How to allow geolocation in Xiaomi settings: full instructions with pictures

Xiaomi’s smartphone geolocation is not just a dot on a map, but a set of technologies that depend on navigation, weather forecast accuracy, banking app functionality, and even device security. However, many users are faced with location services being incorrect or even disabled by default. In this article, we’ll look at how to properly set up geolocation on Redmi, POCO, and other devices running MIUI, including the latest versions of the 2026 firmware.

Complicating the problem, MIUI has a variety of menus, including permissions for individual applications, GPS system settings, and energy-saving modes that can block background activity, and not only will we show where geolocation is enabled, but we will also explain why it may not work even after activation, for example, due to limitations of MIUI Optimization or conflicts with Google Play Services.

Where is the geolocation in the settings of Xiaomi

Unlike pure Android, where location settings are usually collected in a single menu, MIUI has three key sections, which is designed for flexibility but often confusing.

• 📍 Quick settings: Swipe down from the top edge of the screen and find the Location icon (if not, add through panel editing).
• ⚙️ System settings: Settings → Confidentiality → Permits → Location.
• 🔍 Application Permits: Settings → Annexes → Application management → [select the application] → Permits → Location.

It’s important to understand that enabling geolocation in quick settings does NOT guarantee it will work for all applications – each requires a separate permission. For example, you can turn on GPS globally, but Google Maps will still not determine coordinates unless it is allowed to access the location in the background.

Step-by-step: how to enable geolocation on Xiaomi

Follow this algorithm to activate all the components responsible for determining the location:

1. Activate. GPS-Chip: Go to Settings → Connections and sharing → Location and move the slider to "On." Select accuracy mode here: 🎯 High accuracy: uses GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks and sensors (maximum accuracy but increased battery consumption). 📶 Charge savings: mobile networks and Wi-Fi only (accuracy) ~1-3 km). 📡 Device only: only GPS (more precisely, but longer determines the coordinates).
2. Set up permissions for applications: Go to Settings → Confidentiality → Permits → Location. Here you will see a list of applications with access to geodata. Click on the desired one (for example, Yandex.Maps) and select one of the options: 🔘 Allow all the time (for navigators). 🔘 Allow only during use (for weather, photos). 🔘 Prohibit (for games or social networks).

Check background activity

In MIUI, many applications are limited by default in the background. To keep geolocation running all the time (for example, for jogging trackers), go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management and remove restrictions from the desired application.

If geolocation still doesn’t work after these actions, the problem may lie in MIUI Optimization, a feature that blocks background processes to save energy.

Why geolocation doesn’t work even after switching on

About 30 percent of the calls for Xiaomi support are due to GPS not accurately detecting the location or not finding satellites at all, and the reasons can be divided into three categories:

Problems are especially common on devices with MediaTek processors (such as the Redmi Note 11 or POCO M4 Pro), where GPS drivers sometimes conflict with Google Location Services.

• 🔄 Switching the accuracy mode from "High" to "Device Only" and back.
• 📱 Resetting network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
• 🛠️ Installation of alternative GPS-Module via Magisk (for stitched devices).

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), geolocation may not work due to the lack of proprietary Xiaomi drivers.

How to Set Up Geolocation for Specific Applications

Not all apps need location access equally, like Tinkoff Bank asking for geodata for security payments, and Instagram asking for geotags in the photo, and let's see what permissions to give in different cases:

• 🗺️ Navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps, 2GIS): They require "Always" access, otherwise the route will reset when the screen is locked.
• 🏦 Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, VTB): Only during use permission is sufficient. Some banks (e.g. Alfa-Bank) require the enabled GPS proof-of-payment.
• 📸 Social media (Instagram, VK, Telegram: It is better to restrict access to "Ask Every Time" to avoid data leakage.
• 🏃 Fitness trackers (Strava, Nike Run Club): Permission is always required" + switching off battery optimization, otherwise the jog track will be interrupted.

For applications that use geolocation in the background (like Find My Device for phone search), you also need to:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → [name] → Battery.
2. Select "No Limits."
3. Enable the "Out-Run" option (for MIUI 12+).

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If the app doesn’t determine the location, try temporarily disabling VPN or proxy – they can replace real coordinates.

How to turn off geolocation to save battery

Constantly active GPS is one of the main battery eaters, and if you don't use the navigator, you can turn it off partially or completely:

• ⚡ Disconnect for individual applications: Go to Settings → Confidentiality → Permits → Location and disallow access for unnecessary programs (such as Facebook or games).
• 📴 Use of Charge Saving Mode: In Location Settings (Settings) → Connections → Location) Select "Charge Saving" mode - this will turn off GPS, leaving only an approximate definition of cell towers.
• 🕒 Automatic Shutdown on Schedule: With MacroDroid or Tasker, you can configure the rule: "Disable" GPS 23:00 to 7:00".

On devices with MIUI 14+, Adaptive Location has been introduced, which automatically switches accuracy mode based on user activity, for example, if you haven't used a map in a long time, the system will put GPS into low-consumption mode to turn it on:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Adaptive settings.
2. Activate the adaptive location slider.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling geolocation for system applications (e.g. Google Play Services) may cause disruptions MIUI, including the inability to update the software. It is better to limit the user programs.

Solving geolocation issues on Xiaomi after MIUI update

After major MIUI updates (e.g., version 13 to version 14), users often find that GPS stops working or locates with a large margin of error.

• 🔄 Resetting application permissions (required to re-access geodata).
• 📦 Conflicts of new versions of Google Play Services with Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔒 Blocking background activity due to tightening of energy saving policy.

To restore the geolocation after the update:

1. Reset network settings: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network resets, which will remove stored Wi-Fi networks and cellular settings, but often solves the problem of location.
2. Update Google Play Services: Go to Google Play, search Google Play Services, and click Update. If you don't have a button, it's up to date.
3. Clear the GPS cache: In the engineering menu (#4636##) go to the tab "GPS Status" and click "Clear AGPS", then "Update AGPS".
4. Turn off MIUI Optimization: Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version), then go to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn off "MIUI Optimization".

If the problem persists, try rolling back the Google Play Services update to the previous version.

1. Remove updates through Settings → Apps → App Management → Google Play Services → Remove updates.
2. Stop automatic updates on Google Play.

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After updating MIUI, always check the permissions for critical applications (banks, navigators) – the system resets them to default values.

How to Check GPS Accuracy on Xiaomi

If you doubt that GPS works correctly, you can test it with specialized applications.

• 📡 GPS Status & Toolbox: Shows the number of satellites found, signal strength and coordinate accuracy. A-GPS "state" can be manually updated with the almanac data.
• 🗺️ GPSTest: Displays a map with your location and signal parameters (DOP, SNR). Useful for comparison of accuracy before and after settings.
• 📊 AndroSensor: Shows raw data from GPS-chip, including coordinate update speed and height.

For objective verification:

1. Go out to the open area (indoor GPS works worse).
2. Run one of the apps above and wait until at least 8-10 satellites are found.
3. Compare coordinates with Google Maps – the discrepancy should not exceed 10-20 meters.

If the accuracy is poor (a margin of error > 50 meters), try:

• 🔧 Manually specify the server A-GPS for your region (in GPS Select "Europe" or "Russia").
• 📶 Disable the transfer of mobile data for 10-15 seconds, then turn it on again (sometimes helps when the module freezes).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button) → "Restart in Safe Mode”) and check GPS — If it is earned, one of the installed applications is to blame.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions