How to enable geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: a complete guide with the secrets of accuracy

Your Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus detects location with a margin of error of several kilometers? Apps like Google Maps or Yandex.Maps show the wrong address, and geotags of photos are placed in the neighboring area? The problem is not in the “crooked hands”, but in the wrong geolocation settings. This smartphone based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 supports three technologies for determining coordinates — GPS, GLONASS and A-GPS, But by default, they don't work properly.

In this article, you will find not only the basic instructions for enabling geolocation, but also unique settings for the Redmi 5 Plus, which Xiaomi hides in the engineering menu. We will understand how to make a smartphone catch satellites faster, why the accuracy drops to 50 meters indoors, and what to do if the icon GPS It flashes on the notification bar, but the coordinates don't update. MIUI 9-14 and do not require root rights.

Why geolocation on Redmi 5 Plus is not working well: 5 hidden reasons

Before you turn on GPS, Redmi 5 Plus (codename vince) suffers from typical Qualcomm platform problems and firmware features. MIUI:

• 📵 Lack of updates A-GPS. The data of the auxiliary system (almanacs of satellites) become obsolete after 4-7 days, but MIUI It does not automatically update them.
• 🔋 Energy saving. Battery mode in settings MIUI shuts down the background scan GPS, even if you've turned it on.
• 📡 Weak GLONASS signal. SDM625 Russian satellites are poorly captured in urban areas.
• 🚫 Blocking permission. MIUI Resets geodata rights for applications after updates.
• 🌐 Incorrect servers NTP. If the time on the phone is lost for at least 2 seconds, GPS Not in sync with satellites.

For example, if you notice that Google Maps shows your location with a delay of 30 to 60 seconds, it is the outdated almanac that is to blame. A-GPS. If the coordinates jump 100-200 meters, the problem is the conflict of signals. GPS And GLONASS. We'll fix it next.

Basic method: how to turn on GPS via settings MIUI

Let’s start with the standard method that works on all versions. MIUI. Open the Settings menu (the gear icon on the home screen) and follow the steps:

1. Go to Memory and Geoposition (in older versions) MIUI — Additionally. → Geoposition).
2. Activate the geoposition slider (should turn blue).
3. Click on Mode and select "High Accuracy" (Uses) GPS + Wi-Fi + mobile).
4. Enable the option “Scanning is always available” (allows applications to use the app) GPS background).

After activation, an icon will appear on the notification panel 📍. If it's not there, restart your phone. Important: Device Only (only used) GPS) Accuracy is higher, but the time for searching for satellites increases to 2-5 minutes.

Secret settings: how to speed up the search for satellites 3 times

Even after the switch on GPS Redmi 5 Plus can catch a signal for up to 10 minutes in a cold start:

Method 1: Updating data A-GPS through the engineering menu

This way, you can manually update the satellite almanacs, open the Phone app and type in the combination:

##36446339##

You'll be taken to the engineering menu (if the code doesn't work, try ##4636##).

1. Select the tab YGPS (Location in newer versions).
2. Press Delete. AGPS Data → OK.
3. Go back and select Update AGPS Data.
4. Wait until the download is completed (green tick).

Method 2: Forced time synchronization

If the phone is at least a second short, GPS It won't work properly:

1. Go to Settings → System → Date and time.
2. Activate Automatically for date, time and time zone.
3. Select the time zone automatically.
4. In the section Additionally install the server NTP: pool.ntp.org.

💡

After updating A-GPS Go out into an open space (balcony, street) and wait 2-3 minutes. The first coordinate determination is always the longest - it's normal!

How to check the accuracy of geolocation: test with an application GPS Status

To evaluate the actual accuracy GPS On Redmi 5 Plus, install a free app GPS Status & Toolbox from Google Play:

• 📊 On the Dashboard tab, see the number of satellites visible (should be the number of satellites you see). ≥8).
• 🎯 In the Accuracy section, check the radius of error (perfect). ≤10m outside).
• 📡 In the Sky tab, make sure the signal is stable (green bars).

If the satellite is less than 4 or the signal is red:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📶 Turn off your mobile data and Wi-Fi for 30 seconds, then turn it on again.
• 🔋 Check if the energy saving mode is on.

Problems and Solutions: Geolocation does not work or determines incorrectly

If after all the manipulations GPS It’s still “glutchy,” check out those moments:

⚠️ Attention, if after the update MIUI geolocation stopped working, reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Reset the network settings. This will delete the stored Wi-Fi passwords!

Problem 1: Badge GPS Blinking, but the coordinates are not updated

The reason: conflict with energy-saving functions.

1. Open the settings → Battery and performance.
2. Select the Energy Saving Setting → Select applications.
3. Find Google Play Services and Maps and set up “No Limits” for them.

Problem 2: Geolocation only works with mobile internet

Reason: Module is disabled A-GPS. Turn it on:

1. From the engineering menu (#36446339##) go to YGPS.
2. Press. AGPS Restart.
3. Activate Enable options AGPS Auto Download.

Problem 3: Coordinates jump 100-300 meters

Reason: GLONASS is included, which conflicts with the GPS In the urban area, turn it off:

1. Install the GPS Test app from Google Play.
2. Open the Settings. → Satellite systems.
3. Just leave the checkmark on the box. GPS, Take off with GLONASS and BeiDou.

💡

If after all the manipulations GPS If it's not working, check the physical condition of the antenna. On the Redmi 5 Plus, it's located at the top of the body (near the camera!

How to save battery power with active geolocation

Continuous use GPS Redmi 5 Plus discharges 15-20% faster to reduce consumption without loss of accuracy:

• 🔄 Use On-Demand mode in geoposition settings (only enabled when you start the application).
• 📴 Turn it off. GPS, When you don’t need it: Swipe down the notification panel → tap-toe 📍.
• 🔋 Include the Adaptive Battery in Settings → Battery (MIUI will optimize the background processes).
• 📱 Install Greenify app to freeze unnecessary services using geodata.

Test: when active GPS The Redmi 5 Plus mobile phone is now available ~1% per minute. After optimizing our instructions, the flow rate drops to 0.5-0.7% per minute.

Firmware update GPS-Module: When necessary

If your Redmi 5 Plus is 2017-2018, it will be GPS-The module can run on outdated firmware:

• 🕒 Time for the first fix >5 minutes.
• 📵 Loss of signal while driving >60 km/h.
• 🌍 Coordinates are down by 500.+ meters.

Update firmware GPS Download the official Vince package from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website and follow the instructions:

fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin


fastboot erase modemst1




fastboot erase modemst2




fastboot reboot

⚠️ Attention, continuous updates GPS-The module via Fastboot will result in loss IMEI! Before the procedure, save it through the application MTK Engineering Mode (Section Connectivity) → CDS Information → Radio Information).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Geolocation on Redmi 5 Plus