternative path:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the list of Digital Wellbeing (Digital Wellbeing).
3. Click Disable → Stop → Delete data.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 12 Global Stable for Redmi Note 8 Pro) after shutdown, the function can be activated again after restarting. ADB or editing system files.

Method 2: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If the standard method didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to manage system settings via a computer, which is suitable for MIUI 12/12.5/13 and does not require root rights, but requires you to enable Developer Mode.

Steps to shut down:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. Enter the commands in turn: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.wellbeing pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.guardprovider

Once you have completed the commands, restart the device. Digital well-being will be disabled at the user level (not systemically), but without the possibility of randomly turning on through the settings.

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If the digital well-being reappears after the ADB commands, try adding a --user 0 flag (e.g. pm uninstall --user 0 com.google...) to the end of each command.

Method 3: Editing system files (requires root)

For users with unlocked bootloaders and root rights, a radical method is available – deleting the system files responsible for Digital Well-being – which is guaranteed to delete the function forever, but requires caution: wrong actions can lead to system failure.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/Wellbeing or /system/app/Wellbeing
3. Remove the Wellbeing folder or rename it to Wellbeing_bak.
4. Also check and delete (if any) files: /system/priv-app/GuardProvider/system/app/GuardProvider
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 12 for POCO F2 Pro or Xiaomi Mi 11 deletion of system files can cause a bootloop error (locking on the boot).Be sure to back up through TWRP Or Mi Flash Tool.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications

If you don't want to mess with ADB or root, you can use specialized utilities, like the App Inspector or Package Disabler app, which allows you to disable system components without making any deep changes.

1. Download Package Disabler from Google Play (or APKMirror if the app is not available in your area).
2. Open the application and grant ADB permissions (if required).
3. In the search box, enter wellbeing or guardprovider.
4. Select the packages found (com.google.android.apps.wellbeing and com.miui.guardprovider) and click Disable.
5. Reset the device.

The advantage of this method is that the function can be turned on again at any time without resorting to complex manipulations, but on some firmware (for example, MIUI 12 for Redmi 9A), the application may not have sufficient rights to disable system packages.

Method 5: Resetting settings to factory

The last resort is a Hard Reset, which will delete all data from the device, including your Digital Well-Being settings, but only if other methods have failed. Importantly, make sure to back up photos, contacts and apps via Mi Cloud or locally on your PC before resetting.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data (may be called Recovery and Reset).
3. Enter. PIN-code.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12 and activated Find My Device after reset may require you to enter the data of the Mi Account, which was previously linked. If you do not remember the password, unlocking the phone will be difficult - you will need to contact Xiaomi support.

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Setting resets are the last chance to disable Digital Well-being if other methods have not worked, however, it deletes all user data, so use it only as a last resort.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the Digital Well-Being is turned off, MIUI 12 users may experience side effects, and consider the most common ones and how to address them:

• 🔄 The function is turned on again after the update: This is typical for MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 13.The solution is to repeat the disconnection through ADB or remove the update manually through Settings → Annexes → Digital well-being → Remove updates.
• 📵 Notifications from some apps do not work: After disabling Digital Well-being, check notification settings in Settings → Annexes → Manage notifications and enable them manually.
• 🔒 Requests for PIN-code when you try to disable: If you forget PIN-Digital Well-Being Code, Reset It Through Settings → Security → Application lockdown → Reset password (requires password from your Mi Account).

The Chinese versions of MIUI 12 (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra) may not have a Digital Wellbeing section in the settings, but it does work, in which case only ADB or system file editing will help.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions