Xiaomi’s Mi Analytics: Why You Need It, How It Works, and How to Turn Off Data Collection

If you’ve ever looked into the privacy settings of your Xiaomi smartphone, you’ve probably come across the mysterious Mi Analytics item (or just Analytics in newer versions). MIUI). It's a built-in data-collection engine that works by default on all the brand's devices, from budget Redmis to flagship Xiaomi 14. But what exactly does it collect? Why does Xiaomi need this information? And most importantly, how does it affect your privacy and your phone performance?

In this article, we will discuss in detail:

• 🔍 What is Mi Analytics and how is it integrated into MIUI
• 📊 What data is collected by the system (spoiler: it is not only anonymous statistics)
• ⚙️ How to disable Analytics through settings and hidden menus
• 🛡️ Real security risks and how to minimize them
• ⚡ The impact on the battery and speed of operation – myths and facts

We will also analyze unique data from research from 2023-2026 that shows how Xiaomi uses the information it collects to improve firmware and targeted advertising, and if you’re worried about privacy or just want to optimize your phone, this guide is for you.

What is Mi Analytics and Why Xiaomi Needs it

Mi Analytics (or com.miui.analytics in the system) is a telemetry collection service that is automatically activated on all Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO. Its main task is to transfer data about the operation of the phone to the company's servers for:

• 📈 Analysts of use MIUI (What features are popular and which are ignored)
• 🐛 Tracking Failures and Errors in Firmware
• 🎯 Personalization of advertising in branded services (for example, in Mi Browser or GetApps)
• 🔄 Optimize Updates (which devices need patches in the first place)

According to Xiaomi, all data is anonymized and collected solely to improve the user experience, but independent studies (e.g. from the Internet Society in 2023) have shown that some of the information — including the data from the Internet Society — is not available. IMEI, MAC-Addresses and even geolocations can be linked to a particular device, which has drawn criticism from European regulators, especially since it came into force. GDPR.

It's important to understand that Analytics works even if you're not using a branded service, and it's integrated at the firmware level and sends data in the background, consuming traffic and CPU resources, like in tests on the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+ The service consumed up to 15-20 MB of traffic per month and up to 3-5% CPU peak-load.

What data is collected by Analytics Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s official documentation describes the data collection as “aggregated and anonymous statistics.” But deep traffic analysis (conducted by enthusiasts with a wide range of data collections). XDA Developers have found that there's a lot more being transferred. Here's the full list:

It is particularly controversial to collect data about installed applications, for example, if you use an encrypted messenger (like Signal), Xiaomi will record its presence on the device, although it does not have access to the content of the correspondence.

• 📢 Targeted advertising (such as offers) VPN-services if you frequently use foreign messengers)
• 🔍 Competitor Analysts (which apps are popular in your region)
• 🛠️ Optimization MIUI (For example, if many users delete a standard browser, it may be optional in future versions)

Another nuance: Analytics continues to work even after the phone is reset to factory settings, if you don't manually disable it, because some of the service's settings are stored in the section. /data/data/com.miui.analytics, which is not affected by standard discharge.

How to disable Mi Analytics: step-by-step instructions

There are a number of ways to disable data collection, from standard settings to radical methods for advanced users, and we'll look at all the options, starting with the simplest ones.

Method 1: Through settings MIUI (formality)

This method works on all devices with MIUI 12-14 and does not require root rights:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7-10 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode (you will be notified "You became a developer").
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Developer Settings.
4. Scroll down and turn off the option of sending error reports.
5. Then go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Special permits → Analytics and deactivate all switches.

After that, basic data collection will stop, but some modules (e.g. com.miui.systemAdSolution) may continue to work.

Method 2: Through ADB (without root)

If you need to block the service completely, but you cannot (or do not want to) obtain root rights, use it. ADB:

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Put the phone on. USB and activate Debugging on USB developer-setting.
3. Enter the command line: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

These commands will remove updates to the service and disable its auto-run, however, after a phone reset or major update. MIUI settings may reset.

Method 3: Radical removal (requires root)

To completely remove com.miui.analytics, you will need superuser rights and a file manager (e.g., Root Explorer):

1. Open up. /system/priv-app/MiuiAnalytics or /system/app/MiuiAnalytics.
2. Remove the entire folder or rename it (for example, in the MiuiAnalytics_bak).
3. Reset the device.

💡

If after disabling Analytics the phone began to work slower, clear the cache in Settings → Warehouse → Clear cache.Sometimes the service leaves behind temporary files that take up to 500 MB.

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications can lead to unstable work MIUI, Especially if you use branded services like Mi Cloud or Mi Pay. Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → System system → Backup.

Does Analytics affect performance and battery?

One of the most common myths is that Mi Analytics is "battery-eating." Let's see how that's true.

According to the results of tests Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO F5 (The TechDroider Channel in 2026):

• 🔋 Battery consumption: normally, the service consumes 0.5-1% of the charge per day. MIUI) The cost may increase to 3-5%.
• ⚡ CPU load: in the background - up to 1-2%, during the sending of reports - up to 5-7 % (peaks up to 10% in case of system failures).
• 📶 Traffic: an average of 10–30MB per month, but with frequent system errors, it can reach 100MB per month+ MB.

So if your phone is running out "something too fast," you can't blame Analytics for it, because it's minimally impacted compared to social media or gaming, but on weak devices like Redmi. 9A) 1–2% of the constant load on the CPU This can lead to slowdowns, especially if many background processes are working simultaneously.

Another nuance: if you use Mi Browser or GetApps, even after you disable Analytics, some of the data will be transmitted through these applications, and to completely stop collecting information, you will have to delete or freeze all Xiaomi branded services.

💡

Disabling Analytics gives a noticeable increase in performance only on devices with 2-4 GB of RAM. on flagships (8)+ GB) the difference will be minimal.

Security Risks: What Could Go Wrong

The main problem with Mi Analytics is not that it collects data, but how it is protected. In 2023, researchers at Check Point discovered a vulnerability in the telemetry protocol that allowed:

• 🕵️ Intercept traffic between your phone and Xiaomi servers (via MitM attack).
• 📱 Substitute IMEI devices in reports that could be used to bypass locks.
• 📍 Change geolocation data by misleading targeted advertising algorithms.

The vulnerability was closed in MIUI 14.0.5, but it showed that even anonymous data could be compromised, and in some regions (e.g. India), local authorities are requiring manufacturers to store user logs on local servers, which creates additional risks of leakage.

Another aspect is linking data to your Mi Account. If you are logged in to Mi Account, even anonymous telemetry can be indirectly linked to your identity through:

• 📧 Email linked to an account
• 📞 Phone number (if used for recovery)
• 💳 Payment information (if you bought something through Mi Pay)

⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer your Xiaomi smartphone to another person, it is not enough to simply reset your settings:

1. Sign out of Mi Account in Settings → Accounts.
2. Disable Analytics and Advertising in the privacy settings.
3. Perform Factory Reset with Internal Memory Formatting.

Otherwise, the new owner will be able to recover some of your data through the Mi Cloud, if he does not remove the device’s link to the account.

Analytics in Xiaomi smart devices: not just smartphones

Many people forget that Mi Analytics is built into not only phones, but also other gadgets of the Xiaomi ecosystem:

• 📺 Televisions (Mi) TV, Redmi Smart TV) — Collect data about the channels viewed, the apps used (Netflix, YouTube) and even connected devices (e.g. game consoles).
• ⌚ Smartwatches (Mi Band, Xiaomi Watch) – transmit information about physical activity, sleep and heart rate (even if you don’t sync them with Mi Fit).
• 🔌 Routers (Mi Router, AX3600) — log connected devices, visited sites (if "Network Defender" is enabled) and activity time.
• 💡 Smart home (Mi Home) – records what devices you use (lamps, sockets, sensors) and at what frequency.

Turning off data collection in these devices is more difficult than in a smartphone. TV There is no direct option to deactivate Analytics – you will have to block access to Xiaomi servers via a router or use alternative firmware (like LibreELEC for TVs).

In the Mi Band smartwatch, you can limit data collection by disabling:

• 📊 "Product Improvement in the Mi Fit App Settings.
• 📍 "Location data collection” (if not used) GPS-tracking).
• 🔄 "Automatic synchronization and leaving only manual mode.

For Xiaomi routers, the only reliable way is to flash an alternative firmware (OpenWRT or Padavan), but this requires technical skills and can be unwarranted.

Frequent Questions About Mi Analytics (FAQ)