A trip abroad on the beloved Redmi Note or Xiaomi 14 flagship can be a pleasant journey, but only if you take care of the communication settings in advance. Unforeseen charges for using mobile Internet in a foreign country are a common problem that tourists face. Roaming allows you to stay connected, but his work in the background can empty the bill in minutes.
System system MIUI And the new HyperOS provides flexible tools to manage network connections. SIM-It's enough to configure the cellular network to stop transmitting data through foreign towers, while still being able to receive data from the phone. SMS call.
In this article, we will look at all the ways to block paid services abroad, from simple menu switches to hidden settings of the engineering mode. Disabling data transfer in roaming does not block incoming calls and SMS, but prevents any exchange of information over the mobile network. This is a critical nuance for those who want to stay in touch but are afraid to overpay.
Difference Between Data Roaming and Voice Roaming
Many users confuse the two, leading to unpleasant surprises: Voice roaming is responsible for the ability to make and receive regular phone calls while out of the coverage of your home carrier. Mobile Internet (data roaming) is a separate service that allows the phone to exchange data packets with the network of a partner.
When you turn off data roaming on Xiaomi, you prevent apps and systems from using the mobile network to load pages, mail or maps. However, the phone can still register with the local network for voice communication if the appropriate option is enabled, and it is the transfer of data packets that most often becomes a causal expense.
Today's POCO and Redmi smartphones can independently determine where they're roaming, and the status bar displays an R icon or country name, at which point the system can automatically limit background activity, but relying on automation alone is risky, and it's better to manually check the settings before crossing the border.
Quick shutdown via notification panel
The easiest way to protect yourself is to use a notification curtain, which works on all versions of firmware, from old MIUI 12 to current HyperOS, and is ideal when you need to react quickly at the airport or at the border.
Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center. Find an icon with two arrows or a caption "Mobile Data." Usually next to or on the extended menu is a data roaming switch. Its state should be turned off (gray).
- 📱 Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the menu.
- 🔍 Find the Mobile Data icon and click on it.
- ⚙️ Go to the mobile network settings through a long click on the icon.
- ❌ Translate the data roaming switch to the "Off" position".
It's important to understand that simply turning off mobile data isn't always enough, because it's the roaming ban that needs to be activated in the settings, and if you turn off only the Internet but leave the roaming permission, the phone can start transmitting service signals, which is also a fee in some tariffs.
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Turn on the Flight mode for 5 seconds, and then turn it off - this will forcibly re-register the phone in the network and reset erroneous connections to foreign towers.
Deep customization on the menu SIM-map
For more robust protection, you need to go to the deep settings menu, and here you control the behavior of each. SIM-The maps are separate, which is true for two-symbol Xiaomi.The path may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell.
Go to Settings, then select the section. SIM-Maps and mobile networks. This shows both of your SIM cards. Select the one that's used for the Internet or that's foreign. Find the data roaming item and make sure it's disabled.
In the same menu, check the "Network Type" option, if you are abroad and do not plan to use the local Internet, you can temporarily switch the network type to the "Network Type" option. 2G/3G or even just GSM. This will prevent you from connecting to high-speed but expensive networks. 4G/LTE.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile data | Off | Total ban on the internet |
| Data roaming | Off | Banning the Internet Abroad |
| Voice roaming | On/off | Depends on the operator's tariff |
| Type of network | 2G/3G (preferably) | Reduces the risk of background traffic |
⚠️ Note: If you use a dual-sim smartphone, the settings apply individually to each card. SIM-cards, even if the second is used only for calls.
☑️ Checking the settings before departure
Using traffic limits and savings
MIUI has a built-in security module that allows you to set tight limits, which is the last line of defense in case you forget to turn off roaming, and you can set a daily or monthly limit, when you reach that limit, the Internet will simply stop working.
Go to the Safety app (green zipper icon) and select Traffic or Data Use. SIM-Set a value of, for example, 1 MB, and enable the lock function when exceeded.
Also worth noting is Traffic Saving Mode, which when activated, blocks background data transfers for all applications except those on the exclusion list, which is a very useful feature in roaming, preventing hidden megabytes from being consumed by messengers or mail.
- 🛡️ Open the "Security" app on the home screen.
- 📊 Go to the Traffic section" ->"Settings" ->"Traffic limit".
- 📉 Set the minimum possible limit (e.g. 1 MB).
- 🔒 Activate the switch "Block when exceeded".
Remember that the phone's traffic meter may not match the operator's meter. Operators often round up traffic or count technical packet headers. So the 1MB limit on the phone can actually mean 5-10MB of real operator consumption.
Why does traffic go away when the internet is off?
Settings for specific applications
Even when roaming is turned off, some apps can be aggressive, trying to download content whenever a connection turns up, and Xiaomi’s settings allow you to deny access to the mobile network for each application separately.
In the Data Use section, you'll see a list of all the installed programs. Go through the heavy-duty apps: Instagram, Telegram, YouTube, Google Photos. You can set a mobile data ban for each of them, leaving Wi-Fi only.
This is especially true for cloud storage. Google Photos and Yandex.Disk try to upload the images to the cloud immediately. If you take a photo roaming and forget to turn off data, the phone may try to download heavy video, which will lead to instant debiting.
It is also recommended to disable auto-update apps in Google Play and GetApps stores. Set the value "Only through Wi-Fi" This will prevent background downloads of updates weighing several gigabytes.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling access to data for system applications (e.g., "Google Play Services") may disrupt push notifications and contact synchronization.
Hidden settings and engineering menu
For advanced users, there is a possibility of fine-tuning the radio module through an engineering menu, which is not recommended unnecessarily, but in extreme cases helps if the standard switches do not work or "glutch".
To enter the engineering menu, open the Phone app and dial the code ##4636##. If the code doesn’t work (it’s often blocked on newer versions of HyperOS), you can use the Activity Launcher app from the Play Market to find the hidden Testing menu.
Select Phone Information from the menu, and you can find Set Preferred Network Type, switching to GSM only will completely ban 3G/4G connectivity, a radical but 100% effective method of protecting against paid traffic.
The path to the hidden menu (if the code is running):
Dial -> #4636## -> Phone Information ->
Set Preferred Network Type -> GSM OnlyAfter returning from your trip, remember to return the settings to the original state (NR/LTE/GSM auto), otherwise in your home region you will not have 4G Internet.
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The most reliable way is to combine disabling data roaming in SIM settings and setting a traffic limit of 1 MB in the Security application.
What to do if the money is still written off
If you've already had a problem and you've found a debit, you need to act quickly, first of all, turn off mobile data completely and turn on flight mode.
Many operators offer a network-level "Roaming Lock" service, which means that even with your phone on, it will be technically impossible to connect to foreign towers.
It is also worth writing a complaint. Operators often meet the requirements and can cancel some charges, especially if you are contacting for the first time and the traffic volume was small, and argue that you did not plan to use the services and were not properly informed.
- 📞 Call your operator’s support immediately.
- 🔒 Request a complete lockdown of data services in roaming.
- 📝 Write a recalculation statement indicating unintentional use.
- 📵 Remove the operator profile or remove it SIM-map.