Smartphones are now an integral part of our lives, but their continued use can negatively affect productivity, sleep, and even mental health. Xiaomi has integrated Digital Wellbeing into its devices, a tool to help users control screen time and form healthier digital habits. This program, also known as Digital Well-being, allows you to track activity in apps, set limits, block distracting notifications, and even activate focus mode.
Unlike standard parental controls, Digital Wellbeing is designed to be self-disciplined, available on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI 10 and above, and on the brand’s tablets. However, many device owners still don’t know it exists or know how to use it. In this article, we’ll go into detail what Digital Wellbeing is, how to enable it, customize it, and what hidden features it offers to improve your digital experience.
What is Digital Wellbeing and Why is it Necessary?
Digital Wellbeing is a system application from Google that Xiaomi has adapted for its devices, and its main purpose is to help users understand how much time they spend on a smartphone and offer tools to reduce that time. According to research, the average user checks their phone more than 150 times a day, and 40% of that time is spent on a meaningless list of social media feeds.
The function solves several key problems:
- 📱 Digital addiction – helps reduce the time of use of the gadget, especially before bedtime.
- 🎯 Loss of productivity – blocks distracting applications during work hours.
- 👨👩👧👦 Child control – allows parents to limit screen time for children.
- 😴 Sleep disturbance – activates the “Do Not Disturb” mode at night.
It's important to understand that Digital Wellbeing doesn't delete apps or block them forever -- it just helps you to consciously manage your time. For example, you can set a limit on TikTok at 1 hour a day, and after that time, the app will be blocked until the next day, and you can always reset the limit manually if you really need to.
How to Enable Digital Wellbeing on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO
The activation of the function depends on the firmware version and the device model. On most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12/13/14, the path to settings is the same, but there are nuances for the old versions.
- Open the settings (cog icon).
- Scroll down and select Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls (DWC).
- Click Show Usage Data (Password or fingerprint confirmation may be required).
- Accept the terms of use if the system requests permission.
If the Digital Well-Being item isn’t on the menu, try:
- 🔍 Use search in settings (enter “Wellbeing»).
- 📥 Update the firmware to the latest version (the function appeared in the MIUI 10).
- 🛠️ Install Google Digital Wellbeing from Play Market (for older models).
☑️ Preparation for Digital Wellbeing
On some devices (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 Pro), the feature may be hidden due to regional restrictions, in which case changing the firmware region to Europe (EEA) or installing a global version of MIUI will help.
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If Digital Wellbeing doesn’t work after the upgrade, try clearing the app’s cache in Settings → Apps → App Management → Digital Wellbeing → Storage → Clear the cache.
Digital Wellbeing: Opportunities Analysis
The tool offers several key functions, each of which solves a specific problem.
| Function | Description | Example of use |
|---|---|---|
| dashboard | Shows statistics of smartphone use: screen time, number of unlocks, the most used applications. | You’ll see yourself spending 3 hours a day on Instagram and you’ll be able to cut that time short. |
| Application timer | Set daily limits on the use of specific applications. | Limit YouTube to 1 hour a day for a child. |
| Focus mode | Temporarily blocks distracting apps and notifications. | Activate for 2 hours during the project. |
| Sleep regimen | Automatically turns on Do Not Disturb and switches the screen to black and white overnight. | Set up from 23:00 to 7:00 to improve sleep. |
| Parental control | It allows you to limit the time children use the device and block unwanted content. | Set a limit of 1 hour for games for a child of 10 years. |
One of the most useful features is focus mode, which not only blocks apps, but also disables notifications, which helps you focus on important tasks, for example, if you're preparing for an exam, you can blacklist all social networks and messengers, leaving only educational materials.
How to get around the limitations of Digital Wellbeing?
Step-by-step setting timers and restrictions
To use Digital Wellbeing effectively, you need to set your timers and limitations correctly. Here are the detailed instructions:
- Set limits on apps: Open Digital Wellbeing → Dashboard. Select an app (like Facebook). Click on an hourglass (⏳) and set a daily limit.
- Set focus mode: Go to Focus Mode. Add distracting apps to the list. Set activation times (e.g. 9:00 to 18:00 on weekdays).
Activate your sleep schedule:
- Select Sleep Mode.
- Set a time for the day off and wake up.
- Turn on the black and white screen to reduce eye strain.
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The most effective strategy is to combine app timers with focus mode, such as limiting Instagram to 30 minutes a day and activating focus mode during work hours.
If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS), some Digital Wellbeing features may not work properly, in which case it is recommended to install an official app from Google from the Play Market.
The hidden possibilities of digital wellbeing that few people know about
Apart from the basic features, Digital Wellbeing on Xiaomi has a few hidden features that can greatly enhance your experience:
- 📊 Weekly reports -- the program can send a summary of smartphone usage to the mail, to enable (⚙) → Weekly report → Turn it on.
- 🔄 Reset statistics – if you want to start tracking again, you can reset the data to Settings → Reset the statistics.
- 🛡️ Password lock – so that children can not reset the restrictions, set PIN-code to Parental Control → Settings → Set the password.
- 🌙 Automatic activation of sleep mode - you can tie it to the alarm clock: if the alarm is set at 7:00, the sleep mode will automatically turn off.