Location settings for Xiaomi: where to find and how to set up GPS and geodata

Have you just bought a new Xiaomi smartphone or upgraded your MIUI firmware, and suddenly found that maps stopped determining your location and taxi services refused to work? / Illiperhaps on the contrary - are you worried that too many applications have access to your geodata? / In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to manage location settings on Xiaomi devices, from basic parameters to hidden functions for power users.

The manufacturer regularly updates the MIUI interface, so the paths to settings may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (for example, in MIUI 12 vs MIUI 14).We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit most models - from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. And if you are a user of POCO or Black Shark - do not worry, their firmware is the same MIUI, so the instructions apply to them.

Before we get into the details, the main question is why do we need location settings at all? First, they run navigation services (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps, 2GIS). Second, many applications, from weather to food delivery, use geodata to personalize. Third, incorrect settings can lead to a quick discharge of the battery due to constant scanning. GPS-So the ability to manage these parameters is the key to balancing convenience and privacy.

Where is the main menu of location settings

The fastest way to open geolocation settings is through the notification bar. Swipe your finger from top to bottom across the screen to open the curtain, and then find the icon with the image of the compass arrow (🧭). Click on it, and it turns geolocation on or off globally for all applications, but it's just the tip of the iceberg: you have to go to the settings section to fine-tune it.

Full path to the menu:

Settings → Privacy → Application permissions → Location

In some versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 13 Global), the path may look like this:

Settings → Applications → Permissions → Location

After you move to the section, you will see three key blocks:

• 🔄 Precision mode – the choice between high accuracy (GPS)+Wi-Fi+mobile networks, battery savings (wifi and network only) or GPS.
• 📱 Latest Location Requests – List of apps that have recently received your coordinates.
• ⚙️ Additional settings – here are hidden settings for scanning Bluetooth devices and improving accuracy.

Location Accuracy Modes: Which to Choose

The mode you choose will not only determine the accuracy of the positioning, but also the battery consumption.

Travel tip: If you are in a densely built city, High Accuracy mode will help avoid navigation errors due to the "canyon effect" (where the GPS signal is reflected from buildings), while in rural areas, GPS Only is enough - additional data from Wi-Fi and towers only plant batteries.

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If you notice that the battery is running out faster than usual, check to see if the High Accuracy mode is on all the time. Many applications (such as fitness trackers) can quietly activate it in the background.

How to limit access to geodata applications

By default, many apps request location access when they first run, but not everyone really needs it to work, like why Facebook or TikTok should know where you are? In this section, we'll learn how to manage permissions.

Step 1: Go to Settings → Privacy → Application Permissions → Location.

Step 2: You will see a list of all installed applications grouped by access status:

• 🔒 Prohibited – applications without access to geodata.
• 🔄 Only during use – access is enabled only when the application is open.
• ⏰ Always – the application can receive coordinates even in the background.

Step 3: Click on any app on the list to change its permissions. For example, for Google Maps, it makes sense to choose Always (to keep navigation in the background running), and for Instagram, Only during use or Disallow.

Disable location access for social media|Check the applications with permission "Always"|Remove unused applications with access to GPS|Set up notifications about geodata requests-->

⚠️ Warning: Some system applications (such as Mi Cloud or Find Device) require location access to run the lost phone search features. Disabling permissions for them may make it impossible to track the device in the event of a theft.

Hidden settings: how to improve GPS accuracy

If your Xiaomi is not good at catching satellites or taking a long time to determine coordinates, hidden settings may help. They are available through the engineering menu, but beware - incorrect changes can disrupt the GPS module.

Method 1: Update the AGPS (Assisted GPS) data:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##1472365###.
2. In the menu that appears, select "Delete AGPS Data", then "Update AGPS Data".
3. Reboot the phone.

Method 2: Manually configure AGPS servers (for power users):

Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times to turn on Developer Mode) → Additional → For Developers → Select a location simulation app

Method 3: Using GPS diagnostic applications like GPS Status & Toolbox or GPSTest.

• 🛰️ Number of satellites visible (optimum: 8)+ high-precision).
• 📶 Signal level (SN Ratio; values above 30 dB are a good signal).
• 🔄 Time of last data update (TTFF; must have < 30 seconds).

GPS problems on Xiaomi: causes and solutions

Even new Xiaomi smartphones can have location problems, and here are the most common scenarios and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods helped, perhaps the problem is hardware failure. GPS-This is true for devices that have fallen or got moisture, and only repairs at the service center will help:

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Once you enter, the GPS test menu will open, and if the satellites are not detected even in open areas, the module is defective.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) after upgrading to MIUI 13 users encountered a bug when GPS The solution was to turn off battery optimization for navigation applications in the Settings section. → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

Geozone and Automation: Extended Functions

Have you ever wanted your phone to automatically turn on silent mode when you're at work, or to play music when you walk into the gym? MIUI has built-in tools for this, geofencing, that allow you to link your device to specific coordinates.

How to set up a geofence:

1. Go to Settings → Advanced functions → Geozone.
2. Click "Add Geo-fence" and specify the address or coordinates on the map.
3. Select the radius of the zone (100 to 1000 meters).
4. Set up an action such as “Enable Wi-Fi” or “Send Notification”.

Examples of useful scenarios:

• 🏠 Automatic Wi-Fi connection when you return from work.
• 🚗 Starting the navigator (for example, Yandex.Navigator) when approaching the parking lot.
• 📵 Switch to "Do Not Disturb" in the office.
• 🔋 Notification to charge powerbank if you are leaving home for a long time.

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Geosons only work when High Accuracy is on and the Internet is active, otherwise the phone won't be able to track your location in the background.

For more flexible automation, you can use third-party applications like MacroDroid or Tasker, which allow you to create chains of actions, for example:

Scenario: "If I am within 500 meters of a fitness club and between 18:00 and 20:00, then start the player with a list of training music and turn on the "Do Not Disturb" mode for 1 hour."

Security: How to Protect Your Geodata

In the digital age, location is one of the most valuable types of personal data, and attackers can use it to track your movements, and advertising companies can use it to target advertising.

1. Turn off Google Location History:

• Open Google Maps. → Tap the avatar. → Your chronicle. → ⚙️ Settings → Location history → Turn off the slider.
• Delete the saved history: History Management → Select period → Delete.

2. Set up geodata access notifications:

In MIUI, you can turn on alerts when the application first requests location access:

Settings → Privacy → Application permissions → ⚙️ (top right) → Enable "Notify permission requests"

3. Use a VPN to mask coordinates:

Some of them VPN-Services (e.g. ProtonVPN or NordVPN) allow you to replace not only the IP-And that's useful if you want to hide your real location from certain applications:

• 🚫 Navigation applications (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) will stop working correctly.
• ⚠️ Some banking applications may block access upon detection VPN.

⚠️ Note: In some countries (e.g. Russia), the law requires telecom operators to provide location data on the request of law enforcement agencies. VPN It doesn't protect you from this, because the operator still knows which tower your phone is connected to. GSM Kill Switch).

FAQ: Frequent questions about location settings on Xiaomi