How to Watch Mobile Internet Traffic on Xiaomi: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you suddenly received an SMS from an operator saying that your mobile Internet package is running out, even though you seemingly barely used your phone? Or have you noticed that the battery is running out faster than usual due to heavy data consumption in the background? Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines) have built-in tools to monitor traffic consumption, but they are hidden deeper than competitors. In this article, we will examine all the ways, from standard settings to hidden MIUI functions and third-party applications.

It's important to understand that data on the device and the mobile operator can diverge by 5 to 15 percent, because the system meter only counts successful data packets, and the operator takes into account all outbound/inbound traffic, including service queries, and we'll show you how to cross-check both statistics and identify the "gluttonous" applications that are thawing your gigabytes.

Method 1: Standard statistics in MIUI settings

The most obvious method is to use built-in MIUI traffic monitoring. It works on all models, starting with the Xiaomi Mi 5 (2016) and later, including the latest flagships like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note 13. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the overall logic remains.

To open up the statistics:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose an active one SIM-card (if there are several).
3. Tapping on Data Use or Mobile Internet Traffic.
4. You will see the schedule of the current period (usually a month).

Here you'll see:

• 📊 Total expenditure for the selected period (default - from the 1st day of the month).
• 📱 Distribution by application – which services “eat” the most megabytes.
• ⚠️ Warnings when you exceed the limit (if you have set it).
• 🔄 The ability to reset the meter manually (useful if you have a package not from the 1st day).

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-maps, each one's statistics are displayed separately, and note that Wi-Fi traffic is not included in this report, but there's a separate section in the settings for it.

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To quickly open traffic statistics, add the Data Use widget to the home screen. To do this, click and hold your finger in the free space of the screen → “Widgets” → find “Data Traffic” or “Mobile Internet”.

Method 2: Detailed analysis of applications

General statistics are useful, but they don't show what processes consume traffic within each application, for example, Telegram can use data to download media files, and Google Play Store can use it to automatically update applications.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (like YouTube or TikTok).
3. Go to the section Use of data.
4. Here you will see separately the consumption of mobile network and Wi-Fi, as well as the ability to limit background activity.

Pay particular attention to:

• 🤖 Service applications like com.miui.system or Android System – they sometimes spend traffic syncing.
• 📦 Auto-update apps in Google Play (settings) → "Auto-update of applications").
• ☁️ Cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Photos) – they can upload photos / videos in the background.

Method 3: Hidden MIUI settings for advanced users

MIUI has hidden traffic monitoring tools that are not visible in the standard interface, such as enabling real-time (actual MB/s) display or setting notifications when you exceed a threshold.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the Network → Monitor real-time traffic option and turn it on.
4. Now the notification panel will display the current download / output speed of data.

Another useful trick is to limit background traffic for individual applications:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Battery management.
• 📵 Select the application and set a limit on background activity (the option to limit background activity).
• 📶 This does not block traffic completely, but reduces traffic consumption when the app is folded.

⚠️ Warning: Turning on real-time monitoring can slightly increase battery consumption (by 1-3%).If you notice a strong heating of the phone, turn off this feature.

Method 4: Third-party applications for accurate accounting

If the built-in MIUI tools don't suit you (for example, due to resetting statistics or lack of detail), try specialized utilities.

• 📈 Flow schedules by hour/day.
• 🔔 Flexible notifications (e.g., 80% of the limit).
• 🌍 Dual-SIM support with separate accounting.
• 📡 Monitoring Wi-Fi and Mobile Traffic in One Window.

The best apps for Xiaomi:

To avoid conflicts with the built-in MIUI counter, disable system monitoring:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Use of data.
2. Turn off the Traffic Restriction option (if it is active).
3. Install a third-party app and set limits in it.

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Third-party apps can show more accurate data than system apps because they take into account VPN-level traffic (if enabled) and some service processes.

Method 5: Checking traffic through USSD-operator

If you need to check the data on the phone with information from the operator, use the USSD-These are free commands that show the rest of the Internet packet, minutes and SMS. Here are the current codes for popular Russian operators (2026):

How to enter USSD-teaming:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go to the Keyboard tab (if it is not active by default).
3. Enter the command (e.g. *100#) and press the call button.
4. Wait for the SMS to respond (usually within 10 to 30 seconds).

⚠️ Attention: USSD-teams may vary depending on the region (for example, for MTS Crimea or Beeline Kazakhstan, other codes are used.

1.Make sure that SIM-card

2. Enter USSD-gapless

3. wait for SMS with the answer (do not close the application "Phone")

4.Contrast data with system statistics on the phone-->

Frequent problems and their solutions

Xiaomi users are often faced with the fact that traffic statistics:

• 🔄 Resets by itself — usually due to a malfunction of the service com.android.providers.telephony. Solution: clear the cache of this application in the settings.
• ❌ Does not match the operator’s data – a difference of 10-15% is normal, but if the discrepancy is greater, check the settings. APN (Path: Settings → SIM-map → Access points (APN)).
• 📉 It shows zero consumption, although the Internet works – restart the phone or turn on / off the plane mode.
• 🔋 Strongly drains the battery – turn off real-time monitoring (see Method 3).

Critical error: If the traffic statistics are completely lost after the MIUI update, this may be due to the removal of the system APK NetworkTraffic.apk. It can only be restored through a full reset or flashing.

Another common problem is the background traffic consumption of unknown applications.

1. Install NetGuard (free on Google Play).
2. Launch the application and go to the Log tab.
3. See what processes are actively using the network, even when you are not using the phone.
4. Limit suspicious applications through the built-in MIUI settings (see Method 2).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions