Traffic control for Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro

Today’s smartphones consume huge amounts of data, and Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro is no exception: Owners often face a situation where the Internet ends faster than planned, or the tariff plan is exhausted in the middle of the month. Understanding exactly where megabytes go becomes a critical skill for any Android user.

MIUI has powerful tools in place to monitor network activity, not only to see the total number, but also to analyze the behavior of each program in detail, and to fine-tune these parameters to avoid unexpected charges by the operator.

In this article, we will take a look at traffic metering mechanisms, hidden settings, and ways to optimize data consumption, and you will learn how to manage network access at the system level, which will ensure the stable operation of the device and the safety of your budget.

Built-in monitoring tools in MIUI

The first place to look for information is the standard security application, which combines antivirus, cleaner and system monitor functions in the MIUI shell, and this is where the most accurate counter is located, which is synchronized with system processes.

To access the statistics, you need to open the Security app and find the Traffic section, which shows a general summary of how many megabytes or gigabytes were used in the current period, and the system automatically determines the billing cycle of your operator, but it is better to check this data manually.

The interface provides a pie chart visualization, where the color highlights the different types of connections. You can switch between the Wi-Fi tabs and Mobile data to see which channel the main flow is going through, which is especially useful if you suspect that the phone is switching to 4G when the router signal is weak.

Importantly, the meter can be reset at any time, allowing manual record keeping to be linked to the date of connection of a new service package, and this data is more accurate than carrier widgets, since it is read directly from the network interface of the device.

⚠️ Note: When you clean up the security app data or reset your phone, your traffic history will be completely deleted.

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The built-in traffic monitor in MIUI operates at the core level of the system, so its readings are the most reliable for this device.

Detailed analysis of the annexes

The most interesting question for users is which app is eating up the entire Internet. There's a sorting function in the statistics section that lines up programs in descending order of consumption, usually video services, social networks and autoload media messengers are at the top of the list.

Clicking on a specific application in the list will take you to the menu of detailed settings. Here you can see the separation of traffic into background and active. Background traffic is the data that the program pumps while you are not using it (notifications, synchronization, downloading content).

To save battery power and traffic, you can limit background activity, and every app has a switch in its settings that prevents data from being transferred in the background, and once you turn on this option, Instagram or Facebook will stop updating your feed until you reopen it.

It also allows you to set individual limits, for example, you can allow the navigator to use the mobile network without restrictions, and for the game store to set a strict ban on downloading over 4G. This gives flexibility in managing resources.

Analysis of the list helps to identify not only "voracious" applications, but also potentially malicious software. If an unknown program consumes gigabytes of data, this is an excuse to delete it or conduct a deep antivirus check.

Setting limits and warnings

To avoid a surprise at the end of the month, you need to set up automatic control, and in the traffic section there is a Settings item (usually a gear in the corner), where you can set a new period start date so that the meter will reset automatically.

The Traffic Limit feature allows you to set a threshold. When the total consumption reaches, for example, 90% of your tariff, the system will issue a notification. When you reach 100%, the mobile Internet can be completely turned off until you manually allow it.

To set up, perform the following actions:

• 📊 Open the Security app and go to the Traffic section.
• 🔧 Click on the settings icon and select the Tariff Plan.
• 📅 Specify the date of resetting statistics (usually this number of connection tariff).
• 💰 Enter the amount of included gigabytes in your plan.

There is also the option of setting up alerts for individual applications, which is useful if you want to control the consumption of a particular program that is updated frequently, and the system can block network access for selected applications if the overall limit is exhausted.

⚠️ Note: Setting a limit of 0 MB or a very low value can result in complete loss of communication if the system mistakenly classifies system processes as redundant.

Hidden functions and engineering menu

For advanced users of the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, deeper levels of diagnostics are available. The standard interface shows only the tip of the iceberg. There is a way to access detailed data usage statistics through system commands.

One method is to use a code to log into the test menu. Enter dialer code ##4636##. If the menu opens, select Statistics. Here you can see detailed information about data packets sent and received through different interfaces.

adb shell dumpsys netstats

This command, executed via a computer with an ADB installed (Android Debug Bridge), will display a complete history of network activity, the output will contain lists of UIDs (user IDs) of applications and their corresponding traffic in bytes.

Another hidden feature is real-time monitoring through developer mode, and if you turn on the option to show connection speed in the Developer Menu, you'll see the current rate of data exchange in the status bar, which helps you understand whether there's an active data transfer right now.

Optimization and saving of traffic

Once you have identified the main sources of consumption, move on to optimization. Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro has a high-resolution screen that promotes the consumption of content in high quality.

First of all, check the settings of the apps themselves. YouTube, Instagram and TikTok have options for "Saving Traffic" or "Stop Downloading Only via Wi-Fi." Disabling autoload videos in the social media feed can save up to 40% of traffic.

System settings also offer save modes:

• 🚀 Turn on traffic savings in browser settings (Chrome, Mi Browser).
• 📉 Activate the Data Saving mode in Android settings (Network and Internet) → Saving traffic).
• 🔄 Turn off high-resolution photo sync via mobile network in Google Photos.

Lightweight versions of apps (Lite) also have a positive effect: they consume less resources and download simplified versions of pages and media. For Redmi 8 Pro, this is true if you are often in the zone of insecure reception.

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Use offline maps in your navigator. Download city maps in advance via Wi-Fi so that you don't waste mobile traffic loading map data on the way.

Comparison of traffic control methods

Different monitoring methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Users often confuse whether the counter is built into MIUI, the operator widget or a third-party application.

The MIUI counter is the most accurate for the device itself, but it doesn't count traffic if you're doing Wi-Fi (although modern versions of MIUI have learned to track this too). The operator counter takes into account all traffic that has passed through the tower, but may have a delay in updating the data.

For maximum efficiency, a combination of methods is recommended: use the system counter for operational control of applications, and the operator data for final reconciliation before buying an additional package.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party traffic control apps require permanent network access permissions, which could reduce the Redmi 8 Pro’s battery life.