Geolocation on Xiaomi: where to look for settings and how to properly configure GPS, GLONASS and location services

Why does Xiaomi geolocation work differently than other smartphones?

If you've ever tried to find geolocation settings on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, you've probably noticed that the menu here is different than on pure Android. It's about the MIUI shell, which not only changes the design, but also redistributes functions. For example, in standard Android, location settings are usually hidden in one section, and in MIUI they can be scattered across multiple menus, from quick settings to hidden developer settings.

Another feature is the duplication of features, so you can enable geolocation through the Notification Panel, Settings → Privacy, and even in the settings of individual applications (for example, Google Maps or Yandex.Maps), while some versions of MIUI 12-14 have changed the path to these settings, which only adds to the confusion. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to manage geolocation, including hidden chips for fine-tuning GPS and saving battery.

It's important to understand that Xiaomi's geolocation works not only through satellites (GPS/GLONASS), but also through Wi-Fi networks and mobile towers, which means that even if the GPS signal is weak (for example, indoors), the smartphone can still determine your location - but with less accuracy, which is why there are so many switches in the settings: each one is responsible for its own data source.

Where to find the main geolocation settings in MIUI?

The fastest way to open location settings is to swipe down the screen to call the Notification Panel and click on the Geolocation icon (usually a dot icon on the map). However, this method only turns the function on or off globally.

Settings → Privacy → Geolocation

Here you will see three key sections:

• 📍 Precision mode – the choice between high accuracy (GPS + Wi-Fi + mobile networks, battery savings (wifi and network only) or satellite-only.
• 🔄 Recent Location Requests – List of Apps that have recently used your geolocation.
• ⚙️ Additional settings – here you can find the settings for Google Location Accuracy (if you have Google services installed) and settings for emergency calls.

Note that in some firmware (e.g. MIUI for the global market), the path may be slightly different. If you don't have a Privacy option, try:

Settings → Memory and applications → Application permissions → Geolocation

How to turn geolocation on or off for individual applications?

By default, Xiaomi allows all applications that request geolocation to be used, but it's not always secure, because some programs can collect your location in the background to manage these permissions:

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Geolocation → Application Permissions.
2. Select an app from a list (such as Instagram, VK or AliExpress).
3. Set one of three permits: 🚫 Disallow – the app will not be able to determine your location. 🔄 Only during use – geolocation only works when the application is open. ✅ Always access location at any time (including background mode).

Tip: If you notice that the battery is running out quickly, check which applications have access to the Always geolocation. Often social networks, instant messengers or delivery services (for example, Delivery Club or Yandex.Food) are to blame.

Open Settings → Privacy → Geolocation → Application Permissions

Check applications with permission "Always"

Disable geolocation for unnecessary services

Reboot your smartphone to apply changes-->

Hidden GPS Settings: How to Improve Geolocation Accuracy?

If your Xiaomi is not good at determining location (for example, the dot “jumps” or shows the wrong address on the maps), the problem may be in the satellite settings.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times in a row)
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and find: 🛰️ GPS-logger – turn on if you need to record routes (useful for trackers). 📡 Only GPS (without internet – disconnect if you want to use all data sources. 🔋 Charge savings when geolocating – turn on if the battery goes down too fast.

For maximum accuracy, use High Accuracy (GPS + Wi-Fi + mobile networks) mode, however, in this case, battery consumption will increase by 15-20%. If the accuracy is not critical (for example, for weather widgets), select Charge Saving mode.

Geolocation in the background: how to track who is watching you?

Many applications continue to use geolocation even when closed, and this not only consumes battery, but can also threaten privacy, to check which programs are active in the background:

Settings → Privacy → Geolocation → Recent Location Requests

This is a list of apps that have requested your location in the past 24 hours, and if you see suspicious activity (such as an unknown app or too frequent requests from a messenger), it is recommended that you:

• 🛡️ Revoke geolocation permission for this application.
• 🔍 Check the application for viruses using Google Play Protect or Dr.Web.
• 🗑️ Remove the application if it is not needed.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi system applications (such as Mi Cloud or Security) may use geolocation to back up or protect the device".

Table: comparison of geolocation modes on Xiaomi

Note: GPS-only location can take up to 5-10 minutes (especially if you haven’t used navigation in a long time), which is normal – satellites need time to “catch” the signal.

Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All Apps → [select navigator] → Do not optimize

Geolocation and security: how to protect your data?

MIUI has several features that use geolocation to secure the device, such as:

• 🔒 Find the device – allows you to track the smartphone in case of theft (included in Settings) → Mi Account → Find the device).
• 🚨 Emergency alerts – sends your location to contacts in case of emergency (configured in Settings) → Passenger mode → Emergency. SOS).
• 📱 Protection against theft – locks the phone if SIM-Replaced card (requires a link to Mi Account).

However, these features require constant access to geolocation, which may raise privacy questions.If you don't want Xiaomi to keep your travel history:

1. Open Settings → Mi Account → Cloud → Geolocation.
2. Turn off the "Location History" option.
3. Delete the stored data (if any).

⚠️ Warning: disabling Find Device will make it impossible to search for a smartphone via i.mi.com in the event of loss or theft.Weigh the risks before changing these settings.

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For maximum security, it is recommended to use two-factor authentication in Mi Account and regularly check the list of devices associated with your account, which will prevent unauthorized access to geolocation data.

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about geolocation on Xiaomi