Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Redmi 6, are impossible to imagine without precise location. Navigating in an unfamiliar city, calling a taxi in a couple of clicks or finding a lost device – all these features are tied to work. GPS-However, users often encounter a situation where the maps cannot see the satellites or applications request access to coordinates.
In the MIUI operating system that you have installed on your device, the activation process may be different from standard Android. The MIUI shell has its own power saving algorithms that can force geolocation to be turned off for background applications. So it's important not just to press the power button, but also to properly configure the module's operating parameters.
In this article, we'll take you through the nuances of navigation, how to switch accuracy modes, allow access to specific programs, and what to do if satellites are not caught, and fine-tuning allows you to use the full potential of your gadget without unnecessary energy consumption.
Basic GPS activation via the control panel
The fastest way to start a satellite search is to use a notification curtain, which is suitable for those cases where you need to turn on navigation urgently, for example, when ordering a taxi or finding the nearest gas station, you do not need to dive deep into the settings menu.
Swipe from top to bottom across the screen to open the Quick Action Bar. Among the icons, find an icon that resembles an arrow or compass that is signed as "Location" or "GPS." Click on it to illuminate with the active color.
If the icon is not on the first screen, swipe the curtain completely or swipe left to see additional buttons. After activation in the status bar (top of the screen), the corresponding indicator will appear, signaling the start of operation of the navigation module.
- 📍 Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
- 📍 Find an icon with an arrow or compass image.
- 📍 Click on the activation icon (it should catch fire).
- 📍 Check the status bar for the indicator. GPS.
It's worth noting that this method involves geolocation as standard, which may not be enough for some applications unless you have access rights configured, and fast-on doesn't guarantee instant satellite capture if you're indoors.
High precision settings in the system menu
For full operation of maps, such as Yandex.Navigator or Google Maps, it is recommended to use advanced settings, in which you can choose the method of determining the coordinates, which directly affects the speed and accuracy of positioning.
Go to the main menu and select Settings, find Advanced Settings, or go to Location, which gives you access to managing all geodata sources.
In the menu that opens, make sure the master switch is activated. Next, look for Mode or Location Sources. For maximum efficiency, select All Sources or High Accuracy.
⚠️ High-precision mode uses not only satellites GPS, But also Wi-Fi and mobile coordinates, which makes it much faster to search, but can increase battery consumption.
Choosing the right mode is critical for older models. Xiaomi Redmi 6 is equipped with a module that finds satellites faster with the availability of A-GPS auxiliary data. Without data transmission, the initial launch can take up to several minutes.
- 🚀 Open the “Settings” through the gear icon.
- 🚀 Go to the "Location" section».
- 🚀 Activate the switch at the top of the screen.
- 🚀 Select “According to all sources” mode for better accuracy.
Access rights management for applications
Even if GPS is globally enabled, a particular application may not have permission to use coordinates. In MIUI, security is strictly monitoring this, and manual clearance is often required when the program is first run.
Go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps. Find the program you want, like messenger or card, and go to App Permissions or Access Rights.
Find Location and select Allow or Allow, the latter option for activity trackers or parental control programs that need to run in the background.
Way to check rights: Settings → Applications → [Select App] → Permissions → LocationYou can also set up through permissions manager, and you can see a list of all the programs that have requested access to GPS in the security menu or in the privacy settings, and you can easily turn off suspicious utilities en masse.
- 🔒 Open the list of installed applications in the settings.
- 🔒 Select a specific application from the list.
- 🔒 Go to the "Permissions" menu».
- 🔒 Set the Allow Flag for Geolocation.
If you have been denied access accidentally, the app may not work properly or give out errors when trying to determine your address. Regular rights checks help maintain order in the system and protect personal data.
Calibration of the compass and signal improvement
Sometimes geolocation is enabled, but the arrow on the map is rotating or showing the wrong direction, which means that you need to calibrate the digital compass built into the Xiaomi Redmi 6.
To start the procedure, open the Google Maps app. Click on the blue dot that indicates your current position. From the menu that appears, select "Calibrate compass."
Follow the instructions on the screen. You'll normally need to turn the phone in the air, drawing the number "8" with your wrist, and the movements will need to be smooth but amplitude, so that the sensors can read the data from all sides.
💡
For better calibration, step out into an open space away from metal structures and powerful magnetic radiation sources such as transformer booths.
You can also improve signal reception using GPS Status & Toolbox, a third-party application that allows you to reset the almanac data and start a cold start module, which often helps if the phone has been lying without movement for a long time.
| Parameter | Description | Impact on work |
|---|---|---|
| Warm start | Search for satellites with stored data | Quick determination (10-30 sec) |
| Cold start | Complete search without old data | Long determination (1-3 minutes) |
| A-GPS | Using the Internet to help | It speeds up the start considerably. |
| compass | Determination of direction of turn | Needed for corner navigation |
Regular calibration is especially important if you use your smartphone as a navigator in your car, and without a precise compass, the system won’t be able to warn you of a change or turn in time.
Battery optimization and background work
One of the main problems Xiaomi owners have is an aggressive energy saving system that can kill the geolocation process if the phone screen is turned off, which is critical for navigators and trackers.
To prevent this, go to Settings -> Battery and Performance. Click on the gear icon or go to the app settings. Find your navigator and set No Limits mode.
Also check if the "Energy Saving" or "Ultra-Energy Saving" mode is on, and in these modes the system forcibly disables GPS for all background tasks, leaving only the active window to work.
⚠️ Warning: Setting No Limits mode for applications increases charge consumption. Use this setting only for programs that really need constant geolocation.
You also need to lock the app in memory, open the list of running programs (the menu button), find the navigator window and pull it down to make the lock icon appear, which will prevent the system from closing it when the memory is cleared.
- 🔋 Go to the battery settings.
- 🔋 Find a problem app.
- 🔋 Select the "No Limits" mode».
- 🔋 Block the application in the task manager (lock icon).
Compliance with these rules will allow you to get to your destination without suddenly turning off the navigator's voice in the middle of the route, which is especially true for long trips.
☑️ Verification of energy saving settings
Diagnostics and Solving GPS Problems
If after all the settings, the geolocation on Xiaomi Redmi 6 still does not work or the signal is constantly lost, it may be a software failure or hardware malfunction.
Check if you have a case with a metal back panel or magnetic inserts, which often shields the antenna signal, making it impossible to receive satellites.
In extreme cases, you can reset your network settings. This will not delete your personal photos or contacts, but will return factory settings for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Way: Settings -> Advanced Settings -> Recovery and Reset -> Reset Wi-Fi, mobile Internet and Bluetooth.
The command to check the status of GPS (via the engineering menu):
##4636## -> Phone Information -> Run Ping TestIf the software methods don't work, and the phone doesn't see satellites in the open in clear weather, the antenna module is likely to physically break down, and you'll need to go to a service center for a diagnosis.
What to do if the resetting of the settings did not help?
Keep in mind that weather conditions also affect reception: thick clouds, thunderstorm clouds or being in a "concrete canyon" between high-rise buildings can temporarily degrade the signal, and this is a normal physical phenomenon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does the battery go down quickly when GPS is on?
Can I determine the location of the phone if it is turned off?
How to turn off location history in Google?
Does the security glass affect the GPS?
💡
The right setup of access rights and power saving mode solves 90% of navigation problems on the Xiaomi Redmi 6.