How to see how much time spent in applications on Xiaomi: all the ways

Have you ever caught yourself thinking that you spend too much time on TikTok, Instagram or games on a Xiaomi smartphone? or want to understand which apps are stealing your time unnoticed? MIUI (12 to 16) have built-in tools for monitoring activity, but they are hidden in an unobvious way.+ Xiaomi 14 Ultra time-recording algorithms work differently than on budget Poco M6.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to check your time spent in apps, from standard Digital Wellbeing tools to hidden developer menus and third-party utilities like ActionDash or StayFree.

• 📊 View daily/weekly statistics for each application;
• ⏱️ Set time limits and overspending notifications;
• 🔍 See hidden activity (e.g., time in the background);
• 📱 Compare data between different Xiaomi devices (including Pad 6 tablets).

We will pay special attention to the difference between versions. MIUI: into MIUI 14 and later, the time-recording algorithm has changed — it now takes into account the activity in the curled state (for example, listening to music in Spotify with the screen off). MIUI 12.5) this data may have been displayed incorrectly.

Standard report MIUI: Where to find statistics on use

The easiest way is to use the built-in “Use Time” feature (aka Screen Time in global firmware), which is available on all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices. MIUI 10 and up, here's how to find her:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to Digital Well-Being and Parental Control (some versions simply refer to Digital Well-Being).
3. Tap the toolbar. → Time of use.
4. Choose a period: Today, Yesterday or Week.

Here you'll see:

• 📱 Total time of use of the device;
• 🎯 Top.-3 the most "glutty" applications;
• 📈 Timetable of activity by hour;
• 🔄 Number of screen unlocks.

However, this method has important limitations:

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 12.5 and below statistics are reset after the phone restarts. To avoid this, turn off the option Reset usage data in the Digital Wellbeing settings.

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If you don’t have the Digital Wellbeing section displayed, upgrade to the latest version of the firmware or install the Google Digital Wellbeing app from the Play Market – it integrates into the new Google Digital Wellbeing app. MIUI and adds missing functions.

Google’s Digital Wellbeing: An Alternative for Xiaomi

If embedded tools MIUI You don't think it's detailed enough, but go to Google's official app, Digital Wellbeing, which is available for all Android 9 and up devices, including Xiaomi:

• 📊 More detailed statistics (including background use time);
• 🛠️ Ability to set limits on individual applications;
• 🌙 Sleep Time Mode to Limit Notifications;
• 📱 Synchronize data between devices (if you use one Google account).

How to set up:

1. Download Digital Wellbeing from the Play Market.
2. Open the application and allow access to usage data.
3. Go to the dashboard tab - here the activity graph will be displayed.
4. For detailed analysis, tap on any application in the list.

Example of the report in Digital Wellbeing:

Digital Wellbeing may conflict with embedded tools MIUI. If the statistics are duplicated or show different data, turn off the standard Screen Time in the Xiaomi settings.

Update. MIUI last-minute|Install Digital Wellbeing from Play Market|Turn off the standard Screen Time (if you use Google)|Check the permissions for monitoring applications-->

3. Hidden settings MIUI: data-driven

If you want the most accurate statistics (for example, for performance analysis or debugging), you can use the hidden menu Usage Stats. It is available on all Xiaomi devices, but requires the inclusion of the developer mode.

How to open it:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the Usage Stats option and turn it on.
4. Tap on App Usage Statistics – here you will see the full report for the last 24 hours, including:

• 🕒 The exact time of activity of each application (up to seconds);
• 📱 Working time in foreground (on screen) and background (in the background);
• 🔄 Number of launches;
• 📊 Percentage of use CPU memory.

This data is useful if you:

• 🔧 Optimize your battery (for example, look for apps that drain your phone in the background);
• 🛡️ Checking the device for spyware;
• 📈 Analyze performance after the update MIUI.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 15 and later, access to Usage Stats may be restricted for some applications (e.g., Xiaomi system services).To see full data, temporarily disable Minimization of background processes in battery settings.

4 Third-party applications: StayFree, ActionDash and others

If embedded tools MIUI Or you might not like Digital Wellbeing, but you might want to try specialized utilities, which offer advanced features like this:

• 📅 Monthly and annual reports;
• 📊 Exporting data to Excel or CSV;
• 🔔 Customizable notifications of exceeding limits;
• 🌍 Comparison of your activity with other users (anonymous statistics).

Top.-3 monitoring:

How to set up StayFree (by example):

1. Install the application and provide access to the Usage Statistics.
2. In the main menu, select the Applications - here the list with the time of use will be displayed.
3. To set limits tap on the app → Set a limit.
4. Enable notifications in settings (Settings) → Notifications).

Tip: If you use Xiaomi with a shell POCO Launcher, some monitoring apps may not work properly. In this case, try changing the launcher to a standard one. MIUI or Nova Launcher.

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Third-party applications often provide more accurate data than embedded tools MIUI, They require additional permits and can consume the battery.

5. Features on different Xiaomi models

Time-recording algorithms may vary depending on device model and version MIUI. Here are the key differences:

• 📱 Flagships (Xiaomi) 13/14, Mix Fold 3): use an improved algorithm for recording time in the background (for example, listening to music in Spotify is counted as activity).
• 💰 Budget models (Redmi) 12C, Poco M6): Statistics may be reset after firmware update.
• 🖥️ Tablets (Xiaomi Pad 6): Time of use data is synced with your Mi Account if Cloud Backup is enabled.
• 🌍 Global vs. Chinese firmware: in Chinese versions MIUI Screen Time may be called (time use).

Example of differences in reports:

If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), built-in tools MIUI In this case, install Google’s Digital Wellbeing or third-party utilities.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for Russia (for example, Redmi 12 with firmware) RU) Digital Well-Being may not be available due to local constraints, and to return it, change region to India or Global in your Mi Account settings.

6 How to Reset or Reset Statistics

If you want to start tracking time from scratch or simply delete your activity history, do the following:

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

1. Go to Settings. → Digital well-being → Toolbar → Time of use.
2. Slap the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
3. Choose Reset Data.

Method 2: Through Digital Wellbeing

1. Open the Digital Wellbeing app.
2. Go to the dashboard tab.
3. Slap the icon. ⋮ → Delete the use data.

Method 3: For third-party applications

In most utilities (for example, StayFree) you can manually reset the statistics:

1. Open the app.
2. Go to Settings. → Reset the data.
3. Confirm the action.

Please note:

• 🔄 After resetting, data cannot be restored;
• 📱 On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) resetting may require resetting;
• ⏳ If the statistics are not zeroed out, check if it is synced with your Google or Mi Account.

7.Time Optimization: How to Reduce Phone Use

Knowing the statistics is just the first step, and to really reduce your app time, use these tips:

• ⏰ Set limits: In Digital Wellbeing or StayFree, set daily limits for “gluttonous” apps (e.g. 1 hour for TikTok).
• 🔔 Turn off notifications: Go to Settings → Notifications and disable alerts from social networks and games.
• 🌙 Use Do Not Disturb Mode: Set up automatic turn on overnight or during business hours.
• 📵 Turn on black and white: This reduces the screen's appeal. Activated via Settings → Special facilities → Color filter.
• 📱 Remove unnecessary apps: The less temptations on the home screen, the less time you spend on your phone.

Example of setting the limit in MIUI:

1. Discover Digital Well-Being → Time of use.
2. Choose an app (such as Instagram).
3. Select a time limit (for example, 45 minutes).
4. Enable the option to lock after exceeding the limit.

If you often exceed the limits, try the method «20-20-20»:

• Every 20 minutes of using your phone, take a 20 second break.
• Look at an object 20 feet (6 meters) away.
• This not only reduces the time on the phone, but also reduces the strain on the eyes.

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The most effective way to reduce your phone time is to make it less accessible, such as taking your phone to another room while you work or sleep.

FAQ: Frequent questions about time in Xiaomi apps