Traffic Control on Xiaomi: Full instructions for setting up and saving the Internet

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones consume huge amounts of mobile traffic — often unnoticed by the user: application background updates, automatic downloading of media in instant messengers, advertising in games and even system services. MIUI They can eat gigabytes every month, leaving you without the Internet at the most inopportune moment, and this is especially true for users with limited rates or in roaming, where the cost of each megabyte increases significantly.

In this article, we will discuss all ways to control traffic on Xiaomi – from basic savings settings to hidden features. MIUI, You'll learn how to track real-time data consumption, block voracious applications, set up automatic Internet shutdowns when you exceed the limit, and even limit traffic for individual users. SIM-We will focus on the unique function of "Dual connection" (Dual connection). SIM + 4G), This often causes uncontrolled traffic flow.

What is traffic control and why is it important for Xiaomi?

Traffic control is a set of tools to monitor, limit and optimize mobile Internet use on a device. On Xiaomi smartphones, this feature is integrated into the shell. MIUI include:

• 📊 Consumption statistics by annex, SIM-maps and periods (day/week/month)
• ⚠️ Warnings when approaching the established limit
• 🚫 Blocking background data for individual programs
• ⚡ Saving modes that automatically reduce media quality and disable auto-updates
• 🔄 Flexible settings for two SIM-maps (priority) 4G, splitting)

Without proper configuration, the smartphone can spend up to 30-50% Background traffic for email synchronization, cloud backups, weather widget updates, and even Mi Cloud or Mi Video system services. For example, TikTok's application in the background is able to "eat" up to 2 GB per month only for preloading videos, and Facebook – up to 1,5 GB for autoplay of rollers in the tape.

On Xiaomi devices, the problem is aggravated by features MIUI:

• 🔄 Dual connection (Dual connection) SIM + 4G) This can lead to parallel traffic consumption from both cards if priority is not set.
• 📱 System updates are downloaded by default over the mobile network (the weight of the package can reach the maximum). 1-2 GB)
• 🌐 Regional settings for some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro for India) include auto-update local services.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones Xiaomi with MIUI 12 and later, Traffic Control is disabled by default. Without activation, you won't see real data consumption - the system will only show general numbers without app detail.

How to enable traffic control on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Activation of the function takes less than a minute, but many users do not know where it hides in the settings.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Connections and Sharing → Data Use.
3. At the top of the screen, tap on Mobile Data (or SIM 1/SIM 2, if you have two cards).
4. Activate the Traffic Control switch (in) MIUI 14 This may be called a Traffic Warning).
5. Set a traffic limit (e.g. 10GB) and a warning threshold (e.g. 8GB).

Once activated, the status bar (top bar) will display traffic flow, and the settings will provide detailed statistics for each application. Importantly, the data will only be collected after the function is turned on - you can not restore the history of the past months.

Activate the function in Settings→Connections

Set a monthly limit (recommended 10% less than the tariff)

Include warning at 80% of the flow rate

Check the statistics through 2-3 Day to identify "glutty" applications

Set a priority SIM-Mobile data cards (for two-symbol models)-->

In the models with MIUI 13 and later, we have an extended background traffic statistic available to see:

1. In the section Data Use, tap on any application from the list.
2. Select the Background Data tab.
3. This shows how much traffic the app used in the folded state (for example, WhatsApp can consume up to 500 MB per month for background sync only).

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi 9T) After resetting, the traffic control function is reset to its original state. Always check to turn it on after updating the firmware or hard reset.

Top.-5 Apps that eat up traffic on Xiaomi (and how to limit them)

Analysis of Xiaomi’s millions of users shows that 80% Traffic is spent all over the place. 5-7 Here are the main culprits and how to pacify them:

Particular attention should be paid to system services:

• 🔍 Mi Cloud syncs contacts, notes and photos, can consume up to 1 GB per month. Solution: disable autosynchronization in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 📡 Mi Push Service - responsible for notifications. Consumes up to 300 MB. Solution: limit background data in the application settings.
• 🗺️ Google Play Services – up to 500 MB for geolocation and updates. Solution: disable Auto-App Update in the Play Store.

💡

If you are not using Mi Cloud, disable it completely in Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization: This will save up to 1.5 GB of traffic per month.

For radical savings, use the mode "Saving traffic":

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Traffic Savings.
2. Activate the function and add only critical applications (messengers, navigator) to the exceptions.
3. In this mode MIUI Blocks background activity, reduces video streaming quality and disables auto-updates.

Dual connection (Dual connection) SIM + 4G): How to avoid paying traffic twice

Dual function SIM + 4G — One of the key advantages of Xiaomi smartphones, but it is fraught with hidden danger: if you do not set the priority SIM-So, for example, one application will use mobile data to drive traffic from both. SIM 1, and the other with SIM 2, which will result in the limit being exceeded on both cards.

To avoid this:

1. Go to Settings. → Connections and sharing → Double-connection.
2. Select Settings SIM-map.
3. For each SIM set up: 📶 Priority of mobile data (e.g. only SIM 1) 📞 Priority for calls (you can keep both) 📶 Disable mobile data for the second SIM, If it is used only for calls

On the Redmi Note 11 Pro models+, POCO F4 GT The newer feature is "Traffic Separation":

• 🔄 You can link specific applications to a specific SIM-map (for example, WhatsApp - to the SIM 1, and Telegram to SIM 2).
• 📊 The cost statistics will be kept separately for each card.

For models with MIUI 14 Available mode "Only one" SIM data-data":

1. In the dual connection settings, select Use mobile data with only one. SIM-map.
2. Specify the main one. SIM internet-based.
3. The second card is used only for calls and SMS.

⚠️ Note: Some of the scoring for POCO Redmi (especially global versions) and the traffic sharing function SIM-There's no maps, and the only way to control that is to completely disable the mobile data on the second one. SIM customized.

Both for calls and the internet.|One for calls, the other for the internet.|Only one. SIM active|Don't use the second. SIM-->

Hidden settings MIUI for advanced traffic control

In addition to the standard tools, the MIUI There are additional features hidden that can save up to 30% of traffic, which you can't see in the main menu, but they are available through Developer Mode or special combinations.

1. Limiting the speed of mobile Internet

If you do not need high speed (for example, to check email or messengers), you can artificially reduce it:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the item “Limit mobile network speed” and set the value of 300 KB / s (enough for instant messengers).

2. blocking of advertising at the system level

Advertising in applications and browser can be spent up to 10-15% traffic. MIUI There's a built-in blocker:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Tapping at Three Points (⋮) → Special access → Display over other windows.
3. Turn off the permission to MSA (Miui System Ads and Analytics.

3. Disable auto-update system applications

Xiaomi apps (Mi Browser, Mi Video, Security) are updated through System Updater, not the Play Market, to prevent them from using mobile data:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

This command disables the auto-update service, and it requires an unlocked bootloader and access to the auto-update service. ADB.

💡

Using the developer mode to limit Internet speed can save up to 40% of traffic when surfing in the browser and working with instant messengers, without affecting the quality of calls.

4.Tune in. DNS reduce data consumption

Use of public use DNS (for example, Google DNS Cloudflare can reduce traffic costs 5-10% by optimizing routing:

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Private DNS.
2. Select the host name of the private DNS provider.
3. Enter dns.google or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com.

5. Reset traffic statistics without resetting settings

If you want to start counting again (for example, after changing the tariff), but do not want to reset all settings:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find NetworkStack (or Com.android.phone)
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the data.

This will only reset traffic counters without affecting other settings.

Roaming Traffic Control: How to Avoid Huge Bills

Mobile internet roaming is one of the most expensive scenarios, with 1MB in the EU for example, as high as 0.5-2 euros, and as high as $5 per megabyte in the US or UAE. Xiaomi smartphones have special roaming settings to help avoid unexpected costs.

Step 1: Turn off automatic data roaming

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Mobile Network.
2. Choose yours. SIM-map.
3. Turn off data roaming.
4. Activate only the networks 2G/3G Roaming (it is cheaper than that) 4G/LTE).

Step 2: Set up roaming alerts

V MIUI 13/14 There is an automatic notification function when connecting to the roaming network:

1. In your mobile network settings, turn on the Roaming Warning.
2. Set a consumption limit (e.g. 50MB).
3. Activate the option to disable data when exceeded.

Step 3: Use offline maps and caching

• 🗺️ Google Maps: Download offline maps of the region along the way Profile → Offline maps.
• 🎵 Music: In Spotify or YouTube Music, download playlists for offline listening.
• 📄 Documents: Make files available offline on Google Drive.

Step 4: Block background data in roaming

Even if you don't run apps, they can consume traffic.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. For each application, select Mobile Data → roaming.
3. Turn off Background data and Autosynchronization.

💡

Before traveling abroad, save the Data Use widget on the home screen, which will show the current roaming expense in real time, even if notifications are disabled.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Mi 11 Ultra, POCO F3) Roaming can be automatically activated 5G, Which is 3-5 times more expensive 4G. Before traveling manually install the network 3G mobile settings.

How to Track Traffic in Real Time: Widgets and Third Party Apps

Built-in tools MIUI They provide basic statistics, but for detailed monitoring, it's better to use widgets and third-party utilities:

• 📊 See traffic consumption by the hour (e.g. peak consumption at night)
• 🛑 Automatically disconnect the Internet when the limit is exceeded
• 📱 Tracking traffic by individual SIM-Cards (relevant to Dual) SIM)

1. Data Use Widget on the main screen

To add:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the main screen.
2. Pick the Widgets.
3. Find the Data Use and drag it to the screen.
4. Customize the information displayed (current flow, remaining traffic).

2.Internet Speed Meter application

Shows the speed of the Internet and traffic consumption in the status bar:

• 📲 Displays the current download/return speed in MB/s.
• 📊 Keeps statistics by days, weeks, months.
• 🛑 You can set a strict limit with automotive disconnection of the Internet.

3. Application "My Data Manager"

Ideal for users with two SIM-map:

• 🔄 Tracks traffic for each SIM separately.
• 📈 Consumption schedules by application.
• ⚠️ Can send notifications when the limit is exceeded.

4. the application "GlassWire" (for advanced users)

It allows you to see what processes are consuming traffic:

• 🔍 Shows. IP-Addresses with which applications are connected.
• 🛡️ Blocks suspicious connections.
• 📊 Exporting reports to CSV analyse.

5.Integrated monitoring in MIUI 14

In the latest versions MIUI The function "Analysis of traffic":

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Data Use.
2. Slip on Traffic Analysis (graph icon).
3. You'll see here: 📅 Weekly expenditure (for example, more traffic is spent on weekends). ⏱️ Peak activity hours (often at night due to background updates). 📱 Top.-5 consuming.

💡

The application side (e.g. GlassWire) allows you to identify “hidden” traffic that is not displayed in standard statistics. MIUI — For example, data expenditure on advertising or analytics.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you set up your traffic control properly, Xiaomi users are faced with typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

1. Traffic statistics are reset after rebooting

Cause: NetworkStats service failure.

Decision:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find NetworkStack (or Com.android.phone).
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache.
4. Reset the device.

2 Traffic is consumed despite mobile data being disabled

Reason: Some apps (such as Facebook or Mi Push) may use other devices’ Wi-Fi connections through the Sharing Network feature.

Decision:

1. Disable Network Sharing in Settings → Connections and sharing → Access Point and modem.
2. Check if you are connected to someone else’s access point (sometimes). MIUI Automatically connect to open networks).

3. Warnings to exceed the limit do not work

Reason: The warning function conflicts with the energy saving mode.

Decision:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Energy Saving Mode.
2. Add NetworkStack to the list of exceptions.
3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi models 9A, POCO M3 And on other budget devices, there's sometimes a bug where traffic statistics are zeroed out after you update your firmware. Always take a screenshot of your current flow rate before you update!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions