Setting up GPS on Xiaomi smartphones: from basic parameters to fine optimization

Why does Xiaomi’s GPS not work as you expect?

Have you ever encountered a situation where Google Maps or Yandex.Navigator on your Xiaomi shows the wrong location, long "catch" satellites or even refuse to work? The reason is not always a weak signal — often the problem lies in incorrect system settings. Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI have unique geolocation management algorithms that differ from "pure" Android. For example, the function of Lean location by default limits the background GPS activity to save battery power, which can lead to delays in navigation.

In this article, we’ll look at not only the basic steps to turn on GPS, but also the hidden MIUI settings that the manufacturer does not advertise. You’ll learn how to get the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 13T to determine coordinates faster than competitors’ smartphones do. And also why sometimes turning off the “Auto-Time Zone” feature speeds up satellite search by 30-40% (this is not a mistake, but a feature of Qualcomm chips paired with MIUI firmware).

Before you move on to settings, check out two key points:

• 📶 Network signal: GPS It works only when you are actively connected to the mobile Internet (3G/4G/5G) Without a network, the smartphone will only use satellite data, which slows down the location of the device. 3-5 once.
• 🔋 Power saving mode: If Ultra Mode or Super Saving is activated, the system blocks background activity GPS-Disable it in Settings. → Battery.

Basic GPS setting on Xiaomi: enable geolocation

Let’s start with the basics of how to turn on GPS on Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14/15 firmware. The procedure is the same for most models, from the budget Redmi A2 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Open the quick settings panel with your finger top down the screen, and find the Location icon (usually looks like an arrow or a pin). If it is not, unfold the panel completely by clicking on the pencil icon (Edit).

Alternatively:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Location.
2. Activate the location access switch.
3. Select the mode of operation: 🎯 High accuracy: uses GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks and sensors: optimal for navigation, but consumes more battery. 📡 Charge saving: locates only on Wi-Fi networks and mobile towers, accuracy is lower, but the battery runs slower. 🛰️ Only GPS: It's only for satellites, it's suitable for areas without network coverage, but it can lose signal in cities.

Advice for owners POCO Redmi with MediaTek processors: if GPS The location icon in the notification panel flashes for more than 30 seconds, try restarting your smartphone. MTK GPS, which sometimes "hangs" on the first launch.

Hidden MIUI settings to speed up satellite search

Few people know, but in MIUI There are hidden parameters that allow you to manually optimize the work GPS-These settings are not available through the standard menu, but can be activated using the codes of the engineering menu or third-party applications such as GPS Status & Toolbox: One of the most effective tricks is data resetting. AGPS (Assisted GPS), which helps the smartphone to “catch” satellites faster after flashing or resetting settings.

Instructions for AGPS discharge:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code:
   #1472365## (for Qualcomm chips)


or


   #36446337## (for MediaTek chips)



2. In the engineering menu, select:




Satellite → AGPS → Reset AGPS Data





3. Reboot the smartphone.

After this procedure, the first location can take up to 2 minutes, which is normal, but in the future GPS will work 20-30% faster, especially in urban areas. Note: on some models (Xiaomi 12S Ultra, Redmi K50 Pro), the engineering menu can be blocked. In this case, use the GPS Test application from Google Play.

Another useful life hack is to turn off automatic time zone detection, which may sound strange, but in practice, many Xiaomi users note that once this function is turned off, GPS becomes more stable, because the system constantly polls time servers, which puts additional strain on the geolocation module.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the engineering menu with the testing menu (#4636##). GPS, But it doesn't allow you to change the settings of the module, and the wrong actions in the engineering menu can cause sensors to fail!

Optimizing GPS for navigation applications

Even if your Xiaomi GPS is working correctly, navigation apps (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator, Waze) can show inaccurate data, which is because MIUI by default limits the background activity of programs to save energy. To fix this, you need to manually configure the permissions for each navigator.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as Google Maps).
3. Go to Permits → Location and set Always.
4. Go back and cover the battery. → No restrictions.
5. Activate Auto Start and Background Activity.

If you use a navigator in your car, turn on GPS Only (without Wi-Fi or mobile data) in its settings, which will reduce the number of jumping dots on the map, since the smartphone will not try to adjust the coordinates for the nearest towers, which change often in motion.

💡

Before a long trip, download offline maps in your navigator, which will not only save traffic, but also speed up location determination, since the application does not have to constantly download data from the network.

GPS problems on Xiaomi: diagnostics and solutions

If your Xiaomi GPS is unstable — looking for satellites for a long time, showing incorrect coordinates or refusing to turn on at all — the reasons can be both software and hardware. Below we will discuss the most common problems and ways to fix them.

Particular attention should be paid to the Xiaomi model 12 Pro and other smartphones on the Snapdragon chip 8 Gen 1. They have a hardware bug that GPS-The module is overheated and switched off after 15-20 So the solution is to put a thermal paste on a chip or use an external one. GPS-receiver (connected via Bluetooth).

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI GPS stopped working, don't rush to reset your smartphone to factory settings. First, try rolling back the firmware version through Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Select the service pack. Often geolocated bugs are fixed in the following patches.

How to Check GPS Accuracy on Xiaomi

To understand how well GPS works on your smartphone, it is not enough to simply open Google Maps. For accurate diagnosis, use specialized applications that show the number of satellites found, the signal level and the accuracy of coordinates. One of the best tools is the GPS Test (available on Google Play).

What needs to be done:

1. Install and open the GPS Test.
2. Press Start Test and wait until the smartphone finds satellites.
3. Pay attention to the following parameters: 📡 Number of satellites: Ideally, it should be at least 8-12 (in the city 15-20 (open-air). 🎯 Accuracy: The value below 10 Meters are considered good, above 50 yards bad. 🔄 Time for the first fix (TTFF): should be no more 30-40 second-on-cold.

If the number of satellites is less than 5 or the accuracy exceeds 100 meters, this indicates problems with the module. In urban conditions, the accuracy value is normal within 15-30 meters (due to the reflections of the signal from buildings); In open areas (field, seaside), the accuracy should be 3-5 meters.

Next Post:How to Improve GPS on Xiaomi

Beyond the standard settings, there are a few non-obvious ways to improve the GPS experience on Xiaomi smartphones, which are especially useful for travelers, drivers, or those who are engaged in geocaching.

List of advanced settings:

• 🌍 Use of external GPS-antennas: for models with support USB OTG (For example, Xiaomi 13 Pro, you can connect an external antenna via an adapter, which is important for motorists, since the built-in antenna in the smartphone is often shielded by the car body.
• 🔄 Forced renewal AGPS: appendix GPS Status press Manage A-GPS State → Reset, then Download. That'll update the assistant's data. GPS, speed up the search for satellites.
• 📱 Disabling energy saving for system processes: in Settings → Battery → Energy consumption of applications find the processes com.qualcomm.location or com.mediatek.location (depending on the processor) and install them without restrictions.
• 🛰️ Use of alternative servers AGPS: In the engineering menu (#1472365##) you can manually specify the servers supl.google.com (for Google) or supl.nokia.com (for Nokia.

For POCO F5 and other smartphones with Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chips, there is another life hack: Dual Frequency GNSS (Dual-band GPS) is enabled, which allows you to catch signals at two frequencies (L1 and L5), which improves accuracy in urban environments, to activate it:

1. Enable Developer Mode (7 times click on "Version MIUI" in "About Phone").


2. Go back to "Settings → Additional → For Developers."




3. Find the option "Dual Frequency GNSS" and turn it on.

FAQ: Frequent questions about GPS on Xiaomi