Set the traffic limit on Xiaomi: 3 ways to control Internet consumption

Monitoring mobile traffic on Xiaomi smartphones is a pressing task for users with limited tariffs. Even when connected to Wi-Fi, a device can stealthily eat gigabytes through background updates, cloud services or automatic downloads. In this article, we will discuss all available methods for setting traffic limits on MIUI 12, 13 and 14, including hidden functions and third-party applications.

The MIUI firmware feature is built-in monitoring tools, but they're not always intuitive. For example, newer versions of the interface have traffic limit hidden in the submenu, and setting up overpass notifications requires additional manipulation, and we'll show you how to get around these nuances and adjust control so you don't have to go without the Internet at the end of the month.

Why Xiaomi is spending traffic without you knowing

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines) are actively using mobile Internet even in the background.

🔄 Auto-update apps via Google Play or Mi App Store – can download updates weighing up to 500MB per month.
☁️ Sync with Mi Cloud – Backups, photos and contacts are automatically uploaded to the cloud.
📡 Background activity of messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) – downloading media files and statuses.
🗺️ Maps and geolocation – Google Maps, Yandex.Maps and system services update data in the background.
🎮 Online Component Games – Even Closed Games Can Boot Ads or Updates.

MIUI 14 has the default Smart Assistant feature (Settings → Special Options → Intelligent Assistant) enabled, which can spend up to 300MB per month on analytics and recommendations, and should be turned off if you are not using Xiao AI.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with two SIM-If you use the main traffic on one SIM and the second for calls, be sure to check the settings for both slots.

Method 1: Integrated traffic monitoring in MIUI

The most reliable method is to use standard tools. MIUI. They do not require additional applications and work on all models, starting with the Redmi Note 7 (2019) and later. MIUI 12–14:

Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
Go to Connections and Sharing → Data Use.
Choose. SIM-The card you want to set a limit for (if there are two of them).
Slap the icon. ⚙️ (Settings) in upper right corner.
Activate the switch Set the data limit.
Specify the reset period (usually the same as the tariff update date) and the maximum limit in megabytes / gigabytes.
Enable Excess Warning and set a threshold (e.g. 80% of the limit).

Pick the right one. SIM-map in “Use of data"|

Set the discharge period (day of the tariff start)|

Set a limit with a margin (for example, 9 GB instead of 10)|

Include 70-80% exceedance notice |

Check the background activity of applications in the same menu-->

Once you save the settings, the system will track the flow and block the Internet when you reach the limit, so to unlock access, you need to manually reset the meter or wait for a new billing period.

Up to 5G.|

5-15 GB |

15-30 GB |

Unlimited|I don't know.-->

Method 2: Applications for detailed traffic control

The built-in MIUI tools only show the total consumption, but do not break it down by application.

Annex	Features	Cons	Reference
My Data Manager	Day/week breakup, exceeding notifications, widget	Advertising in the free version	Google Play
GlassWire	Real-time flow charts, blocking background traffic	A complex interface for beginners	Google Play
Datally (from Google)	Block background activity, saving up to 30% of traffic	Not updated from 2020	Google Play
NetGuard	Firewall with permission / traffic ban for each application	Requires root rights for full functionality	Google Play

To set limits through My Data Manager:

Download and launch the app.
Press Menu → Settings → Data Limits.
Select the type of connection (Mobile data or Wi-Fi).
Specify the limit and the period of reset.
Activate the option to Block Data when exceeded.

⚠️ Attention: Traffic monitoring apps themselves consume up to 5-10MB per month in the background. If your limit is critically low (e.g. 1GB), it’s best to use built-in tools. MIUI.

💡

If after setting the limit, traffic continues to be spent, check the settings. VPN (If you use it, some of them. VPN-Services bypass system limitations and consume data in the background.

Method 3: Limiting traffic for individual applications

MIUI allows you to block mobile Internet access for specific programs, which is useful if one app eats up the lion's share of traffic (like TikTok or YouTube).

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Select an app from a list (like Instagram).
Slip on the item Data Use.
Turn off the mobile data switch (at the same time, access via Wi-Fi will remain).

For mass switching off background activity:

Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
Select Applications and mark programs that should not work in the background.
Set a restriction Strict or Limited background.

These settings don’t block traffic completely, but they reduce traffic consumption by 40 to 60 percent, for example, Facebook with a limited background will only update feed when it opens the app, not every 15 minutes.

How to get around the limitations for important applications?

If you have blocked mobile data for a messenger (like WhatsApp) but want it to work in the background, add it to the exceptions: 1. Open Settings → Applications → Special Access → Battery Optimization. 2. Find the application in the list and select Without Limits. 3. Return to Data Use and allow mobile traffic. Now the messenger will receive messages even when the screen is closed, but other applications will remain limited.

Hidden MIUI settings to save traffic

MIUI firmware has little-known features that help reduce data consumption:

📱 Traffic Saving Mode: Activated in Settings → Connections and sharing → Save data mode: compresses images and videos in the browser, blocks autoplay.
🔄 Restricting Auto Updates: Google Play → Settings → Auto Update Apps Select Only via Wi-Fi.
☁️ Disable Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud and deactivate synchronization of unnecessary data (e.g. call records).
📊 Reset statistics manually: if the traffic counter is lost, reset it through Settings → Use of data → ⚙️ → Reset the statistics.

For advanced users, MIUI can turn off system services that consume traffic, such as com.miui.analytics, which sends device usage data (up to 50MB/month) to disable it:

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

This command requires connecting the smartphone to the PC and the enabled mode Debugging over USB.

💡

Even after all background processes are turned off, Xiaomi will spend up to 100-200 MB per month on system updates and time checks.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When setting traffic limits, users encounter common errors:

🔴 The meter is zeroing on the wrong date. → Check the period settings in Data Use → ⚙️ → Use cycle. It must coincide with the date of tariff update.
📵 The Internet is not blocked when the limit is exceeded. → Make sure to turn off mobile data when overshooted (not available on all models).
🔄 Traffic is considered incorrect → Reset the statistics and restart the phone. If the problem persists, use third-party apps (like NetGuard).
🛑 You can not set a limit of more than 30 GB → That's a limitation. MIUI. For large limits, use apps from Google Play.

If after all the manipulations the traffic continues to be spent, check:

Availability of MIUI updates (in new versions, the counter bugs are fixed).
Virus or spyware activity (scan your device through Malwarebytes).
Two jobs. SIM-Cards – sometimes traffic is written off from an inactive SIM.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can you set different limits for 4G and 5G on Xiaomi?

No, in MIUI There are no separate settings for communication standards, and the limit is set common to all types of mobile Internet. 5G manually through settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred network type and select 4G/3G/2G, If you want to save traffic (5G It consumes data faster due to high speed).

Why did the MIUI update reset traffic settings?

For major updates (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), system settings are reset. To avoid this, before updating: Take a picture of the screen with the current limits. Record the date of the reset. After updating, restore the settings manually. Also check if the Xiaomi account has reset, which sometimes leads to loss of individual settings.

How to limit the traffic for games on Xiaomi?

Games (e.g. PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact) can consume up to 1 GB per hour. To limit them: Open Settings → Applications → Application Management. Select the game and tap Data Use. Turn off Mobile Data (the game will only work over Wi-Fi). For online games, set a limit using My Data Manager (specify, for example, 500 MB / month). If the game requires constant Internet, reduce the quality of the graphics in its settings, this will reduce traffic consumption by 30-50%.

Can I transfer the unused traffic to the next month?

No, MIUI doesn't support the transfer of traffic residues. The meter is zeroed at the reset date, no matter how much data you've used, but some mobile operators (such as MTS or Beeline) offer residual transfer rates — check with your ISP.

Why does Xiaomi have more traffic than the operator?

The difference is because: 🕒 Different reset times – the operator can count traffic from 00:00, and MIUI — since the limit was activated. 📡 Service data – the operator does not take into account traffic for USSD-request SMS, The smartphone takes into account. ☁️ Cloud sync – some data (such as backups) can be counted twice. MIUI the date of reset, which coincides with the date of tariff update for the operator.