Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have powerful functionality that allows users to flexibly manage system processes, including location, and often need to change their real coordinates, whether accessing content limited by region, testing apps or participating in augmented reality games such as Pokémon GO. Standard Android settings do not allow you to simply “mov” yourself to another place in the world, requiring the use of specific tools.
In the Android-based MIUI operating system, the repositioning process is implemented through the “Mock Locations” mechanism, a tool originally designed for developers to test their geo-dependent applications without physically moving, but because of the openness of the platform, ordinary users can also take advantage of this feature by installing third-party software and configuring the system properly.
It is important to understand that interference with work GPS-Module and coordinate substitution can lead to incorrect operation of navigation services, such as Yandex.Maps or Google Maps, if you do not turn off the emulation mode after use. In addition, some services, such as Uber or banking applications, may block work if a geodata swap is detected, considering it an attempt to fraud, so you should be clear about the risks and follow the instructions with attention to detail before starting the procedure.
⚠️ Note: Using fake geolocation in online games may result in account blocking by game developers.Use this knowledge only to test or circumvent regional content restrictions where it does not violate user agreement.
Why Change GPS on Xiaomi Smartphone
The main reason Xiaomi owners are looking for ways to change coordinates is to access content that is not available in their country. IP-addresses GPS-Emulating location bypasses these geographic barriers, making the device invisible to regional filters.
Another popular application is augmented reality mobile games, which players seek to teleport to rare object locations from the comfort of their homes, and is useful for photographers and bloggers who want to add exotic location geotags to their images, creating the illusion of travel. App developers use this feature to debug the code, checking how the application responds to the movement of the user between different points.
But it's important to keep security in mind. If you're constantly using fake GPS, location-based services (weather, traffic jams, recommendations nearby) will not work properly. System services can consume more power trying to reconcile conflicting data from satellites and software emulators, so it's important to be able to quickly return all settings to their original state.
Preparation of the device and activation of the developer mode
Before installing third-party applications for changing coordinates, you need to activate the hidden menu in the system. MIUI. Without access to the developer menu, Android security won’t allow any app to manage the app. GPS-This process is safe if you don't change the unknown, but it requires careful action.
First, you open the standard Settings app and go to About Phone, and we're interested in the line "MIUI Version" or "OS Version," and you need to quickly click on this line 7-10 times in a row, and the system will count down the clicks and eventually give the message "You became a developer," and then a new item will appear in the main settings menu.
- 📱 Open Settings and select Advanced Settings (or Additional).
- 🔓 Find the Developer Item and activate the top switch.
- 🔍 In the list, find the option of Selecting an application for a fixed location.
It's important to note that the path may be slightly different on different versions of HyperOS or MIUI firmware, so if you can't find the right item, search the settings by typing in "fake" or "developer." Once the developer mode is activated, the system can warn of the risks -- we agree, because this is a necessary step for our purpose.
☑️ Checking the readiness of the smartphone
Selection and installation of the application for changing coordinates
There are many tools on the market for emulating GPS, but not all of them work well on the MIUI shell. Some of them require root rights, which complicates the process and can violate the warranty. We will look at applications that work normally using the standard Android API to change coordinates.
One of the most popular and proven solutions is Lexa's Fake GPS location, which has a minimalist interface and works well with Xiaomi's system services, and is often mentioned as a GPS Emulator and Fake GPS Go. The choice of software depends on personal preferences, but the principle of operation is the same.
| Annex | Advertising | Demands a Root. | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fake GPS location | Got it (free) | No. | Simple interface, history of points |
| GPS Emulator | Minimum | No. | Route support |
| Fake GPS Go | No. | No. | Lightweight, without unnecessary functions |
| Location Faker | There is. | Optionally. | Advanced speed settings |
After downloading and installing the selected APK-So, if you want to run the file, you don't have to run it. You need to have special permissions in the system first. Without this step, the coordinate emulator will start, but it won't be able to take control. GPS-It's a common mistake of beginners to think that the program is not working.
Where is it safe to download APK?
System setting and emulation start
The most critical step is the connection of the installed application and the system module GPS. This is where you redirect requests from all maps and services to the selected program. If you skip this step or choose the wrong application in the settings, the phone will show your real position, ignoring the running emulator.
Go back to the Developer menu. Find the Select mock location app. Click on it and select the app you just installed, like Fake GPS location, from the list that appears. If the list is empty, make sure the app is installed and you give it all the permissions you requested when you first run it.
Now you can move to the direct change of coordinates. Open the emulator app. On the map, select the desired point or enter the coordinates manually. Press the start button (usually a green triangle or a "Go" button). At this point, an Android icon that says "Debug over USB" or a specific GPS icon may appear in the status bar (at the top of the screen) or a specific GPS icon is normal.
- 🗺️ Launch a fake app GPS And put a dot on the map.
- ▶️ Press the Start or Play button to activate the mode.
- 📡 Check the work by opening Google Maps – the blue circle should move.
If the coordinates have not changed, try restarting the smartphone with the emulator running. Sometimes MIUI aggressively unloads background processes, so it is useful to add the application to the list of Unlimited Data or fix it in memory so that the system does not “kill” the emulation process.
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To prevent applications from “flying” from a fake location, turn off the energy saving mode for the GPS emulator in the battery settings and allow auto-start.
Problem Solving: When Apps See a Substitute
Many modern services have learned to detect that a user is using a fictitious location, and applications like Tinder, Bolt, or games like Pokémon GO can give an error or simply not show a map if they swap, because the standard method through the Developer App leaves digital traces.
Bypassing such protections often requires deeper system interventions, such as using Magisk and modules to hide root rights or kernel-level data swaps. However, for common tasks (access to news, simple checks) the standard method is usually sufficient. If the application is blocked, try disabling the Allow mock locations option inside the application in the emulator settings, if any, although this rarely helps.
A common problem with Xiaomi is that it's a setup meeting after the reboot, and it can reset the choice of a fake location app, so you have to re-enter the developer menu and select an emulator. Also helps to disconnect Wi-Fi and mobile Internet at the time of the emulator launch, so that GPS-The module did not try to check with network towers.
⚠️ Warning: If the navigator shows an incorrect position after the emulator is turned off, calibrate the sensors. To do this, type ##6484## in the "ringer" code, select the code «GPS» and follow the instructions on the screen.
How to turn off fake geolocation and return everything as it was
Once you've completed your tasks, it's critical to get the settings back to their original state. If you leave the dummy location mode on, your phone will "travel" around the map, making it impossible to use taxis, deliver food, and navigate. The return process is simple but requires consistency.
First, close the emulator app. Then go back to Settings. → For developers, find "Select an app for a fixed location" and select "No" (or "None"), which will break the link between the two. GPS-module and sub-program.
Then we recommend turning off the developer mode completely. Just turn the top switch in the developer menu to the off position, which will remove all the temporary settings and return the system to standard, safe mode, and then it is advisable to restart the device to reset the geoservices cache.
- ❌ In the developer menu, select “No” in the app selection point.
- 🔌 Turn off the switchboard for developers».
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to clean up the cache of Google services.
You can check the result by running any browser and going to the site 2ip.ru or opening Yandex.Maps. If the location is correct (taking into account the error of the network), then the procedure was successful. Now your Xiaomi again shows the real world.
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The main security rule is to always return the settings of the “Fictitious location” to the value of “No” immediately after use, so as not to disrupt the operation of system services.