Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 9 have enormous processing power, allowing users to spend a significant amount of time online. Often we don’t notice how flipping through social media feeds or watching short videos takes hours. Digital well-being is becoming more than just a buzzword, but a real necessity for mental health and productivity.
The Android-based MIUI operating system has powerful activity tracking tools built in. Users no longer need to install third-party apps that can ask for extra permissions. The built-in statistics module works at the system level, so its data is the most accurate and complete. Mi 9 owners can get detailed information about how many times they unlocked the device and which apps spent the most time in.
In this article, we'll look at all the available ways to get statistics, where to find hidden settings, how to interpret graphics correctly, and what actions to take if standard features aren't displayed, and time control is the first step to consciously using a gadget.
Use of the standard function of Digital Wellbeing
Starting with certain versions of the MIUI shell, Xiaomi has introduced native support for Google’s Digital Wellbeing service. On the Xiaomi Mi 9, this tool is often pre-installed in system settings. To access data, you need to go to the Settings → Digital Wellbeing and Parental Control menu. Here is a general summary of the current day.
The interface is a pie chart divided into sectors by color. Each sector corresponds to a specific group of applications. By clicking on a specific segment or scrolling down, the user will see a detailed list. Statistics are updated in real time, allowing you to track the dynamics of use throughout the day.
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If you don’t find the “Digital Well-Being” option in the main settings, try searching by settings by entering “screen time” or “wellbeing.”
It is important to understand that the function requires an active Google account and geolocation services enabled (in some regions).If the partition is empty or data is not accumulating, it may have been manually disabled or removed by system optimizers, in which case it is worth checking the list of installed applications.
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The Digital Wellbeing section provides the most complete and native statistics without the need to install additional software.
Alternatively, using Google Family Link
If the built-in MIUI tools don’t seem informative enough or are missing from your firmware version, Google Family Link is a great solution. Originally designed for parental control, it’s perfect for adult users to self-monitor. By installing the app and configuring it as a child’s device (even if you control your own phone), you’ll have access to advanced analytics.
The main advantage of this method is that it can be remotely monitored and has more flexible restrictions settings, so you can see not only the total time, but also the number of applications that are launched, and the data detail in Family Link often outperforms standard system reports.
- 📊 Accurate accounting: Time spent in each application is recorded with an accuracy of up to a minute.
- 🚫 Blocking: Ability to remotely lock a device or specific applications after the limit has expired.
- 📅 History: Preserving statistics for the last 7 days, which allows you to track the dynamics.
The method requires two Google accounts or one account with the correct permission configuration. On the Xiaomi Mi 9, the application works consistently, but it is worth considering its impact on battery autonomy due to constant background monitoring of activity.
Third-party applications for deep analytics
When standard tools aren’t enough, specialized apps from Google Play come to the rescue. ActionDash is considered the most popular and functional solution. This application is actually an improved version of standard digital well-being, but with a more user-friendly interface and additional features that can be useful for owners of Xiaomi Mi 9.
The main thing about these programs is that they can upload data and plot complex graphs, they can analyze behavior patterns, like showing you what time of day you are most active, and they can visualize data to help you understand the problem of smartphone addiction.
Why can third-party apps show incorrect data?
When installing time trackers on MIUI, it is critical to properly configure permissions; the system can automatically turn off background activity of the application, considering it harmful; you need to manually add the program to battery exclusions and autoload.
Configure access rights and battery exclusions
MIUI is known for its aggressive energy-saving policies, which means that the system can force the system to complete processes it considers inactive, including screen time statistics services, and a number of adjustments must be made to ensure that monitoring works properly.
First of all, you need to find the Digital Wellbeing service or tracker you choose in the list of applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the one you want and select Activity Control. Here you should select No Limits mode.
☑️ Setting up rights for time tracker
It's also worth checking permissions. The app needs access to Usage Access. Without that right, no program can show you how much time you've spent on Instagram or YouTube. The way to setup: Settings → Apps → Permissions → Use History.
⚠️ Warning: Giving access to your usage history gives the app the right to see what programs you open. Use only trusted services with a good reputation to prevent personal data from leaking.
Analysis of statistics and identification of problems
With access to the numbers, many users are shocked by what they see. The average Xiaomi Mi 9 owner can spend 4 to 7 hours a day on a smartphone. However, just knowing the numbers is not enough – it is important to be able to analyze them.
Notice how often you unlock, if you pick up your phone 150 times a day, it's a reflexive habit of checking notifications, and it's also worth looking at the time distribution across apps, and it often turns out that the lion's share of time is spent on messengers or social networks.
| Category | Norma (hours) | Sign of addiction | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social media. | 1-1.5 | More than 3 hours. | Remove the application, leave only the web version |
| Messengers | 1-2 | More than 4 hours. | Disable group notifications |
| Video/streaming | 1-2 | More than 3 hours. | Set a screen-off timer |
| Games | 0.5-1 | More than 2 hours. | Use black and white screen mode |
Use this data to plan your day, and if you see yourself spending 40 minutes on news in the morning, try moving your phone to another room as soon as you wake up, and mindfulness is a key tool in combating digital noise.
Setting limits and timetables
Once analyzed, the most effective step is to set limits: In the Digital Wellbeing section of the Xiaomi Mi 9, you can set a timer for each application, and when the limit is exhausted, the app icon will turn grey, and you can only launch it on additional request.
In addition, the function "Sleep Mode" or "Rest Time" is available, during which time the screen can turn black and white, and notifications can be blocked, which helps not to be distracted by the gadget before bedtime, which has a positive effect on the quality of rest.
- ⏱️ App Timers: Limit the time you use specific programs per day.
- 🌙 Sleep mode: Disables notifications and changes the color gamut of the screen at a given time.
- 🔇 Do Not Disturb: Blocks calls and messages, except for selected contacts.
Don't try to limit yourself too hard from day one. Breaking out of your usual entertainment can be stressful. Start with small restrictions, gradually reducing the time allowed for entertainment content.