Today’s Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are so functional that we often lose track of time just by flipping through news feeds or watching videos. Many users don’t even realize that their screen time can reach 6-8 hours a day, which significantly affects productivity and sleep quality. Understanding how your attention is distributed between apps is the first step to digital detox and healthy use of the gadget.
The Android operating system, which runs the MIUI or HyperOS shell, has powerful built-in tools to monitor activity. You don't have to download dubious programs from third-party sources to get accurate statistics. All the necessary data is collected by the system in the background and is available at any time through the standard settings menu.
In this article, we will look at where to find usage reports, how to interpret the data, and how to restrict access to time eaters, and learn how to manage notifications and create a balance between the virtual and real world using only the standard capabilities of your device.
Use of the Digital Well-Being function
The main tool for analyzing activity on Xiaomi smartphones is the built-in Digital Wellbeing module, which tracks the number of applications launched, the time spent on each of them, and even the number of notifications received. To access this information, the user does not need root rights or complex manipulation of the information. ADB-team.
The stats interface is presented as a comprehensible pie chart and a list of apps, sorted by time of use, and the data is 99% accurate because it reads the activity directly from the Android system log, rather than indirectly, and you can see not only the total time, but also the dynamics of how much you used your phone today compared to yesterday or last week.
It's important to note that to make the statistics work properly, you need to allow the system to access usage data, which is usually automatic when you first start, but if you've previously rejected access requests, you'll have to manually activate the function in the privacy menu, and without that permission, you'll only see sample data or empty graphs.
💡
If you've been resetting your phone recently, Digital Wellbeing's statistics could have zeroed in. Give the system 24 hours to collect new information.
Step-by-step: where to find statistics in MIUI and HyperOS
The path to the cherished numbers may vary slightly depending on the version of the firmware installed. With the new HyperOS and the latest MIUI 14 updates, developers have repositioned some menu items to improve ergonomics. Below are the current action algorithms for different scenarios.
In most cases, the path is this: open Settings, scroll down to Digital Well-Being and Parental Control. In some builds, this item can be put into a separate application on your desktop called Digital Well-Being. If a standard search didn't produce results, use the search bar at the top of the settings menu.
☑️ Checking the settings of statistics
In the menu that opens, you'll see a pie chart where each sector corresponds to the category of applications (Social Media, Games, Productivity), clicking on a specific sector or clicking on the list below, you can get details for each app installed, and here you can see the number of times you have picked up your phone (screen switch cycle).
⚠️ Note: Some global versions of firmware to save battery life, the system may suspend the collection of statistics in the background. Make sure that the energy saving settings for system services do not set a limit "Close after 1 minute».
Setting screen time and setting limits
Just knowing the numbers isn't enough, it's important to be able to manage them. App Timer allows you to severely limit the time you can spend on a particular app per day. Once the limit is exhausted, the app icon will turn grey, and you can't run it again before midnight without removing the restriction.
To set up, go to the statistics menu, select an unnecessary app (like TikTok or Instagram) and click on the hourglass icon. Set your desired limit, like 30 minutes a day. This is a great way to combat procrastination, as visual inhibition is more effective than willpower.
- 📱 Settings flexibility: You can set different limits for weekdays and weekends if your version is MIUI Supports extended profiles.
- 🔔 Notifications: The system will alert you 15 minutes before the time expires so you can complete the current action.
- 🚫 Blocking: After the limit expires, the application is blocked completely, including push notifications, unless you configure exceptions.
There is also a Focus Mode, which is a more rigid version of the timer, which blocks all of the distracting apps you select, and turns the phone into a tool for work or study, often with only calls and emergency messages left.
Sleep mode and protection from blue light
One of the main reasons for staying on your phone for a long time is that your circadian rhythms are disrupted by the blue spectrum of the screen, and in the Digital Well-Being or Screen section, you can set up your Bedtime mode, which helps your body know that it's time to rest, even if you keep your gadget in your hands.
When this mode is activated, the screen is converted to a monochrome (black and white) mode, which makes the content less attractive to the brain, and a blue light filter is turned on, which changes the color temperature of the display to a warmer one, reducing eye strain and melatonin production.
| Parameter | Regular regime | Sleep regimen |
|---|---|---|
| Color rendering | Bright, rich. | Black and white or warm |
| Notifications | They're coming in right away. | Hidden or delayed |
| Brightness | Automatic. | Reduced |
| Sounds. | Included | Silent mode |
You can set this mode to automatically turn on on on a schedule, for example, from 23:00 to 07:00, during which time the phone will not wake you with a bright screen when you receive a message, and all visual stimuli will be minimized, which helps you fall asleep faster and improves the quality of rest.
Why is the screen turning black and white?
Parental Control: Family Link for Children
If you’re interested in the statistics of a child’s phone usage, the built-in tools of the smartphone itself may not be enough, as a child can simply delete the history or turn off the statistics. For full control, Google offers a Family Link app that integrates perfectly with the Xiaomi ecosystem.
By installing the app on your phone (as a parent) and your child’s phone, you can see their location in real time, the number of steps they’ve taken, and most importantly, a detailed report on app usage, and you can know what time they unlocked their phone in the morning and what time they put it down in the evening.
Key features of remote management:
- 👨👩👧 Remote lock: The ability to lock your child’s device with a single button at any time (e.g. during class or family dinner).
- ⏳ Time limits: Set a total time limit for device use per day (e.g. 2 hours).
- 🛒 Purchase Control: Requesting permission to purchase apps or make transactions on Google Play.
It is important to understand that to work Family Link on the child’s device, you must create a separate Google account associated with your family group, and simply install surveillance on someone else’s phone without the owner’s knowledge (unless it is a child under 13 years old) will not work due to Google’s security policy.
Alternative methods and third-party applications
While MIUI’s built-in tools are quite functional, some users prefer more advanced analytics. Third-party apps from Google Play can provide more detailed reports, show periods of most activity, and even lock the phone by geolocation (for example, ban social networks when you are at the office or school).
Popular alternatives include apps like ActionDash or YourHour, which use the same system APIs as the standard module, but present data in a more convenient and motivating way, such as showing how much money you spent on your phone when you counted time as your hour.
⚠️ Warning: Installing third-party screen control apps requires broad permissions, including Access to Use History and Overlay on Other Windows.Only trust trusted developers with a good reputation to avoid handing over your data to scammers.
There is also a hidden way of stats through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which shows deeper system logs, but it is designed for power users and requires a computer connection. For household needs, a standard interface is quite enough, which does not require installing additional software and does not consume battery.