How to turn on and configure the navigator on the Xiaomi Redmi smartphone

A modern smartphone is impossible to imagine without the geolocation function, which turns the device into a full-fledged guide, jogging tracker and a tool for finding friends. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often face the need to quickly activate the satellite module, but the shell interface MIUI or HyperOS can hide some nuances that beginners don't understand. GPS-The module is critical not only for maps, but also for the correct display of time, weather and delivery services.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the ways to activate navigation, from simple switches in the curtain to deep system settings that affect positioning accuracy. You’ll learn how to make your phone see more satellites, why location sometimes “walks” and which apps are the de facto standard for the Android ecosystem.

It is worth noting that the lack of a signal can be caused not only by software failures, but also by physical obstacles or metal cases. Understanding the principles of the global navigation satellite system will help you diagnose the problem faster. We will consider both standard system tools and third-party calibration utilities that can reanimate a blind smartphone.

Basic GPS activation via notification panel

The fastest way to start satellite searches is to use a built-in widget at the top of the screen, which is universal for all versions of MIUI firmware and is suitable for emergency situations when you need to determine the coordinates urgently, just swipe your finger down from top to bottom to reveal the full list of fast commands.

In the menu that opens, you need to find an icon called Location or Geodata, which usually looks like a map pin. Clicking on this item activates the satellite receiver, as evidenced by the change in color of the icon. If the icon is not on the first screen, swipe to the right to see additional pages with switches.

⚠️ Note: In some regions or when using global firmware versions, the icon may be called “Location” or have a Google logo. Make sure you don’t confuse it with the “Device Search” feature, which serves other purposes.

Once enabled, the system can request permission to use geodata for specific applications, an important security step that prevents surveillance by unnecessary software, and it is recommended to select the “Only when using the application” option for maximum privacy.

Activation through the curtain does not require going into deep menus, which is especially convenient when you are driving or walking on an unfamiliar street, but this method does not provide access to the fine-tuning of accuracy that may be required in difficult urban environments.

Configure the location parameters in the system

To gain more control over navigation, you need to go to the basic settings of the smartphone, where the user gets access to control the signal sources, including GPS satellites, Wi-Fi networks and mobile towers, which together form the final coordinates.

Go to Settings → Location (or “Additional Settings → Privacy → Location” in older versions). This section shows the general status of the service and the list of applications that request access to your coordinates. It is important to make sure that the slider at the top of the screen is activated.

Special attention should be paid to the item "Mode" or "Location Sources", where three options for the navigation module are available:

• 📡 High accuracy: uses GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks for the fastest and most accurate positioning, but consumes more energy.
• 📶 Charge saving: Only locates over Wi-Fi and cell towers, ignoring satellites, reducing accuracy to a few hundred meters.
• 🛰️ Device only: works exclusively through satellites GPS, What is useful in the forest or mountains, where there is no cellular coverage, but requires an open sky.

Choosing the right mode directly affects the speed of maps. High precision mode is the best choice for urban navigation, as it allows you to instantly respond to turns and rearrangements. In charge saving mode, the navigator can catch up with the real position of the car with a delay.

Also in this section, the feature "Improving accuracy" or "Wi-Fi scanning" is often found. Even if you are not connected to a wireless network, enabling this item allows the phone to use access point databases for more accurate positioning inside buildings and shopping centers.

Managing permissions for navigation applications

Even with GPS enabled, the cards may not work if the application itself does not have access rights to geodata. Android, installed on Xiaomi Redmi, strictly controls the access of software to personal data of the user, so the permissions must be checked separately for each navigator.

Go to Settings → Applications → All apps and find your navigator (e.g. Yandex.Navigator, Google Maps or 2GIS) and select “Permissions” and make sure it is marked “Always Allowed” or “Only Allowed When Used.” The “Request Every Time” option can cause disruptions in the background.

It's important to understand the difference between background access and access while in use. If you want your navigator to warn of cameras or traffic jams when your phone is in your pocket with the screen off, it needs constant access, and without that, the background process will be stopped by the system to save resources.

Also, check the battery settings for a particular application. From the power saving menu, select the "No Limits" mode for the navigator. Aggressive MIUI optimization often kills navigation processes by believing them to consume a lot of energy, which leads to a sudden cessation of voice prompts.

Some users are faced with a situation where the application requests access to the geo-position, but the map remains gray. In this case, try to clear the app cache through the Memory menu in the program properties, without removing user data and downloaded offline maps.

Calibration of the compass and increase the signal accuracy

When a blue dot on a map shows the wrong direction or "jumps" over buildings, it is solved by calibration.The built-in magnetometer in Xiaomi smartphones can get lost due to proximity to metal objects or magnetic fields in the car.

For manual calibration, open Google Maps, click on the blue dot of your location, and select Calibrate. The phone will ask you to move as the number 8 in the air to re-identify the cardinal points, a process that takes no more than 10-15 seconds.

If standard methods don't work, you can use specialized utilities like GPS Status & Toolbox, which allow you to see a direct signal from satellites, reset almanac data and download fresh ephemerides, which is especially important after a long downtime phone without communication.

⚠️ Warning: Metal holders for magnetically mounted phones can seriously distort the compass readings. If the navigator is constantly showing the wrong direction, try temporarily removing the phone from the holder and checking the sensors.

Also worth mentioning is the Assisted GPS (A-GPS) feature, which downloads satellite position data over the internet, speeding up cold start times. Make sure that the developer settings or special applications don’t turn it off, as without it, the first position determination can take several minutes.

Comparison of popular navigation applications

The choice of navigation software depends on the specific tasks: driving a car, walking around the city or tourism in the remote area. Android platform offers many solutions, each of which has its own strengths and features of working with Redmi hardware.

Below is a table comparing the key characteristics of the most popular navigators available in the Play Market and RuStore:

For drivers in Russia and CIS countries, Yandex.Navigator and 2GIS are most relevant due to detailed study of the traffic situation and current data on cameras. Google Maps remains indispensable for traveling abroad and searching for information about institutions.

It is worth considering that heavy 3D-rendered navigation devices can cause the case of a smartphone to heat up during prolonged use. In hot weather, it is recommended to reduce the brightness of the screen or use external cooling to avoid trolling the processor.

Solving Location Problems

If the navigator fails to work despite the setup, the problem may be a system failure or software conflict, and the first step is to reboot the device, which often solves the problem of the suspended communication module.

Check to see if In-Air mode is on, which blocks all wireless interfaces, including GPS. Also make sure the phone has up-to-date system updates, as manufacturers often release patches that fix antennas.

In rare cases, network settings may be required to be reset.This action will not delete your personal photos or contacts, but will return the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile settings to factory values.The path to function: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.

⚠️ Note: Using modified firmware or obtaining superuser rights (Root) may result in a work block GPS In such cases, the normal operation of the navigator can be restored only after returning to the official firmware.

If nothing helps, and the phone can't see satellites at all, even in the open in clear weather, there may be a hardware malfunction of the antenna module, which would require diagnostics in the service center.

💡

To quickly diagnose GPS, install the GPS Test app, which will show you if the phone sees satellites at all, if the stars on the screen are gray, the antenna or shielding problem, if the green ones are not, the software or the Internet problem.

Influence of covers and accessories on the signal

Many users do not think that the protective case can cause poor reception of the signal. Metallic coatings, cases with magnetic fasteners or thick rubber cases can shield the antenna located in the case of the smartphone.

GPS antennas in modern Xiaomi are often built into the back cover or frame of the device. If you use a case with a metal plate to mount in the car, try to position the phone so that the plate does not overlap the top of the gadget.

The test of the case hypothesis is simple: remove the protection and go out into the open space, and if the speed of positioning and the number of visible satellites increase dramatically, then the accessory was the problem.

💡

The quality of GPS reception depends on the visibility of the sky and the absence of physical barriers between the antenna of the smartphone and satellites.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)