How to watch screen time on Xiaomi Redmi 6: 3 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi 6 is one of the brand’s most popular budget smartphones, but its Android 8.1 Oreo MIUI firmware doesn’t always offer obvious solutions for monitoring activity. If you want to know how much time you spend behind the screen, which apps are most distracting, or how to set limits for yourself or your child, this guide will help you understand all the nuances.

Unlike the current versions of MIUI 12+, where Screen Time is a separate section, Redmi 6 will be subject to firmware version and regional settings, and we’ll look at all the options available from standard tools to third-party utilities, and explain why the data may differ from real-time usage.

Important: If your smartphone is running custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some of the features may be missing, in which case you can go straight to the section on third-party apps.

1. Standard Way: Digital Well-Being in MIUI

Starting with MIUI 10 (based on Android 8.1), Redmi 6 has a similar feature to Google's Screen Time, the Digital Well-Being tool, but its location and availability depend on the firmware version. Here's how to find it:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select the App section.
3. Slip on Usage Statistics or Digital Well-being (the name may vary).
4. If there is no section, use the search by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top) and enter the request for screen time.

In the menu you will see:

• 📊 Total use time per day/week.
• 📱 Statistics by application (how much time is spent on each application).
• 🔔 Number of screen unlocks.
• ⏰ Notifications of exceeding limits (if configured).

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi 6 firmware (especially global ones) may not have a Digital Well-Being section, due to Xiaomi's policy of optimizing software for low-end devices.

2. Alternative method: "Developer settings"

If the standard partition is not available, you can try to enable hidden statistics through the Developer Settings, which works on most versions of MIUI, but requires pre-activation of the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row until you become a developer!
3. Return to the main Settings menu and open a new section Additional → Developer Settings.
4. Scroll down to the Monitoring block and turn on the option CPU Running Time or Process Statistics.

After activation:

• 🔍 Back to Settings → Annexes.
• 📊 Slip on the three points in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
• 📈 Now the statistics will display all active processes, including screen time.

Importantly, the data in this section shows not only screen time, but also the background activity of applications. To get accurate numbers, pay attention to the Time column in the foreground.

Third-party annexes for detailed statistics

If the built-in tools of Redmi 6 You can install specialized tools from Google Play, which offer advanced features: weekly reports, app locks, even family controls.-3 tested solutions:

To install any of these applications:

1. Open the Google Play Market.
2. Enter the name of the application in the search bar.
3. Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.
4. Launch the utility and give it access to the Usage Statistics (a prerequisite for working!).

⚠️ Note: Redmi 6 with firmware without Google services (such as the Chinese version) these applications will not work. APK-files from alternative sources, but this is subject to security risks.

Check the Android version (Settings → About the phone)

Make sure Google services are available (Play Market should work)

Clear the cache of system applications (Settings → Apps → All Apps → Google Play Services → Clear the cache)

Enable installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Security → Unknown sources)-->

4. How to Reset Screen Time Statistics

If you want to start tracking again (for example, after updating your firmware or resetting your settings), you can reset the statistics.

For the built-in MIUI statistics:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Usage Statistics.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner.
3. Choose Reset Data or Clear Statistics.

For the Digital Wellbeing app:

1. Start Digital Wellbeing.
2. Go to the Control Panel tab.
3. Click on the cog icon at the top and select Clear Data.

Important: Resetting statistics does not affect the operation of applications, but after cleaning all previous data will be lost without the possibility of recovery.

5.Why screen time data may be inaccurate

Many Redmi 6 users complain that the time shown is not the same as the actual time, and here are the main reasons for the discrepancy:

• 🔄 Background activity: Some applications (such as instant messengers) continue to work in the background and are counted in statistics, even if the screen is turned off.
• ⏱️ Rounding of time: MIUI It can round seconds to minutes, which gives an error of 5-10%.
• 📵 Reboots: After restarting the device, the statistics may be reset or duplicated.
• 🔧 Battery Optimization: If the power saving mode is turned on, some of the application activity is not recorded.

To minimize errors:

• 📴 Turn off Battery Optimization for the applications you want to track (in each app settings).
• 🔄 Regularly update the firmware in new versions MIUI Statistical errors are corrected.
• 📊 Use third-party apps (such as ActionDash) that take background activity into account separately.

6. Limitation of screen time for children

If you're setting up Redmi 6 for a kid, the built-in MIUI tools allow you to set strict limits on your device usage.

1. Go to Settings → Password and Security → Parental Controls.
2. Create a profile of your child (you will need to link your Mi Account).
3. Select the apps you want to set limits on (such as games or social media).
4. Set the maximum usage time in minutes.
5. Activate the Lock option after the time has expired.

Additional settings:

• 🕒 Schedule: You can prohibit the use of your smartphone at night (for example, from 22:00 to 7:00).
• 📵 Blocking purchases: Disables the ability to download paid apps without a password.
• 🔍 Safe Search: Filters content in the browser and YouTube.

⚠️ Attention: Parental controls on Redmi 6 only work when you're connected to the Internet, and if your child puts the phone on airplane mode, the restrictions will be lifted. To avoid this, install a third-party app like Kids Place or Google's Family Link.

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If your child knows the password for your Mi Account, they can reset the restrictions, so to avoid this, create a separate account with parental rights and do not share information from them.

7.Screen time and battery consumption: relationship

With a modest 3000 mAh battery, Redmi 6 uses a battery life that is directly dependent on screen activity, for example, 5 hours of active screen use can reduce the charge by 40-60%, while the background work of messengers will only pull 10-15%.

To check which apps are most powered by the battery:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use.
2. Select the last charge period or 24 hours.
3. Pay attention to the applications marked Screen - they are the main "eaters" of charge.

Tip: If screen time is more than 6-7 hours a day and the battery is running out in less than 12 hours, check the battery health in the Settings menu → Battery → Battery condition. If you wear more than 30%, consider replacing it.

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Xiaomi Redmi 6 screen with resolution 720p (HD+) It consumes 15-20% less energy than Full HD-This partially compensates for the small battery capacity.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen time on Redmi 6