How to turn off geolocation in Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

In today’s digital world, where every step of ours can be tracked, privacy is more pressing than ever. Xiaomi smartphones, powered by MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, are equipped with powerful navigation modules that are active by default and constantly scan space, necessary for maps, weather widgets and finding the nearest Wi-Fi points, but for many users, constant collection of location data is an unacceptable invasion of privacy.

Disabling geolocation is not just a way to become invisible to corporations, but also an effective way to extend the battery life of your device. GPS uses a significant amount of power, especially when applications are actively requesting coordinates in the background. In this guide, we will look at all the available ways to deactivate geolocation services, from simple switches in the curtain to deep system settings that will help you fully control your data.

It's important to understand that completely disabling GPS can affect the functionality of some applications, such as taxis, navigators or food delivery services. However, with knowledge of fine-tuning permissions, you can find a balance between the usability of your smartphone and the level of privacy you want, and we'll look at how to do it as competently as possible without disrupting critical system processes.

Quick shutdown via control panel

The easiest and most obvious way to stop the coordinate transfer is to use a quick access panel, ideal for situations where you need to temporarily hide your location or quickly save battery power. On most Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco models, the algorithm of actions is almost identical and does not require deep immersion in the menu.

To do this, you need to unlock your smartphone screen and swipe down from the top edge of the display to open the control center. Depending on the version of the shell, the icons can be placed as a list or grid. Find an icon designated as Location or GPS, which usually looks like a compass or a pin. If you don't see it on the first screen, swipe to the left or click on the edit button (usually three dots or a pencil) to add a widget to the main panel page.

Clicking on the icon changes its status from active to inactive, at which point the system stops scanning satellites and Wi-Fi networks to determine the coordinates. Note that some versions of MIUI may have a pop-up on the first shutdown warning that some applications may not work properly, which is the standard security behavior.

⚠️ Note: When using the fast shutdown method, some system services, such as Device Search or Automatic Time Synchronization, may stop functioning before the module is reactivated.

Deep customization through the system menu

For those who prefer full control of the device, a standard switch may not be enough. Xiaomi's system settings menu offers a more detailed approach to not only turn off GPS, but also adjust location modes. This is especially true for users who want to leave the Wi-Fi definition on but turn off satellite navigation.

To get into the advanced settings, go to the main menu and select Settings. Next, scroll down to Privacy or Additional Settings, depending on your firmware version. Inside this section, you will find Location Access. Here you will see a global switch that duplicates the function from the curtain, but also gives access to additional options.

The access menu often hides an important setting, which is Position Mode. The system can offer several options: GPS only, network only, or combined mode. Selecting the option "GPS Only" (High Accuracy) provides maximum accuracy, but it puts the battery down faster. If your goal is maximum anonymity, make sure that all the switches in this menu are in the "Off" position.

It’s worth noting that the HyperOS shell has slightly changed the logic of the menu to improve the user experience, and now geolocation settings are often taken to a separate subsection at the top of the settings menu or integrated into the privacy dashboard, which visualizes which apps have accessed your coordinates in the past 24 hours.

Managing permissions for individual applications

Global geolocation shutdown is a radical measure that can disrupt instant messengers, maps, and banking applications. A much more flexible approach is selective permission management. Android, which powers Xiaomi smartphones, allows you to set individual rules for each installed application, ensuring a balance between functionality and privacy.

To set up, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Select an app you are interested in, such as a social network or game. From the menu that opens, look for App Permissions or Access Rights. Here you will see the location status. By clicking on it, you can select one of three options: “Always Allowed”, “Only Allowed in Use” or “Forbidden”.

The best choice for most services is the "Only in Use" mode, in which case, once you fold the application or it goes into the background, access to the app is available. GPS-This prevents the hidden collection of data about your movements when you are not interacting directly with the program.

⚠️ Note: Some applications, especially banking ones, may require geolocation to confirm the security of transactions. If the application stops working after the access is denied, try returning the "Only when using" mode».

Disabling Google Location History

Even if you have disabled system-level coordinate transfer, a Google account tied to a Xiaomi smartphone can continue to store your travel history if the feature is activated at the server level or through other devices, a separate set of settings that is often overlooked in the quest for complete anonymity.

To stop this information from being collected, open your phone's Settings and search for the Google section. Inside the menu, select Location, then go to Google Location History. The system will redirect you to the browser or open the built-in acc-un management window. Here you need to find the Location History switch and deactivate it.

It's also recommended that you periodically clean up your data, and in the same history menu, there's a Remove or History Management button that allows you to erase all the stored travel tracks over a period or over time, which is irreversible, but it greatly improves your digital hygiene.

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Use Incognito mode in Google Maps if you need to use navigation temporarily without saving a track in your account history, faster than constantly turning on and off a global story.

Special features and precise location

The current versions of Android 12, 13 and 14, which are already available on many Xiaomi smartphones, have introduced the approximation location feature, a revolutionary change in privacy policy that allows applications to access geodata without specifying exact coordinates with an accuracy of a meter.

When you give an application access to a location, the system can tell you to choose "Allow precise location" or leave that setting off. If you turn off accuracy, the app will only see an approximate area of your location (for example, the city center), but not a specific house or street, which is often enough for weather services or news feeds.

In addition, the Special Features section sometimes hides services that have priority access to GPS even when the main module is off, check the list of installed service applications and make sure that there are no suspicious programs among them that can use geolocation to bypass basic settings.

For advanced users, there is also the ability to disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning for geolocation, which is used to triangulate a position in rooms where there is no satellite signal. → Additional settings → Confidentiality → Disabling the “Wi-Fi Scan” and “Bluetooth Scan” will make location almost impossible without active use. GPS-chip.

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Turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning for geolocation is a hidden setting that really increases anonymity, as these sensors work even when the main communication module is turned off.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In conclusion, we have collected answers to the most popular questions that users have when trying to limit surveillance on their Xiaomi devices.