A modern smartphone is impossible to imagine without navigation services. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often face the need to quickly activate location for maps, taxis or search for a lost gadget. However, the interface of the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS may differ from stock Android, which raises questions among users.
Geolocation is not just a point on a map, it's a complex mechanism that works with satellites, cell towers and Wi-Fi networks, and when you set it up properly, you can not only build routes, but also save battery life and also improve the security of your data. In this article we will analyze all the nuances of the work GPS-module on Chinese and global versions of firmware.
It is worth noting that problems with determining the coordinates can occur due to a banal failure in the system or physical damage to the antenna after a fall. Before carrying the device to the service, you need to eliminate software errors by rechecking all the settings in the phone menu.
Quick activation through the control panel
The easiest way to run a navigation module is to use a notification curtain, which works on all versions of Android, including the old MIUI 10 and the latest HyperOS. You don't have to go into the depths of the menu, just swipe down from the top of the screen.
In the icon menu that opens, look for an icon that resembles a geolocation tag or compass, which can be called Location or GPS. If you don't see it on the first page, swipe left to open the extra buttons. Click on the icon once to activate the feature, which should be illuminated in blue or green.
Sometimes the system may request confirmation of action or permissions for system services. Attention: if the icon burns after turning on, but the cards do not work, try turning off and turn on the module again after 10 seconds.
For a more subtle setting immediately after turning on, press your finger on the geolocation icon in the curtain. This action will automatically take you to the appropriate settings menu, bypassing a long search in the general list of system parameters.
Configure through the system menu
If fast access doesn’t work or you need advanced options, you should use the basic settings menu.The path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same for all devices of the brand.
You need to open the Settings app and scroll through the list to Privacy or Additional Settings. In some versions of MIUI, the desired item is displayed in a separate Location menu right in the first settings screen. Click on it to see the current status of the service.
You can have a primary mode switch here. Make sure it's activated. Below are the points for positioning. For maximum accuracy, you can choose GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile, which will allow the phone to use all available data sources for positioning.
- 📍 High accuracy: uses GPS-satellites together with Wi-Fi and cell tower data.
- 📡 Network coordinates: determines location only by towers, works faster, but less accurately.
- 🔋 Savings on charge: only uses Wi-Fi and mobile networks, GPS-module is disconnected to conserve energy.
The same menu often contains the item “Location History” or “Google Services,” which should only be included if you are actively using the Google ecosystem and you want to, the system itself memorized frequent places to improve the performance of maps.
☑️ Verification of geolocation settings
Managing permissions for applications
Even with GPS enabled, apps may not see your location unless they have the right to do so. Android strictly controls access to geo-location data, and Xiaomi is no exception. Each application, whether it’s Yandex.Maps, Uber or messenger, requires a separate permission.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find the program you want (like a navigator) and click on it. From the menu that opens, select Permissions → Geolocation. Here you will see three behaviors of the program.
⚠️ Note: Selecting the "Disallow" option completely blocks the application's access to coordinates, even if GPS The program may stop working correctly or give errors.
The best choice is “Only in Use” mode, in which case the phone only requests coordinates when the app is open on the screen, and “Always” mode should be given only to trackers or antiviruses, since it can significantly affect the autonomy of the device.
Remember that newer versions of Android have a "Approximate Location" feature, so if you don't want to give the delivery app the exact address to your apartment, turn on this switch, and it'll only see the neighborhood, which is often enough to make the services work properly.
Improved accuracy and calibration
There are situations where a blue mark on a map is walking or showing the wrong direction, which is often in dense urban areas or indoors, and to correct this, you need to calibrate the sensors and include additional data sources.
The first rule of accurate GPS is Wi-Fi enabled. Even if you're not connected to any network, the mere fact that the module is running allows the phone to scan the surrounding routers. Wi-Fi point databases are anchored to coordinates, which helps determine the location to within a few meters of where satellites are not visible.
How to Calibrate Compasses in Google Maps
It's also worth checking if the flight mode is on, and in this state, all the wireless modules are turned off. GPS It will not be able to get data for fast navigation (A-GPS). Make sure the notification curtain is lit. 4G or 5G.
To calibrate the sensors, you can use special tools from the Play Market, such as GPS Status & Toolbox. Launch the program, click the menu and select Reset A-GPS, and then Download A-GPS, which will update the satellite almanac and accelerate the cold start of navigation.
- 🔄 Reset A-GPS: Clears the cache of old satellite data.
- 📡 Downloading A-GPS: Download current satellite positions from the Internet.
- 🧭 Magnetometer calibration: eliminates errors in determining the light points.
After the procedure, it is recommended to go out into the open space, away from tall buildings and metal structures, give the phone 2-3 minutes to capture the satellite signal.
Comparison of GPS modes
Users are often confused about navigation terms and modes of operation. Understanding the difference between them helps to choose the balance between accuracy and battery consumption. Below is a table comparing the main modes available in Xiaomi shells.
| Regime. | Data sources | precision | Battery consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| High precision | GPS + Wi-Fi + Mobility network | Maximum (up to 5 m) | High-pitched |
| Saving charge | Wi-Fi + Mob network | Medium (up to 50 m) | Low. |
| Only the device | Only GPS-satellite | High (but long start) | Medium. |
| Off. | No. | Absent. | Minimum |
Device Only is interesting because it completely shuts down data transmission to the network for positioning, relying only on satellites, which increases privacy, but indoors or in the rock jungle, the phone can search for a signal for a long time or lose it altogether.
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For everyday use in the city, the optimal high-precision mode, as it provides instant location determination even inside buildings.
If you go hiking in the remote taiga, where there are no towers and Wi-Fi, download offline maps in advance and switch to GPS-only mode. This will save the charge, which would otherwise be spent on constant search for non-existent networks.
Typical problem solving
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where geolocation is enabled, but no application can determine the coordinates. This can be caused by a failure of Google Play services or a software conflict.
If the reset didn't work, check the date and time. Incorrectly set time interferes with satellite synchronization, because the navigation signals are tied to the exact atomic time. Set automatic time determination in the Date and Time settings.
⚠️ Attention: If there are problems with GPS Started after you install a system or specific application update, try uninstalling recently installed programs or resetting your network settings.
In rare cases, resetting network settings helps. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. This action will delete stored Wi-Fi passwords, but often restores the communication modules.
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If the phone falls or falls in the rain, GPS problems can be caused by the oxidation of the antenna contact, in which case software methods will not help, you will need to disassemble and clean the device.
It is also worth checking for protective films with metal spray or covers with magnetic holders. Metal and magnets create strong interference to the antenna located in the case of the smartphone, which leads to loss of signal.