Why Redmi 10 is eating up traffic and how to fix it
Xiaomi Redmi 10 owners often face unexpected mobile traffic costs — even when the phone is idle — due to background processes, auto-updates and MIUI smart services, which are set to maximize convenience rather than save money by default, such as Mi Video app can download video previews in the background, and Mi Cloud can sync photos without you knowing.
The problem is worse if you use double. SIM-map: the smartphone can switch between networks, consuming traffic on both operators. 10 There are built-in tools for control – from the basic limiter to hidden features MIUI 12/13. The main thing is to know where to look for them.
In this article, we will look at all the ways to save traffic, from standard settings to little-known tricks, and also find out which apps eat the Internet the most and how to pacify them.
Method 1: Incorporate a built-in traffic limiter
The easiest method is to activate the mobile traffic limit in MIUI settings, which will automatically shut down the Internet when the flow reaches a predetermined threshold, suitable for fixed-block gigabyte rates.
How to turn on:
- Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
- Choose yours. SIM-card (if there are several).
- Tap Use of Mobile Traffic → Set a limit.
- Enter the value (for example, 10 GB) and save.
Note that the limit is reset on the first day of a new billing period (usually the 1st). If your operator has a different cycle (such as the 15th), you will have to manually adjust the date in the settings.
Check with the operator the date of the traffic reset
Check the current cost in the section "Use of mobile traffic"
Turn off background data transfer for unnecessary applications
Set a limit on 10-15% less than your rate (for the stock)-->
Method 2: Saving traffic for individual applications
Not all programs are equally voracious. For example, TikTok in the background can consume up to 300 MB per hour, and the Google Play Store can download updates without demand. MIUI has a tool for point control.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the appropriate app (e.g. YouTube).
- Tap the mobile data → Saving traffic.
- Activate the switch and select the restrictions: 🚫 Ban background transmission – the application will only use the Internet when opened. 📥 Limit Media Download – Videos and Photos Will Be Downloaded in Low Quality.
Tip: Pay special attention to messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) – they often download media files automatically, and their settings have separate options for saving (for example, “Do not upload photos in roaming”).
💡
To quickly find the most voracious apps, sort the list in Application Management by the column Mobile Data. The first 5 positions are your main enemies of traffic.
Method 3: Hidden MIUI settings for advanced users
Redmi 10 has non-obvious features that aren’t visible in the main menu, such as Extreme Savings mode, which blocks background traffic for all but selected apps.
How to activate:
- Enter the Settings Search box to Save Traffic.
- Choose Extreme Mobile Traffic Savings.
- Add only critical applications (e.g. messengers and maps) to the exceptions.
- Activate the mode.
Warning: This mode will stop updating weather, mail and other background services, and use it only when absolutely necessary (for example, on a trip with limited traffic).
What if the “Extreme Savings” option is not displayed?
Another secret trick is to turn off autosynchronization. MI-account:
- Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
- Turn off sync for unnecessary data (such as Notes or Calendar).
Method 4: Using third-party monitoring applications
The built-in MIUI tools are not always accurate, and third-party tools will be suitable for detailed analysis of traffic flow:
| Annex | Functions | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| GlassWire | Real-time traffic monitoring, blocking suspicious connections | Data visualization, flow jump notifications | Paid functions, high battery consumption |
| NetGuard | Blocking the Internet for individual applications without root | No Superuser Rights Required, Open Source | A complex interface for beginners |
| My Data Manager | Monitoring of the expenditure by day/week, setting limits | Simple interface, widget for the main screen | Advertising in the free version |
Example of NetGuard configuration:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Turn it on. VPN-mode (necessary to intercept traffic).
- In the list of applications, tick the ones for which you want to block the Internet.
- Activate the defense.
How to reduce the cost:
- Turn off auto-update system: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Downloading via mobile network (offline).
- Limit geodata: Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Geodata → Disable for unnecessary applications.
- Use manual time synchronization: Settings → Additional → Date and time → Uncheck the box from “Autodetermination”.
How to check which system processes are consuming traffic?
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many Redmi 10 users make the same mistakes when setting up traffic savings, and here are the most common ones:
⚠️ Warning: If you turn on modem modem, all traffic restrictions on your phone will stop working. Connected devices will consume the Internet without control. Always set the limit separately for modem mode in the access point settings.
Other common mistakes:
- 📵 Ignoring roaming - on travel, traffic charges can rise by a factor of 10.Always turn off mobile data when roaming or buy local SIM-map.
- 🔄 Auto-update maps — Google Maps and Yandex.Maps download map updates over the mobile network. Turn this off in the application settings.
- 🎵 Music streaming – services like Spotify or Yandex Music use high quality playback by default. Switch to Low (96 kbps).
Check yourself: if all the settings still leak traffic, it may be the virus or advertising software.