How to completely disable navigation on Xiaomi phone: all ways

Navigation services on Xiaomi smartphones are not only GPS, but also a whole range of technologies (GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) that are constantly running in the background. They consume battery power, transmit location data to applications and even can affect the performance of the device. If you need to turn off navigation completely — whether it is to save energy, improve privacy or test applications — it is important to do it correctly so as not to disrupt other functions.

In this article, we will look at all possible methods, from standard MIUI settings to hidden options for power users, focusing on Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models, where the interface may differ, and find out which applications can covertly enable geolocation and how to prevent it.

Why does navigation work even after the shutdown?

Many users complain that after switching off GPS in the settings, the Xiaomi smartphone still determines the location, the reason lies in alternative geolocation methods:

• 📡 Cellular towers – a mobile operator can approximately determine your location at the nearest base stations.
• 📶 Wi-Fi networks – even if you’re not connected to the network, the phone scans the available access points and sends them MAC-Addresses to Google or Xiaomi servers.
• 🔄 Background apps – instant messengers, social networks and services like Mi Cloud can request geodata bypassing basic settings.

To guarantee that all navigation is turned off, it's not enough to just turn off GPS, you have to block all the location data channels, and then we'll show you how to do that.

Method 1: Standard GPS shutdown in MIUI

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI settings, which is suitable for most models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Xiaomi 13:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Location Autodetermination.
2. Translate the "Exact Location" slider to the off position.
3. Go back and select Location (or Security & Privacy → Location in the new versions of MIUI 15).
4. Turn off the Location option (it may be called Geodata Services on some firmware).

After that, the GPS icon in the status bar should disappear, but this method does not block location through Wi-Fi and cellular networks.

Method 2: Disabling background geolocation for applications

Even if GPS is turned off in the settings, individual applications can independently enable location determination.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Google Maps, Mi Cloud, or Facebook).
3. Press Permissions. → Location.
4. Set the value of "Disallow" or "During use only" (if you want to leave the minimum functionality).

For mass blackout:

• 🔍 Use the filter by permissions: Settings → Confidentiality → Permits → Location.
• 📱 All applications with access to geodata are displayed here - disable unnecessary ones.

💡

Some system applications (such as Mi Security) can automatically turn on GPS when scanning for viruses. To avoid this, turn off auto-run for such applications in Settings → Battery → Auto-Start.

Method 3: Flight mode with exceptions (for power users)

If you need to block all attempts to locate the Internet, but still keep it online:

1. Activate Flight Mode in the notification curtain.
2. Then manually turn on Wi-Fi or Mobile Data (but not both at the same time!).
3. Check that the GPS icon is missing from the status bar.

This method is 100% blocking all navigation services, including A-GPS (Accelerated Positioning over the Internet).

⚠️ Note: In flight mode, calls will not work and SMS. Some applications (such as banking) may also block access if they detect that they are not able to access the site. GPS shutdown at system level.

Method 4: Using a Developer (Debug Mode)

For advanced users, you can turn off navigation through the developer menu.This method works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version (you will be notified "You're a developer!").

Settings → Additional → For Developers

"Disable GPS."

"Mock Location App"

"Not an appendix"

In this menu, you can also turn off background geodata transmission:

• 🔧 Find Google Location Services and turn them off.
• 🔧 In the Wi-Fi Scanner section, select “Off.” (this will prevent networks from being scanned in the background).

Method 5: Disconnect via ADB (for technical users)

If you need to permanently turn off navigation, including system services, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your phone to your computer.

Warning: Incorrect commands may disrupt the system.

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Connect your phone via USB and allow debugging (enable it in Settings → For developers → USB debugging).
3. Open the command line (or Terminal) Mac/Linux) Enter: adb shell settings put global location_providers_allowed -gps,-network This team is shutting down and GPS, and network geolocation.
4. To block Wi-Fi scanning: adb shell settings put global wifi_scan_always_available 0

To return the settings back, use:

adb shell settings put global location_providers_allowed +gps,+network


adb shell settings put global wifi_scan_always_available 1

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware (especially Chinese versions) may not work because of manufacturer restrictions, which will require unlocking the bootloader and installing custom firmware.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the navigation is turned off, users face unexpected difficulties.

• 🔄 GPS it turns on after restarting - check auto-run system applications (Settings) → Battery → Autostart and disable Mi Location Service.
• 📱 Applications don’t work without geolocation – some services (like Google Pay or banking apps) require a user to use a mobile app. GPS If that's the case, you'll have to turn it on temporarily.
• 🔋 The battery is discharged faster than usual – if after switching off GPS energy consumption has not decreased, check the activity of background processes in Settings → Battery → Battery utilization.

If none of the methods worked, you may have modified firmware installed on your device (e.g., from third-party developers).

1. Check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. If this isn’t an official firmware, refer to your custom ROM documentation (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

💡

On Bootloader Unlocked devices, navigation services may work differently, and in some cases, you need to edit the build.prop file to completely disable GPS.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions