Xiaomi Redmi’s modern smartphones are no longer just callers, becoming powerful navigation centers, and geolocation has become an integral part of everyday life, from finding the nearest cafe to accurately tracking a route in an unfamiliar city.
The problem can be in software failures of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, as well as incorrect settings for access permission applications. Positioning accuracy depends on the simultaneous operation of GPS satellites, cell towers and available Wi-Fi networks. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions that will help activate and calibrate the navigation module on your device.
To start with, make sure that the basic functions of the smartphone work properly. If you just purchased a gadget or updated the firmware, some parameters may have reset to factory values. Let's look at how to properly activate this feature from scratch to avoid typical errors when using cards.
Basic GPS activation through notification curtain
The fastest way to enable navigation on any Xiaomi device is to use the control panel. Swipe from top to bottom across the screen to open the curtain. You need to find an icon that usually looks like an arrow or a pin and click on it. If there is no element in the front row of icons you want, click on the edit button (usually a pencil or three dots) and drag the Location module into a prominent place.
Once turned on, the system will scan the space to search for satellites, high accuracy is only provided with an active Internet connection, without data transmission, the phone will rely solely on satellite signal, which will significantly increase the time of first determining the coordinates, especially in urban environments.
Note that curtain activation is just a rough switch, it doesn't guarantee that a particular application, like a taxi or a courier service, will get access to your coordinates, and you need to configure access rights in the system menu to work properly.
⚠️ Note: If the geolocation icon in the curtain is gray and not activated, try restarting your smartphone. In rare cases, the communication module may freeze after a long downtime.
Configure access rights in the system menu
For a fine configuration, go to deep system settings. Open Settings and find the Applications section, then select All Apps. Here, it is important to find the specific program you plan to use (such as Yandex.Navigator or Uber) and check its rights. In modern versions of Android based on MIUI, there are three levels of access: "Only during use", "Always" and "Request every time".
For navigation programs, it is critical to select the Always option or make sure that background work is not limited.The power savings in Xiaomi are very aggressive and can completely block coordinate transfer if the application is folded. Go to the battery menu inside the settings of a particular application and select No Limits mode.
You should also check the general visibility switch. From the Privacy menu → Permissions management → Location, you will see a list of all the programs that have access to GPS. Make sure the slider opposite the right software is active. If you use weather widgets or a geotag camera, they will also need permission.
- 📍 Open the Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 📍 Select the desired software and go to the permission point.
- 📍 Set the flag Allow to determine the location.
- 📍 In the Battery section, select No restrictions for background work.
☑️ Access rights verification
Increase accuracy with Google and Wi-Fi
Satellite signals can be unstable indoors or between tall buildings. To improve positioning, the system uses auxiliary data sources. → Location → Improved accuracy (or "Mode") is required to activate the use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks, which allows the phone to determine your position on the phone. MAC-Nearby routers, even if you are not connected to them.
Google also offers Google Geolocation, which collects location data to improve maps, which makes it much easier to find satellites when the navigator starts cold, but it can slightly increase battery consumption and data transfer in the background.
If you're indoors, try turning on the Wi-Fi module, even without connecting to a specific network. The system will scan the air, find known access points, and triangulate your position with an error of only a few meters, which is impossible to do only through indoors satellites.
| Mode of work | precision | Search speed | Battery consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only GPS. | Tall (outside) | Slow. | Medium. |
| Over networks (Wi-Fi/BT) | Medium | Very fast. | Low. |
| High precision (All) | Maximum | Instant. | High-pitched |
Why does GPS not work without the internet?
Calibration of sensors and elimination of errors
Sometimes the cursor on the map is walking or showing the wrong direction, and in these cases, you need to calibrate, and the easiest way is to open the Google Maps app, click on the blue dot of your location, and select Calibrate. The phone will ask you to steer the device in the air, describing the eight, which helps the magnetometer reorient itself around the world.
It is also useful to reset the cache of Google Play services. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → find Google Play Services → Memory → Clear the cache. Don’t be afraid to perform this operation, your personal data, accounts and photos will not be affected, only temporary navigation files will be reset.
In some cases, it helps to turn on and off flight mode, which forcibly restarts all the radio modules of the smartphone, including: GPS-Just activate Flight Mode on the receiver. 10-15 seconds and then turn it off and wait for the connection to be restored.
⚠️ Warning: Do not calibrate near powerful magnetic field sources such as microwave ovens, speakers or transformer booths.
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Use the free GPS Status & Toolbox app to see the number of satellites visible and their signal strength, which will help you understand whether the problem is software or physical.
Specificity of navigation in the mode of energy saving
Xiaomi Redmi is famous for its autonomy, but power saving modes are often the enemy of navigation.When the charge drops below 20% or the Ultra Battery mode is turned on, the system limits background activity and polling frequency. GPS-This causes the navigator to freeze or stop remodeling the route.
To avoid this on the road, add the navigation app to the exception list. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or just Battery) → Energy Savings of the applications. Find your navigator and set the No Limits value. This will allow the system to use maximum CPU power to process signals, even if the general saving mode is enabled.
It is also worth turning off Adaptive Brightness during navigation, as constant changes in the screen backlight can introduce micro-interferences in the operation of light sensors, which indirectly affect the overall logic of the sensors in some firmware.
- 🔋 Go to the battery settings.
- 🔋 Find a list of applications with special rights.
- 🔋 Select a navigator and remove all background restrictions.
- 🔋 Make sure that the cards are allowed in Do Not Disturb mode.
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Energy saving is the main enemy of accurate navigation, and always add maps and taxis to the exceptions if you plan a long trip.
Solving Location Problems
If, despite all the settings, the geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi doesn't work, the problem could be deeper. Check if the correct date and time is set. If the system clock is lagging or rushing, security protocols will not be able to sync with satellites and connections will not.
In rare cases, network resets help, which will bring Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile data back to factory values. Path to function: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. After that, you will need to re-enter passwords from wireless networks.
If nothing works, it may be a physical breakdown of the antenna or GPS module, especially if the phone has recently fallen or hit the water, in which case the software methods will be useless and you will need a diagnosis in the service center.
⚠️ Note: Before resetting your network settings, make sure you remember passwords from important Wi-Fi networks, as they will be deleted from your device’s memory.