Where to find geolocation on Xiaomi: from GPS to hidden MIUI features

Why Xiaomi geolocation works differently than other smartphones

Xiaomi smartphones use MIUI, a unique firmware that overlays its features on geolocation services. Unlike pure Android, it has additional privacy settings, battery optimizations, and even hidden features for precise positioning, which means that standard instructions for Samsung or Google Pixel may not work — or work correctly.

For example, many users experience GPS detecting a latency location or showing incorrect coordinates, due to aggressive MIUI background optimization, which turns off geodata to save charge. Some models (such as the Poco F5 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) have a separate high-precision positioning switch that is turned off by default.

In this article, we will look at all the available geolocation options on Xiaomi, including hidden MIUI settings, commands for engineering menus and circumventing the limitations of Chinese firmware versions. Particular attention will be paid to models with Qualcomm Snapdragon and MediaTek chipsets, which have different GPS algorithms.

Method 1: Standard Android settings (Google Location Services)

The most obvious, but not always the most effective, method is to use Google Location’s built-in services, which combine data with GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile towers, and sensors for maximum accuracy, but at Xiaomi, the service often conflicts with MIUI optimizations.

To enable geolocation through Google:

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Geodata.
2. Activate the "Geodata Accuracy" switch (in some versions - "Improving Accuracy").
3. Turn on the option of “Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning” (even if they are turned off).
4. Return to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google Play Services and give all permissions, including access to the “Always” geodata.

⚠️ Note: On Chinese versions of the firmware (MIUI China) may not have the "Geodata accuracy" clause. MIUI (section).

Activated geodata switch in settings

Wi-Fi/Bluetooth scanning enabled

Google Play Services has a "Always" permission

Resetting the Google Play Services cache (Settings) → Annexes → Warehouse → Clear the cache)-->

Method 2: Hidden MIUI settings for accurate GPS

MIUI hides several important parameters that directly affect GPS, which can be accessed through engineering menus or special codes, especially for Redmi and Poco models with MediaTek chipsets (for example, the Helio G96 or Dimensity 9000), where GPS is often “glutched” due to the wrong AGPS settings.

Instructions for activating hidden functions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##4636## Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra) may require a code: ##1472365###
2. In the menu that opens, select “Phone Information” (or “Testing” for MediaTek).
3. Scroll down to the "GPS" block and press "Start Fix".
4. Wait until the coordinates appear (may take up to 5 minutes). If the data does not appear, go to "AGPS" and press "Reset", then "Update".

For Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets (such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in Xiaomi 14), use an alternative code:

##36446337##

In the EPO menu that opens, click Download to update the GPS auxiliary system data.

Method 3: GPS diagnostic applications (GPS Status, GNSS Viewer)

If standard methods fail, you should use specialized utilities that not only show the current coordinates, but also help diagnose problems with the condition. GPS-Best Options for Xiaomi:

• 📍 GPS Status & Toolbox - shows the number of satellites visible, signal strength and accuracy. MIUI 12-14.
• 🛰️ GNSS Viewer – displays data from all navigation systems (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo. Useful for Snapdragon chipsets 8xx.
• 🔍 GPSTest – Tests the time of first fixation (TTFF) and signal stability. Recommended for Poco F4 GT and other game models.
• 🛠️ Mi Toolkit – Xiaomi’s proprietary application for iron diagnostics, including GPS (Available only on global firmware).

How to use GPS Status:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run it and wait until the top of the screen says "GPS fixed" (can take up to 10 minutes).
3. If the satellites are not located, press Clear AGPS, then Download AGPS.
4. To speed up your search, go to an open area (balcony or street).

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If GPS Status shows 0 satellites for more than 15 minutes, check the device's antenna. On Xiaomi 12T Pro and Redmi K50 Ultra, it is located at the top of the case - do not cover it with your hand or cover.

⚠️ Note: On the Chinese versions MIUI (China ROM) Some Diagnostic Applications GPS They can be blocked by the system. ADB-teams (see section 5).

Method 4: Geolocation over mobile network and Wi-Fi (without GPS)

If GPS-The module is not working or you are in a room where the satellite signal is weak, you can determine the location by the satellite:

• 📡 Cellular towers (accuracy) ~500–2,000 meters).
• 📶 Wi-Fi networks (accuracy) ~20 to 100 meters if the network is in Google).
• 🌐 IP-address (accuracy) ~5–50 km, depending on the provider).

To include a definition of networks:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Geodata → Geodata mode.
2. Select “High Accuracy” (using GPS + Wi-Fi + mobile networks) or “Saving Charge” (networks only).
3. Enable "Scanning is always available" (in some versions of MIUI this item is hidden - see section 2).

To verify accuracy:

1. Open Google Maps.
2. Click on the blue dot (your location) and select "Share geolocation".
3. Compare the coordinates shown to the actual location. If the divergence is more than 50 meters, try updating the AGPS data (see section 2).

Satellite GPS

Mobile networks + Wi-Fi

Apps like Google Maps

Special utility (GPS Status, etc.)

I don't use geolocation.-->

Method 5: ADB-command GPS

If all of the above methods fail, the last option is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

• 🔒 Geolocation blocked by politicians MIUI (For example, on work phones).
• 🔄 GPS Resetting constantly after resetting.
• 🛠️ You need to manually set the servers. AGPS (relevant to MediaTek).

Instructions for using ADB:

1. Install. ADB-Drivers on PC and enable "Debugging by" USB" on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command to check the connection: adb devices
3. Include forced use GPS (Even if it is disabled in settings: adb shell settings put global location_mode 3 where 3 — High accuracy” mode" (GPS + network).
4. To reset your GPS cache, use: adb shell pm clear com.google.android.gms Attention: This will delete Google Play Services data, including saved Wi-Fi passwords!

For MediaTek chipsets, you can manually specify the AGPS server:

adb shell setprop gps.agps.server http://agps.mtk.com/agps

💡

ADB-The wrong parameters can cause the geolocation system to fail.

Frequent geolocation issues on Xiaomi and their solutions

Even after you set up your GPS correctly, Xiaomi can still have errors, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with infrared port (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) There may be a conflict between IR-sensor GPS-If geolocation is lost when using the remote, turn off the IR port in Settings → Connections and sharing → Infrared port.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Geolocation on Xiaomi