How to find out how much Xiaomi phone used: all the ways

Introduction: Why to track the time of use of the smartphone

Xiaomi smartphones have become an integral part of our lives: we check social networks, work, watch videos and communicate in instant messengers. But how much time does it actually take? According to research, the average user spends 3 to 5 hours a day behind the screen — and often does not even notice how fast time flies.

Tracking phone usage statistics helps not only control digital addiction, but also identify time eaters, such as spending 2 hours a day scrolling TikTok feeds, or checking Telegram notifications too often. And for parents, this feature becomes a tool for monitoring children – many Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 12 or other models). POCO X5) Support family access to statistics.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to check the time of use of the phone – from standard tools. MIUI You will learn how to view detailed statistics on applications, set limits and even export data for analysis.

Method 1: Integrated time monitoring in MIUI (Digital Wellbeing)

Starting with the version MIUI 10, all Xiaomi smartphones have a Google Digital Wellbeing, a tool for tracking activity. It works at the system level, so it does not require the installation of additional programs and does not consume battery.

To find the statistics:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls (some firmware may refer to Time of Use).
3. Slip the chart at the top of the screen, showing the total length of time you use your phone today, yesterday or week.
4. For detailed analysis, select the App tab - the system will show the time spent in each of them, as well as the number of screen unlocks.

🔹 Features MIUI Digital Wellbeing:

• 📊 Graphs by day of the week - you can compare activity on weekdays and weekends.
• ⏱️ App limits – set a timer, such as on Instagram or games.
• 👁️ Focus Mode – temporarily blocks distracting notifications.
• 📱 Family access – parents can control the child’s use time (Mi Accounts need to be linked).

⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings, your usage history will be zeroed. To avoid this, turn backup into Settings → Google → Backup (Google account required).

Method 2: Hidden statistics in Battery Settings

Few people know, but Xiaomi has an alternative way to check the time of activity through the battery consumption menu, which works even on older models (for example, Redmi). 4X or Mi A1), Where there is no built-in digital wellbeing.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Slip on the battery consumption schedule (usually located at the top of the screen).
3. In the window that opens, select the Battery Use tab.
4. Scroll down to the screen usage time block – here will be the total display activity time per day.

🔹 How this method differs from Digital Wellbeing?

⚠️ Note: Battery statistics only count the time with the screen on. If you listened to music in the background (for example, via Spotify), these minutes will not count.

💡

To reset the time meter in the battery statistics, you just need to reboot your phone, which is useful if you want to start tracking activity from scratch.

Method 3: Applications for detailed analysis (ActionDash, StayFree)

If you don't have enough built-in Xiaomi tools, you can install third-party apps that offer advanced analytics, like comparisons with other users, weekly reports, and even time optimization tips.

🔹 Top.-3 tracking-in:

• 📈 ActionDash — shows the time of use in the form of interactive charts, supports widgets on the desktop. there is a function "Goals" (for example, "spend on social networks no more than 1 hour a day").
• ⏳ StayFree — blocks apps on timer, sends notifications about exceeding limits, supports synchronization between devices.
• 👁️ Digital Wellbeing (from Google) – the official app from Google, works even on Xiaomi with a shell MIUI. Offers a "Sleep Mode" feature to limit use at night.

📌 How to install and configure:

1. Download the app from Google Play (e.g. ActionDash).
2. Give permission to access the usage statistics (a pop-up will appear when you first start).
3. In the app menu, select the analysis period (day/week/month) and add the apps to the “Blacklist” for restriction.
4. Enable notifications about exceeding limits in the settings.

Launch the application and provide access to statistics|Select the period of analysis (week)|Add distracting apps to the blacklist|Include notifications of exceeding limits|Set up a widget on the desktop-->

🔹 Advantages of third-party applications over MIUI:

• 📊 Export of data to CSV Excel for detailed analysis.
• 🔔 Flexible notifications (e.g., "You spent 1 hour on TikTok out of the scheduled 30 minutes").
• 🌍 Comparison with other users (ActionDash has anonymous country statistics).

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. StayFree) may conflict with Xiaomi's energy-saving modes. If the statistics are not updated, add the app to the battery exceptions: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications → No restrictions.

Method 4: Verification through Mi Account (for parental control)

If you use a family Mi Account, you can track your child’s phone usage remotely, a feature available on all Xiaomi models that support the mobile phone. MIUI 12 and newer (e.g. Xiaomi 13, POCO F5).

📌 How to Connect Parental Controls:

1. On the child's phone, open the settings → Mi Account → Family access.
2. Choose Add a Family Member and send an invitation to your account.
3. On your phone, confirm the invitation in the same section.
4. Now, the Digital Well-being menu will feature a Family tab, where there will be statistics for each device.

🔹 What can be controlled:

• 🕒 Total time of use of the phone per day/week.
• 📱 Top applications with time and number of launches.
• 🔒 Remote blocking of individual programs (e.g., games during school hours).
• 📍 Geolocation (optional, location access permission required).

🔹 Limitations of method:

• ❌ It only works if your child’s phone has Mi Account and family access enabled.
• ❌ Not all models support remote locking (e.g., on Redmi). 9A Only statistics are available).
• ❌ Data updated with a delay of up to 1 hour.

Method 5: Analysis through Google Account (for Android)

If your Xiaomi has a Google account tied, you can look at usage statistics through Google Dashboard.This method is suitable for owners of smartphones with a pure Android One (for example, Mi). A2, Mi A3) or MIUI, where synchronization with Google is enabled.

📌 Instructions:

1. Open your browser and go to the Google Dashboard page.
2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
3. Scroll down to the Android block and select Devices.
4. Slip on your Xiaomi model – here will be information about the latest activity, installed apps and screen time (if sync is enabled).

🔹 What to learn through Google Dashboard:

• 📅 Last activity (when the phone was unlocked).
• 📲 List of installed applications with installation date.
• 🔄 Synchronization history (useful if the phone has been lost).

⚠️ Note: Google Dashboard only shows approximate activity times and does not replace the full Digital Wellbeing statistics. For detailed analysis, you will still need to use Xiaomi’s built-in tools or third-party apps.

Method 6: Manual tracking through notes or Excel

If you want to be as accurate as possible, or if you're keeping a productivity diary, you can manually record your phone usage time, a method that requires discipline, but allows you to take into account the nuances that automatic tools miss (e.g., time for work calls vs. entertainment).

🔹 How to organize manual accounting:

1. Create a table in Google Sheets or Excel with columns: Date | Annex | Time to start. | Time to end | Purpose (work/rest).
2. Use a stopwatch on your phone or a smartwatch (like the Xiaomi Mi Band) to record intervals.
3. At the end of the day, analyze the data: how much time was spent on productive tasks and how much time was spent on entertainment.

🔹 Example of a manual table:

🔹 The advantages of the manual method:

• ✅ Maximum accuracy – you decide what to consider and what not.
• ✅ Flexibility – additional metrics can be added (e.g., “mood” or “fatigue level").
• ✅ No software dependency – it works even on old phones without any software. MIUI 10+.

💡

Manual timekeeping is the only way to separate work and personal tasks in statistics, and automated tools (including Digital Wellbeing) don't do that.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When tracking phone usage, users often encounter inaccurate data or crashes, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

🔹 Issue 1: Statistics are not updated

• 🔋 Reason: Energy saving mode blocks background activity of Digital Wellbeing.
• 🛠 Solution: Add the app to battery exceptions: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications → No restrictions.

🔹 Problem 2: Time is not the same as battery statistics and digital wellbeing

• ⏱️ Reason: Battery statistics only take into account the time with the screen on, and Digital Wellbeing captures background activity (for example, listening to music with the screen off).
• 📊 Solution: Use Digital Wellbeing for the full picture or refine data through third-party apps.

🔹 Problem 3: After the update MIUI stats dropped

• 🔄 Reason: Large system updates (e.g., with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) history may be nullified.
• 📲 Solution: Before updating, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

💡

If you notice that the statistics in Digital Wellbeing show unrealistically long time (for example, 10 hours a day), check if the developer mode with debugging is turned on. USB. Some system processes in this case may be counted as “use time".

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions