How to see Internet traffic on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: a detailed guide

Controlling the flow of Internet traffic on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a challenge that every user faces, especially for those who use limited mobile Internet rates or connect to public Wi-Fi networks with limits. Unlike the newer Redmi models, where the MIUI interface has undergone significant changes, the Note 8 Pro runs on MIUI 11-12 (depending on the firmware), which imposes its own features on the display of traffic statistics.

In this article, we’ll look at not only the standard ways to check your smartphone settings, but also alternative methods, from third-party apps to hidden MIUI features that few people know about, how to track data consumption on individual applications, reset the counters at the beginning of a new billing period, and even set up automatic Internet shutdowns when the limit is exceeded.

1. Standard method: MIUI settings

The most obvious way to check traffic is through the built-in MIUI tools. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the path to statistics may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the overall scheme remains the same.

→ SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic usage

Here you will see two tabs:

• 📱 Mobile traffic – statistics on SIM-map (separately for 4G/3G).
• 📶 Wi-Fi traffic – data on consumption over wireless networks.

And if you look at the chart at the top of the screen, which shows the flow rate over the period you've chosen (the default is the current month), you'll see the top consumers below the chart, the apps that eat the most traffic, and you'll click on any of them to see detailed statistics on background and active consumption.

⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 8 Pro with firmware MIUI 12.5+ There may be no option to limit background traffic for individual applications, and to enable it, you need to activate Developer Mode (7 times click on Version). MIUI in the settings of the phone) and manually allow the change of this parameter.

2. App breakdown: Who is eating your traffic?

If you notice an unusually high data consumption, the first thing to do is to check which app is to blame. MIUI There is a separate section for this:

Settings → Applications → Traffic Statistics

Here is a list of all installed programs with the following:

• 📊 Total traffic consumed (mobile) + Wi-Fi).
• 📉 Dynamics over the past 24 hours, week or month.
• 🔄 Possibilities to limit background activity (if maintained).

One thing that makes the Redmi Note 8 Pro a little bit more interesting is that some system applications (like com.miui.system or com.android.phone) can show inflated values due to the over-the-counter data exchange with Xiaomi servers. If you see suspiciously high numbers around these processes, don't panic, but if the over-the-counter traffic is greater than 50-100 MB per day, it's worth checking your phone for malware.

3. Resetting counters and setting limits

By default, MIUI resets traffic statistics on the first day of each month, but what if your plan starts on, say, the 15th? Or if you want to keep track by weeks? On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, this is manually configured:

1. Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Using traffic.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. In the Account Cycle section, specify the date of the start of the new period (for example, the 15th).
4. Activate Excess Warning and set a threshold (e.g. 10GB out of 15GB).
5. Turn on Automatic Shutdown if you want to completely block the Internet when you exceed the limit.

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with firmware below MIUI 12.0.3, the option to automatically disable mobile data may not work correctly - the phone blocks traffic with a delay of up to 10 minutes. To avoid unpleasant surprises, we recommend using third-party apps for strict control (more on this below).

Indicate the date of the beginning of the calculation period|Set a warning threshold|Activate automatic shutdown (if necessary)|Check the function manually|Set exceptions for critical applications-->

4. Hidden functions of MIUI: Advanced statistics

Few people know, but MIUI has a hidden traffic display mode that shows real-time data broken down by connection type, to activate it:

1. Open the phone and dial the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Usage Statistics.
3. Go to the Mobile Traffic or Wi-Fi tab.

Here you'll see:

• 📡 Current data transfer rate (in KB/s or MB/s).
• 📅 Total traffic since last reboot.
• 🔄 Breakdown of sent/received packets (useful for diagnosing network problems).

⚠️ Note: The data in this menu is reset every time you turn off or restart your phone, and it is convenient for short-term monitoring (for example, when testing Internet speed), but not for long-term accounting.

5. Third-party applications for traffic monitoring

If the built-in tools MIUI You don't have enough, you can use third-party tools, they offer more flexible settings, detailed analytics, and even widgets for quick access to statistics.-3 Proven applications for Redmi Note 8 Pro:

When choosing an app, consider its compatibility with MIUI. Some utilities (such as 3G Watchdog) may conflict with Xiaomi's built-in services, leading to double traffic counting. Before installing, check the reviews of Redmi Note 8 Pro users on thematic forums.

💡

If you use NetGuard, whitelist the com.android.phone and com.miui.securitycenter system apps, otherwise you may have problems with mobile communications or security updates.

6. Checking traffic through the operator

Sometimes data on the phone and the mobile operator may diverge, because MIUI takes into account all the packets being transmitted (including service packets) and the operator only takes into account those that pass through its networks.

• 📞 Dial it. USSD-your operator's command (for example, for MTS — *100*1#, Beeline — *102#).
• 🌐 Go to your personal account on the website or in the operator’s application.
• 📧 Order details of expenses (usually free once a month).

If the difference between the data on the phone and the operator is more than 10-15%, this is a reason to be alert.

• 🔄 Background activity of applications (especially messengers and social networks).
• 📡 Switching between 4G and 3G (Some of the traffic can be counted twice).
• 🛠️ Firmware errors (on Redmi Note 8 Pro with the MIUI 11 is known for a bug in which Wi-Fi traffic is sometimes added to mobile).

💡

If you’re connected to Wi-Fi but your phone is still consuming mobile traffic, check the Switch to Mobile settings in Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, it’s on by default, which can lead to unexpected costs.

7. Diagnostics of abnormal traffic flow

If your Redmi Note 8 Pro has started to eat traffic for no apparent reason, follow this algorithm:

1. Check background activity: Open Settings → Battery & Performance → Battery Management and see which apps are running in the background.
2. Turn off auto updates: Go to Google Play → Settings → Auto Update apps and select Only via Wi-Fi.
3. Check for viruses: Use Xiaomi Security (built-in antivirus) or third-party scanners like Malwarebytes.
4. Reset network settings: Go to Settings → System → Settings Reset → Network settings reset (this will remove stored Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices).

Pay special attention to applications with administrator rights (located in Settings → Passwords and Security → Administrator Privileges). Attackers often disguise malware as system utilities by requesting advanced permissions. If you see unknown programs on the list, delete them immediately.

Frequently asked questions