How to turn off geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi 7A: full guide 2026

Xiaomi Redmi 7A — One of the most popular budget smartphones, but its geolocation features often run in the background, consuming battery power and transmitting data about your location. Many users want to disable these features completely or selectively, for example, to hide their location in messengers, social networks or to prevent leakage of geotags in photos.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to deactivate geolocation on Redmi. 7A: From standard Android settings to hidden settings MIUI. You'll learn how to turn off GPS-You can also use a module to remove geodata from photos, deny apps access to location, and even fool Google services if they ignore your settings, and what is the risk of a complete disabling of geolocation and how it will affect the operation of the smartphone.

Important: instructions are relevant to Redmi 7A base MIUI 12–14 (including global and Chinese firmware versions).If you have a different Xiaomi model, some menu items may differ - but the overall logic remains the same.

Why geolocation on Redmi 7A It works even after the shutdown?

Many users complain that after the shutdown GPS The smartphone still determines their location in the settings?

The reason is that Redmi 7A It does not only use a satellite module. GPS, Alternative geolocation methods:

• 📡 Cellular towers — the mobile operator roughly determines your location at the nearest base stations. Accuracy is 500 meters to several kilometers.
• 📶 Wi-Fi networks — a smartphone scans the access points available and compares them to Google's base, accurate up to 50 meters in a city.
• 🌐 IP-address – some services (such as banks or government websites) identify a region by your location IP, without GPS.

In addition, many applications (including system services) MIUI) They can automatically enable geolocation for their own needs:

• 📸 Xiaomi Camera – Adds Geotaggs to Photos, Unless You Manually Ban It.
• 🗺️ Google Maps or Yandex Maps – may include GPS when you start, even if you have disabled it in the settings.
• 🔄 Services MIUI (Mi Cloud or Security – sometimes requesting location to improve performance".

To really disable geolocation, not enough to cut off GPS — You need to block all the location channels.

Method 1: Disconnection GPS Geolocation services in settings MIUI

The most obvious method is deactivation. GPS But there are pitfalls here, some of which are hidden or reset after rebooting.

To completely disable geolocation on Redmi 7A, Follow the following steps:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the section Additional → Confidentiality.
3. Select Application Permissions → Location.
4. At the top of the screen, move the location access slider to the off position.
5. Below will be a list of applications – click All apps and manually deny access to geodata for each (or choose to Disable All).

But that's not all, even after Redmi's actions. 7A may continue to determine your location through Google services to disable them:

1. Back to Settings → Additionally. → Confidentiality.
2. Select Google Location Services.
3. Turn off the options: 🔍 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth search (network scanning for geolocation) 📡 Precision of location (use) GPS + mobile)

⚠️ Note: After the Google services are disabled, some features will stop working correctly. For example, Google Maps will not be able to build a route, and Yandex.Weather will show data for another city. If you need these services, it is better to use a selective shutdown (see Method 3).

Method 2: Removing geotags from photos and videos

Even if you're offline. GPS, Redmi 7A It can automatically add coordinates to photos through the Camera app, and this applies not only to images, but also to video files.

To remove the geotagged:

1. Open the standard Camera app.
2. Touch the gear badge (⚙️) top-right.
3. Scroll down and find the Save Geo Position (or Geotega) option.
4. Move the slider to the off position.

If geotags are already added to existing photos, they can be manually deleted:

• 🖼️ Open the photo in the Gallery, click the Info (I icon at the bottom) and delete the coordinates.
• 📁 For batch processing, use applications like EXIF Eraser (available on Google Play).

⚠️ Warning: Geotechs can reveal not only your location, but also your smartphone model, date of shooting and other metadata, and this is dangerous if you post photos on social media or send them to strangers. EXIF-This data can be used to determine where you live or work.

Method 3: Selective geolocation disabling for individual applications

Total shutdown GPS For example, you might need a navigator in your car, but you don't want Instagram or Instagram. VK We knew your location, and that's where the separation of rights will help.

How to deny access to geodata for specific applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the appropriate app (such as Facebook).
3. Press Permissions. → Location.
4. Choose to Refuse or Allow only during use (if you want the application to access the app). GPS only when it is open to the public).

For convenience, you can use the permission regimes in MIUI:

• 🔒 Special access – allows temporary permits.
• 🛡️ Privacy protection – blocks access to GPS background-process.

Examples of applications that should not be allowed access to geolocation without the need:

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g., banking or taxi services) may fail if they do not have access to geolocation, in which case either they will have to give temporary permission or use workaround methods (see Method 4).

💡

If the application requests access to GPS When you first start, select "Only once" so you avoid constant tracking.

Method 4: Deception of Google Services – How to Hide Your Real Location

If you want your smartphone to “think” you’re elsewhere (for example, to bypass regional restrictions or test apps), you can use a fake location.

This will require:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone. Press 7 times on the version. MIUI, until you have been notified you have become a developer!.
2. Activate Undefined Location: Return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers, find Fake Locations and select the Emulation App.
3. Install a changeover application GPS-coordinates, for example: 📍 Fake GPS Location (requires root rights on some firmware). 🌍 Fly GPS (It works without root, but may not be stable).

Important: Redmi 7A firmware MIUI 12+ some fake apps GPS If you are critical to hide a location, consider alternative methods such as using a super-user. VPN region-changing.

Also note that:

• 🚫 Some services (such as Google Maps or banking apps) are detecting fake coordinates and can block an account.
• ⚠️ When using fake GPS All real geolocation services (including emergency calls) are disabled).

💡

Fake location is suitable for one-time tasks (e.g., testing apps), but not for permanent use due to the risk of blocking.

What happens if you completely disable the geolocation on Redmi? 7A?

Complete deactivation of all geolocation services has both pros and cons. Consider the consequences:

If you decide to disable geolocation, but you need some features, you can compromise:

• 🔄 Turn it on. GPS only when necessary (for example, for travel by car).
• 📱 Use a second smartphone or tablet with geolocation enabled for navigation.
• 🌐 Use weather or regional news to determine VPN town-bound.

Additional measures: how to protect yourself from surveillance through geolocation

Even after the blackout. GPS your Redmi 7A It can leak location data through other channels. Here's what else you can do to protect it:

1. Turn off Google Location History: Go to Google Settings → Managing a Google Account → Data and confidentiality → Location history. Turn off the option and delete the saved history.
2. Ban it. MIUI Collect data: C Settings → Additionally. → Confidentiality → Special permissions disable Diagnostics and Personalization of Advertising.

VPN

ProtonVPN

NordVPN

Check application permissions periodically – some updates reset privacy settings.

⚠️ Note: If you use a Mi Account (Xiaomi account), the company can store your location data even when you are disabled. GPS. To avoid this:

1. Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Confidentiality.
2. Turn off Personalized Recommendations and Collection of Usage Data.

It is also worth remembering that some government services (such as Public Services or SberBank Online) may require access to geolocation to confirm transactions. GPS or use alternative authorization methods (SMS, biometrics).

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling geolocation on Redmi 7A