How to check the visible satellites GPS Xiaomi smartphone: 5 working ways

Have you ever noticed that your Xiaomi’s navigator shows inaccurate coordinates or takes a long time to catch a signal? GPS. Unlike the iPhone, where satellite information is hidden deep in the system, Android smartphones (including Redmi) are also available, POCO And Mi, they can get this data in just a few taps, but how to do it is not something that everyone knows.

In this article, we will discuss 5 verified viewing methods GPS-Xiaomi satellites – from standard tools MIUI professional applications such as GPSTest and GPS You will learn how not only to see the list of available satellites, but also to assess the quality of the signal, diagnose problems with the antenna or firmware, and also to speed up the search for coordinates in the satellite. 2-3 We'll focus on the hidden engineering menu. MIUI, which the manufacturer does not advertise, but which give the most accurate data on the work GPS-module.

Why it is important to check satellites GPS Xiaomi

Many users believe that if the navigator in Google Maps or Yandex.Maps shows their location, then the user can use the same navigation system. GPS It's a dangerous misconception, even if you can see it working, the module can do it:

• 🛰️ Use only 3-4 satellite instead of possible 12-16 (which reduces the accuracy to 50 meters).
• 🔋 Work in energy-saving mode, because of which the coordinates are updated once in a while. 10-15 seconds.
• 📡 Substitute GPS cell-tower (A-GPS), which gives an error to 1-2 mile.
• 🚨 Have hardware problems – for example, detachment of the antenna after the phone falls.

Satellite testing helps identify these problems before they lead to critical failures, such as if you plan to travel through unfamiliar terrain or use your phone to track in the mountains, the weakest of the problems are the ones that you can find. GPS-The signal can cause serious navigation errors, and some applications (like the ones in the app) Pokémon GO geocaching services require high coordinate accuracy – otherwise they will not work.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with MediaTek processors (for example, Redmi Note 12) 4G or POCO M5) GPS-The module often performs worse than the Qualcomm Snapdragon models, which is due to the chipset's hardware limitations, not the firmware. Satellite testing will help you determine whether the hardware or software problem is to blame.

Method 1: Standard Engineering Menu MIUI (rootless)

The fastest way to get satellite data is to use the hidden engineering menu that is in any firmware. MIUI. It doesn't require super-user rights, and it works even on locked phones:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636## (for new versions) MIUI You may need #84377##).
3. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
4. Scroll down to the block. GPS and click View Data. GPS.

You'll see a screen with a graph of the signal and a list of satellites, and here's the important thing to note:

• 📊 Number of satellites recorded (ideally 8)+).
• 📶 Signal Level (green bars are good signal, red bars are weak).
• 🕒 Time of last update (if more than 30 seconds ago — GPS It operates in an energy-saving mode).

If the list is empty or shows fewer than 4 satellites, that's a sign of a problem.

• 🏙️ You are indoors or among tall buildings (GPS It doesn't work through walls!).
• 🔄 High-precision location determination is disabled in the settings.
• 🛠️ Data updates required A-GPS (Read about it in Method 3).

Are satellites on the list?

Colour of signal (green) = fine)

Number of satellites (minimum) 4 precisely 10-15 )

Time of last update (should be) < 10 seconds)

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Method 2: GPSTest application (maximum accuracy)

If the standard menu seems too sparse, install BarbeauDev’s free GPSTest app, which shows not only the list of satellites, but also their orbits, speed, and supports all modern navigation systems: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou.

How to use:

1. Download GPSTest from Google Play.
2. Open the app and wait until it finds the first satellites (may take up to a few minutes). 1-2 minute).
3. Go to the Sky tab - here the sky with the location of the satellites is displayed.
4. On the Signal tab you will see signal level graphs and coordinate accuracy.

The advantages of GPSTest over the standard menu:

Pay attention to the parameter. TTFF (Time to First Fix: Time to first Fix: the time it takes for the phone to find the first coordinates:

• 🚀 Cold start (first inclusion) GPS): 45 seconds.
• 🔄 Warm start (re-energized): up to 15 seconds.
• ⚡ Hot Start (active use): up to 5 seconds.

⚠️ Attention: If TTFF exceeding 2 minutes, this is a sign of serious problems - it is possible that the antenna is damaged or the module needs to be flashed over. GPS. On Xiaomi models with MediaTek Helio G (e.g. Redmi) 9A) This is due to errors in the drivers.

💡

If GPSTest shows satellites but the signal is weak (red bars), try calibrating the compass. To do this, open Google Maps, click on the blue dot of your location and select "Calibrate the compass."

Method 3: Updating the data A-GPS speed up search

System system A-GPS (Assisted GPS) And it uses data from Google servers to speed up satellite search, and if that data is outdated, it can take a long time for the phone to catch a signal:

1. Install the GPS Status & Toolbox app from Google Play.
2. Open it and go to the tab. A-GPS.
3. Press Reset (data reset), then Download (download new data).
4. Wait for the download to be completed (internet required).

Once updated, restart your phone and check the speed of your satellite search again, a method that is particularly useful:

• 🌍 After the flight to another country (data) A-GPS region-bound).
• 📱 After resetting the phone to factory settings.
• 🔄 If the phone has not been used for a long time GPS (Like lying around for a month).

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 or Xiaomi) POCO F4) update A-GPS can be done without third-party applications:

Settings → Additional → Developer Mode → Update A-GPS

Method 4: Checking through ADB (for power users)

If you need the most accurate job information GPS-module, you can use it ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires you to connect your phone to your computer, but it gives you access to hidden logs.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell dumpsys location

In conclusion, pay attention to the blocks:

• GpsLocationProvider - Status GPS-provider.
• Last location – the last coordinates received.
• Satellites – list of satellites and signal level.

For continuous monitoring, use the command:

adb shell logcat | grep -i gps

It will display all events related to real-time GPS. This is useful for diagnosing freezes or module failures.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) K50) team ADB for GPS This can be blocked by the manufacturer, in which case you will need to unlock the bootloader or use alternative methods.

Method 5: Diagnostics through service codes (hidden menus)

Xiaomi hides several diagnostic menus that give access to low-level information about the GPS. These codes don’t work on all models, but it’s worth a try:

How to use:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter one of the codes (as a normal number).
3. If the code works, you will see a menu with satellite data.

If nothing happens after entering the code:

• 🔄 Try another code from the table.
• 📱 Check if your operator is blocking service codes (in some cases) SIM-maps are offline).
• 🔧 Update the firmware - in new versions MIUI Some codes change.

Standard Engineering Menu|GPSTest|GPS Status & Toolbox|ADB|Service codes|Never checked.-->

Frequent problems with GPS Xiaomi and their solutions

Even if the satellites are displayed, GPS It can work incorrectly. Here are the typical problems and how to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, it might be hardware.

• 📱 Redmi 7/8/9 — known problems with detachment GPS-post-fall antennae.
• 📱 POCO X3 NFC — driver-bug GPS in firmware based on Android 11.
• 📱 Mi A1/A2 — weak GPS-module due to budget chipset.

In such cases, there are two options:

1. Take the phone to the service center (replacement of the antenna is necessary). ~1500-3000 ruble.).
2. Use externally GPS-receiver (connected via Bluetooth).

💡

If GPS It stopped working after the update. MIUI, Try to roll back to the previous firmware version. Often, navigation bugs are only fixed in the following updates.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions