How to limit traffic on Xiaomi smartphones: 5 working ways

Monitoring mobile internet consumption on Xiaomi is a challenge for users with limited tariffs or weak network coverage. Even background apps can stealthily eat up gigabytes of traffic, leaving you unconnected at the most inopportune moment. In this article, we’ll look at all the available ways to limit traffic on Redmi, POCO and other Xiaomi devices, from built-in MIUI features to third-party apps.

The thing about MIUI is that it offers flexible network settings, but not always intuitive. For example, you can set the traffic limit globally for the entire system and for individual applications. And in new versions (starting with MIUI 14), the traffic algorithm has become more accurate, but the settings menu has changed a little bit, so we took all the nuances and prepared the current instructions for Android 12/13/14.

1. built-in traffic limit in MIUI: Where to look and how to set up

The most reliable way to limit traffic is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which do not require super-user rights (root) and work on all models, from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 14 Pro.

Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [choose SIM] → Traffic usage. Here you'll see a graph of the current Internet usage:

1. Activate the “Set Traffic Limit” switch.
2. Specify the limit value in megabytes or gigabytes (for example, 5 GB).
3. Select the reset period (usually the same as the tariff update date).
4. Click Save – the system will start tracking the flow and notify when approaching the limit.

Important: MIUI 14+ has added an option called “Exceeding Warning” that sends a notification in advance (e.g., when you’re running 80% of the limit) and activate it to avoid unexpected internet shutdowns.

💡

If you have two. SIM-maps, the limit is set separately for each. Switch between them in the menu «SIM-maps and mobile networks».

2. Traffic restriction for individual applications

Some programs (such as YouTube, TikTok or Google Play Store) can consume traffic in the background. MIUI has a tool to block background traffic or completely restrict access to the mobile network.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the appropriate app (such as Facebook).
3. Go to the section "Use of data".
4. Activate the option to “Limit background traffic” or completely disable “Mobile data”.

For convenience, you can sort apps by traffic consumption: in the same menu, "Application Management," click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Sort → By Data Use," so you quickly find the most "gluttonous" consumers.

3.Use of the “Traffic Savings” mode

If you need to save every megabyte, activate a special mode in MIUI. It limits background activity, reduces the quality of media downloads and suspends automatic application updates.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Traffic Savings.
2. Activate the switch.
3. In the section "Savings settings" select which restrictions to apply: 🔄 Limit background traffic 📥 Disable automatic download of multimedia in messengers 🔄 Suspend app updates

The mode works in tandem with a global traffic limit: when you approach the limit, the system automatically activates savings, which is especially useful in roaming or when the network signal is weak (for example, in the subway or outside the city).

4. Third-party traffic control applications

If built-in MIUI features aren’t enough, use specialized utilities that offer advanced statistics, flexible settings, and even ad blocking that eats up traffic.

Top.-3 apps:

• 📊 My Data Manager -- it tracks your consumption by day, week, month, and there's a widget for quick access.
• 🛡️ NetGuard – blocks network access for individual applications without root rights.
• 📉 GlassWire – shows real-time traffic consumption with charts and notifications.

To set a limit in My Data Manager:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. At the first start, allow access to network usage data.
3. Go to the Alerts section and set the limit.
4. Specify a threshold value (for example, 4.5 GB) and select the action when exceeded (notification or blocking the Internet).

Download APK only from the official store (Google Play or Mi App Store)

Check reviews and ratings (minimum 4.0)

Allow access to “Data Use” in Android settings

Disable battery optimization for the application (in MIUI settings)

-->

5. Set up traffic flow notifications

To avoid missing the time of exceeding the limit, set up notifications in MIUI. The system can notify you in advance (for example, when you consume 50%, 80% and 100% of the limit).

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management.
2. Find the System Notifications section and select Data Use.
3. Activate switches for traffic flow alerts.
4. Back to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Use traffic and set up warning thresholds.

Tip: If notifications don't come, check if they're disabled for system applications. MIUI sometimes triggers aggressive optimization that blocks background alerts. To fix this, add the Settings app to the battery exclusion list (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).

💡

Traffic notifications in MIUI only work when mobile internet is active, and if you're connected to Wi-Fi, the system won't send mobile data usage alerts.

6. Resetting the traffic counter manually

Sometimes the traffic counter in MIUI It gets lost, for example, after updating the firmware or changing SIM-In this case, you have to manually reset it so that the data is displayed correctly.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [choose SIM] → Using traffic.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset Statistics.
3. Confirm the action.

Once reset, the meter starts counting from scratch, and if you reset the statistics in the middle of the billing period, set a new limit based on the traffic you have already spent (for example, if you spent 3 GB out of 10 GB, set a limit of 7 GB).

⚠️ Note: Resetting the meter does not affect the actual traffic consumption of the operator; it is only necessary for the correct operation of the built-in monitoring. MIUI. To avoid misunderstandings, check the data with the personal account of your mobile operator.

7 Problems and Solutions: Why the Traffic Limit is Not Working

Sometimes users find that the traffic limit on Xiaomi is not working.

If none of these methods worked, check to see if your device has custom software (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) installed. In informal firmware, the traffic limit function may not work properly.

⚠️ Note: On devices with Android 14 and MIUI 15 (beta) the traffic algorithm has changed, so it takes into account not only mobile Internet consumption, but also Wi-Fi. If you want to limit only mobile data, turn off the option "Consider Wi-Fi" in the limit settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s traffic limits