Not only is geolocation on Xiaomi smartphones a convenient navigation tool, but it is also a potential privacy threat. The 2019 Redmi 7 is still popular due to its price-performance balance, but its MIUI firmware (especially 10-12 versions) is known for aggressive data collection. Disabling geolocation can significantly extend battery life, protect personal information from leaks, and prevent advertising services from tracking your location.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can deactivate geolocation on Redmi 7, from standard MIUI settings to hidden developer settings, how to disable GPS, block location access for individual applications, and what to do if the system allows geolocation after updates, and focus on the nuances of Global and China firmware, which behave differently.
Before you start, check the MIUI version on your device: go to Settings → About → About → MIUI version. This is important, as the location of some menu items may vary. Also note that completely disabling geolocation will affect the operation of maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator), taxi services and some social networks.
1. Standard geolocation disablement via MIUI settings
The easiest way is to use built-in system options, which is suitable for all MIUI versions on Redmi 7 (including Global Stable and China Stable), and geolocation is managed through the Quick Settings Panel and Privacy section.
To fully deactivate all location sources:
- 📱 Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar, then swipe again for the extended menu.
- 📍 Find the Geolocation icon** (usually stylized as a navigator icon) and tap it. If there's no icon, click Edit (pencil in the top right corner) and add it manually.
Note that even after being disabled through the dashboard, some system applications (such as Mi Cloud or Security) may periodically request location access, and to prevent this, manual permission locks are required for each application, as we will discuss in the next section.
2. Disable access to geolocation for individual applications
Many Redmi 7 users face a problem: even after GPS is turned off, some programs (such as Facebook, Instagram or Mi Browser) continue to track location via Wi-Fi or mobile network data, which is because MIUI grants broad rights to system and pre-installed applications by default.
To restrict access:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select an app (e.g. Google Play Services or Mi Video).
- Slip on Permissions, then find the item “Location”** and set the value to Prohibit.
- Repeat for all apps you don’t trust, and pay special attention to Google and Xiaomi services (e.g. com.miui.analytics).
⚠️ Note: Locking geolocation for Google Play Services may cause Play Market and other Google services to crash. If apps become unstable after the changes, return the settings or use an alternative method (see Section 4).
☑️ Verification of geolocation disconnection
3. Hidden developer settings: complete disabling of geodata
If standard methods don't work, and Redmi 7 continues to transmit coordinates, you'll have to use developer mode, which is more radical and requires caution, because incorrect changes can disrupt the system.
Activate the Developer Mode:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer!” appears.
- Return to the main settings menu and open a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).
Now turn off all geolocation sources:
- 🛡️ Find the Debugging Point on USB and disable it (this will prevent the transfer of location data when connecting to the PC).
- 📡 In the Network Disable Wi-Fi Scanning is always available and Bluetooth Scanning is always available.
- 📍 In Location, select Device Only (this will disable the use of mobile network and Wi-Fi data for coordinates determination).
- 🔄 Reboot your phone to make the changes take effect.
The critical nuance for Redmi 7 is that after the MIUI update, the developer settings are reset. Check them after each update!
4.Alternative methods: disabling through ADB and third-party utilities
For advanced users who want to block access to geolocation at the system level, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tools or specialized applications like AppOps or XPrivacyLua are suitable. These methods require root rights or an unlocked bootloader, which voids the Xiaomi warranty.
Instructions for ADB (without root):
- Install Minimal ADB and Fastboot on PC (link to XDA).
- Connect Redmi 7 to USB, enable USB Debugging (see Section 3) and confirm your trust in your computer.
- Open the command line and type: adb shell settings put global location_mode 0 This command disables all geolocation sources at the Android level.
- To block a specific application (e.g. Mi Cloud): adb shell appops set com.miui.cloudservice android:location DENY
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI. Before experimenting, back up your data through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
5 Problems and Solutions: Why Geolocation Is Turned On
Many Redmi 7 owners complain that geolocation is activated hours after a shutdown or after a reboot, due to MIUI features that forcedly include location services for system applications (such as Mi Security or Find Device).
Here's how to fix it:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Geolocation is activated after rebooting | Automatic start of system services | Turn off auto-run for Mi Cloud and Security in Settings → Battery → Auto-run |
| GPS icon appears in status bar | Background activity of applications | Ban background work for unnecessary applications in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization |
| Location is determined even with GPS turned off. | Use of Wi-Fi/mobile network data | Turn off Accuracy Improvement in Settings → Geolocation → Mode |
| After the MIUI update, the settings are reset | Xiaomi's Security Policy | Re-apply the settings from Section 3 (Developer Mode) |
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If geolocation is enabled because of Mi Cloud, but you are not using the cloud backup, turn off sync completely: Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Sync and uncheck all ticks.
6.Impact on battery and performance
Disabling geolocation on Redmi 7 can increase battery life by 15-25%, especially if GPS or Wi-Fi scans were previously running in the background.
What's gonna stop working:
- 🗺️ Navigation in Google Maps, Yandex.Maps, 2GIS.
- 🚖 Taxi services (Yandex Go, Uber, Citymobil).
- 📸 Geotags in photos (if you use a standard Xiaomi Camera).
- 🌍 Local recommendations in Google Discover or Mi Browser.
To balance battery savings and functionality, use selective shutdown:
- 🔋 Enable geolocation only when necessary (e.g. for travel).
- 📵 Use Flight Mode in places where communication is not needed.
- ⚡ Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when battery power is low.
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On the Redmi 7 with MIUI 12+ firmware, geolocation consumes up to 10% of the charge per day when used actively. A full shutdown can extend operation by 4-6 hours at an average load.