How to completely disable geolocation on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Geolocation on Xiaomi smartphones is a powerful tool that makes navigation, finding nearby establishments, and even running some applications easier. However, constant location tracking can cause a quick battery drain, personal data leak, or simply interfere with privacy. If you want to completely disable geolocation on your device — whether it’s a Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi’s flagship 14 series — this article will help you do it right, without risking the system.

Unlike iPhones or smartphones running pure Android, Xiaomi devices have their own MIUI shell that hides some settings. We'll look not only at standard ways to disable GPS through the notification panel, but also at the hidden developer settings that allow you to block geolocation at the system level.

It's important to understand that disabling geolocation is not always a single click of a button. Depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or 15) and the phone model, the process may be different. We tested all methods on current firmware in 2026 and took into account the features of popular lines, from the budget Redmi A2 to the premium Xiaomi Mix Fold 3.

1. Quickly disable geolocation through the notification panel

The easiest way to temporarily deactivate GPS is to use a control center (notification curtain), which is suitable if you need to quickly hide your location from apps or save battery power.

How to do this:

• 📱 Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
• 🔍 Find the Location icon** (usually looks like an arrow or pin).
• 🔘 Slap it once - the icon should go out or turn grey.
• 🔒 In some models (for example, POCO F5) You may need to hold the badge. 1-2 seconds to shut down.

Note that this method does not block geolocation at the system level. Some applications (such as Google Maps or Yandex.Maps) may continue to determine your location through mobile network or Wi-Fi data. To completely deny access, go to the following methods.

2. Complete disabling of geolocation in MIUI settings

If you need to permanently disable geolocation for all applications, including system services, use this method.It works on all versions of MIUI from 12 to 15 and does not require superuser rights.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to Privacy → Application Permissions → Location.
3. At the top of the screen you will see the “Access to Location” switch** – deactivate it.
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window (click Disconnect).

After that, no app, including Google Play Services and Mi Cloud, will be able to access your coordinates.

Make sure the GPS icon in the notification panel is gone |

Check the navigation applications (they will stop working)|

Restart the phone to apply the changes |

Check your application settings (some may ignore global restrictions)

-->

3. Disabling geolocation for individual applications

If you need to restrict location access only for specific programs (such as social media or gaming), but leave GPS for navigators, use flexible permission settings.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Instagram or TikTok).
3. Slip on the Permission point → Location.
4. Choose the option to Disallow or Only during use (if you want to restrict access).

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13T), you can also adjust the location accuracy:

• 🎯 High accuracy - uses the GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks and sensors.
• 📡 According to the network - only Wi-Fi and cell towers (less accurate, but saves battery).
• 🚫 Only the device, just the device. GPS (The most accurate, but slow and energy-consuming).

💡

If the app continues to request geolocation despite the ban, check the Special Access settings in its permissions. Some programs (such as Facebook) may bypass standard restrictions.

4. Hidden developer settings to block geolocation

For power users who want to block geolocation completely at the system level, there are hidden options in the developer menu, which is useful if the standard methods do not work or you suspect that some services ignore your settings.

How to activate and use:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (you will be notified "You are a developer").

Additional → For Developers

Disable location permissions

Mock Location App

Activate the switch and confirm the action.

Warning: Changing these parameters may cause some functions to function in an unstable manner, such as:

• 🚨 Mi Share (Fast File Transfer) will stop identifying nearby devices.
• 🚨 Emergency calls (112, 911) may not share your location with emergency services.
• 🚨 AR-Apps (like Google Lens or augmented reality games) will not work.

💡

Use the developer's settings only if the standard methods don't work. Incorrect changes can disrupt the system.

5. Disable geolocation via ADB (for advanced users)

If you want to programmatically block access to GPS at the Android level, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for Xiaomi owners who want to disable geolocation for all applications, including system ones, without root rights.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone (Settings → Additional → Developers → USB debugging).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute: Adb shell settings put global location_mode 0 This command completely disables all ways of determining location.
4. To return settings, use: adb shell settings put global location_mode 3 (where 3 — precision, 1 — device, 2 — net).

The advantage of this method is that it bypasses the limitations of MIUI and works even if the manufacturer has blocked some settings.

💡

Before using ADB, back up your data. The wrong command can reset or disrupt the system.

6. Consequences of geolocation shutdown: what breaks?

Disabling geolocation completely affects not only navigation, but also many other smartphone features, and in the table below we have collected key services that will stop working or will not work correctly:

If you use Xiaomi for work or travel, weigh the pros and cons before disabling geolocation. For example, when traveling abroad, a lack of GPS can create problems with:

• 🛂 Customs applications (some countries require location confirmation upon entry).
• 💳 Banking services (SMS code or push notifications can be blocked if geo-coincidence).
• 📡 Roaming services (some operators automatically connect geolocation rates).

💡

Turn off geolocation selectively if you need critical features (navigation, emergency calls, fitness trackers).

7.Alternatives: How to Hide Your Location Without Turning Off GPS

If you need to simply mask your location from specific apps or people, but not lose the functionality of your navigation, there are a few alternative solutions:

1. Location substitution (Mock Location)

• 📍 Use apps like Fake GPS Location (requires developer mode enabled).
• 🎭 It allows you to “pretend” that you are in another country or city.
• ⚠️ It doesn’t work in all apps (for example, Google Maps can block such deception).

2. VPN with geo-change

• 🌍 Services like NordVPN or ProtonVPN can mask your IP-address, but not GPS-coordinates.
• 🔒 Suitable for bypassing regional blockages (e.g. Netflix or YouTube).

3.Incognito mode in maps

• 🕵️ In Google Maps, you can enable Incognito Mode so that the history of locations is not saved.
• 📱 V MIUI This is a similar function to the Mi Cloud Confidential Mode.

These methods allow you to keep your GPS up and running, but control who can see your real location and when.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)