The Redmi series has long proven itself to be reliable, but even time-tested models like the Xiaomi Redmi 5 require periodic adjustment of system functions for optimal performance. One of these features is geolocation, which, while remaining active unnecessarily, can significantly consume battery power. Many users are faced with a situation where the battery is discharged faster than usual, and often the reason for this is background work. GPS-module.
Disabling location is not just a way to save energy, but also an important step in setting up digital privacy. Modern applications often request access to device coordinates even if their functionality does not require it. The MIUI operating system installed on Xiaomi Redmi 5 provides flexible access control tools that allow you to completely close access to location data or restrict it to individual programs.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods of deactivating GPS, from a quick switch in the notification curtain to deep configuration of system resolutions, learn how to distinguish navigation modes, understand how to prevent specific applications from tracking your movements, and learn about the intricacies of the service in the shell from Xiaomi.
Quick shutdown through notification curtain
The easiest and fastest way to temporarily suspend the navigation module is to use a control panel, which is ideal for situations where you need to immediately stop transmitting coordinates, such as when entering a building with a bad signal or saving charge at a critical moment, you need to unlock the screen of your Redmi 5 and swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
In the menu that opens, you'll see a number of icons that are responsible for the various functions of your smartphone. Find an icon that usually looks like a pin or a compass, and is signed as "Location" or "GPS." If the icon is illuminated in blue, then the function is active. Tap it once so that the color changes to gray, which will mean a complete shutdown of the module.
It's worth noting that this is a global method: it turns off geolocation for all applications at once, system services and programs will no longer be able to receive data about your current position until you activate this switch again, and this is the most effective way if you are at home or in an office where you do not need navigation.
- 📍 Swipe from top to bottom to open the notification curtain.
- ⚙️ Find the Location icon or «GPS» label.
- 🚫 Click on the icon to turn grey (inactive).
- 🔍 If the icon is not available, click “Edit” and drag it to the visible area.
⚠️ Note: When geolocation is turned off through the curtain, functions requiring precise coordinates will cease to work, including determining network time and searching for Bluetooth devices with geolocation support.
Deep configuration in the system menu
To get a more detailed look at navigation services, you need to go to the basic operating system settings. Unlike a quick switch, the settings menu allows you not only to turn off GPS, but also to select a mode of operation that affects the accuracy and speed of determining the coordinates. To get into this section, open the Settings app on your Xiaomi Redmi 5 and find the option “Extended Settings” or “Location” immediately, depending on the version of the MIUI firmware.
Inside the menu, you'll see a "Location Access" switch that duplicates the curtain function. However, below are more important options like "Mode" or "Location Sources." Here you can choose between "GPS Satellites," "Network Coordinates" or "All Sources," Selecting "GPS Satellites" mode will provide high accuracy but consume more power, whereas "Network Coordinates" mode uses Wi-Fi and mobile towers, which is less battery-intensive but less accurate.
Also available in this section is the “Improving accuracy” option, which uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth network scanning even when the Wi-Fi module is turned off. Disabling this feature can further increase the level of privacy, as the phone will cease to constantly scan the environment in the background. For users concerned about privacy, it is recommended to disable all additional services, leaving only the basic functionality or completely deaktiviro module.
☑️ Verification of geolocation settings
Remember that changes to system settings are effective immediately. If you switch mode, applications running at that point may need to restart to correctly display your position on the map. Some versions of MIUI also have a location query log that lets you see which programs have accessed GPS recently.
Managing permissions for individual applications
The current approach to security in Android and MIUI is granular control of permissions. Instead of turning off GPS completely, you can only deny access to geodata to applications that don't need it, like a messenger or calculator that doesn't need to know your coordinates, whereas a navigator or a taxi app is vital.
To set up, go to the Settings menu, then select the Apps section and click All Apps. From the list, find the program you want, such as a social network or game. From within the app menu, find Permissions and select Location. Here you will be offered three options: "Allow," "Prohibit" or "Ask." Choosing "Prohibit" completely blocks the program from accessing the program. GPS-module.
Some applications may only request location access when in use, while others insist on constant access. On Xiaomi Redmi 5 with Android 8.0 (Oreo) and higher, you can limit background work, which means that the app will only be able to get your coordinates when it is open on the screen, but will not be able to track you in the background, which significantly saves battery life.
| Type of application | Recommended access | Impact on the battery | The privacy risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigator (Yandex, Google Maps) | Always allowed. | High. | Average. |
| Messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp) | Only when used | Low. | Low. |
| Social media | Prohibited/Inquirying | Average. | High. |
| Games and utilities | Forbidden. | Low. | Average. |
Why do apps require access to GPS?
Google Services and System Geolocation
Even with GPS turned off, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 can continue to transmit location data through Google services, a separate mechanism that uses Wi-Fi networks and cell towers to approximate coordinates, which is used to improve map performance, refine search and personalize advertising, and to fully protect yourself, you need to configure this aspect.
Go to Google Settings (usually at the bottom of your phone’s settings list or in a separate Google app).Look for Location or Geolocation. Here you’ll see the “Use Geolocation” switch, which will prevent all Google apps and services from accessing your device’s location data, regardless of the phone’s settings.
Also available in this section is Location History. If this feature is active, Google keeps your travel routes linked to your account. For complete anonymity, not only do you disable your current access, but also regularly clean your location history. On older devices like Redmi 5, this also helps free up some space in your cloud account storage.
⚠️ Note: Disabling Google geolocation services may cause voice assistants to work incorrectly and reduce search accuracy in Google Maps, even if the Google Maps service is not properly used. GPS-phone module.
💡
Use In-plane mode in combination with GPS turned off for maximum energy savings in emergency situations when you need to save charge for an important call.
The impact of geolocation on the autonomy of Redmi 5
Xiaomi Redmi 5 has a 3300 mAh battery, which is an average for modern usage. The constantly active GPS module is one of the most energy-intensive components of a smartphone. It not only consumes energy on its own, but also makes the processor work harder by processing signals from satellites.
When an app requests geolocation, it often wakes the device up from sleep, and if there are many apps that often access GPS in the background, the phone can’t fully go into Deep Sleep, which causes the battery to run 10-20% off overnight even without the user’s active actions, disabling geolocation or tight control of permissions to make things much better.
Users who regularly turn off GPS or restrict background access report a 15-25% increase in combined-use time, especially in areas with unstable signals, where the GPS module is running at its limits, trying to catch satellites, causing a sharp jump in power consumption.
- 🔋 GPS-The module is one of the main consumers of energy in the smartphone.
- 📉 Background geolocation requests prevent the phone from going to sleep.
- 🚀 Disabling unnecessary services extends battery life by a quarter.
- 📡 In areas of poor signal energy consumption GPS multiplied.
💡
Controlling application background resolutions is more important for autonomy than simply turning off GPS through a curtain, as it blocks hidden data requests.
Solving Common Problems and FAQs
During the setup process, Redmi 5 users may face a number of questions and problems. Often, after updating the MIUI firmware, the settings are reset, or the application insists on turning on GPS, blocking its work, and understanding the reasons for this behavior will help to effectively manage the device.
Sometimes the geolocation icon can burn all the time, even if you don't use navigation, a sure sign that some application is "parasitic" on the GPS module. In such cases, it is useful to use built-in battery monitoring or third-party utilities to identify "gluttonous" software. Once the culprit is found, it is recommended to limit its background activity or remove it.
If GPS stopped working at all and did not turn on even after the restart, the problem can be in the hardware or damage to system files. However, on Xiaomi Redmi 5, most often helps reset network settings or recheck the access rights in the developer menu, where you can turn on or off the emulation of the location.
Why does the time on the phone go down after turning off the geolocation?
Can I send a photo with geotags if the GPS is turned off?
Is it safe to use fake geolocation apps on Redmi 5?
How quickly to return the geolocation icon to the curtain if it is missing?
⚠️ Note: If you use taxi or delivery apps, remember to temporarily enable geolocation before ordering, otherwise the courier or driver will not be able to find your address.
To sum up, geolocation management on Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a balance between convenience, functionality and battery retention. Proper permissions setup allows you to enjoy all the benefits of a smartphone without sacrificing privacy and battery life. Regularly check the list of applications that have access to your coordinates, and feel free to limit this access where it is not strictly necessary.