Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Redmi 3, are impossible to imagine without geo-positioning, which allows not only to plot routes in the navigator, but also to mark places in photos, search for lost devices and get current weather forecasts. However, many users are faced with the fact that by default the module can be turned off or work incorrectly due to energy saving settings.
Activating the satellite module is the first step to fully exploit the capabilities of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell. Without this application, taxis will not be able to determine your location, and maps will show only an approximate area. In this article, we will discuss in detail where to look for the right switches, how to choose the right mode of operation and what to do if the phone stops “seeing” satellites.
It's important to understand that geolocation is a complex function that uses not only satellites, but also Wi-Fi and cell tower data, and that properly configuring all of these components will ensure maximum accuracy even in dense urban areas or indoors.
Quick activation through the notification curtain
The easiest way to start a satellite search on Redmi 3 is to use the Quick Access Panel, which requires unlocking the smartphone screen and swiping your finger from top to bottom to open the notification curtain. Some versions of MIUI may require a swipe a second time to see the full icon list.
Among the many control buttons, you'll find an icon that resembles an arrow or a compass that's labeled "Location" or "GPS." Pressing this button puts the module into an active state, as evidenced by the icon's backlight, which instantly triggers a scan of the surrounding space.
- 📍 Instant Start – allows you to enable geolocation in one touch without logging into the menu.
- 📶 Visual control – you always see the status of the module at the top of the screen.
- ⚡ Saving time – you don’t have to go through complex system settings.
However, it is worth considering that this method often activates only the basic mode of operation, which can use more power or be less accurate in difficult conditions.
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If the GPS icon is missing from the curtain, click on the edit button (usually a pencil or gear) and drag the Location icon into the active field of view.
Set up geolocation parameters in the menu
To fine-tune it, you need to go to the main menu of the device and select Settings, then you need to find a section that in different versions of MIUI can be called "Advanced Settings" or immediately "Location", and this is where the key switches that affect positioning accuracy are hidden.
In the window that opens, you'll see a service slider, but the most important thing is below, which is to choose the coordinate mode, and the system will offer a number of options, each with its own resource consumption and accuracy, and choosing the right mode is critical to balancing autonomy and navigation.
High Accuracy mode uses all available data sources: GPS satellites, Wi-Fi networks and mobile Internet. This provides the best result, but it drains the Redmi 3 battery faster. Network coordinates mode is faster and more economical, but can give an error of up to several hundred meters, which is unacceptable for walking navigation.
☑️ Verification of geolocation settings
Operating modes and positioning accuracy
Understanding the differences between modes of operation helps the user to adapt the smartphone to specific tasks, for example, to track a jog or a trip by car to an unfamiliar city, maximum coverage of all signal sources is vital, while less energy-intensive options will be enough to simply mark a geotagged photo in the city center.
A-GPS (Assisted GPS) technology plays a major role in accelerating cold start, allowing the phone to download up-to-date satellite orbit data over the Internet, reducing the first determination time from minutes to seconds. On Xiaomi Redmi 3, this feature is usually enabled by default in high-precision mode.
You should also pay attention to the application-specific permissions, and even if global GPS is enabled, the navigation program may not work if it is denied access to geodata, and you can check this in the application settings section or directly in the permissions menu.
⚠️ Note: Use of the “Only by” regime GPS» (Indoors or among high-rise buildings, it can cause a complete loss of signal. Satellites do not break through concrete floors, so indoor navigation requires Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Improved accuracy and calibration of sensors
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where GPS is turned on, but the cursor on the map “jumps” or shows the wrong direction of movement, in which case it may be necessary to calibrate the sensors. Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in engineering menu that allows you to check the status of the sensors.
To access the diagnostics, you can use a special code in the Phone app. Dial ##6484## to get into the engineering testing menu. Here you can select the GPS item and see the number of satellites visible and the signal level, which will help you understand whether the problem is software or hardware.
You can also improve accuracy by enabling Wi-Fi scanning even when Wi-Fi is off, which is in additional location settings, and the phone will periodically scan the environment for known access points, which helps triangulate the position inside buildings.
| Parameter | Description | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| High precision | GPS + Wi-Fi + Mobile network | High. |
| Saving charge | Wi-Fi and mobile network only | Low. |
| Only the device | GPS satellites only. | Medium/High |
| A-GPS | Downloading data via the Internet | Minimum |
Energy saving problems and background work
One common reason why GPS on Redmi 3 stops working in the background (for example, when the screen is off during navigation) is aggressive battery optimization.The MIUI system seeks to maintain charge by forcibly shutting down applications that actively use geolocation.
To avoid this, you need to go to the battery settings, find a navigation application that works, and select No Limits mode, which will prevent the system from killing navigation, and check whether Flight mode or energy savings are enabled, which can block the data transfer required for A-GPS.
Periodic cleaning of the cache of the map applications and updating the satellite almanac also positively affect the stability of the work. If the problem persists for a long time, reset the network settings, but this will require re-entering passwords from Wi-Fi.
The secret to fast-flashing GPS
Diagnostics and solution of common problems
If none of the above methods worked, and Xiaomi Redmi 3 still does not determine the location, the problem may be deeper, it may be damaged GPS antenna (it is often combined with Wi-Fi antenna) or there was a failure in the device drivers after a failed update.
As a software solution, you can try to reset the network settings to factory settings, which will return all connection settings to their original state, and in extreme cases, if GPS does not work in any application, you may need to flash the device or contact a service center to check the hardware.
Remember that metal cases or magnetic holders in the car can shield the signal. Remove the protective casing and check the navigation again. Sometimes the solution is trivial and does not require complex diagnostics.
⚠️ Note: When resetting your network settings, all stored Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairs will be deleted. Make sure to remember the data to connect to your home network before performing this operation.
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If GPS works in the engineering menu but doesn’t work in apps, the problem is with access rights or MIUI power saving settings, not hardware.