How to completely disable Google geolocation on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Why does Google geolocation work on Xiaomi even after it’s turned off?

Have you noticed that Google continues to track your location on Xiaomi despite all the manipulation of settings? This is not paranoia - this is how the Google Mobile Services (GMS) ecosystem works. Even if you have turned off geolocation in your smartphone settings, individual services (such as Google Play Services or Google Maps) can secretly activate it to "improve the user experience."

On Xiaomi devices, the situation is complicated by two factors: first, MIUI has its own location services, which sometimes conflict with Android settings. Second, many models (especially POCO and Redmi for the global market) come with pre-installed Google services that cannot be removed without root rights. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable geolocation, including hidden MIUI settings and bypassing Google restrictions.

It's important to understand that completely disabling geolocation will affect some features, from maps to weather widgets, but if privacy is more important to you than convenience, the following methods will help minimize surveillance.

Method 1: Disabling geolocation in Android settings

To begin with, the basic method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI 12-14 disables system-level geolocation, but doesn’t guarantee 100% results due to Google’s background processes.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Safety parameters → Application authorizations → Location.
• 🔄 Transfer the slider to the off position at the top of the screen.
• 🔍 Scroll down and click Latest Location Requests to see which apps have tried to access.
• 🚫 Go back and select additionally. → Accuracy of location → Turn off Wi-Fi Search and Bluetooth Search.

Note that even after these actions, some system applications (e.g. com.google.android.gms) may occasionally enable geolocation. To check this, use the AppOps app (requires ADB or root rights).

Method 2: Blocking access to geolocation for Google applications

If you don't want to turn off geolocation completely (maps or a navigator are needed), you can only block access to Google services, a more targeted approach, but requires manual adjustment.

How to restrict access:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type Google – all related applications will appear.
3. Open it in turn: 📍 Google Play Services → Permits → Location → Banned 🗺️ Google Maps → Permits → Location → Only during use (or prohibited) 🔍 Google (main application) → Permits → Location → Banned

For reliability, restart the smartphone.

⚠️ Note: After this, Google Maps will not be able to determine your location in real time.

Method 3: Disable Google’s Location Service (GPS)

This is a method that is suitable for users who are willing to sacrifice geolocation accuracy in favor of privacy. We will disable high-precision location detection, which uses GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile tower data.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings. → Location.
2. Click Mode (or Definition Method in older versions of MIUI).
3. Select Device Only (only GPS is used, without Google data).
4. Go back and turn it off: 📶 Wi-Fi Scanner (Improving Accuracy but Transmitting Data to Google) 📡 Bluetooth scanner (used for Google Nearby)

💡 Useful tip: If you only need geolocation for specific applications (e.g. Yandex.Maps), set Device Only mode and allow location access only to these applications.

Method 4: Using ADB to completely disable Google geolocation

For advanced users who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), There's a way to completely block Google's access to geolocation at the system level, and it doesn't require root rights, but it requires a computer and a computer. USB-cable.

Instructions:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Xiaomi: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version until the notification appears.

Settings → Additional → For Developers

USB debugging

ADB

adb shell pm revoke com.google.android.gms android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION


adb shell pm revoke com.google.android.gms android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION




adb shell pm revoke com.google.android.gms android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION

Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: These commands will deny Google Play Services access to geolocation, which can cause some applications (e.g. Google Pay or Fitbit) to crash.To regain access, replace revoke with grant in the commands above.

Method 5: Remove Google Play Services Updates (for older versions of MIUI)

On devices with MIUI 11 and below, there is the option to roll back Google Play Services to the factory version, limiting its functionality, including geodata collection.

How to roll back:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Play Services and open it.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Remove updates.
4. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi resets all data on the device!In addition, using custom firmware can deprive you of warranty and lead to problems with Google Pay, Netflix and other services requiring SafetyNet.

The alternative is to use MicroG instead of GMS, which is an open implementation of Google services that doesn't transmit location data, but it requires technical knowledge to set up.

💡

Before installing custom firmware, make a full backup via TWRP or Swift Backup, which will allow you to recover data if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling geolocation on Xiaomi