Setting up the traffic limit on Xiaomi Redmi 8

Modern mobile carrier rates often offer huge packages of gigabytes, but situations when the Internet ends in the middle of the month are still not uncommon. This is especially true for owners of popular budget models such as the Xiaomi Redmi 8, where the system settings can differ from pure Android. If you often find yourself without communication at the most inopportune time or just want to control family expenses, you need to understand the system constraints.

The built-in MIUI mechanism not only allows you to track consumption, but also to tightly block data transmission when you reach a given threshold, which helps to avoid unpleasant surprises when you write off subscription fees for additional megabytes. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate and properly configure these functions so that your smartphone behaves predictably.

The Android operating system in the MIUI shell provides powerful monitoring tools that many users neglect because of the complex menu interface. Understanding the principles of the traffic counter will allow you to effectively manage the resources of the device. Let's go from theory to practice and customize your gadget.

Security application interface

Unlike many other vendors, Xiaomi has put traffic management tools into a separate system application called Security, where all the key settings for Internet consumption, antivirus protection and memory cleaning are concentrated, and you can find this green shield icon on the home screen or in the Tools folder.

Once you start the app, you'll need to go to the statistics section. The interface may seem overloaded, but the navigation is logical. The focus should be on the statistics item, which is usually located at the top of the screen or in the optional menu.

⚠️ Note: If you can’t find the Security app, check the System Tools folder or search for all apps, as removing this system component is impossible without superuser rights.

Inside the statistics section, you can see the mobile and Wi-Fi usage schedules, and you can see a hidden settings menu that you can access through a special gear icon, and that's where the key settings for setting limits are hidden.

Set a monthly data limit

The first step in configuring the system is to set the date of resetting your data plan, and carriers can charge packets on different days, one on the first day and one on the day of the connection, and if you set the date wrong, the meter will reset at the wrong time, making it meaningless to control.

To adjust correctly, go to the statistics menu and click on the settings icon. In the list that opens, look for “Set limit” or “traffic settings.” Here you will need to enter the exact start date of the billing period, after which the system will automatically recalculate the available amount of data.

Next, you need to specify the amount of traffic that your operator provides. In the input field, you should enter the number of megabytes or gigabytes. Note that the system may offer to choose the type of network (3G/4G) for which the restriction applies.

• 📅 Specify the exact date of the tariff reset with your operator.
• 📉 Enter the maximum traffic volume in megabytes or gigabytes.
• 📡 Select a SIM card if the device has two active lines.
• 🔔 Set up a warning to receive notification in advance.

After you have entered all the parameters, remember to save the changes. The system will start counting from now on, taking into account the data already spent this month, unless you manually reset the statistics, and checking these settings regularly will help keep your finger on the pulse.

Set up warnings and lockdowns

One of the most useful features in the Xiaomi Redmi 8 is the flexibility to set notification thresholds, so you can set the system to alert you when you’re running out of, say, 80 percent or 90 percent of traffic, which gives you time to connect to Wi-Fi or buy an extra package.

But the warning is a mild measure: there is a full lock function for tight control, and when the meter reaches 100% (or your set value), the system will force the mobile Internet to be shut down, ensuring that you do not go into deep negative.

It's important to understand the difference between a warning and a lockdown. The warning just shows a pop-up, but the Internet keeps working. The lock physically breaks the connection. You can set these thresholds up in the same menu where you set the date and the volume.

⚠️ Note: With traffic blocking enabled, background apps won’t be able to update or send data until you connect to Wi-Fi or manually remove the restriction.

You also need to look at the settings for different types of networks. You can set different limits for different types of networks. 3G and 4G, What is relevant for old rates or specific roaming conditions. MIUI It allows you to adapt the smartphone to any conditions.

Traffic Control for Individual Applications

Often, all traffic is eaten by one or two apps, such as social media or video services. Xiaomi Redmi 8 has the ability to monitor each app installed in detail, and you can see how many megabytes of YouTube, Instagram, or instant messengers have spent.

To do this, select "Application Statistics" from the statistics menu, and here's a detailed list of all the programs that have access to the network, and you can sort them by the amount of data you spend to identify heavyweights.

By clicking on a particular application, you can limit its background activity, which means that the program will not be able to use the Internet when you are not using it, which significantly saves battery power and prevents invisible traffic consumption.

Using this detail allows you to fine-tune digital hygiene. You can prevent app updates over the mobile network, leaving this feature only for Wi-Fi, which is a sensible cost-saving strategy.

Features of working with two SIM-cards

The Redmi 8 features a two-sim card slot, making traffic distribution even more relevant: users often use one card for calls and minimum internet, and the second card as the main one for surfing.

In network settings, you can choose which SIM card will be used by default for mobile internet. Traffic limits in the Security app can also be set separately for each card. This eliminates confusion and the accidental cost of money from the main SIM card.

If you switch the internet between SIM cards manually, make sure the counters in the security app are switched or configured together, otherwise the statistics will be incorrect and you will not see the real picture of the costs.

• 📱 Assign the main SIM card to transfer data in the system settings.
• 🔄 Check which card is active for the internet, in the notification curtain.
• ⚙️ Set separate limits for SIM 1 and SIM 2 in the appendix Security.

The right configuration of two SIM cards allows you to take advantage of the tariff plans of different operators, for example, one card can be beneficial for social networks, and the other for navigation.

Solving problems and resetting statistics

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the counter in the phone does not match the data of the operator's personal account, this can occur due to desynchronization of the reset time or technical failures in the transmission of billing data, in which case you need to manually adjust the settings.

If you change your plan or carrier, the old limit settings may become irrelevant, in which case it is best to perform a full reset of statistics, this action will reset the use counters, but will not affect your personal files or contacts.

To perform the reset, go to the traffic statistics settings and find the corresponding button. After that, re-enter the current parameters of your new tariff, which will help the system start from scratch and ensure accurate control.

⚠️ Note: Resetting statistics will not restore the already spent megabytes from the operator, it only updates the internal meter of your phone for easy monitoring.

Regularly checking your phone and carrier is a good habit, and once a month, take a couple of minutes to check your settings, especially after you change your tariff, and it will save you from unexpected costs and problems with network access.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)