How to watch the time of using your phone on Xiaomi: all the ways to MIUI 12-14

Why it’s important to keep track of your phone time – and how to do it on Xiaomi

The average user spends 3 to 5 hours a day on a smartphone — and that’s only official data. Real numbers are often 1.5 to 2 times higher, especially if you’re actively using social media, messengers or games. Xiaomi, with its MIUI shell, has several built-in tools to find out accurate statistics, but most owners are not even aware of their existence.

In this article, we will look at all the available methods, from standard Screen Time to hidden MIUI features and third-party applications, not only how to view data, but also how to reset, export or limit it (for example, for monitoring children), and also why the indicators can differ across services and what to do if the statistics suddenly reset.

Important: Instructions are current for MIUI 12–14 (including global and Chinese versions), but some features may not be available on older models (Redmi 4/5, Mi A1/A2).If your smartphone Released is before 2019, check the "Alternative Methods" section.

Method 1: Built-in "Screen Time" in MIUI

The easiest and most obvious method is to use Xiaomi’s standard tool, which shows not only total usage time, but also app distribution, unlock rates, and even comparisons to previous days.

To open up the statistics:

1. Go to Settings. → Screen time.
2. If the function is disabled, click “Enable” and confirm permissions.
3. On the home screen, you will see a chart for today, week or month (swipe switches).

Please note the section “Frequently used applications” – here the TOP is displayed-5 Click on any of them to see detailed statistics: active time, background work, and even the number of notifications it sent.

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If the statistics are not updated, restart your phone or check if time sync is enabled in Settings → Additional → Date and time (should stand “Network”).

• ✅ Pros: does not require installation of applications, is integrated into the system, shows unlocks.
• ❌ Cons: resets when resetting settings, no data export, some models work unstable.

Method 2: Google Digital Wellbeing

If your Xiaomi has Google services installed (and they are on all global versions), you can use the Digital Wellbeing tool, which is more accurate than Screen Time, and allows you to set limits on applications.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → Google → Digital Well-Being and Parental Control.
2. Click on the pie chart at the top of the screen.
3. Select the “Applications” tab for detail or the “Control Panel” tab for total time.

Unlike Screen Time, there's an app timer feature that blocks access to the program after the limit has expired, useful if you want to limit your time on social media, and Digital Wellbeing shows the number of phone checks (how many times you unlocked the screen).

Method 3: Hidden statistics in the "Battery" (for advanced)

Few people know, but the battery consumption menu hides alternative screen usage statistics, which are not as detailed as previous methods, but can come in handy if the basic tools don't work.

How to find it:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use.
2. Click on the graphic icon in the upper right corner.
3. Select the tab “Screen Activity Time”.

This shows the total screen time for the selected period (day/week), and note that this data does not take into account background activity, only the time the screen was turned on, but it is not reset when you update MIUI, unlike Screen Time.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F3, Redmi Note 10 Pro may not have the Screen Activity Time tab. MIUI and regional firmware.

Method 4: Third-Party Applications for Detailed Analytics

If built-in tools aren’t enough, try specialized apps that offer advanced features: weekly reports, comparisons with other users, blocking distraction programs, and even a sleep tracker (if you use your phone before bedtime).

TOP-3 applications for Xiaomi:

• 📊 ActionDash shows usage times, unlock times, and even peak hours of activity.
• 🛡️ StayFree – allows you to set goals for reducing time on your phone and send notifications when you exceed the limit.
• 📈 QualityTime – Analyzes habits and offers personalized recommendations (e.g., “you check your phone too often in the mornings»).

Before installing, check permissions: the application needs permissions to use over other windows and access to usage statistics. At MIUI, these permissions are issued in Settings → Applications → Special Accesses.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. ActionDash) may conflict with energy-saving modes MIUI. If the statistics are not updated, add the program to the battery exceptions: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications.

Method 5: Parental control (for children or self-control)

If you want to not only track time, but also limit it, use the Parental Control feature in MIUI.

• 🕒 Set limits on phone use (for example, no more than 2 hours a day).
• 🎮 Block individual applications or categories (games, social networks).
• 📅 Set up a schedule (for example, banning the phone from 22:00 to 7:00).

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings. → Parental control.
2. Create a profile (for yourself or your child) and install it. PIN-code.
3. Set the restrictions in the “Time of Use” section.

Feature: If you set up control for yourself, MIUI will show warnings when you exceed the limit, but will not lock the phone completely (unlike a children's profile).

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MIUI's parental controls work even without the internet, unlike Google's Digital Wellbeing, which makes it more reliable for monitoring children when traveling or in places with poor signaling.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Sometimes time statistics can disappear, be dropped, or show incorrect data, and here are the most common reasons and ways to eliminate them:

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the statistics settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find “Screen Time” or “Digital Wellbeing” and clear the data.
3. Restart your phone and wait 1-2 hours, the statistics will start to be collected again.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions