Modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO It's impossible to imagine without precise location, and navigators, taxi apps, food delivery services, and even banking services require constant access to your device's coordinates to work properly. GPS-Module many functions of the operating system MIUI HyperOS is not available or is not working properly.
The geolocation activation process on Android devices has its own features that differ from pure Android. Users often face confusing menus or situations when the icon in the curtain is burning and the cards are not working. In this guide, we will examine all the nuances from basic onset to fine-tuning power saving modes, which can block the transfer of coordinates.
You don't need any special skills or root rights to get started, just have an unlocked screen and access to the main menu sections, and we'll look at the standard activation pathways, as well as the hidden settings that are often overlooked when you first set up a smartphone.
Basic activation through the Quick Settings Panel
The fastest way to start a satellite search is to use a standard control panel, a versatile method that works on all current firmware versions, whether it's the old MIUI 12 or the latest HyperOS. Usually, the geolocation icon is in the top row of icons, which allows you to activate the function with a single touch.
However, if you've just turned on your phone or reset to factory settings, the system can hide this icon in an optional menu. To deploy the full list of available switches, you need to pull the notification bar down to the end and press the edit button (usually a pencil or three dots), here you can drag the Location icon to the active area of the screen.
Note that simply clicking on the icon includes only the basic mode, which can use Wi-Fi and mobile networks to save charge. For accurate navigation in the car or when playing sports, this may not be enough. In such cases, it is recommended to go to the advanced settings, which will be discussed below, to use all the capabilities of satellite navigation.
- 📍 Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
- 📍 Find the icon in the form of a pin or arrow.
- 📍 If there is no icon, click “Edit” and add it.
- 📍 Make sure the icon is active (changed color).
Advanced configuration through the system menu
To get a deeper control over the communication modules, you need to go to the system menu, where the user can access the choice of coordinate mode, which is critical to the balance between accuracy and autonomy. Go to Settings, then find Additional Features or Location, depending on the version of the interface.
In the window that opens, you'll see the switch that needs to be activated, and below is the line "Location Mode" (or "Location Sources"), and that's where the answer to why the phone is not catching satellites well lies. The default mode is often “charge saving”, which ignores signals. GPS-satellites, relying only on cell towers.
For maximum accuracy, select High Accuracy mode, which forces the smartphone to simultaneously poll GPS, GLONASS, Beidou satellites, and use Wi-Fi data and Bluetooth beacons around, which allows instant navigation, even in difficult urban environments where sky visibility is limited by high-rise buildings.
⚠️ Attention: High precision mode significantly increases battery consumption. If you are in an area where charging your phone is impossible and navigation is not required right now, it is better to switch to Network Only mode or turn off geolocation completely.
☑️ Verification of geolocation settings
Managing permissions for specific applications
Android security and MIUI tightly control applications’ access to personal data, including geo-location. Even if GPS is globally enabled, a particular application (such as Yandex.Maps or Telegram) can be blocked, often after a system update or new software is installed.
To check and change access rights, go to Settings → Privacy Protection → Permission Manager → Location. This will show a list of all programs that requested access to your coordinates. For navigation programs and messengers, it is recommended to choose the option “Allow only during use” or “Always allowed” if background data transfer is required.
You should pay special attention to background access. If you use your phone as a tracker for a jog or a bike ride and the screen goes out, the app may lose access to GPS if it is not given the appropriate permission. In the list of applications, find the right one, click on it and make sure that the Background Location slider is activated.
- 🔒 Go to the “Permissions Manager” in the settings.
- 🔒 Find the right application in the list (for example, taxi).
- 🔒 Select the “Always Allow” option for tracking.
- 🔒 Check if the background activity restriction is worth it.
Energy saving modes and their impact on GPS
Xiaomi's battery optimization algorithms are notoriously aggressive. They can force you to shut down. GPS-a module for applications that the system thinks are not currently in use, even if you leave the navigator running on the screen, which causes the cursor on the map to freeze or reset at the beginning of the path.
To avoid this, you need to configure exceptions for important programs. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or simply “Battery”). Find the “App Energy Saving” or “Background Activity Limitation” section. In the list, find your navigation apps and set “No Limits” mode for them.
It is also worth checking global energy saving modes, if Ultra or Maximum Saving mode is activated, the system can block geolocation at the kernel level, regardless of the settings of individual applications, in which case the corresponding notification usually appears on the screen, but it is better to manually check the status before a long trip.
Why does the GPS shut down by itself?
Calibration and signal accuracy
Sometimes it happens that the geolocation is turned on, the high-precision mode is activated, but the arrow on the map points incorrectly or rotates randomly. This can mean that the sensors of the smartphone have lost or accumulated an error, in such cases, the calibration procedure that can be performed directly in the browser or through special utilities helps.
The easiest way is to use Google Maps, open a map, click on the blue dot of your location, and select Calibrate. The system will ask you to steer your phone through space, representing an eight, which helps the magnetometer and accelerometer redefinite the cardinal points and the vector of motion.
There are physical factors besides software methods: thick metal covers, magnetic holders in the car, and even powerful power lines nearby can cause interference. If you notice a sharp drop in accuracy, try removing the case and stepping out into the open space away from large metal structures.
| Parameter | Description of the impact | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| On the plane mode | Completely disables all communication modules | Use only for network resetting |
| Wi-Fi scanning | Helps determine the location by the database of access points | Keep it on in town |
| Bluetooth | Used for indoor beacons | Turn on in malls |
| metal case | Screening the satellite signal | Take off while navigating |
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To quickly reboot the GPS module without turning off your phone, turn on In-Airplane mode for 5-10 seconds and then turn it off. This will cause the radio module to re-register and update the satellite almanac.
Solving Common Problems with Definition
If none of the above methods worked, and the phone still writes “No GPS signal” or shows a location with a huge error, perhaps the problem lies in the software failure of Google Play services. These services are responsible for processing geodata in the background. Try clearing the cache of the Google Play Services application through the application management menu.
In rare cases, especially on custom firmware devices or after a failed update, network settings may need to be reset, an action that will not delete your personal photos or contacts, but will return to factory values the settings of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile networks, which often eliminates driver conflicts.
If the problem persists even after a full reset, and the phone also can't see satellites in safe mode, the antenna module is likely to malfunction, and in such situations, the software methods are powerless, and diagnostics are required at the service center.
⚠️ Warning: Before performing a network reset or a complete device reset, be sure to back up important data in the Mi Cloud cloud or on your computer to avoid losing information.
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If software methods and resetting do not help restore GPS operation, a physical breakdown of the antenna or plume is likely, which requires the intervention of engineers.