How to enable geolocation on Xiaomi Android smartphones: full instructions with nuances

Geolocation on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines) is not just a feature for maps, but a whole range of technologies that depend on the operation of navigators, the accuracy of weather widgets, photo geotags and even security (for example, finding a device when lost). However, many users are faced with the fact that GPS is unstable or completely disabled by default. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to enable geolocation – from basic settings to hidden developer parameters, and explain why sometimes coordinates are determined with an error of up to 50 meters and how to fix this.

The feature of MIUI firmware (even in the latest versions 14/15) is that it aggressively optimizes the background processes. The system can automatically turn off GPS to save charge if you do not use navigation actively. In addition, Xiaomi geolocation is closely related to Google Play services and its own Mi Location services, which adds to the complexity of configuration. We tested the instructions on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13T models – all the steps are relevant for Android 12-14 devices.

Before you go to the settings, make sure you have:

• 📶 Stable connection to a mobile network or Wi-Fi (geolocation works more accurately when you have the Internet).
• 🔋 Battery charge above 20% (at low levels, the system can limit background processes).
• 📱 Updated firmware (check in Settings) → The phone. → Update MIUI).

1. Basic geolocation settings in MIUI

The easiest way to activate GPS is through the main settings menu, which is suitable for most tasks: maps, taxis, fitness trackers.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Permits → Geolocation.
3. Activate the “Geolocation” slider at the top of the screen.
4. Select the accuracy mode: 🎯 «High accuracy – uses GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks and sensors (maximum accuracy but increased battery consumption). 📡 «Charge savings – Wi-Fi and mobile networks only (accuracy) ~50–200 m). 📍 «Only the device" - "only GPS (more precisely, but longer determines the coordinates).

Important! In the latest versions of MIUI, the Geolocation option can be hidden behind Privacy → Permissions → Geolocation. If you don't find an option, search by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner).

After activation, check the GPS using the Google Maps or Yandex.Maps application:

1. Open the maps and wait for the blue dot (your location) to appear.
2. If the point is flashing or missing, tap the geolocation icon (📍) top-right.
3. Wait up to 30 seconds (in urban conditions, the determination of coordinates takes 5-10 seconds, in open areas - up to 20-30).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to warm up or discharge quickly after turning on the geolocation, check if its background application (for example, an activity tracker or a social network) is using it. → Battery → Battery usage and sort the list by consumption.

2. Set up permissions for individual applications

Enabling geolocation at the system level is only half the battle, and every app that needs coordinates (like Uber, 2GIS, or Instagram) requires a separate permission, and without it, maps will show your location, but you won’t be able to order a taxi or check in on social media.

How to check and issue permits:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application (for example, Yandex.Navigator).
3. Press Permissions. → Geolocation.
4. Set up one of the options: 🔘 «Allow all the time – for navigators and trackers. 🔘 «Allow only during use – for social networks and weather widgets. 🔘 «Prohibit – if the app does not need coordinates.

On Xiaomi smartphones with firmware for the Chinese market (without Google services), geolocation may not work properly due to the lack of AGPS module. In this case, you need to firmware the global version of MIUI or install Google Framework manually.

💡

If the app doesn't request geolocation access, try clearing its cache: Settings → Apps → [name] → Clear the cache. After that, run the program again - a permission request window should appear.

3. Checking the GPS operation through the engineering menu

If geolocation is enabled, but coordinates are determined with a large margin of error (or not at all), the problem may lie in the hardware or settings of the GPS module.

Instructions for Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636## (test menu opens).
3. Select the item Phone Information (or Usage statistics in English firmware).
4. Scroll down to the GPS unit and press the GPS Test.

4. Optimization of geolocation accuracy through developer settings

Hidden parameters “For developers” allow you to fine-tune the work GPS-For example, to turn off the battery saving for geolocation or to force the use of satellites. GPS + GLONASS.

How to turn on the developer mode and optimize GPS:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You became a developer”).
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section → For developers.
4. Find parameters related to geolocation: 🔄 Turn off absolute geolocation – turn off (this is a test mode that impairs accuracy). 📡 Turn it on. GPS-Log – turn on if you need to debug the problem (the log file will appear in the folder) /sdcard/gps/). 🌐 Selecting a satellite system – install «GPS + GLONASS (for Russia, it is optimal).

⚠️ Warning: Don't turn on the option of "Mock Locations" unnecessarily. This is a testing mode that can knock out the navigators. If it's activated accidentally, turn it off and restart your smartphone.

For Xiaomi models with Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset (such as Redmi Note 11 Pro+ or POCO F4), additional settings are available:

Developer Settings → Debugging by USB → Enable “Disable HW overlays”

This parameter eliminates conflicts between the graphics accelerator and the GPS module (relevant for firmware based on Android 12+).

💡

Satellite system configuration (GPS + GLONASS) is particularly important in urban environments where the signal can be shielded by buildings, and the combination of the two systems improves accuracy to 3-5 meters.

5. Solving geolocation problems on Xiaomi

If GPS is unstable, the reasons could be both software and hardware, and let's look at the typical scenarios and how to fix them.

The geolocation is shut down by itself.

This is due to aggressive battery optimization in MIUI. To fix:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
2. Find an app that has GPS disabled (like Google Maps).
3. Choose No Limits.

💡

If the problem has occurred after the update, check the 4PDA or Xiaomi Community forums – patches are often released to fix GPS bugs in newer versions of MIUI.

6. Alternative methods of positioning

If GPS doesn't work at all, you can use assistive geolocation techniques, which are less accurate, but are suitable for most tasks (except navigation).

Geolocation over Wi-Fi and mobile networks

This method determines your location by the nearest cell towers and Wi-Fi access points, accuracy is from 50 to 500 meters (depending on the density of networks).

How to turn on:

1. Activate Geolocation in the settings (see Section 1).
2. Select the charge saving mode.
3. Make sure that you have mobile internet or Wi-Fi enabled.

6.2 Geolocation Services from Xiaomi (Mi Location)

Xiaomi uses its own location system, Mi Location, which runs parallel to Google and sometimes gives more accurate results in China and Asia, to activate it:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Special features → Mi Location.
2. Turn on the Mi Location slider.
3. Allow access to geodata for the Mi Location Service system application.

Mi Location is especially useful if you have:

• 📱 Smartphone without Google services (Chinese firmware).
• 🌏 You are in a region with poor coverage. GPS (mountainous).
• 🔋 You want to save money (Mi Location is less resource intensive than Google).

External GPS-receiver

For professional tasks (geodesy, trekking in the camp) you can connect an external GPS-Bluetooth module. Popular models:

• 📡 Garmin GLO 2 - accuracy up to 1 meter, support for GLONASS.
• 📡 Bad Elf GPS Pro+ — waterproof, working time up to 35 hours.

They connect via Settings → Connected Devices → Bluetooth. After pairing, select the external module as the primary source of GPS in your location settings.

7.Security and confidentiality in the use of geolocation

Geolocation is not only a convenience, it's also a potential privacy threat. Attackers can track your location through vulnerabilities in apps or social engineering. Here's how to protect yourself:

Control of permissions for applications

Check regularly which programs have access to your coordinates:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Geolocation.
2. Sort the list by last use.
3. Remove permissions for suspicious or unnecessary applications.

Disable location history

Google and Xiaomi by default save your browsing history to disable:

• 🔍 For Google: Open Google Maps → Profile → Your chronicle. → Settings → Location history → Shut down.
• 📱 For Mi Account: Settings → Xiaomi account → Confidentiality → Location history → Shut down.

7.3 Use of VPN to mask coordinates

VPN Does not hide your real location from apps, but can help bypass geo-blocking or hide your location IP-Address. Popular services:

• 🛡️ ProtonVPN – free rate with speed limit.
• 🛡️ NordVPN – Support for Dual Encryption.

Important: A VPN does not interfere with GPS location, but it can hide your location over IP for websites.

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online or Tinkoff) block access when using the service. VPN or changing geolocation through a developer tool (like imaginary geolocation) is a measure of protection against fraudsters.

FAQ: Frequent questions about geolocation on Xiaomi