How to see how much traffic is spent on Xiaomi: all the ways

Have you noticed that the Internet on Xiaomi has become “flew” faster than usual, but do not know where exactly gigabytes go? Or want to control the traffic consumption of a child to avoid unexpected payments for additional packages? In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to check traffic on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones and tablets – from built-in MIUI tools to third-party applications and mobile operators services.

It is important to understand that traffic consumption data can vary slightly depending on the source. For example, the data from the settings of the phone and the operator’s personal account rarely coincides with a megabyte – this is due to the fact that the operator takes into account all traffic (including system requests), and the phone shows only the consumption of applications. We will explain which source to trust in controversial situations and how to configure Xiaomi to spend traffic more economically.

This article is relevant for all devices on MIUI 12-14 (including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5, etc.), as well as for older models with a MIUI shell 11 and below – the differences in the interface we will specify separately.

1. Check traffic through MIUI settings

The fastest way to know mobile internet usage is to use the built-in MIUI traffic monitor, which shows the current month's data, and allows you to set limits and alerts. Here's how to use it:

Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic usage. You'll see here:

• 📊 Total traffic consumption for the selected period (by default - the current calendar month).
• 📱 App distribution – which programs have eaten the most megabytes.
• ⚠️ Warnings about exceeding the limit (if configured).

Note that MIUI resets the traffic counter on the 1st of each month by default. If your plan starts on a different date (for example, the 15th), manually change the period by clicking on the current date at the top of the screen.

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If you see unknown names on the app list (e.g. com.android.vending), these are Google system services, which are usually minimal, but if they eat gigabytes, check your phone for viruses.

MIUI does not take into account traffic spent in modem modem (distributing the Internet to other devices). To see it, go to Settings → Access Point and modem → Modem modem and check the statistics there.

2. How to set up traffic exceedance notifications

To avoid unexpected expenses, set up automatic alerts when you reach a certain consumption threshold, which is especially useful if you have a limited fare or use mobile Internet frequently on trips.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Using traffic.
2. Push the gear (⚙️) in the upper right corner and select Warning and Limit settings.
3. Turn on the switch Set a traffic limit and specify the maximum value (for example, 9 GB out of 10 GB at the tariff).
4. Activate Traffic Alert and set a threshold (e.g. 8GB) at which the phone will send a notification.

After that, if the specified values are exceeded, an icon will appear in the status bar. ⚠️, a in the notification curtain is a message such as: “Warning: 80% of traffic used».

Set a start date for the billing period |Include an 80% flow warning |Set a strict limit for 95% of the tariff |Check background traffic once a week-->

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-maps, limits and notifications are set separately for each. SIM At the top of the screen, using traffic to set up alerts for the desired card.

3. view traffic through the application “Security” (Security)

Xiaomi phones have a proprietary Security app (the shield icon), which, in addition to virus protection, tracks traffic consumption and battery consumption. Its data may differ from the system, so it is useful to check with both sources.

To see the statistics:

1. Open the Security app (if it isn’t on the home screen, search by phone).
2. Go to the Traffic tab (or Data Usage in English).
3. Select a period (day/week/month) and SIM-map.

Here you'll see:

• 📈 Daily flow schedule – convenient for analyzing peak loads.
• 🔍 Top applications for traffic consumption (with the ability to block background access).
• 🛡️ Traffic Savings – limits the background activity of applications.

The advantage of this method is time-detailing, for example, you might notice that traffic is consumed at night while you sleep, which may indicate that apps are automatically updated or background services are running.

Once a week |Only when gigabytes run out |Every day |Never check-->

4. check traffic through the operator’s personal account

Mobile data is the most accurate source of traffic flow data, as it takes into account all traffic, including system requests and connection errors, but there is a caveat: operators often update statistics with a delay (from hours to days).

Methods of verification:

Method 1: Mobile application of the operator

All major operators (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2) have official applications where you can see the details of traffic in real time.

• 📱 My MTS. → Internet tab» → «Details».
• 📱 My Beeline. → «Services» → «Internet» → «Statistics».
• 📱 MegaFon → «My MegaFon» → «Internet» → «Traffic consumption».

Method 2: USSD-team

A quick way to find out the rest of the traffic without the Internet is to send it. USSD-request:

• 📞 MTS: Dial *100*1# and call.
• 📞 Beeline: *102#.
• 📞 MegaFon: *105*00#.
• 📞 Television2: *155*1#.

Method 3: Operator's Website

Go to your personal account on the official website (for example, lk.mts.ru or beeline.ru) and find the section “Details” or “Internet Statistics”, which is usually provided with a detailed breakdown by day and even by type of traffic (for example, separately for 4G and 5G).

⚠️ Note: If the data in the operator’s personal account and on the phone are very different (by more than 10-15%), most likely, your Xiaomi has an application that hides its traffic from system monitoring. VPN, Torrent client or malware. Check your phone with an antivirus (such as Dr.Web or Kaspersky).

5. Third-party applications for traffic monitoring

If built-in MIUI tools aren’t enough, install a dedicated app that offers advanced analytics, widgets, and the ability to block voracious programs.

Top.-3 apps:

1. Internet Speed Meter Lite 🔹 Shows real-time internet speed in the status bar. 🔹 Keeps statistics by day/week/month. 🔹 Free, no advertising.
2. My Data Manager 🔹 Tracks traffic for each application with the ability to set limits. 🔹 Can distinguish between mobile traffic and Wi-Fi. 🔹 There's a widget for the main screen.
3. GlassWire 🔹 Visualizes traffic consumption in the form of a schedule. 🔹 Shows which apps are connected to the internet in the background. 🔹 Pay (there is a free version with restrictions).

To ensure that the applications correctly account for traffic, after installation:

1. Launch it and provide access to Network Settings (if requested).
2. Specify the date of the beginning of the calculation period (should coincide with the date of resetting the meter from the operator).
3. Enable the option of background traffic monitoring (if any).

6. Hidden Reasons for Xiaomi’s High Traffic Spending

If traffic is “flewing” to where it is unclear, check out these common causes:

🔍 Auto-update of applications

By default, Google Play and Mi App Store update apps automatically, even over the mobile network.

1. Open Google Play → Settings → Auto-Update apps.
2. Choose Only via Wi-Fi or Do Not Update Automatically.

📹 Background transmission of media files

Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram or VK can automatically upload photos and videos in the background.

• 💬 WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse and data → Autoboot media → Select Only via Wi-Fi.
• 📎 Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot media → disconnect for mobile network.

🌍 Background synchronization

Google, Mi Account and social media are constantly syncing data (contacts, mail, calendar events) to limit this:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select an account (like Google) and disable unnecessary sync.

🕵️‍♂️ Viruses and hidden mining programs

Some malicious applications use the mobile internet to mine cryptocurrency or send spam.

• The phone is warming for no apparent reason.
• Traffic is consumed even when the screen is off.
• There are unknown programs in the list of applications.

Check your phone with Malwarebytes or Avast.

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If traffic is consumed at night or when the phone is not in use, it is most likely the background app or virus is to blame. Check the list of active programs in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Autostart and disable suspicious ones.

7. How to Reset the Traffic Counter on Xiaomi

If you change your plan or want to start counting again, you can manually reset the MIUI traffic meter, which doesn't affect the actual cost of the operator, but it's useful for personal accounting.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Using traffic.
2. Click on the current date at the top of the screen (e.g., June 1 – June 30).
3. Choose Reset Statistics and confirm the action.

After the reset, the meter will start counting from zero.

• 🔄 Statistics on applications will also be zeroed.
• ⏳ The next reset date can be changed (for example, set the 15th if the tariff starts from that date).

⚠️ Warning: Resetting the meter in your phone does not reset the operator's real traffic consumption. If you exceed the tariff limit, you will have to buy an additional package or wait for the next billing period.

FAQ: Frequent questions about traffic on Xiaomi