How to find out traffic consumption on Xiaomi smartphones: a detailed guide

Have you noticed that mobile internet on your Xiaomi is running out too fast? Or want to understand which app is eating up traffic in the background? In this article, we'll look at all the ways to check data consumption, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features and third-party apps. You'll learn how to track traffic consumption by day, week or month, and how to limit the background activity of applications that are consuming megabytes unnoticed.

Xiaomi smartphones have built-in monitoring tools that often go unnoticed by users, such as MIUI 14 and later, which includes detailing the traffic for each application, specifying Wi-Fi and mobile data separately. But even if you have an older version of the firmware, you can use alternative methods. It is important to understand that some applications (such as instant messengers or cloud services) can consume traffic even when you are not using them. We will show you how to control this.

1. Standard traffic monitoring in MIUI settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI statistics, which are available on all Xiaomi smartphones, from the Redmi Note 4 to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-card (if there are several).
3. Tap on Traffic Use or Data Consumption (the name may vary depending on the version of MIUI).

Here you'll see a traffic graph for the month, and a list of apps that are sorted by the amount of data you've spent, and two important things to note are:

• 📊 Reset: The default counter is reset on the 1st of each month, and you can change that date manually by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right corner.
• 🔄 Separation by data type: in some versions MIUI Traffic is divided into Foreground (when you actively use the app) and Background (hidden consumption).

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-maps, traffic statistics are kept separately for each, and remember to check the data consumption on both cards if they are both connected to the mobile Internet.

In the same section, you can set a traffic limit, and when you get close to a given threshold, the system will notify you, so that you can activate the function:

1. Click on Set a Traffic Limit.
2. Enter the maximum amount of data (for example, 10 GB).
3. Choose the reset period (usually monthly).

2 Detailing traffic by application

The built-in MIUI statistics show not only the total data consumption, but also the detail for each application, which helps to identify the "gluttonous" programs that consume the Internet in the background.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the Traffic tab (or Data Use).
3. Scroll down to see all the programs installed, sorted by the amount of traffic consumed.

In this section you can:

• 📉 Limit background traffic for a particular application (useful for social networks and instant messengers).
• 🚫 Prohibit the use of mobile data for certain programs (they will only work through Wi-Fi).
• 🔍 View traffic for a day/week/month in dynamics.

Pay special attention to high-background apps, such as Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, which can use up to 500MB a day even when you’re not using them, and cloud services like Google Drive or Mi Cloud, which sync data in the background.

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If you notice that an app is consuming too much traffic, try updating it to the latest version, often with newer versions optimizing data consumption.

3. Hidden MIUI settings for advanced users

MIUI has hidden traffic monitoring tools that are not visible in the basic settings, one of which is the developer mode, which allows you to track network activity in real time, so you can activate it:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap the MIUI version several times until you become a developer!
3. Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.
4. Find Network Traffic or Traffic Monitor (depending on the firmware version).

Here you'll see:

• 📡 Current data loading/return speed in real time.
• 📊 Network activity schedule over the past few minutes.
• 🔧 Connected Process Information (useful for identifying suspicious activity).

Another hidden tool is the Network Connection Log, which is accessible via the engineering menu (enter ##4636## in the Usage statistics section, where you will find detailed information about all network queries, including:

• IP-addresses to which applications are addressed;
• the amount of data sent/received;
• connection time.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in developer mode can affect the stability of the smartphone. Do not activate options whose purpose you do not know.

4. Third-party traffic control applications

If you don't have enough built-in MIUI tools, you can install specialized applications that offer advanced features such as:

• 📅 Flexible reporting periods (week, decade, random interval);
• 🔔 Notifications when the limit is exceeded;
• 🌍 Support for several SIM-map;
• 📈 Export of statistics to Excel or CSV.

The best apps to monitor traffic on Xiaomi:

When choosing an app, look for reviews and ratings. Some programs (like NetGuard) require additional permissions to work with a VPN, which can cause security warnings, and check if the app supports your version of Android (older smartphones like Redmi 4X may have compatibility issues).

5. How to reduce traffic consumption on Xiaomi

If you find that traffic is being consumed too quickly, use these tips to save it:

• 📵 Turn off background data for unnecessary applications. To do this, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → [select the application] → Mobile data and deactivate the option Background data use.
• 🔄 Limit automatic app updates. On Google Play, open settings and select Auto Update only via Wi-Fi.
• 📥 Stop autoloading media in instant messengers, for example, on WhatsApp it is done in Settings. → Warehouse and data → Autoboot media.
• 🌐 Use the traffic saving mode in the browser (in Google Chrome it is called Traffic Saving and is in the settings).
• ☁️ Turn off automatic sync for Google and Mi Cloud accounts. → Accounts and synchronization.

Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later have a hidden feature called “Ultra Traffic Saving Mode” that blocks background activity of all applications except the selected ones. To activate it, go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Modes and select the appropriate option.

Another effective way to compress traffic is through a VPN, where some applications (like Opera Max) allow you to compress data before downloading it to your device, which is especially useful when watching videos or downloading large files.

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The most voracious applications on Xiaomi are video hosting (YouTube, TikTok), cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) and autoload media messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), whose background activity should be monitored first.

6. Checking traffic through the operator

If you doubt the accuracy of your smartphone, you can check the traffic flow directly from your mobile operator, and most providers provide these tools:

• 📱 The operator’s mobile application (for example, “My MTS”, “My Beeline”, “Tele2” or “MegaFon”). Usually it has a section “My traffic” or “Detailing».
• 💻 Personal account on the operator's website. Log in and find a tab with information about the tariff.
• 📞 USSD-For example, MTS has this *100*1#, Beeline — *102#, MegaFon — *105*00#.
• 📄 Detailed report (paid or free, depending on the tariff) can be requested through operator support.

Note that the data of the operator and smartphone may be slightly different.

• Delayed update of statistics by the operator (usually up to 24 hours);
• Including traffic (for example, for SMS or USSD-request);
• rounding of values (operators often show traffic in kilobytes, and the smartphone – in megabytes).

If the difference is significant (more than 10%), check your smartphone settings for background processes or viruses. Also make sure that the device is not activated modem (Access Point or Access Point). USB-modem that can consume traffic unnoticed by you.

7. Frequent errors in traffic monitoring

Many Xiaomi users are experiencing inaccurate data consumption readings, and here are the most common reasons and ways to address them:

Another common mistake is unaccounted traffic when using two SIM-If you have activated the option to Switch data (in Settings) → SIM-And maps and mobile networks, the smartphone can automatically switch between operators, which distorts statistics. To avoid this, pin mobile data to one. SIM-card.

Also check if other devices are connected to your smartphone via the Access Point or Bluetooth modem, sometimes using laptops or tablets connected to your phone as a modem.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions