How to check traffic on Xiaomi: all the ways from settings to hidden chips MIUI

Have you noticed that mobile internet on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO is running out too fast? Or did the operator send a notification that you exceeded the limit, even though you hardly used the network? The problem may lie not only in the tariff, but also in the hidden traffic consumption of applications. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to check traffic on devices with a shell MIUI, from standard tools to little-known chips, which even the official instructions do not speak about.

It is important to understand that the data on traffic on the smartphone and the operator may differ, because MIUI only takes into account traffic that has passed through the mobile network, and the operator also takes into account service packets (for example, for SMS or USSD- requests), we will show how to check both sources and identify “voracious” applications that megabytes are drained in the background.

1. Standard traffic counter in MIUI: where to look and how to drop

The easiest way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI counter, which is available on all models, from the Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 14, and does not require third-party apps to be installed.

1. Open the “Settings” section and go to the SIM cards and mobile networks section (on some firmware – Mobile Network).
2. Choose yours. SIM-card (if there are several).
3. Slip on Traffic Consumption or Data Use.
4. Here you will see a flow chart for the current period, and below you will see a list of apps that show how much traffic each spent.

Pay attention to two important details:

• 📅 Counting period: the meter is reset by default on the 1st of each month. If your tariff has a different cycle (e.g., 15th to 15th), you must manually set the reset date in the meter settings.
• 🔄 Background traffic: Many apps (like Facebook or TikTok) continue to consume data even when you're not using it. In the counter settings, you can limit background use for individual programs.

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If the graph shows a sharp spike in traffic at night, check the settings for automatic app updates on Google Play. Often the culprit is the "Update automatically over any network."

To manually reset the meter (for example, after a tariff change), click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen and select Reset statistics. But remember: this does not affect the real consumption of the operator - only the data in the phone.

2 Traffic Checking through USSD- Operator Commands

The MIUI data may not match the operator's data due to service traffic or accounting errors. To get accurate numbers, use the USSD- commands. They're free and work on all SIM- cards. Here are the commands for popular carriers:

When you dial a command, you'll see a window on the screen that shows you information. If the USSD doesn't work, try:

• 📞 Dial a command through the standard Phone app, not through third-party dialers.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes helps with network failures.
• 📶 Make sure that mobile data is enabled (the 4G/5G icon in the status bar).

If the USSD- commands do not provide detailed information (for example, show only the balance, but not the flow), order the detailing through the operator's personal account or mobile application. For most operators, this service is free and is provided for the last 3-6 months.

3. Hidden MIUI settings: Advanced traffic monitoring

MIUI has a hidden section with detailed network usage statistics that doesn't show up in the standard menu.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7-10 times on the MIUI version until the message “You are a developer!” appears.
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).
4. Find the → Networking for Mobile Traffic.

Here you'll see:

• 📊 Hourly traffic flow chart by application.
• 📡 Foreground and background (useful for identifying voracious services).
• 🔗 Traffic by connection type (mobile network, Wi-Fi, VPN).

You can also include a warning in this section about exceeding the limit.

1. Return to Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → Traffic consumption.
2. Activate the Traffic Warning Switch.
3. Set a threshold (for example, 90% of your tariff).

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The hidden section for developers shows traffic to within a megabyte, whereas the standard MIUI counter sometimes rounds up data to tens of MB.

4. Third-party applications for traffic monitoring

If built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, install one of the specialized applications that offer advanced features such as:

• 📈 Forecasting the flow based on current expenditure.
• 🛡️ Block background traffic for individual applications.
• 📱 Widgets to the main screen with current flow rate.

Top.-3 apps:

Before installing, check the application permissions. Some programs (e.g. GlassWire) require VPN- access to monitor traffic. This is safe, but may conflict with other VPN- services.

Install the app|Launch and provide access to notifications|Enable the speed display in the status bar|Set your monthly limit in the Monthly limit section"|Add the widget to the main screen-->

One of the key benefits of third-party apps is that you can export your statistics to CSV or Excel, which is useful if you're a cost-accounting person or if you want to analyze traffic on your PC.

5. How to Identify and Block “Voracious” Applications

Even if you don't use some software, it can consume traffic in the background.

• 🤖 Google Play Services – Updates Google services even if you haven’t run apps.
• 📷 Photo/video editors sync media files to the cloud.
• 🎮 Games – download updates or display ads.

To limit their appetite:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application from the list and tap Data Use.
3. Activate the switch to limit background data use.

For radical savings, you can completely ban mobile traffic for unnecessary applications:

1. In the same menu (Data Use) select Mobile Data.
2. Turn the switch to the off position.

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If the app stops updating or works correctly after traffic restriction, check its settings. For example, in Google Maps you can turn off background sync, but leave the map update only over Wi-Fi.

Pay special attention to system applications:

• 📱 com.miui.analytics – sends phone usage data to Xiaomi (you can disable it in privacy settings).
• 🔄 com.xiaomi.market is a Mi Store theme and app store, often updated in the background.
• 📡 com.android.providers.telephony – responsible for mobile communications, but sometimes consumes traffic to check for updates.

6. Checking traffic on Xiaomi via computer (ADB)

If you want the most accurate information, you can get traffic data through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that is suitable for advanced users and requires connecting the phone to a PC.

Instructions:

1. Install. ADB-computer-driver.
2. Turn on USB debugging on your phone (Settings → Developer).
3. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell dumpsys netstats detail

In the answer, you will see detailed statistics for each application, including:

• 📥 Received data (RX bytes).
• 📤 Data sent (TX bytes).
• 🕒 Time of last activity.

To reset the counters, use the command:

adb shell cmd netstats reset

This is useful if you suspect that an application is stealthy, for example, it can identify a malware that sends data to remote servers.

7.Frequent Reasons for Unexpected Traffic Spending on Xiaomi

If traffic is going nowhere, check out these common problems:

⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi devices with firmware older than MIUI 12 had a vulnerability that could have allowed some apps to bypass traffic restrictions. Update the firmware to the latest version!

• 🔄 App Auto Update: Open Google Play, go to Settings → App Auto Update, and select Only via Wi-Fi.
• ☁️ Cloud sync: Check the settings for Mi Cloud, Google Photos, and other services. Turn off automatic uploading of photos over the mobile network.
• 📡 Poor network coverage: In low signal areas, the phone is constantly reconnecting, which increases traffic consumption. Enable only 3G mode in network settings if 4G/5G is unstable.
• 📍 Geolocation services: Apps like Google Maps or Yandex.Maps update location data even in the background. Limit their access to mobile data.

Another common reason is in-app advertising, where many free programs (especially games) upload banners over the mobile network to block ads:

• Use AdGuard or Blokada (a VPN setting is required).
• Install a browser with an ad blocker (such as Brave).
• In Google Play settings, turn off personalized ads.

8 How to Save Traffic to Xiaomi: 10 Ways to Work

If you are constantly lacking megabytes, use these tips:

1. Enable data compression in Google Chrome: go to Settings → Data compression and activate the option. This will reduce traffic consumption by 30-50%.
2. Limit background data transfer for all applications: Settings → Special features → Traffic savings.
3. Turn off autoplay of videos on social media. On Instagram and Facebook, this is done in the app settings.
4. Use lighter versions of apps: Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Twitter Lite consume 2-3 times less traffic.
5. Set up a traffic limit for individual SIM- cards if you have Dual-SIM: Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → Data restriction.

For maximum savings:

• 📵 Turn off mobile data at night (use the automatic rule in Settings → Battery and Performance → Sleep Mode).
• 📶 Switch to Wi-Fi whenever possible. Set up automatic connectivity to known networks.
• 🔄 Update your applications and firmware only via Wi-Fi.

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The most voracious applications on Xiaomi according to the AV-Test laboratory (2026): TikTok (up to 1,5 GB / hour), YouTube (700 MB / hour when viewed in HD), Netflix (3 GB / hour in Full HD).

If you travel frequently, look for roaming. On Xiaomi devices, you can enable the option to Limit roaming data in the SIM- card settings. It is also useful to install the Travel Data Tracker app, which warns about high tariffs abroad.

FAQ: Frequent questions about traffic on Xiaomi