Disabling geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: a complete guide with nuances

Geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro smartphones is a useful feature that helps maps, taxis and social networks determine your location. However, the constant operation of GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks for determining the coordinates drains the battery 15-25% faster and can compromise privacy. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to disable geolocation from complete shutdown to selective control of application rights.

The Redmi 8 Pro (codenamed olivelite) is based on a MIUI shell over Android 9/10, where geolocation settings are hidden deeper than in Android’s stock. We’ll show you how to turn off location services for individual applications, how to manage GPS accuracy, and what to do if the phone doesn’t see satellites after the changes, and you’ll learn what hidden MIUI features affect geolocation and how to set them up.

Why geolocation should be turned off (or restricted)

Research has shown that the GPS module on the Redmi 8 Pro is active and consumes up to 300 mAh per hour, which is comparable to the average brightness of the screen, but the battery is not the only problem.

• 📍 Apps collect data: Social networks, instant messengers, and even games (e.g., games, Pokémon GO) You may transfer your coordinates to third parties.
• 🔋 Background activity: Even when you’re not using maps, the system can update location for weather, ads, or Mi Cloud.
• 🛡️ Security risks: Hacked applications or malware can use geodata to track.
• 📶 Communications: Active in some regions GPS Deteriorates the reception of the mobile network (especially on frequencies) LTE Band 20).

But completely disabling geolocation deprives you of important functions: navigation in Google Maps or Yandex.Maps, geotags in photos, search for a device through Find My Device. The solution is flexible management: turn off geolocation selectively or use energy saving modes.

Method 1: Completely disabling geolocation in MIUI settings

The most radical method is to completely deactivate all location services, which will stop GPS, Wi-Fi triangulation and mobile tower data. Instructions for MIUI 11/12 on Redmi 8 Pro:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Privacy section → Permits → Location.
3. At the top of the screen, move the location access slider to the off position.
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window by clicking Disconnect.

After that, all applications will lose access to your coordinates. Please note that some system functions (such as Mi Weather) may not work properly.

Make sure the slider is gray | Try to open Google Maps – no access notice should appear |Reboot your phone (sometimes changes apply after the reboot) | Check the GPS icon in the notification panel (should disappear)

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⚠️ Note: Some Redmi 8 Pro firmwares stop using the Emergency Call function after geolocation is disabled (SOS), which automatically transmits your location to emergency services. If critical, use a selective shutdown (see Method 3).

Method 2: Disable GPS and other sensors in Developer Mode

If you need to turn off only satellite navigation (GPS), leaving the ability to locate over Wi-Fi or mobile networks, use a developer menu.This method is useful if you want to save battery power but not lose accuracy in the city (where Wi-Fi triangulation is often more accurate than GPS).

First, activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row. You will be notified of becoming a developer!
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section → For developers.

Now turn off the GPS:

1. In the developer menu, find the GPS debugging item and turn it off.
2. Next, scroll down to the Location block and select Device Only (GPS).
3. To block it completely. GPS-Module, activate Mock Location and select any application (e.g. Fake) GPS), But don't configure it, it'll cause the real thing to fail. GPS.

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If your phone is slower to locate in your navigator after the GPS shutdown, try resetting the AGPS settings. To do this, in the developer menu, find the AGPS Data Reset and click on it. This will update the data from the satellite search assist system.

Method 3: Selective geolocation disabling for applications

The most balanced approach is to allow access to geodata only to programs that really need it, for example, you can leave geolocation for Google Maps and Yandex.Navigator, but prohibit it for Facebook or AliExpress.

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Permits → Location.
2. Slip on the App Permissions item.
3. You'll see a list of all the programs that requested location access. Click on the application you want.
4. Choose one of the options: Allow all the time - access at any time (the most insecure option); Allow only during use - access only when the application is open (recommended); Prohibit - complete prohibition.

On the Redmi 8 Pro with MIUI 12+, there is a hidden feature: if you hold your finger on the location option in the application permissions, a context menu will appear with the option to reset permissions. This is useful if the application previously gained access, but now you want to limit it.

Method 4: Use of energy saving modes to limit geolocation

MIUI offers built-in energy saving modes that automatically limit background activity, including geolocation, which is handy if you want to extend battery life without manual adjustments.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Choose Power Saving Mode or Super Energy Saving.
3. Activate the option to limit background location.
4. (Optional) Click Mode Settings and add exceptions for critical applications (such as the navigator).

In Super Energy Saving mode, geolocation is turned off completely, and in conventional Energy Saving, it is only for background processes. For example, Google Maps will work if it is open, but will stop updating the location in a folded state.

⚠️ Warning: Super Power Saving on Redmi 8 Pro also disables Mi Cloud background sync, which can result in loss of photo and contact backups.

Method 5: Disable geolocation via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t help (e.g., some MIUI system applications ignore privacy settings), you can block access to system-level geolocation using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Install. ADB-Drivers on PC and enable Debugging by USB on the phone (in the menu for developers).
2. Get Redmi on board. 8 Pro to your computer and enter the command in the terminal: adb shell pm revoke com.android.location.fused FINE_LOCATION This will disable access to the exact location for the system service Fused Location.
3. To completely disable geolocation, perform: adb shell settings put global location_mode 0
4. Reboot the phone.

To return the settings back, use the commands:

adb shell pm grant com.android.location.fused FINE_LOCATION


adb shell settings put global location_mode 3

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Using ADB is the only way to completely block geolocation for MIUI system applications, such as Mi Weather or Mi Security, that ignore standard resolutions.

What to do if after disconnecting the geolocation card or navigator stopped working

Sometimes, after you change your geolocation settings, applications like Google Maps or 2GIS stop determining location, even if you're allowed access.

• 🔄 Resetting Location Settings: Go to Settings → System system → Setting reset. Select Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth reset. Confirm. This resets geolocation settings to factory settings.
• 📡 Update of data AGPS: In the menu for developers find the data reset AGPS and click on it. Then select Update. AGPS.
• 🛠️ Cleaning up the cache of Google services: Open Settings → Annexes → App Management.Look for Google Play Services, open Storage and click Clear Cache.

If the problem persists, check if antivirus (e.g. Avast or Mi Security) is blocking geolocation. Also, switching the phone region to Europe (in Settings → Additional → Region) helps on some Redmi 8 Pro firmware, as there are restrictions on GPS operation in Chinese MIUI builds.

FAQ: Frequent questions on geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro