Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which are powered by MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, are equipped with aggressive optimization algorithms. One of these features is a traffic saving mode that can by default limit the background activity of applications, compress transmitted data packets and block heavy content loading when using the mobile Internet. For many users, this comes as a nasty surprise when messages in messengers arrive with a delay, and pages in the browser stop displaying images.
The need to deactivate this feature occurs often, especially if you have unlimited tariff or you are in the zone of reliable Wi-Fi coverage, but the system continues to operate in a tight mode. Disabling data savings allows you to restore normal connection speeds, ensures timely synchronization of cloud services and the correct operation of navigation applications. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to manage traffic on Xiaomi devices.
It’s worth noting that settings may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the specific firmware modification installed on your device. However, the overall logic of Android working with branded add-ons remains the same across the ecosystem. We’ll look at both standard system tools and specific settings for individual applications so you can flexibly manage your traffic consumption.
Global settings for traffic savings in the system
The first and primary place where you focus on managing your Internet connection is the general settings, and that's where the master switch dictates how your smartphone behaves, how you spend your mobile traffic, and to access those settings, you have to open the Settings menu and find the connection section.
In most current firmware versions, the path is as follows: go to Settings, then select Mobile Network (or Connections and Sharing). Inside this menu, you will see the Traffic Saving option. If the slider is active, the system restricts background data transfer for all applications except those on the exception list. Disabling this switch removes global restrictions.
It's important to understand that even after global savings are turned off, some system services can continue to optimize the connection, and this is done to prevent accidental megabytes of roaming or weak signal consumption. SIM-cards, so the settings should be checked for each active slot separately, if you have two of them.
If you can't find a menu item along the path, use the built-in settings search. Type the phrase "traffic" or "savings" into the search box, and the system will suggest the right shortcut, which is especially true for users who often change the themes of the design or have a non-standard interface localization.
Set up exceptions for individual applications
Often users don’t need to completely turn off data savings, but only allow specific programs to work without restrictions. For example, the navigator Yandex.Navigator or Telegram messenger needs constant access to the network to update maps and instant message delivery. MIUI and HyperOS implement a flexible permission management mechanism for each installed software.
To set exceptions, go to Settings → Mobile → Traffic Savings. Here you will see a list of all the apps installed. Each one will have a switch next to it. By activating it, you will allow the app to use the internet in the background even when the global saving mode is on, which is the perfect trade-off for balancing traffic retention and functionality.
⚠️ Note: When adding apps, remember that they can consume traffic even when the screen is off, including email clients, cloud storage and streaming services.
There is also a second level of limitations, which is controlled through battery settings. The system can limit the background activity of applications to save charge, which indirectly affects the transfer of data. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, select the desired program, then Save charge and set the value No limits. This ensures that the background processes are not “sedated” by the system.
☑️ Checking application settings
Some users prefer to use third-party firewalls or more advanced traffic managers, but MIUI regular funds are usually quite enough for a competent allocation of resources. The main thing is not to overdo the number of exceptions, otherwise the meaning of the saving mode will be completely lost.
Management through Security Application
A unique feature of Xiaomi smartphones is the pre-installed system application Security, which is not just an antivirus, but a powerful combine that controls network access, permissions and resource consumption, and this is often where additional settings are hidden that duplicate or extend the functionality of the standard Android settings menu.
Open the Security app on the home screen or in the Tools folder. Find the Traffic icon (usually green). From the menu that opens, select Settings (cog in the corner) or go straight to Traffic Limit. Here you can set a monthly limit, after which the phone will automatically turn off mobile Internet or enable hard savings.
Inside the Traffic section, you can also get app-specific detailing. You can see how many megabytes each program consumed in a given day or month. If an application consumes too much data, you can limit its background activity right here. Click on the program name and uncheck the Mobile Data or Background Connection box.
| Parameter | Description of action | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Global economy | Blocks background traffic for all applications | High (maximum savings) |
| Traffic limit | Shuts down the Internet after the packet is exhausted | Average (overspending protection) |
| Background data limitation | Prohibits data transfer in sleep mode | Low (affects notifications only) |
| Browser compression | Proxy traffic through servers | Medium (accelerates loading) |
Using the Security app gives you deeper control over network interfaces, and you can set up alerts to reach a certain flow threshold, which is useful for charging with an hourly fee or a limited package.
Specificity of browsers and data compression
Even if you’ve turned off system traffic savings, some apps, most notably browsers, may have their own built-in data compression mechanisms. For example, Chrome or UC Browser often offer a “Light” or “Traffic Saving” mode, which lets pages through its servers by compressing images and scripts before sending them to your phone.
To make sure that the browser does not limit the quality of content, open its settings. In Google Chrome, this is a three-point menu → Settings → Traffic Saving (or Lite mode). Make sure the switch is turned off. In Yandex.Browser, a similar feature is called Turbo and is located in the browser settings menu. Disabling these features will return the original quality of images and videos.
⚠️ Note: Enabling the compression mode in the browser can lead to incorrect display of some sites, as server processing can disrupt the operation of complex JavaScript code.
Also, some news aggregators and social networks (like Facebook Lite or Twitter Lite) are inherently lightweight versions. They always consume less traffic, but they also have their functionality cut down. If you want full quality, use the main versions of apps, not their "light" counterparts.
Why is the video in low quality without saving money?
Also worth checking is the settings for autoplaying videos on social networks. On Instagram, VKontakte or TikTok, under "Settings and privacy" → "Media", you can select the quality of video downloads when using mobile data. Set High or Automatic to avoid blurred images.
Impact of energy saving mode on the network
There's a direct link between battery settings and traffic consumption. When you activate Power Saving or Super Battery Saver on Xiaomi, the system primarily limits background processes, CPU frequency and, importantly for our topic, network activity. This can look like the Internet is off or pages are very slow loading.
If you have a charge saving mode on, turning off data savings through the standard menu may not be enough. either completely from the energy saving mode or configure the power saving mode exceptions. Go to Settings → Battery → Energy saving and check what restrictions are imposed on the network connection in the active profile.
In advanced battery settings (often hidden behind multiple taps according to the battery version or in the developer menu), you can prevent the system from turning off Wi-Fi in sleep mode. By default, to save energy, the phone can break the Wi-Fi connection when the screen goes out, switching to mobile Internet or staying without a network at all. Find the Wi-Fi option in the battery settings and choose Always Keep on.
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For maximum network and battery performance, use the original charger and cable. Unstable voltage can cause failures in the communication module.
Users who are constantly struggling with autonomy should consider buying a power bank instead of keeping the phone in austerity mode, which cripples the functionality of the device.The modern Snapdragon and Dimensity processors are efficient enough to run all day in normal mode.
Solving synchronization and notification problems
A common problem after updating a firmware or changing a carrier is the lack of push notifications, a classic symptom of the MIUI data saving and aggressive memory management system, and if messages only come after opening an application, then background activity is completely blocked.
In addition to the traffic settings already described, check the notification settings. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Application notifications. Make sure that important programs (mail, messengers, banking applications) are allowed to display notifications and, if there is such an option, priority display.
It is also critical to check the performance of Google Play Services, which is the system component responsible for delivering push notifications, if it is subject to traffic or battery restrictions, notifications will stop coming from all applications using Google’s standard mechanism, and make sure that Google Play Services have permission to use data indefinitely.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting network settings (Settings) → Connection and sharing → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Networks and Bluetooth Could Help If Misconfigurations Are the Problem APN point.
In rare cases, the problem may be on the part of the operator, who applies their methods of compressing traffic (for example, the option “Turbo button” or compression of images in the tariff).
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Integrated approach to setup: disabling savings in only one place (for example, in a browser) will not work if the global system limiter continues to work.