Xiaomi Redmi geolocation: how to turn on GPS and improve location accuracy

Modern Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are equipped with advanced GPS/GLONASS modules, but many users face problems when first turning on geolocation. Incorrect settings can lead to long search for satellites, inaccurate determination of coordinates or fast battery discharge. This article will help to understand how to properly activate the geolocation service on Redmi devices (including Note 10/11/12 models, Redmi 9/10/13C and others), configure permissions for applications and optimize the operation of the module.

The MIUI firmware feature is additional power saving options that can block background geolocation services. We will look not only at basic steps to turn on GPS, but also at hidden settings to improve accuracy, as well as ways to diagnose common problems, from lack of signal to conflicts with Chinese versions of software. If your Redmi is not catching satellites poorly or maps show the wrong location, the following instructions will help eliminate the cause.

Before you start setting up, make sure your device has an up-to-date version of MIUI installed (as described in the section below). Old firmware may contain errors in the gnss module responsible for geolocation. Also note regional limitations: some Redmi models for the Chinese market (China ROM) have blocked Google services, which affects maps and navigation.

Checking the current geolocation settings

Before making changes, make sure that the geolocation is turned off or not working properly. Xiaomi devices have two levels of control: the system switch and individual permissions for applications. Often users turn on GPS in the notification curtain, but forget to give access to specific programs (for example, Google Maps or Yandex.Maps).

To check the current status:

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Geolocation.
2. At the top of the screen you will see the main switch "Geolocation" (should be active).
3. Below is a list of apps that access your location, check that the programs you need (cards, taxis, fitness trackers) are “Always” or “Only during use” permissions.

If the master switch is turned off, activate it – this is a basic setting without which no application can determine your coordinates. Note: in MIUI 14, the interface may be slightly different (for example, the Privacy item is sometimes called Permits and Security).

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On some Redmi models (such as the Note 11 Pro+), there is a quick button in the notification curtain to turn on GPS. However, it only activates the base mode - for high accuracy, additional settings are required in the geolocation mode menu (described below).

Another important thing is the power saving mode, and if your Redmi is on Super Saving or Ultra-Economic, it can automatically turn off GPS to save power.

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select Power Saving Modes and disable restrictions for applications that need constant geolocation access (e.g., jogging trackers).

Step-by-step instructions: how to turn on geolocation

Now, to the basic settings, the instructions are suitable for all current Redmi models based on MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese versions of firmware). If you have an older version of MIUI (for example, 11 or lower), some menu items may be called differently - in this case, update the system through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

To enable geolocation, follow the following steps:

Enable the main geolocation switch in the settings|Select a high-precision mode|Permit key applications|Disable energy saving for geolocation services|Check the work in the test application (for example, Google Maps)-->

1. Activate the master switch: Go to Settings → Privacy → Geolocation and move the slider to the "On" position. On some devices, this item may be in Settings → Additional → Geolocation.
2. Select Precision Mode: Click on Geolocation Mode (or Positioning Accuracy) and set High Accuracy. This mode uses data from GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks and sensors to determine the coordinates as accurately as possible. ⚠️ Attention: Device-only Mode saves battery power but can run slower in urban environments where satellite signal is blocked by buildings. Charge Saving mode uses only Wi-Fi and cellular networks, which reduces accuracy to 500-1000 meters.
3. Configure permissions for apps: Go back to the Geolocation menu and scroll down to the app list. Click on what you want (like Google Maps) and select one of the options: 🔘 "Always" - the application can use geolocation at any time (suitable for activity trackers). 🔘 "Use Only” – Access only when the program is open (recommended for maps and navigators). 🔘 "Disable” – complete shutdown of access.

Check the module's operation

Open Google Maps or another mapping app and wait for your location to be determined. If the geolocation icon flashes for longer than 30 seconds, go to Troubleshooting.

On Redmi models with Chinese firmware (China ROM), Google Maps may require pre-installing Google Services (GMS) through the Google Installer app, without which the maps will determine the location with a large margin of error or not work at all.

Optimization of Geolocation Accuracy

Even after switching on GPS, some users are faced with the problem of "jumping" coordinates or slow search for satellites, which can be due to several factors, from poor visibility of the sky (indoors or among high-rises) to the software limitations of MIUI.

1. Include auxiliary data (AGPS):

A-GPS (Assisted GPS) technology uses mobile network data to speed up satellite search, and to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Geolocation → Geolocation Mode.
2. Make sure that the options “Wi-Fi Search” and “Mobile Network Search” are enabled.

2. Update the AGPS data:

Sometimes the auxiliary data cache becomes obsolete, which leads to a long search for satellites.

1. Install the GPS Status & Toolbox app from Google Play.
2. Open it and click "A-GPS Management" → "Reset" → "Download".

Calibration of the compass:

An improperly calibrated compass can disrupt coordinates, especially in navigation applications.

1. In Google Maps, tap the blue dot of your location.
2. Select "Compass Calibration" and follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to rotate the phone in the air, describing the infinity sign).

Solving geolocation problems

If the GPS still doesn't work properly after all the settings, it could be a software conflict or hardware malfunction, and here's a list of the most common problems and solutions.

Special case: Chinese firmware (China ROM)

On devices with original Chinese firmware (Redmi for the Chinese market), Google services are blocked at the system level, which means that:

• 🚫 Google Maps and other applications based on GMS will not correctly determine the location.
• 🌍 Baidu Maps or Alice Maps (from Yandex) can be used as an alternative, but their accuracy outside China leaves much to be desired.

The solution is to install Google Mobile Services (GMS) through the official Google Installer app (available on Google Play for global firmware). Once the GMS is installed, you need to reboot and reconfigure the permissions for geolocation.

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Even after the installation of GMS, the accuracy of GPS on Chinese firmware (China ROM) may be lower than on global versions of MIUI. This is due to the lack of optimization for foreign satellite systems (for example, GLONASS).

Energy consumption and geolocation: how to save energy

Constant GPS use is one of the most energy-consuming features of a smartphone. On Xiaomi Redmi, this is especially noticeable due to the aggressive battery optimization in MIUI. To reduce charge consumption without losing functionality, follow these tips:

1.Use Adaptive Geolocation Mode

Instead of constantly turning on high accuracy, set up automatic mode switching:

• 📍 For navigators (e.g. Yandex.Navigator), leave "High accuracy".
• 🏃 For fitness trackers (e.g. Mi Fitness), Charge Savings (only nets) is sufficient.

2. Limit background access

Many apps (social media, weather) request geolocation for targeted advertising, to prevent them from using GPS in the background:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Geolocation.
2. For unnecessary applications, select "Disallow" or "During Use Only".

3. Set up energy saving modes

MIUI has a hidden option to exclude critical applications from optimization:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Application Battery Management
2. Find the app you want (like Google Maps) and select “No Limits”.

4.Use offline maps

If you use navigation frequently, download the maps in advance:

• 🗺️ In Google Maps: open a profile → “Offline Maps” → select a region.
• 🗺️ In Yandex.Maps: "I'm using → Offline maps."

This will reduce the use of mobile internet and GPS on repeat routes.

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On Redmi models with Snapdragon processors (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G), GPS is usually more stable than on MediaTek chips (e.g. Redmi 10C). If accuracy is critical (e.g. for surveying), opt for Snapdragon devices.

Security and confidentiality

Enabling geolocation gives you access to your location not only useful applications, but also potentially dangerous services, to minimize the risks:

1. Check the application permissions

Regularly list the programs with access to GPS:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Geolocation.
2. Remove access to suspicious or underused applications.

2. Use "Incognito Mode" in the cards

In Google Maps, you can enable mode without saving history:

• 🕵️ Open your profile → “Settings → Location History” → turn off the record.
• 🕵️ For individual trips, use the "Incognito Mode" (the icon in the upper right corner).

3. Set up access notifications

MIUI allows you to receive alerts when the application uses geolocation:

1. Enable the option “Geolocation Access Notices” in Settings → Privacy → Permits → Geolocation → ⚙️ (cogwheel).
2. You will see which programs are active in the background.

4. Limit access for system services

Some MIUI system components (e.g., Xiaomi Services or Security) may also use your location to disable this:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Geolocation → System applications.
2. Disable access for unnecessary services (such as "Weather" or "Advertising").

⚠️ Warning: On devices with China ROM, some system applications (e.g., "Mi Cloud") can automatically enable geolocation for synchronization. This cannot be disabled without root permissions. If privacy is critical, consider flashing to the global version of MIUI.

Frequent questions and answers