Why to track time in applications and what does this statistic give
Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones collect detailed statistics on how much time you spend in every app, from social media to gaming, and these data are useful not only for self-monitoring but also for optimizing device performance. For example, if the battery goes down quickly, analyzing the time of application activity will help identify “glutty” programs that work in the background, and for parents, this feature becomes a tool for monitoring children’s screen time.
Unlike iOS, where usage statistics are hidden in the depth of settings, MIUI offers several ways to view this data, from standard Digital Well-Being to hidden system logs. Many users do not even realize that their Redmi Note 12 or POCO F5 have separate statistics by day, week and session.
Method 1: Embedded Digital Well-Being in MIUI
The easiest way to do this is to use the standard Digital Wellbeing tool that is on all Xiaomi smartphones since MIUI 10, which not only shows app usage times, but also allows you to set limits, block distractions, and even track how many times you unlock your screen.
To open up the statistics:
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Digital Well-Being and Parental Control.
- 📊 Click on Control Panel (or Usage Statistics in Older Versions).
- 🔍 Select the App tab – here you will see a list of programs with activity times for today, yesterday or week.
- 📅 For detailed analysis tap on any application - the system will show the schedule of use by the hour.
Set a daily limit on apps | View the number of screen unlocks | Set up break reminders | View weekly statistics-->
Note that if you use guest mode or second space in MIUI, the statistics will be collected separately for each profile, and the data will be reset after resetting or flashing the device.
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If some applications (e.g. system apps) are not displayed in the statistics, try enabling the option to Show System Processes in the Digital Well-Being settings.
Method 2: Battery section – hidden activity statistics
Few people know, but Xiaomi’s battery settings offer an alternative way to view app life, where data is not tied to user sessions, but to actual resource consumption time — useful if you want to understand which programs are running out of charge in the background.
Instructions:
- Open the Settings. → Battery.
- Use the battery (or statistics in newer versions of MIUI).
- Scroll down to the Application Use block – here will be a list of programs indicating the activity time and percentage of charge consumption.
| Parameter | "Digital Well-Being" | Section "Battery" |
|---|---|---|
| Type of data | Time of user interaction | Process operating time (including background) |
| Period of analysis | Day/week/month | From the last charge. |
| System applications | Shows (with adjustment) | Always shows. |
| Additionally. | Limits, reminders | Charge consumption, CPU |
⚠️ Note: In the Battery section, time may exceed actual use, because MIUI Considers background processes (e.g., WhatsApp or Telegram sync even when the screen is off).
Method 3: System Logs via Security (for advanced)
If you want the most detailed statistics – including the opening/closing times of applications, switching between them and even actions in the background – you can use hidden MIUI logs. This method requires access to the system application Security, which is on all Xiaomi devices, but not all functions are documented in it.
How to see it:
- 🔧 Open the Security app (shield icon).
- 📋 Go to Application Management → Usage statistics.
- 🔍 Here will be a table with the exact start/stop time of each application, as well as the duration of the session.
- 📤 To export data, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Export report (the file will be saved in.txt format).
What do columns in system logs mean?
These logs are especially useful if you suspect that an application is running in the background (for example, advertising SDKs or viruses), but note that there will be a lot of proprietary information in the logs - you will have to filter the data manually.
Once a day.|Once a week.|Only when the battery is down.|Never checked.-->
Method 4: Third-party applications for analysis (ActionDash, Digital Wellbeing)
If standard MIUI tools aren’t enough, you can install third-party tools that offer advanced analytics: comparisons with other users, weekly email reports, and even visualization of habits (such as peak activity hours).
Top.-3 apps:
- 📊 ActionDash – shows usage time by category (social networks, games, work), supports widgets.
- 🔍 Google Digital Wellbeing – an alternative to the standard tool, but with more graphics.
- 📈 StayFree – tracks progress on screen time reduction, has a function of “family control".
⚠️ Note: Third-party applications require special access permission (in settings) MIUI It's the settings. → Annexes → Special access → Without it, they will not be able to collect data.
Third-party solutions have the advantage of cross-platforming, for example, if you use both Xiaomi and iPhone, ActionDash synchronizes statistics between devices, but note that these programs may use an additional battery for background monitoring.
Method 5: ADB-Teams for Technical Users
For those who aren’t afraid of the command line, there’s a way to get data through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) – this is true if you need raw statistics to analyze or automate (for example, for a script that will block applications after exceeding the limit).
Major teams:
# View the time of use of all applications for today
adb shell dumpsys usagestats --since $(date +%s%3N -d "today") --until $(date +%s%3N)
Export data to the file (root required)
adb shell dumpsys usagestats > usage_stats.txt
View the top-5 applications by time (no root)
adb shell cmd usage stats list --sort time --limit 5To keep these teams working:
- Enable Developer Mode (7 taps by Assembly Number in Settings → About Phone).
- Activate debugging over USB in the developer settings.
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands via ADB.
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ADB-It's the most comprehensive way to access statistics, but it requires technical skills.
Comparison of methods: what way to choose
The choice of method depends on your goals:
- 📱 For quick browsing, “Digital Well-Being” or “Battery».
- 🔧 For technical analysis, system logs through security or ADB.
- 📈 For visualization and reports – third-party applications (ActionDash, StayFree).
- 👨👩👧👦 For Parental Control, a combination of Digital Well-Being and Google Family Link.
If you want maximum accuracy, combine several methods, such as the data from Battery will show background activity, and Digital Well-being will show real interaction time, and ADB + Tasker will do the automation (for example, blocking applications on a schedule).