Where to see Internet traffic on Android Xiaomi: step-by-step guide

Have you noticed that the mobile data on Xiaomi began to end too quickly? Or want to understand which application is eating up your traffic in the background? In this article, we will look at all the ways to check Internet traffic consumption on smartphones Redmi, POCO and other devices with firmware MIUI —from built-in tools to third-party applications.

Control of traffic is especially important if you have a limited tariff plan or you often use mobile data in roaming. MIUI has a hidden function for recording traffic for individual SIM cards - it is often missed even by experienced users. We will show you how to use it, and also talk about the nuances of resetting statistics and setting up warnings.

It doesn’t matter whether you use Xiaomi 13 Ultra or budget Redmi Note 12 —the instructions are suitable for all models based on Android 10–14 with the MIUI shell. If the built-in tools do not suit you, we will select the best alternative applications with advanced analytics.

1. Built-in traffic counter in MIUI: where to look and how to configure

The easiest way is to use the standard traffic managerbuilt into the MIUI firmware. It shows data consumption across all apps and allows you to set limits and warnings. Here's how to find it:

1. Open Settings (gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to section Connections and sharing (or SIM cards and mobile networks in older versions of MIUI).
3. Select Data usage (may be called Data traffic).
4. Click on Mobile traffic for details.

Here you will see:

• 📊 Consumption graph for the current month (you can change the period manually).
• 📱 List of applications sorted by the volume of traffic consumed.
• ⚠️ Warnings —if enabled, the system will notify when the limit is exceeded.
• 🔄 Resetting statistics - useful at the beginning of a new billing period.

Please note: by default, MIUI shows total traffic (Wi-Fi + mobile data) To see only mobile data, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and. select Show mobile traffic only.

2. How to enable warnings about traffic excess

To avoid being without the Internet at the most inopportune moment, set up automatic notifications. To do this:

1. In the menu Data usage (see previous section) click on Traffic alert.
2. Activate the switch at the top of the screen.
3. Specify traffic limit (for example, 5 GB) and warning threshold (for example, 80% of the limit).
4. Click Save.

Now, when you reach 80% of the specified limit (in our example - 4 GB), you will receive a notification. And when the traffic approaches 5 GB, the Internet will automatically turn off (if the option is enabled Disable mobile data when the limit is exceeded).

Specify the exact traffic limit|Select a warning threshold (70–90%)|Enable the automatic shutdown option|Save settings

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⚠️ Attention: If you use eSIM or virtual operator (for example, Tele2 network-based MegaFon), statistics may be reset when reconnecting to the network. Check the current data in the operator’s personal account.

3. Viewing traffic for individual applications

To find out which application is “eating” your traffic, return to the section Data usage i:

1. Scroll down to the block Mobile data usage.
2. Click on any application from the list (for example, YouTube or TikTok).
3. You will see detailed statistics:
   • 📅 Background traffic (consumption in collapsed state).
   • 📤 Outgoing/incoming traffic (downloading and uploading data).
   • 🛑 Limit background —useful for saving (disables background activity).

If some application consumes too much, you can:

• 🚫 Disable background traffic (option in the application card).
• 🔒 Limit access to mobile data (Wi-Fi only).
• 🗑️ Clear cache (sometimes helps reduce consumption).

For example, Facebook and Instagram can spend up to 1–2 GB per month only on background updates. Disabling this option will save up to 30% of traffic.

Social networks (VK, TikTok)|Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)|Video (YouTube, Twitch)|Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact)|Other-->

4. Hidden function: traffic on SIM cards (for dual-SIM Xiaomi)

If your Xiaomi supports two SIM cards, MIUI keeps statistics separately for each. However, this section is hidden deeper, and many users do not know about it. To see the consumption for each SIM card:

1. Open Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks.
2. Select one of the SIM cards (for example, SIM 1).
3. Click on Usage data.
4. You will see statistics only for this SIM card.

This is useful if you have:

• 📱 Different tariffs on each SIM card (for example, one for calls, the other for the Internet).
• 🌍 Roaming —you can track your travel expenses.
• 🔄 Switching between operators (for example, MTS and Beeline).

⚠️ Attention: In some versions of MIUI (for example, MIUI 12.5 for Redmi 9) SIM card statistics may be reset after the device is rebooted. In this case, use third-party applications (see section 6).

5. How to reset traffic statistics manually

By default, MIUI resets the traffic counter on the first day of every month. But if your tariff plan starts, for example, on the 15th, you will have to reset the data manually. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to Settings → Connections and sharing → Data usage.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
3. Select Reset statistics.
4. Confirm the action.

You can also change here bill cycle (for example, set the reset every 30 days from a specific date). This is convenient for tariffs with a non-standard billing period.

Action	Where to find	Note
Reset statistics	Data usage → ⋮ → Resetting statistics	Does not reset warning settings
Changing the counting cycle	Data usage → ⋮ → Counting cycle	You can select any start date
Export data	Use data → ⋮ → Export	Saves statistics to a file .csv
Limit the background for everyone applications	Data usage → ⋮ → Limit background	Saves up to 40% of traffic

What will happen if you do not reset the statistics?

If you do not reset the counter manually, MIUI will continue to accumulate data, and after a few months the chart will become unreadable. In addition, warnings about exceeding the limit will not work correctly, since the system will take into account traffic for the entire period, and not for the current month.

6. Third-party applications for traffic tracking: TOP-3 for Xiaomi

If the built-in MIUI tools are not enough, try specialized applications. They offer advanced analytics, widgets, and even blocking of power hungry apps. The best options:

• 📈 My Data Manager (free, there is a premium version)

  • Tracks traffic in real time.
  • Shows consumption by hour/day.
  • Can block background activity.

• 🛡️ GlassWire (free, with purchases)

  • Visualizes traffic in the form of a graph.
  • Identifies suspicious activity.
  • Works without root access.

• 🔍 NetGuard (free, open source code)

  • Blocks Internet access for individual applications.
  • Does not require root on Android 5.0+.
  • Supports Wi-Fi/mobile data rules.

To install any of these applications:

1. Download it from Google Play.
2. When you first start, provide access to VPN settings (this is needed to account for traffic).
3. Set up limits and warnings in the application menu.

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (for example NetGuard) may conflict with MIUI power saving modes. If the Internet is lost after installation, add the application to the battery exceptions (Settings → Battery → Battery optimization).

7. Checking traffic through the operator's personal account

If you need official data from the operator (without taking into account system errors), check the consumption in your personal account: Methods depend on your provider:

• 📱 MTS: Send a USSD command *100*1# or use the application My MTS.

• 🏢 Beeline: Dial *102# or go to website my.beeline.ru.

• 🌐 MegaFon: USSD *100*8# or application MegaFon-Service.

• ⚡ Tele2: Teams *155*1# (balance) and *155*5# (details).

Please note: operator data may differ from the statistics on the phone by 5-10% due to:

• 🔄 Caching (MIUI takes into account traffic with a delay).
• 📡 Service packages (the operator may not show technical data).
• ⏱️ Time differences (resetting statistics on the operator's server).

If the difference is significant (more than 20%), contact the operator’s support - paid services may be activated on your number.

8. Frequent problems and their solutions

Sometimes the traffic counter in MIUI does not work correctly. Here are the problems and how to fix them:

Problem	Cause	Solution
Traffic is not reset	Failure in MIUI settings	Set the counting cycle manually or clear the cache Settings
Shows 0 MB when the Internet is active	Background limit for all applications	Disable Limit background in the traffic menu
Roaming consumption is not taken into account	MIUI can ignore roaming data	Use the application My Data Manager
Statistics are reset after reboot	Error in the firmware (often on MIUI 12-13)	Update the software or roll back to a stable version

If none of the methods helped, try:

1. Reset network settings (Settings → Connections → Network reset).
2. Update MIUI to the latest version.
3. Install an alternative launcher (for example Nova Launcher) - sometimes this solves problems with system services.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

🔹 Why does MIUI show more traffic consumption than that of operator?

MIUI takes into account all traffic, including system updates, background synchronization and caching. The operator may not show service packets (for example, for authorization on the network). A difference of 10-15% is normal. If the gap is larger, check applications for viruses or reset the network settings.

🔹 Is it possible to see traffic for the last month?

History is not saved in the standard MIUI counter. But you can:

1. Export data before resetting (Data usage → ⋮ → Export).
2. Use third-party applications (for example, My Data Manager maintains an archive).
3. Check the history in the operator’s personal account (usually stored for 3-6 months).

🔹 How to limit traffic for a specific application?

In MIUI:

1. Open Data Usage.
2. Click on the desired application.
3. Activate Limit background or Prohibit mobile data.

For complete blocking, use NetGuard (VPN mode setting is required).

🔹 Why did the traffic counter disappear after updating MIUI?

In some firmware versions (for example, MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 12) section Data usage moved to Settings → Connections and sharing → Mobile network → Data usage. If it is not there at all, try:

• Reset settings (Settings → About phone → Reset settings).
• Install Google Data Usage Monitor from the Play Market.

🔹 How to learn how much traffic a VPN uses?

MIUI does not separate traffic by connection type, but you can:

1. Disable VPN and compare consumption before/after.
2. Use GlassWire —it shows traffic by process, including VPN connections.
3. Check statistics in the VPN application itself (for example, ProtonVPN or NordVPN display consumption).