Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Redmi 4, cannot be imagined without precise location, a feature critical not only for navigating an unfamiliar city, but also for taxis, delivery services, and even protecting the device from theft. Budget model owners often find that standard settings do not provide the correct accuracy, and satellites can not catch the signal for a long time.
In this article, we will take a look at how to properly activate the GPS module on your device to achieve maximum speed and positioning accuracy. We will look not only at basic switches, but also at hidden engineering menus, as well as software calibration methods that are often ignored by users.
It's worth noting that Redmi 4 has a sensitive receiver that requires the correct software configuration to work smoothly, and that setting errors can lead to cursor jumps on the map or no indoor signal, and let's go through all the configuration steps to ensure that there are no possible geodata failures.
Basic activation through the notification panel
The fastest way to start a satellite search is to use a notification curtain, which is suitable for situations where you need to urgently determine the coordinates or turn on the navigator. Just swipe down from top to bottom of the screen to open the quick access panel, and find an icon with an arrow or compass.
However, simply clicking on an icon often only activates the base mode that uses cell towers and Wi-Fi routers to locate, which provides fast, but not always accurate positioning.
To do this, hold your finger on the geolocation icon in the curtain for a few seconds. The system automatically redirects you to the Settings → Location menu. Here you will see a switch that should be lit blue. If it is off, tap it across the screen.
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If the geolocation icon is missing from the curtain, tap the pencil icon or tripod in the menu corner and drag the GPS slider to the visible area of the screen.
Choosing a high-precision mode
The key for Xiaomi owners is to choose the right positioning mode; by default, the system can use a lean mode that consumes less battery power but sacrifices accuracy; for navigation in the car or when walking, this is unacceptable.
In the location menu, look for Mode or Definition Method, and you'll see a list of options to select from "GPS, Wi-Fi and Mobile," which uses all available data sources to calculate the coordinates.
Using all sensors simultaneously allows the phone to catch satellites faster after leaving a building or area with a bad signal, and it also helps to determine the location indoors where direct signals from satellites do not pass, but triangulation over Wi-Fi routers works.
- 📍 High accuracy: uses GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Cellular Networks for Maximum Quality.
- 📶 Charge saving: Only determines location over Wi-Fi and mobile networks, GPS switched off.
- 📡 Device only: uses satellites only GPS, It works slowly and only in the open air.
It's important to understand that high-precision mode consumes more power. If you're in a densely built city, the system will constantly poll the surrounding networks, which can affect the autonomy of Redmi 4.
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The mode "According to all sources" is mandatory for the correct operation of navigators and taxi services, as it provides accuracy up to several meters.
Configuring access rights for applications
Even with GPS enabled, apps may not see your coordinates unless they have the appropriate permissions. MIUI, the operating system on which Redmi 4 is based, is known for its strict safety and energy saving policies.
When you first start a navigator or map, the system will ask for permission to access the geodata. It is imperative to choose the option "Allow always" or "Allow only when used", depending on your needs. If you choose "Disallow", the application will not be able to plot the route.
You can manually check and change these settings. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find the right service in the list, for example, Yandex.Maps or Google Maps. Inside the app menu, find the “Permissions” section and make sure that the “Geodata” item is activated.
⚠️ Attention: In new versions MIUI geolocation access can be automatically disabled by the power saving system for background applications.
Special attention should be paid to the background mode: if the navigator is to work when the screen is turned off (for example, when voice navigation), you need to allow the application to auto-start and work in the background. Without this, GPS can turn off when the screen is locked.
☑️ Access rights verification
Calibration of sensors and engineering menu
If geolocation is enabled, but the cursor on the map is walking or showing the wrong direction, calibration is required, and Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in engineering menu that is accessed through a special code.
Open the Phone app and dial ##6484##. The CIT menu will open before you. In the test list, find the item associated with GPS or Location, which is usually at the top or middle of the list.
Inside the test, you'll see the technical information: the number of satellites visible, the strength of the signal and the coordinates. If the satellites are zero, go out into the open space and wait 5-10 minutes. If there are satellites, but the signal is weak, you can try to reset the A-GPS data.
Actions in the engineering menu:
1. Enter the GPS test
Press the "AGPS Information" button
3. Select "Clear AGPS data" (Clear data)
4.Click "Update" to download fresh almanacsWhat is an A-GPS?
Comparison of navigation modes
Different use cases require different approaches to setup, and understanding the differences between modes will help you optimize your device for specific tasks, whether it’s tracking a jog or finding a cafe.
Below is a table showing the differences in resource consumption and accuracy for different configurations based on the Snapdragon processor that is installed in Redmi 4.
| Parameter | Economy regime | High precision | Only GPS. |
|---|---|---|---|
| precision | Low (100-500 m) | Tall (5-10 m) | Medium (10-20 m) |
| Start speed | Instantly. | Fast (1-5 sec) | Slowly (30+sec) |
| Work indoors | Yeah (wi-fi) | Yeah (hybridly) | No. |
| Battery consumption | Minimum | High-pitched | Medium. |
As you can see from the table, high precision mode is optimal for everyday use. GPS only is useful in expeditionary environments where you need to keep the charge as high as possible and the Internet is not available.
Addressing common problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where geolocation is enabled, but applications write "No signal" or "Determination error" This can be due to software failures or physical obstacles.
One of the common reasons is to use protective covers with metal inserts or magnetic holders. Metal shields the signal, and the Redmi 4 antenna, located at the top of the housing, stops "seeing" the sky. Remove the case and check the navigation.
The problem may also be in outdated Google maps or service cache. Try clearing the cache of the Google Play Services app. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Google Play Services → Memory → Clear the cache.
- 🔄 Reboot: A banal but effective method of resetting a communication module.
- 📶 Air Mode: Turn on and off flight mode to restart all radio modules.
- 🗑️ Network Settings Reset: An extreme measure resetting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings often solves tower-by-tower determination problems.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting your network settings will remove all saved passwords from Wi-Fi networks and a pair of Bluetooth devices.
If nothing works, it could be the GPS module itself or the antenna inside the case that has been unstuck, and it could require a diagnosis at a service center, especially if the phone has previously opened or fallen.