How to disable cellular data on Xiaomi: all ways

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones consume a significant amount of traffic even in the background, which can come as a nasty surprise when traveling abroad or exhausting the package limit. Many users face the need to instantly block access to applications to the network to save the remaining gigabytes or extend the battery life of the device. Disconnecting cellular data is a basic but critical skill that allows you to control costs and improve the security of personal information.

With MIUI and the new HyperOS, deactivating mobile internet is as simple as possible, but there are nuances that not everyone knows about: For example, standard switching may not stop background synchronization of system services, and in some cases requires a complete shutdown of the communication module. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from fast access through the curtain to deep system settings.

Understanding how to manage network connections will help you avoid unnecessary costs, and we will look at not only standard algorithms, but also specific scenarios, such as setting up for children or blocking access for individual applications, which will allow you to flexibly manage network traffic depending on the current situation.

Quick shutdown via control panel

The most obvious and quick way to stop data from being transmitted over a mobile network is to use a notification curtain, which is ideal for instantly turning off the Internet without going into the thick of the menu. Most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models have a unified algorithm that takes just a few seconds.

To do this, you need to unlock your smartphone screen and swipe down from the top of the display. In the quick settings menu that opens, you need to find an icon that says Mobile Data or Mobile Internet. If the icon is illuminated in blue or green, then data transfer is active.

Click on this icon once. The color should disappear, and the antenna icon in the status bar (usually the up-and-down arrows or 4G/LTE designation) should disappear or change to the voice-only icon, which forcefully breaks the active connections for all applications using the SIM card.

• 📱 Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the curtain.
• 🔍 Find the Mobile Data icon in the second row of icons.
• 🚫 Click on it to turn gray (inactive).
• ✅ Check the status bar: badges 4G/5G must disappear.

It is worth noting that different versions of MIUI firmware may have different icon locations. If you don't find the right switch right away, try pushing the curtain again or pressing the edit button (usually a pencil or three dots) to add a mobile data widget to the main panel screen.

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Using a curtain is the fastest way, but it doesn’t guarantee a complete lockdown of the background processes of some Xiaomi system applications.

Deep customization through the SIM card menu

If you want more detailed control, such as turning off the Internet for only one SIM card in a dual-sim device, you need to go to the system settings, which allows you to flexibly manage access points and network priorities.

Open the main settings menu for your device, and you need to find a section that, depending on the firmware version, might be called SIM cards and mobile networks or Connect and Sharing, and that's where the main levers of network traffic management are.

Inside the section, find Data Use or just Mobile Network Switch, and here you'll see a list of SIM cards installed. You can customize the connection settings for each of them individually. By switching the slider to Off, you turn off the Internet for the operator you select, leaving the second SIM card active.

⚠️ Note: When you turn off mobile data through your system settings, some apps may try to automatically turn on Wi-Fi if it's available. Make sure Wi-Fi is also turned off if your goal is full offline.

The same menu often has a "Limit Background Data" feature, which you activate, and you stop apps from using the Internet when they're down, which is a great way to save traffic without completely shutting down the network.

Use of flight mode

Flight mode is the "heavy artillery" of the ways to shut down communications, and it completely shuts down all of your wireless modules on your smartphone: cellphone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, the most radical, but also the most effective method.

You can also activate this mode through the notification curtain by finding the icon with the image of the aircraft. Once turned on, all the communication icons at the top of the screen will disappear, and instead the corresponding symbol will appear.

But the thing that's really useful about flight mode is that it allows you to selectively turn on the modules, so you can turn on the plane by turning off the cellular network, and then manually activate only Wi-Fi, so you get a running Internet connection through the router, but the phone is invisible to the cellular operator.

• ✈️ Click on the aircraft icon in the notification curtain.
• 📶 Wait for all network indicators to disappear.
• 📶 Turn on Wi-Fi manually if you need internet.
• 🔋 This action significantly saves battery power.

This approach is often used by users who want to take a break from calls, but need access to messengers via Wi-Fi, which creates a “digital detox” effect while maintaining the ability to communicate via Internet channels.

Access blocking for individual applications

Xiaomi and Redmi have a unique feature that allows you to deny access to the Internet to specific applications without completely disconnecting the network, which is especially useful for games that do not require online mode, or for blocking ads in certain programs.

To set this up, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Select the app you want from the list. Inside the app menu, find Traffic Control or Data Use.

Here you'll see switches for Wi-Fi and Mobile Data, and if you turn off the Mobile Data slider, you'll stop the app from logging on to the network via the SIM card, and it'll continue to work, but it won't be able to download content or send analytics.

Settings → Applications → All Applications → [Selected App] → Traffic Control → Mob. data (Off)

This feature works at the system level, so even if you turn on shared mobile internet, a blocked app won't be able to use it.It's a powerful tool for managing background traffic and increasing privacy.

Comparison of Internet Shutdown Methods

The different ways to turn off cellular data have their advantages and disadvantages depending on your goal, and to make it easier for you to choose the best option, we have prepared a comparative method table.

As you can see from the table, a curtain is best for temporarily saving traffic, and if you want to set up a phone for a child or limit “gluttonous” applications, it’s worth spending time fine-tuning access rights in detail.

Using combined methods gives the best result, for example, you can turn off background data for all applications in the settings, and to quickly access the network, use a switch in the curtain only when it is really necessary.

Engineering menu and hidden settings

For advanced users, it is possible to manage the network through an engineering menu, which requires caution, since incorrect changes can lead to unstable operation of the communication module.

Dial the code ##4636##. If the code is suitable for your model and Android version, the test menu will open. Select Phone Information. Here you can find the Turn on mobile data switch that manages this setting at a low level.

⚠️ Note: Do not change other settings in the engineering menu, such as your preferred network type (LTE only, etc.) if you are not sure of your actions, this may result in loss of communication with the operator's base stations.

This method is useful in situations where standard switches in the MIUI interface are not working correctly or "slug" resetting the setting through the engineering menu often helps to reanimate the communication module without completely flashing the device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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If you travel frequently, add a Mobile Data widget to your desktop, which will allow you to turn off the Internet with one touch, without opening the curtain every time.

Network connectivity management on Xiaomi smartphones provides a wide range of options for users. Using the methods described above, you can effectively control communication costs and optimize the operation of your device. Remember that a competent setup is the key to a long and safe operation of the gadget.