How to completely disable background data transfer on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi line and POCO) They use background data to synchronize, update and run system services, which is convenient but often leads to uncontrolled mobile traffic consumption and accelerated battery life. According to research, up to 30% of daily traffic on Android devices falls on background processes – messengers, social networks, MIUI-services and advertising modules.

Compounding the problem, Xiaomi’s MIUI default allows most applications to run in the background even if you don’t use them. For example, com.xiaomi.midrop (file transfer service) or com.miui.analytics (statistics collection) can consume up to 50MB per day without your knowledge. In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to turn off background traffic, from basic settings to hidden features for advanced users.

Why Xiaomi is actively using background data transfer

Background processes in MIUI are divided into three categories:

• 🔄 System services: security updates, synchronization of Mi Account account, verification of application licenses.
• 📱 Third-party applications: messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), social networks (Facebook, TikTok), games with online mode.
• 📊 Analytics and advertising: com.miui.analytics, com.xiaomi.msa.global modules responsible for data collection and targeted advertising.

By default, MIUI allows all applications to use mobile data in the background, even if you are connected to Wi-Fi.

• ⚡ Quick notification delivery (e.g. in Mi Push Service).
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization of contacts, notes and photos with the Mi Cloud.
• 📦 Preload system application updates (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Browser).

⚠️ Warning: Completely disabling background processes can cause notification delays (e.g. in Telegram or Viber) and sync stops (calendar, mail.

Method 1: Disabling background traffic for individual applications

The safest method is to limit background activity to programs that are not critical to you, which does not affect system processes, but saves traffic.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Mi Browser or Facebook).
3. Go to Mobile Data (or Transfer Data in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Activate the switch to Prohibit background data transfer.

For convenience, you can sort applications by traffic consumption:

1. In Application Management, click on three dots (⋮) top-right.
2. Select Sort. → By traffic.
3. Limit background traffic for apps that consume >100MB per month.

Exceptions: Do not disable background traffic for:

• 📱 Google Play Services (Google Services will be affected).
• 🔒 Mi Push Service (Notifications to Come).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud (if you are using synchronization).

Method 2: Global background data shutdown in MIUI

If you want to completely ban background traffic for all applications (except system ones), use the hidden MIUI setting:

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-card (if there are several).
3. Go to Data Transfer → Background data transfer.
4. Turn off the switch Allow background data transfer.

This setting blocks background traffic for all applications except for Xiaomi system services (such as Mi Push or Mi Cloud). Once disabled, some messengers (such as Viber) will only receive notifications when the application is open.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 and later this item may be called Limit background data. If the option is not available, update the firmware or use Method 4 (edit settings through ADB).

Method 3: Using Traffic Savings Mode

MIUI has a built-in traffic saving mode that automatically limits background activity, which is suitable if you want to save mobile Internet, but are not ready to completely turn off background processes.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Savings.
2. Select Traffic Saving (or Limit Background Data in Newer Versions).
3. Activate the switch and set exceptions for critical applications (such as instant messengers).

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Automatically blocks background traffic for underutilized applications.
• ✅ Not affected by notifications from system services.
• ✅ You can flexibly adjust exceptions.

💡

If the traffic saving mode is not displayed, try to enable Ultra High Charge Savings – it automatically limits background data.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Does not work for applications added to exceptions.
• ❌ May delay weather updates and other widgets.

Method 4: Disabling background processes via ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods don’t work, you can force background activity to be banned for all applications via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer connection but gives you maximum control over traffic.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI until you become a developer!

Settings → Additional → For Developers

USB debugging

ADB

adb shell settings put global restrict_background_data 1

adb shell settings put global restrict_background_data 0

⚠️ Warning: This command completely blocks background traffic for all applications, including system ones, and once it is executed, widgets will no longer be updated, accounts will be synchronized, and notifications from certain services will come in!

An alternative is to disable background activity for specific packets:

adb shell cmd appops set <package_name> RESTRICT_BACKGROUND_DATA deny

For example, to block Facebook background traffic:

adb shell cmd appops set com.facebook.katana RESTRICT_BACKGROUND_DATA deny

Method 5: Using third-party apps to control traffic

If the built-in MIUI tools are not flexible enough, you can install specialized utilities to monitor and block traffic.

• 🛡️ NetGuard (free, rootless): Blocks traffic for individual applications. VPN (It does not require superuser rights; it allows you to create rules for Wi-Fi and mobile data separately.
• 📊 GlassWire (paid version with advanced features): Visualizes real-time traffic consumption, detects "suspicious" application activity, is able to block connections to specific servers.
• 🔧 AFWall+ (Root requires: Full control of network activity (including system processes) and support for rules for different types of networks (2G/3G/4G/Wi-Fi). Logistic of all network requests.

Example of NetGuard configuration:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. At the first launch, allow creation VPN-Connections (this is necessary to intercept traffic).
3. In the main window, tick the apps you want to block background traffic for.
4. Click on the shield icon in the top menu to activate the protection.

💡

Third-party traffic control apps may conflict with built-in MIUI services. If notifications stop working after installation, try adding messengers to exceptions.

Additional measures: optimizing MIUI to save traffic

In addition to directly disabling background data, you can optimize MIUI to reduce traffic consumption:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic update download: Go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system. Press three dots (⋮) and select Settings. Turn off Automatic Download via mobile data.
• ☁️ Limit sync to Mi Cloud: Open Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud. disable sync for unnecessary data (such as Notes or Calendar).
• 📱 Disable Auto-Run Applications: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Autostart. Turn off autostart for all unnecessary programs.

We also recommend:

• 📵 Use the mode on the plane overnight (saves up to 15% charge).
• 🔋 Enable Adaptive charge savings in battery settings.
• 📶 Disable Network Search in Settings → Mobile networking if you move between areas of coverage frequently.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off background traffic on Xiaomi