How to completely disable location on Xiaomi Redmi 8: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its location tracking features can be a source of questions for privacy-conscious users. Geolocation is used not only by maps and navigators, but also by advertising networks, social networks, and sometimes even MIUI system services. In this article, we will examine all possible ways to disable location from basic settings to hidden settings for power users.

It is important to understand that completely disabling geodata can affect the operation of some applications (for example, Yandex.Maps or Google Maps will lose accuracy), but it will significantly increase privacy. 8 latest-edition MIUI 12/13/14 — The instructions are also relevant for other models of the line Redmi/Poco firmware.

1. Disable location through notification panel

The quickest way to temporarily deactivate geolocation is to use the Quick Settings Panel, which is suitable if you need to turn off tracking for a short time (e.g. during a meeting or a trip).

How to do this:

• 📱 Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
• 🔍 Find the Location icon (usually looks like an arrow or pin).
• 🔘 Slip it once – the icon will turn gray, and geolocation will turn off for all applications.

⚠️ Note: This method does not block background location for system services (e.g. com.miui.analytic or com.google.android.gms.

2. Complete shutdown in system settings

If you want to permanently disable geolocation, you need to go to the basic settings of MIUI. This method blocks access to GPS, Wi-Fi triangulation and mobile tower data for all applications except for system services with increased rights.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to Memory and Geo-Position → Geo-Position (in some versions of MIUI, the path may be Additional → Privacy → Geo-Position).
3. Move the slider "Geoposition" to the position off.
4. Confirm the action in the dialog box (if it appears).

After that, all applications requesting location access will be denied, but some system processes (such as network search or emergency calls) may still use approximate data.

Make sure the GPS icon in the notification bar is grey | Try to open Maps – no signal should appear |Reboot your phone and check settings again | Open Settings → Apps → Permissions → Geo-position and make sure all apps are disabled

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3. Disabling geodata for individual applications

Not all users want to completely abandon geolocation – sometimes it is enough to ban access to only certain programs (for example, social networks or advertising). SDK). V MIUI This is done through the permission menu.

Instructions:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 📌 Select the app you want (such as Facebook or AliExpress).
• 📍 Slip on the Permits. → Geoposition.
• 🚫 Select "Disallow" or "During Use Only" (if you want to restrict background access).

List of applications that most often request geodata without a good reason:

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as bank or taxi) may block access to features when geolocation is disabled.

4. Disconnection through Developer Mode (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use hidden developer mode settings, which allows you to turn off even system geodata requests, but you need to be careful - wrong actions can disrupt MIUI.

How to activate and use:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times in a row) will appear notification "You became a developer!".
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option to Disable geolocation permissions (or Mock Location App – if you need to change data).
4. Activate it and restart the device.

🔹 Additional Options for Advanced Users:

• 🛠️ Disable Wi-Fi scanning – blocks location over networks.
• 📡 Disable Bluetooth scanning – prevents the use of beacons for geopositioning.
• 🔄 Resetting geo-position settings – returns all permissions to factory.

5.Use of third-party applications to block geodata

If you don't like MIUI, you can use specialized utilities that not only disable geolocation, but also change coordinates (useful for testing or circumventing regional restrictions).

Top.-3 geo-positioning applications:

⚠️ Note: Location swap apps can Conflict with Google Play Protection and lead to bans in games (e.g., Google Play, Pokémon GO). Use them only when necessary and disable them after use.

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If you use Fake GPS Location, turn on the Mock Location App option in your developer settings before you start, and select this application. Otherwise, the coordinates will not be changed.

6. Hardware shutdown GPS-module (extreme case)

For users who need a 100% tracking guarantee, there is a radical method – physical disabling. GPS-This is true for enterprise devices or for high-security applications, but it has serious downsides:

Consequences of hardware shutdown:

• 🚫 Total loss of navigation functionality (including Glonass and Galileo).
• 🔋 Possible problems with timing over the network (used for synchronization).
• 🛠️ Loss of warranty (if the device is under warranty).
• 📡 Some applications (such as banking) may block access.

If you decide to take this step, you will need:

1. Redmi 8 (instructions are available on YouTube or iFixit)
2. Find it. GPS-module (usually located next to antenna contacts).
3. Solder or cut the power track (a soldering iron and experience with electronics is required).

🔹 Alternatively, instead of physically shutting down, you can use foil or Faraday's screen to block the signal. It's a reversible method, but it will not only turn off the signal. GPS, but also mobile.

💡

Hardware GPS shutdown is an irreversible process for most users, and before you resort to it, try all the software methods and assess the risks.

Verification of the effectiveness of geolocation disengagement

After applying any of the methods, it is important to make sure that the location is not really determined.

Services for verification:

• 🌍 Google Maps – must show an error or last known location.
• 📍 GPS Coordinates – displays current coordinates (must be missing or inaccurate).
• 🔍 Settings → Geoposition → Recent requests – list of apps that have tried to access.

If the coordinates are still being determined:

1. Check if geolocation is enabled in your Google Account (Google Account Management setting → Data and personalization → Location History).
2. Make sure there are no active VPNs or proxy that can transmit location data.
3. Restart your phone – sometimes system services cache geodata.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi 8