Monitoring mobile traffic on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces, especially with a limited tariff. Even if you have unlimited Internet, hidden application updates or background activity of system processes can “eat” gigabytes unnoticed. In this article, we will examine all the official and hidden ways to check traffic on Xiaomi devices (including models on MIUI 14/13/12 and HyperOS), as well as learn how to configure notifications about exceeding the limit and block “vulnerable” applications.
Many users mistakenly believe that traffic data can only be obtained from the operator, which is not true. MIUI maintains detailed statistics for each application, broken down by mobile network and Wi-Fi. If standard tools are not enough, a proprietary security application or third-party utilities like GlassWire will help.
—— • ——
1. Standard traffic statistics in MIUI settings
The easiest way to check traffic consumption is to use the built-in MIUI tools. These are available on all Xiaomi smartphones, including budget models (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5) and flagships (Xiaomi 14, Mix Fold 3). Statistics are updated in real time and reset automatically at the beginning of each billing period (usually on the 1st day of the month).
To open the section:
- Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
- Slip on the line Traffic usage (in some versions of MIUI – Traffic consumption).
- Choose. SIM-map, if there are several.
Here you'll see:
- 📊 Total traffic consumption for the current period (in megabytes or gigabytes).
- 📱 List of applications with an indication of how much traffic each has spent.
- 🔄 Daily consumption schedule (useful for peak load analysis).
- ⚙️ Notification settings – you can turn on alerts when you exceed the limit.
Note that if you use eSIM, the statistics are displayed separately, and you can manually reset the counters in this section (useful when changing the rate or after depositing). To do this, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset statistics.
💡
If there are high-traffic programs you don’t know, check them through Settings → Apps. This could be malware or adware installed with games.
2.Security Annex: Advanced Monitoring
The proprietary Security app (or Global Firmware Security) offers more flexible traffic control tools, preinstalled on all Xiaomi devices, allowing you not only to view statistics, but also to block the background activity of applications, thereby saving megabytes.
How to open the traffic section in Security:
- Launch the Security app (the shield icon on the desktop).
- Go to Traffic Management (or Data Usage in English).
- Select Mobile Data to view statistics on SIM-map.
Advantages of this method:
- 🛡️ Ability to ban background traffic for individual apps (like Facebook or TikTok, which are frequently updated in the background).
- 📅 Set up an individual billing period (not necessarily from the 1st day).
- 🚫 Blocking automatic updates over the mobile network (useful for savings).
In the same section, you can include Traffic Saving, which limits the speed of loading background data, which is true for users with slow Internet (for example, 3G) or when roaming.
3. Check traffic through USSD-operator
If you need data from the operator (not from your smartphone), use it. USSD-It's relevant when you have teams:
- 🔄 You doubt the accuracy of the statistics. MIUI (Sometimes it is reset after updates).
- 📱 You have multiple devices with one SIM-card (e.g. telephone) + tablet).
- 💰 You want to check the balance of the tariff, including SMS minutes.
USSD-teams for popular operators:
| Operator. | Team to check traffic | Team to check balance |
|---|---|---|
| MTS | *100*1# or *111*59# | *100# |
| Beeline | *102# | *102# |
| MegaFon | *105*500# or *558# | *100# |
| Tele2. | *155*1# | *105# |
| Yota | *104# | *104# |
After entering the command, you will receive SMS Please note that some operators (e.g. MegaFon) have data updated with a delay of up to 24 hours. USSD-requests - Beeline and Tele2 they are usually free, and MTS can be charged (check in your personal account).
⚠️ Note: If after the entry USSD-When you see the message "Service is not available", check if you have blocked service requests. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Additionally. → USSD-codes and turn on the option.
4. Third-party applications for traffic monitoring
If the built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, install specialized utilities.
- 📈 More detailed analytics (e.g., breakdown by hour or data type).
- 🔔 Flexible notifications (you can configure alerts at 50%, 80% and 100% limit).
- 🌍 Support for several SIM-Cards (relevant to dual-SIM devices).
Top.-3 apps:
- GlassWire visualizes traffic as a graph, shows which apps are active at the moment, there is a Firewall feature to block suspicious connections, minus: some functions are paid.
- My Data Manager is a simple interface, roaming support, the ability to set limits for individual applications, plus: it works without root rights.
- Internet Speed Meter Lite — displays real-time internet speed in the notification panel. Useful for 4G/5G control.
Before installing, check the app's permissions - it should only request Internet access and data usage statistics. If the utility requires access to SMS, contacts or geolocation, this is a reason to be wary.
How to distinguish a real application from a fake?
5. Hidden MIUI features to save traffic
MIUI It offers a few little-known options that help reduce Internet consumption without compromising user experience. 2-3 minute:
1. Background data limitation
Many apps (social networks, instant messengers, games) continue to consume traffic even when you are not using them.
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Choose the appropriate app (such as Instagram).
- Tap the Mobile Data and turn off the Background Data option.
2. Disabling Auto-Update Applications
By default, Google Play and App Gallery update programs automatically, which can eat up to 1-2 GB per month.
- For Google Play: Open Store → Settings → Auto Update Apps → Select Never.
- For App Gallery: Settings → App Update → Turn off Auto Update over the mobile network.
3. Data compression in the browser
If you often surf the Internet through a mobile network, turn on the savings mode in the browser:
- In Google Chrome: Settings → Traffic Savings (Lite Mode feature).
- In MIUI Browser: Settings → Data Savings.
This will reduce traffic consumption by 30-50% through image compression and page caching.
☑️ Checklist to save traffic
6.Why Xiaomi and the operator statistics may differ?
Many users face a situation where the data on the traffic consumption on the phone and in the personal account of the operator do not coincide, the difference can be as much as 10-20%, and here is why:
Technical delays
Operators update statistics with a delay (from a few hours to a day), while MIUI shows data in real time. For example, if you downloaded a file at 23:59, the operator can count it only the next day.
Systemic processes
MIUI takes into account all traffic, including service data (time synchronization, update checks, push notifications), and the operator may not show this information in detail.
Rounding of values
Operators often round up traffic to megabytes (for example, 1.2 MB will become 2 MB), whereas MIUI displays accurate values down to kilobytes.
Roaming and forwarding
When roaming or using a VPN, some of the traffic may pass through third-party servers, leading to discrepancies in statistics.
⚠️ Note: If the difference between Xiaomi and the operator exceeds 30%, check the phone for malware. Some viruses mask their traffic as system processes (for example, com.android.system.
Critical information: On root-enabled devices, MIUI traffic statistics may be inaccurate due to changes in system files, in which case, use third-party root-enabled apps (such as NetGuard).
7. How do you manually reset traffic meters?
By default, MIUI statistics are reset automatically at the beginning of a new billing period (usually the 1st of the month), but sometimes you need to manually reset the counters, for example:
- 🔄 After the change of the tariff plan.
- 💰 After depositing (if the operator provides bonus traffic).
- 📱 Transferring SIM-card to another user.
How to reset the statistics:
- Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Using traffic.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Choose Reset Statistics.
- Confirm the action (the system will request a password or fingerprint).
Once reset, all the meters will be reset, and the report will start again, and remember, this doesn't affect the actual traffic flow of the operator, the reset only affects the local statistics on the phone.
If the Reset stats option is not available (grey), check:
- Is the mode for children turned on (limits access to settings).
- Are there any third-party shells (like Nova Launcher) that can block system functions?
💡
Resetting traffic statistics doesn't affect the operator's fare. It's a local operation that only zeroes out the data on your phone.
—— • ——