Why geolocation drains the battery and how to turn it off
Geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is not only a convenient navigation tool, but also one of the main “eaters” of battery power. Even in the background, GPS, GLONASS and Wi-Fi scanning modules constantly consume energy, reducing the battery life of the device by 15-30%, while many users do not suspect that geolocation can be turned off partially – for example, only for individual applications or at certain hours.
In this article, we will analyze all methods of deactivating geolocation on Redmi (relevant for the use of the system). MIUI 12/13/14), Including hidden settings that the manufacturer doesn't advertise, you'll learn how to turn off completely. GPS, limit location access for specific programs (including system) and what hidden features MIUI And we're going to be able to automate geolocation management without manual intervention, and we're going to focus on the nuances of popular models, Redmi Note. 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and the flagship Redmi K50/K60.
Before we get to the instructions, it’s important to understand that disabling geolocation affects not only navigation devices like Google Maps or Yandex.Maps, but without access to coordinates, weather widgets, some camera features (photo geotags), and food or taxi delivery services will stop working, so we recommend that you first analyze which apps really need your location.
Method 1: Completely disable geolocation through the notification panel
The fastest method is to use the Quick Settings Panel, which is suitable if you need to temporarily turn off your geolocation (for example, during a trip or to save charge).
- Swipe your finger down the screen to open the notification bar.
- Find the Location icon (usually an arrow or pin) and if it's not there, swipe down again to turn the full panel around.
- You can tap the badge once, and if it's gray, geolocation is off.
⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) After disconnecting through the panel, geolocation can automatically turn on again when the device is restarted. MIUI. To avoid this behavior, use method 2 or 3 of this article.
Also note that completely disabling geolocation through the panel blocks it for all applications, including system ones. If you need to leave access only for individual programs (for example, for Google Maps), move to the next section.
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On some MIUI firmware, the geolocation icon may be hidden behind the Edit button in the notification bar. Find it there and drag it to the main bar for quick access.
Method 2: Selectively disable applications in MIUI settings
If you don’t want to turn off geolocation completely, but want to restrict access to it for individual applications (for example, for social networks or games), use the Application Permissions menu in MIUI.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Location.
- You'll see a list of all the apps that have ever requested geolocation access. Tap on the app you want (like Instagram or AliExpress).
- Choose one of the options: 🔘 Allow All Time – Access to location at any time (maximum battery consumption). 🔘 Allow only during use – access only when the application is open (recommended option). 🔘 Disallow – complete shutdown of access.
System applications (such as Weather or Camera) may require additional confirmation, and in some cases, MIUI warns that disabling geolocation will cause the feature to malfunction, such as stopping updating weather data for your region.
Open Settings → Applications → Permissions
Find the "Location" section
Check out apps with “Always” access
Disable unnecessary permissions
Reboot your phone to apply changes-->
Method 3: Disabling Highly Precision Location Determination
By default, Xiaomi Redmi uses high-precision location determination, which combines data with GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile towers and even Bluetooth. This provides maximum accuracy, but greatly drains the battery. If you do not need ultra-precise geolocation (for example, for walking or geocaching), you can switch to Device Only mode** (only GPS is used).
How to do this:
- Go to Settings → Location.
- Tapping on Mode (or Location Method in older versions of MIUI).
| Regime. | precision | Battery consumption | Example of use |
|---|---|---|---|
| High precision | ± 5 metres | ⚡⚡⚡ (maximum) | Navigation in the city, geocaching |
| Only the device | ±20-50 meters | ⚡ (minimum) | Travel by car, tracking routes |
| Saving charge | ±500-1000 meters | ⚡⚡ (middle-class) | Weather widgets, approximate location |
⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) K40 Redmi Note 12 Pro) after selecting Device Only mode**, the signal may disappear GPS It's normal behavior -- without Wi-Fi data or mobile towers, coordinates only work in open areas.
Method 4: Disable geolocation for Google and MIUI system services
Even if you have turned off geolocation for all applications, some MIUI and Google system services may continue to use your location in the background.
- 📍 Google Location Accuracy improves accuracy by scanning nearby Wi-Fi networks.
- 📍 MIUI Location Service – used for weather widgets and regional settings.
- 📍 Emergency Location Service (ELS) — Sends location to emergency services when calling on 112.
To completely disable these services:
- Go to Settings → Location → Additional (or “Scanner”** in some versions of MIUI).
- Turn off the following switches: 🔘 Wi-Fi scanner (improving accuracy but draining battery). 🔘 Bluetooth scanner (used for iBeacon beacons). 🔘 Google geolocation services (unless you use Google Maps).
⚠️ Warning: Emergency Location Service Disconnection (ELS) It can prevent emergency services from quickly determining your location when calling 112.If you travel frequently or are in unfamiliar places, leave this service on.
What happens if you turn off all geolocation services?
Method 5: Automatically disable geolocation on schedule
If you need to turn off geolocation automatically (for example, at night or at work), use the MIUI Automation tool (formerly called Smart Help) to set up rules without installing third-party apps.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Additional → Automation (or use the search by settings by entering “Automation”).
- Tap “+” (add a new rule) and select “If” (condition).
In the "To" section, select the action "Disable geolocation".
Save the rule and activate it.
An example of a useful rule is, "Disable geolocation at night and turn it on in the morning"**, which will save battery power while you sleep and automatically return location access when you need it.
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Automation in MIUI allows you to create chains of action, for example, you can set a rule: "If the battery is below 15% and geolocation is enabled, disable it and notify the user."
Method 6: Disable geolocation via In-Aircraft mode (hidden method)
Few people know, but Xiaomi Redmi can disable geolocation without notification of system applications using the “On the plane” mode with one trick. This method is useful if you want to completely hide your location from all services, including system.
Step-by-step:
- Activate In Airplane mode** through the notification panel or in Settings → Connections and Sharing → In-Air Mode.
⚠️ Note: This method does not work on all versions. MIUI. On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 for Redmi K60) Once you manually turn on Wi-Fi, the geolocation can be activated again.
The advantage of this is that it bypasses the limitations of system applications that can ignore manual geolocation disabling, but remember that in In-Air mode, mobile and Bluetooth are also disabled.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When disabling geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi, users often face the following problems:
- 🔄 The geolocation is activated by itself after the reboot. Solution: Turn off autoplay for applications that can activate it (e.g. Google Play Services). → Annexes → Autostart control.
- 📍 Some applications ignore the location ban.Solution: System applications (e.g. Weather) may need to be disabled via ADB (guideline).
- 🔋 Battery discharges faster even after shutdown GPS. Solution: Check if high-precision mode or background Wi-Fi scanning is enabled in location settings.
If none of these things worked, you may have a hidden debugging function on your device that forcibly turns on geolocation to turn it off:
1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap on the MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the option “Disable permissions for debugging”** and activate it.
4. Reboot the phone.