How to turn off roaming in Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Traveling abroad on Xiaomi’s favorite smartphone can become a financial nightmare if you don’t take care of your communication settings. Mobile Internet in international roaming often costs fabulous money, and accidentally updating an application or downloading a map in a navigator can “eat” the entire balance in a matter of minutes.

With Android, which runs the MIUI shell, network connectivity management is flexible but not always intuitive for the average user. Interfaces may vary depending on the firmware version (Global, China, Russia) and the year of the device. However, the basic principles remain the same, and once you understand them, you can protect yourself from unnecessary spending on any device of the brand.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to deactivate roaming mode, consider hidden settings for dual-sim devices and give advice on using alternative methods of communication. Data control is a key skill of a modern traveler, allowing you to stay online without fear of receiving a bill for thousands of rubles.

Basic network settings in MIUI

The easiest and most obvious way to prevent a phone from accessing the network through a foreign operator is to use the standard settings menu. In most modern Xiaomi models (Redmi Note, Mi, Poco), the path to this feature is standardized. You need to open the Settings app and find the section responsible for wireless connections.

It's usually called "SIM-Maps and mobile networks, or simply Mobile Network, which hides the switches that control Internet access inside of this menu, and it's important to understand the difference between voice roaming and data. Voice roaming allows you to receive and make calls, charged by minute, while data transmission is responsible for Internet traffic.

• 📱 Open "Settings" on the main screen.
• 📡 Go to section "SIM-maps and mobile networks".
• 🌍 Choose the right one. SIM-card, if two are installed.
• ❌ Find the data roaming switch and turn it to the "Off" position".

⚠️ Note: After this feature is turned off, mobile Internet will not work at all. If you need to urgently check your email, you will either have to look for Wi-Fi, or temporarily turn on this switch, strictly controlling running applications.

It is worth noting that on some versions of MIUI, the switch may be simply called "Mobile Internet" with additional clarification in the roaming menu. If you do not see an explicit indication of roaming, make sure that the mobile data slider is active, but in advanced settings there is a limitation. Two-symbol smartphones require separate verification for each card, since the settings can be applied independently.

Settings for two SIM-map

Xiaomi owners often use two devices. SIM-One card is the main one for calling, the other for the Internet or for work purposes, and when traveling abroad, the situation is complicated by the fact that both cards can try to register on a foreign network. If the second card doesn’t have a roaming tariff, it can start consuming traffic in the background, even if you’re not using it.

In the control menu SIM-card MIUI You can set your priorities flexibly, so you can keep the voice connection active on the main SIM, and the second one can turn it off completely or deny it access to data. This is especially true if the second card is used only for local calls within the country and does not have a connected international package.

Remember that even when the Internet is turned off, some Android system services may try to sync data, so the best solution for a second, unused card is to completely deactivate the control menu. SIM-Click on the operator name and select "Disable." This ensures that the phone does not waste battery life searching the network and does not create background traffic.

Use of flight mode

Flight mode is the “nuclear button” for all wireless modules of a smartphone. When you activate this feature, Xiaomi completely disables the radio modules: cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This is the most reliable way to guarantee zero communication costs, since the connection to the operator’s base stations is physically interrupted.

But there are some nuances to this method, and many travelers forget that you can manually turn on Wi-Fi in flight mode, which allows you to stay connected via instant messengers in a hotel or cafe, while remaining invisible to cell towers, and the main thing is to remember to turn on Wi-Fi again after the flight mode is activated, since by default it remains turned off.

The use of flight mode also has a positive effect on the autonomy of the device: the phone stops constantly scanning the airwaves for an available network, which is especially important in areas with unstable surfaces, where the device usually discharges the fastest, this is ideal for night time or long journeys when communication is not required.

Control of background applications

Even if you have turned off roaming in system settings, there is a risk that some applications will try to use network access if you accidentally turn on mobile data. To minimize the risks, you need to set up background activity restrictions for voracious programs. MIUI has a powerful tool for managing permissions.

Go to the battery settings or the special "Security" app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, and you can find the "Traffic" or "Data Use" option, which displays a list of all the apps that have access to the Internet, and you can manually prevent specific programs (such as Instagram, YouTube or heavy games) from using the mobile network.

• 🛡️ Open the Safety app (green lightning icon).
• 📊 Select the Traffic or Traffic Consumption tool".
• 🚫 Find the section "Traffic Limit" or "Network Connections".
• 📵 Remove the ticks from applications that are prohibited by mobile Internet.

This fine-tuning allows you to leave access to the network only for messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) to avoid missing an important message, while blocking the background load of content on social networks. This creates an additional layer of protection for your budget. Background processes often go unnoticed, but they are the ones that can use up a packet of data unnoticed.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable access to the network to system services Google and security services, otherwise some smartphone functions may stop working correctly, and notifications from banks may come with a delay.

Alternatives: Wi-Fi Calling and instant messengers

In the age of the ubiquitous Internet, the need for classic voice roaming is no longer needed. Modern Xiaomi smartphones support Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi) technology. If your operator and foreign partner support this feature, you can make and receive regular calls over Wi-Fi, as if you are at home, at home rates.

To activate this function, you need to go to the settings SIM-You can find the "Calls over Wi-Fi" option, but you have to keep in mind that this technology doesn't work for all operators and not in all countries, and Internet messaging is the more universal solution. Apps like WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram or FaceTime allow you to make voice and video calls exclusively via Wi-Fi.

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Check in advance if your carrier has Wi-Fi Calling support for your Xiaomi model.A list of compatible devices and rates is usually posted on the carrier's website.

The use of instant messengers has two benefits: free communication and no risk of accidental access to the mobile network. In addition, many operators offer special travel packages or options "Unlimited Internet in instant messengers" for a small fee, which can be more profitable than a complete refusal of communication.

Frequent problems and their solution

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where everything seems to be correct, but the money is still written off, often because the phone automatically switches to the partner network if the main operator lost the signal, and problems can occur when resetting network settings or after updating the MIUI firmware.

If you notice that the "R" icon is on all the time and the Internet is running without your knowledge, try resetting your network settings. This will not delete your personal data, but return all network settings to factory values. In rare cases, extraction helps SIM-maps and re-installation.

Another reason could be the activated Always Screen On feature or widgets that keep updating data. Check the list of apps with the highest traffic consumption in the settings. If there's an unfamiliar app, delete it immediately or deny access to the network.

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The most reliable way to avoid costs is to completely shut down data transmissions combined with only Wi-Fi and pre-load the necessary maps and music.