Owners of modern Xiaomi smartphones often face a situation where the device requests access to the location even when using simple applications. Location Services are a powerful tool that helps maps, weather widgets and device search work correctly. However, constant scanning of GPS satellites and using cell towers to determine the coordinates can significantly affect the autonomy of the gadget.
In Android, which runs the MIUI or HyperOS shell, this process is centrally managed, the user does not need to completely remove the GPS module, adjust access rights correctly or temporarily suspend the module, this is especially true in situations where maximum privacy is required or the battery life in standby mode needs to be extended.
Many users mistakenly believe that simply switching the slider in the notification curtain completely stops all the processes associated with determining the coordinates. In practice, system services and some applications can continue background data collection, if you do not change the settings in the deep menu of the system.
Why Manage Access to Geo-Positioning
The main reason users are keen to limit Location Services is battery consumption.The GPS module is one of the most energy-intensive components of a smartphone. When an app constantly requests coordinates, the processor cannot go into deep sleep mode, which leads to a rapid discharge.
The second aspect is digital hygiene and privacy, apps often collect information about user movements to create an advertising profile, and when you turn off access, you limit the collection of digital footprint, but it's worth remembering that some features will stop working properly.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling geolocation services completely will make it impossible for navigators, taxi services and device search.
It's also important to distinguish between geolocation and network geolocation, the first using satellites, the second using tower triangulation and Wi-Fi routers, and these settings are often combined on Redmi and POCO smartphones, but have different priority levels in the system.
Quick shutdown via notification panel
The easiest way to temporarily suspend navigation modules is to use the Quick Access Panel, which blocks requests from most applications, but does not always stop system services completely.
Find an icon that usually looks like an arrow or a tag icon on the map. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, it can be called "Location" or "GPS." Clicking on this item changes its status to "Off." If the icon is not on the first page, swipe left or tap on a pencil to edit the panel.
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Add the Battery widget to the home screen to see which apps are using the most charge in the background, including those using GPS.
It is worth noting that after restarting the device, some smartphone models can automatically reactivate this module if the "Improving accuracy" function is enabled.
The use of a quick switch is convenient in situations where you need to hide your location or save charge, but this solution is temporary.
Deep setting in the system menu
To get a more detailed look at how Location Services interacts with the operating system, you need to go to the basic settings, where you can not only turn off the module, but also configure modes of operation that affect accuracy and power consumption.
Go to the Settings menu, then select Additional Features or Privacy (depending on the Android version).Look for Location (or Geoservices). Inside this menu, you will see a general inclusion slider and a list of apps requesting access.
☑️ Checking privacy settings
An important element here is Mode. Often the default is High Accuracy mode, which uses GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks simultaneously. Switching to Device Only (GPS only) or Charge Saving (network only) can significantly change the behavior of the system.
Newer versions of the HyperOS shell offer the ability to manage resolutions more flexibly, so you can choose a "Only in Use" option for each application, which prevents background data collection when the application is folded, which is the optimal balance between functionality and security.
Managing permissions for individual applications
You don't have to completely shut down your GPS to stop a particular app from being followed. Android allows you to issue voting rights, which is especially useful for social networks and stores that only need your location to serve ads.
To set this up, go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Select the program you want from the list, click on Application Permissions and find Location. Here you can choose from three options: “Allow always”, “Allow only during use” or “Disallow”.
| Type of permit | Description of behaviour | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Banned | The app won't get coordinates at all. | Minimum |
| Only when used | GPS is only activated in the active window | Average. |
| Allowed always | Background data collection at any time | High. |
| Ask every time. | Requesting right at each function start | Depends on choice. |
It is recommended to audit installed programs. Often users do not notice that access to the geolocation has, for example, flashlight applications or calculators, which is a clear violation of the logic of operation and a potential security vulnerability.
Google's Hidden Services
System services and advertising Xiaomi
The company’s own system services deserve special attention. Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have built-in mechanisms that use geodata to personalize advertising and work system applications such as “Security” or “Conductor”.
To limit data collection by a company, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data (or Authorization & Security). Find the Advertising Services section and disable personalization. It’s also worth checking the settings in the Security app → Settings (cogs) → Get recommendations.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling system services may lead to incorrect operation of weather widgets, Mi news feed Video/Mi Music and automatic time zone change when traveling.
There is also a hidden developer menu where you can emulate a location or completely disable certain location service providers, but this requires caution.
Remember that system updates can reset some privacy settings, returning them to factory values, and checking these settings periodically will help maintain a high level of digital hygiene.
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Xiaomi system services often take precedence over custom settings, so you need to turn off advertising and data collection in special security sections, not just in application settings.
Impact of navigation and transport
Users often wonder what exactly will stop working after the services are turned off. Obviously, navigators like Yandex.Navigator, Google Maps or 2GIS will not be able to build a route without access to coordinates.
Less obvious consequences are transportation: Taxis (Yandex Go, Uber) will not be able to pinpoint the car's feeding point, and you'll have to enter the address manually, which is uncomfortable if you're in an unfamiliar place.
There may also be problems with Google's Find Device feature and Mi Cloud, where if the phone is lost or stolen, it will be impossible to track it through the map, a critical point to consider before completely shutting down the module.
However, photos taken during this period will not contain geotags (coordinate shooting), which for some users is an additional plus in terms of privacy.