How to watch screen time on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all ways with explanations

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even its owners do not always know where to find statistics on screen usage. Screen time helps to control dependence on the gadget, analyze activity in applications and optimize battery power. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to view statistics from built-in MIUI tools to third-party utilities with advanced features.

It's important to understand that Redmi 9 (as well as other Xiaomi smartphones) can display screen time differently depending on the firmware version, and we've taken into account all the nuances from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14, and also looked at cases where standard tools don't work, and if you want to not just look at the statistics, but also limit the time you use certain applications, here's a solution.

1. Standard way: through the “Digital Well-Being” in MIUI

The most obvious and quickest method is to use the built-in Digital Wellbeing feature, which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 10 and above, including the Redmi 9. The interface may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the overall algorithm of actions remains unchanged.

To find the statistics:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls.
3. Click on the Control Panel (or Use Statistics in older versions).
4. Here you will see a graph of screen time for today, yesterday or week, as well as a list of the most used apps.

If you have MIUI 14, the interface can be simplified: statistics are displayed immediately on the main screen of the section. Note that the data is updated every 5-10 minutes, so immediately after closing the application, changes may not appear.

See total screen time per day | View statistics by app | Set usage limits |Set up Do Not Disturb mode-->

⚠️ Note: If the Digital Well-Being section is missing, check if it is disabled in the developer settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and press 7 times in a row to activate Developer Mode. → Additionally. → For developers and make sure that the Digital Well-Being option is enabled.

2.Alternative method: through "Battery and performance"

If for some reason the Digital Well-Being section* doesn’t work or doesn’t work, you can get a rough statistic through the battery menu, which is less accurate, but will help you estimate which apps are using the most and therefore are using longer.

Instructions:

• 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity.
• 📊 Click on Battery Use (or Battery Statistics).
• 🔍 Scroll down to the Application Use block. This shows the activity time of each application in the background and active mode.

The downside of this method is that it shows the total time of the application, not the screen time, for example, if the messenger was running in the background, this will also be taken into account.

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If you want accurate screen time data, you might want to use specialized apps like ActionDash or Google's Digital Wellbeing, which only take into account the periods when the screen was on and the app was actively used.

3.Using Google Digital Wellbeing (for pure Android)

On some Xiaomi Redmi 9 firmware (especially if a custom or global version of MIUI is installed), the standard Digital Wellbeing app** can be replaced by Google Digital Wellbeing. It offers more detailed statistics and additional features such as app timer and focus mode.

How to turn on:

1. Make sure that the phone has Google services installed (usually they are by default).
2. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Find the Digital Wellbeing list and click Open.
4. If the app is missing, download it from Google Play.

An important caveat: Google Digital Wellbeing may conflict with the built-in MIUI tool. If the statistics don’t show up after installation, try turning off the standard Digital Wellbeing in the developer settings.

Third-party annexes for detailed statistics

If built-in tools aren't enough, you can use third-party apps that offer advanced reports, widgets, and even time-optimization tips.-3 tested:

• 📱 ActionDash – Shows screen time, unlocks, and even compares your activity to other users.
• 📊 StayFree is a minimalist application with convenient schedules and the ability to set daily limits.
• 🔍 App Usage – displays statistics for each application, including usage time and percentage of total screen time.

The advantage of third-party apps is that they work independently of the MIUI version and are updated frequently, but note that they will need access to special features (in security settings) to collect statistics.

⚠️ Warning: Some screen time tracking apps may consume an extra battery. If you notice that after installing the utility, your smartphone starts to run out faster, check its settings or turn off background activity.

Built-in to MIUI|Google Digital Wellbeing|ActionDash|StayFree|Other/not tracking-->

5. How to Reset Screen Time Statistics

If you want to start tracking again (for example, after a phone reset or for a test), you can reset the data, depending on the tracking method, you can do it in different ways:

For the built-in “Digital Well-Being” MIUI:

1. Open the Settings. → Digital well-being.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset data.
3. Confirm the action.

For Google Digital Wellbeing:

1. Launch the Digital Wellbeing app.
2. Go to Settings (cog icon).
3. Select Delete Use Data.

Reset does not affect the smartphone, but after that the whole story will be lost. If you use third-party applications, look for the reset option in their settings (usually under Statistics or Privacy).

6. Screen time analysis: how to optimize smartphone usage

Just looking at statistics is not enough, it's important to understand how to use them. Here are some practical tips:

• 🕒 Set limits on social media and gaming, for example, in Digital Well-being, you can set a daily limit for TikTok or Instagram.
• 🌙 Use the “Do Not Disturb” mode at night so you don’t check your phone before bedtime.
• 📵 Set up notifications: disable unnecessary alerts from apps that distract.
• 📈 Compare Weeks: If screen time has grown for no reason, analyze what has changed in your habits.

Redmi 9 also has Read Mode (in screen settings) which reduces eye strain and can help reduce your use time. If you notice that you spend too much time on your phone in the evenings, try turning on Night Mode or Dark Theme, which reduces brightness and makes use less comfortable (which means you will put the gadget down faster).

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Screen time of more than 5-6 hours per day is considered high even for active users, and if your score consistently exceeds this norm, you should consider a digital diet.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Sometimes users of Xiaomi Redmi 9 are faced with the fact that the screen time is not displayed or is considered incorrect.

If none of the methods worked, you may have modified firmware installed on your Redmi 9 (such as custom MIUI or LineageOS) in which case standard tools may not work, the solution is to install the original firmware or use only third-party tracking apps.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions