Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with advanced navigation modules that by default support multiple satellite systems at the same time. Users often wonder how to force the activation of GLONASS, believing that this will improve positioning accuracy in Russian latitudes. However, the architecture of mobile chips is more complex than it seems, and simple switching of the tumbler is rare here.
In most cases, the system chooses the optimal set of satellites available: GPS, BeiDou, Galileo and GLONASS. However, there are situations when a software failure or specific developer settings block the work of the domestic system.
It's worth noting that blindly turning on all available modes doesn't always give you speed gains, sometimes it leads to increased battery consumption and heat, so before you start any manipulations, it's important to understand the theory of how geolocation works on the Android platform.
Principles of navigation on Xiaomi smartphones
Navigation chips installed in Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices are multisystem, which means that the same physical module is able to receive signals from different groups of satellites. The smartphone processor aggregates data from all visible sources, calculating the most accurate coordinates. Disabling one of the systems, such as GPS, does not always translate the device exclusively to GLONASS, since the prioritization algorithms can be rigidly specified by the manufacturer.
In the standard MIUI or HyperOS interface, the user sees only a general switch "Geodata" or "Location". Hidden settings that allow you to select a particular constellation of satellites are usually on the engineering menu or require you to enter special codes, which is the answer to the question of how to turn on GLONASS if it suddenly ceased to be determined.
⚠️ Attention: Changes to the engineering menu may cause the communication module to work in an unstable manner.
It is important to note that modern versions of Android often ignore manual settings of satellite selection, unless the navigator application (for example, Yandex.Maps or 2GIS) does not request the use of a particular system.
Checking the support of GLONASS with your device
Before looking for hidden settings, make sure your Xiaomi smartphone is physically supportive of Russian satellites. The vast majority of models released after 2016 have built-in GLONASS support. However, budget lineups sometimes have stripped-down versions of chips where this feature may be missing or not work properly.
For detailed diagnostics, the best tools are GPS Test or GPS Status & Toolbox, which displays a list of visible satellites by flagging them with the flags of the host countries, and if you see satellites with the Russian flag, the module is operational and the system is active.
- 📡 Download the app GPS Test from Google Play Store.
- 📍 Go to an open space for better signal reception.
- 📱 Run the test and wait for the satellites to appear on the screen.
- 🇷🇺 Note the presence of satellites with the prefix R or the Russian flag.
If the app only displays American satellites (GPS) but the GLONASS phone specification states, it may be the software or antenna module that is the problem, in which case resetting the network settings or flashing the firmware.
Why is GLONASS not working in the room?
Activation through the Engineering Menu
The most reliable way to force GLONASS to turn on or check its status is to use the engineering menu, a hidden part of the system designed to test equipment, and on Xiaomi smartphones, it is logged in via a standard call.
Dial the code ##3646633## or ##4636##. The interface may vary depending on the version of the processor (MediaTek or Qualcomm). In the MediaTek menu, you need to go to the Location tab, then select Location Based Service. GNSS Configuration.
In the configuration section, look for GNSS Mode or GPS Mode, and you'll see a checkbox list where you can select supported systems, make sure that the checkbox is ticked against the GLO, and you'll also want to choose Full or Auto mode so that the phone switches between systems for better accuracy.
☑️ Setting up the engineering menu
When you change your settings, be sure to restart your device. If the code doesn't work, your version of the MIUI shell may be blocking access to this menu, which would require root rights or the use of third-party engineering menu emulator apps.
Developer settings and protocol selection
In standard Android settings, there is a section called "Developers" that also contains options that affect navigation. To get there, you need to click on the build number 7 times in the "About Phone" section. Once the "Developers" item appears in the settings menu, look for the location-related section.
So here you might be interested in "Select a location emulation app" -- you should leave it empty or you should choose "No" if you're not using fake geolocation. More important is the accuracy parameter. Make sure that High Accuracy is enabled, which uses GPS, GLONASS and Wi-Fi networks.
| Parameter | Recommended value | The impact of GLONASS |
|---|---|---|
| Energy saving regime | Off (High accuracy) | Allows the module to work continuously |
| Scanning interval | 1 sec / 2 sec | Increases frequency of satellite surveys |
| Use of Wi-Fi | Included. | Helps with a cold start. |
| Motion sensors | Included. | Corrects the path when the signal is lost |
Some users are experimenting with change. AGPS-However, in modern Xiaomi smartphones, these settings are often strictly tied to the manufacturer's servers and changing them manually can lead to the complete disappearance of navigation.
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To speed up the cold start of navigation before starting the maps, turn on and off "Flight Mode." This will restart the radio modules and cause the phone to re-query the current satellite almanacs.
Using GPS management applications
If system methods fail or seem too complex, third-party apps from the Play Market come to the rescue, and programs like GPS Status & Toolbox or GPS Essentials allow you to manage the state of the navigation module more flexibly than standard settings.
In the GPS Status app, you need to go to the menu and select "A-GPS Status Management" where you can reset the satellite data cache and download it again, which is especially useful if the phone has been off for a long time or you have moved a long distance (more than 500 km).
- 🔄 Click "Reset" to clean up old almanac data.
- ⬇️ Select "Download" to get the latest satellite coordinates.
- 🛰️ Watch the screen: green signal indicators should appear.
- ⚙️ In the application settings, make sure that all systems are selected (GPS + GLONASS).
These utilities also allow you to see exactly which satellites your Xiaomi is seeing at the moment. If the list is empty, it may be that the hardware or antenna cable problem is leaving inside the case (relevant for devices after falls).
⚠️ Note: Applications that promise to "amplify the signal" by software are often fake, they only change the polling intervals, but they cannot physically increase the antenna power.
Solving Location Problems
If GLONASS is on but the navigation is not working well, it could be interference: cases with metal inserts, magnetic holders in the car and even dense clouds can significantly reduce the signal quality.
Another common problem on Xiaomi is aggressive energy saving: the system can “kill” the background navigation process, considering it an unnecessary user of resources. Go to the battery settings, find the map application (Yandex, Google Maps) and set the “No Limits” mode.
Also worth checking permissions. The navigation app should have access to the "Always" or "When in use" geolocation, and permission to work in the background, without which the navigation will stall as soon as you turn off the smartphone screen.
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The main reason for poor navigation is not the lack of GLONASS, but the aggressive optimization of the MIUI battery, which turns off GPS in the background.