How to check the GPS on your Xiaomi phone: 5 ways and solutions

The GPS module in Xiaomi smartphones is responsible not only for navigation in maps, but also for accurately determining the location in taxi applications, fitness trackers and geolocation services. If your Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 11 began to “lose” on the map, long searches for satellites or shows incorrect coordinates, the problem can be hidden in both software settings and hardware malfunctions. In this article, we will discuss how to check the operation of GPS on Xiaomi without contacting the service center, using built-in tools and third-party utilities.

It’s important to understand that modern Xiaomi smartphones use a combined positioning system: in addition to the classic GPS (American system), they support GLONASS (Russian), Galileo (European) and BeiDou (Chinese), which means that the phone can “catch” signals from different satellite constellations, but sometimes conflicts between them or incorrect settings lead to failures. We test all the key aspects from basic diagnostics to deep signal analysis.

Before you start the test, make sure that:

• 📶 Mobile Internet or Wi-Fi is enabled on the phone (to speed up the search for satellites via the Internet). A-GPS).
• 🔋 Battery level above 20% (low charge may limit module operation).
• 🌍 You are in an open area (indoor signal) GPS weakly).

1. Quick GPS check through Xiaomi settings

The easiest way to evaluate the operation of the navigation module is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which do not require the installation of additional applications and takes less than a minute.

Open the Settings menu → Applications → Permissions → Location Auto-Detection. Here you will see a list of applications that are allowed to access geodata. If GPS does not work at all, this list may be empty or display an error. Notice the switch at the top of the screen — it should be in the On position.

Next, go to Settings → Additional → Special Opportunities → Positioning (on some models, the path may differ: Settings → Communication and Sharing → Location).

• 📍 Precision mode: select High accuracy (uses) GPS + Wi-Fi + mobile).
• 🛰️ Satellite systems: turn on all available (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou).
• 🔄 Scanner. Wi-Fi/Bluetooth: activate to speed up search.

If the phone still doesn't know where to go after this manipulation, move on to the next method: Xiaomi models with Qualcomm processors (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro) sometimes help by rebooting the GPS module through the engineering menu, as we'll discuss below.

2. Testing GPS through the engineering menu (codes and hidden features)

The Engineering Menu is a hidden section of MIUI that allows you to diagnose hardware components, including the GPS module.It is accessed through special commands, but beware: improper actions can disrupt the phone.

For most Xiaomi models (including POCO and Redmi), use the following code:

##4636##

Once you enter, the Testing menu will open. Select Location Information (or GPS Status in English firmware) and you will see:

• 📊 Status GPS: If the module is running, coordinates will be displayed here.
• 🛰️ Satellites: number of satellites found and signal strength (green bars are good signal).
• ⏱️ Last fixation time: If more than 5 minutes have passed, the module is faulty or locked.

For smartphones running MediaTek processors (such as Redmi 10C or POCO M4 Pro), use the following code:

##36446337##

In the menu that opens, select Satellite and wait for the phone to find the satellites. If in 10 minutes no satellite is displayed, the problem may be in the antenna or the firmware of the module.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose. AGPS This could lead to a long search for satellites after the reboot.

3. Verification of GPS with third-party applications

The built-in MIUI tools provide basic information, but for deep diagnostics, it's better to use specialized applications, which show detailed statistics on satellites, search speeds and positioning accuracy.

Top.-3 testing-in GPS Xiaomi:

1. GPS Status & Toolbox - displays a map of satellites in real time, shows the signal level and accuracy of fixation, suitable for checking GLONASS and Galileo.
2. GPSTest is open source, supports all satellite systems, shows DOP (accuracy score) and time to first fix (TTFF).
3. GPS Essentials are advanced testing tools, including track recording and signal analysis.

Install one of the applications (such as GPSTest) and follow the instructions:

1. Open the app and wait until it finds the satellites.
2. Pay attention to:

Do the test in an open area and compare it to the data in the room.

If the app shows a GPS fix error or the satellites are not more than 10 minutes away, proceed to the hardware diagnostics.

Shut down. VPN proxy|Insert precision mode|Get out of the room.|Reboot the phone|Check the date and time (should be relevant)-->

4. Diagnostics of hardware malfunctions GPS-module

If software methods didn't work, the problem could be a physical malfunction of the GPS module or antenna, which is true for phones that have fallen, wet or disassembled for repair, and let's look at the typical hardware causes and how to check them.

Signs of GPS hardware failure:

• 🚫 Complete lack of signal even in open areas.
• 📉 Acute deterioration of accuracy after falling or getting moisture.
• 🔄 Rebooting the module does not help (satellites are not even after resetting the settings).

For diagnosis, follow the following steps:

1. Check the GPS antenna: on most Xiaomi models, it is located at the top of the body (near the main camera). If the phone fell, the antenna could move away from the board. Carefully press the top of the case - if a signal appears, disassembly and soldering are required.
2. Test after overheating: heat up your phone (for example, playing a heavy game for 10-15 minutes) and check the GPS. If the module starts working, the problem is cold soldering (repair).
3. Check through USB-debugging (for advanced users): connect the phone to the PC, turn on Developer Mode and use the command: adb shell dumpsys location In the conclusion, pay attention to the lines GpsLocationProvider - if the status is disabled, the module is inactive.

If you suspect a hardware malfunction but are not sure why, contact the service center. On Xiaomi models with a metal body (such as the Mi 11 Ultra), the GPS antenna often suffers after replacing the back cover - it is easy to damage if you open it neatly.

5. Update A-GPS data and reset settings

Assisted GPS (A-GPS) speeds up satellite search by using mobile network data, so if that data is outdated or corrupted, the phone can catch a signal for a long time, and let's look at how to update the A-GPS and reset the module settings.

Update A-GPS through the engineering menu:

1. Enter the code ##4636## and select Location Information.
2. Click Clear A-GPS (or Delete AGPS Data) data.
3. Then click Update A-GPS (or Download AGPS Data).
4. Restart your phone and check the GPS.

Resetting location settings:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Choose Reset Location Settings (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

If the GPS still doesn’t work after these steps, try updating your phone’s firmware or resetting to factory settings (don’t forget to back up your data!).

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If the GPS is up and running after the reset, but it stops determining the coordinates again, the problem may be in the background application blocking access to the location.

6. GPS check after updating the firmware or rooting

Updates to MIUI or root rights sometimes cause GPS to malfunction, which is due to changes in the system files that control the navigation module. If the problem occurs after the firmware, follow this instruction.

What to do if the GPS stops working after the update:

• 🔄 Retraction to the previous version MIUI: If the update caused a crash, go back to the old firmware via Fastboot or Recovery.
• 📥 Installation of the module GPS via Magisk: Patches are available for rooted phones that restore navigation (e.g., module) GPS Fix).
• 🛠️ Manual editing of a configuration file: in a file /system/etc/gps.conf You can manually specify the servers. A-GPS for your region.

For rooted devices, it’s also helpful to check SafetyNet status – if it’s broken, some apps (like Google Maps) can block access to GPS. Use the MagiskHide module or Universal SafetyNet Fix to fix the problem.

If you’re not sure what you’re doing, it’s best to seek help from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums, where there are separate GPS themes for each Xiaomi model.

7. Alternative methods of positioning

If GPS-The module on your Xiaomi is completely out of order, but you need to determine the coordinates, you can use alternative methods.

Methods of location determination without GPS:

• 📶 Cellular towers: The phone determines the approximate location of the nearest base stations. Accuracy 500-2000 meters.
• 📡 Wi-Fi networks: if there are access points around, the phone can determine the coordinates by their location MAC-addresses (accuracy of 20–100 meters).
• 🧭 Compass and maps: In applications like Google Maps or OSMAnd, you can use compass and landmarks for navigation.

To include alternative methods:

1. Go to Settings → Location.
2. Activate the options of Wi-Fi Search and Mobile Search.
3. In the Google Maps app, enable High Accuracy in location settings.

Note that these methods consume more battery and require an active Internet connection. For offline navigation without GPS, it is better to download maps in the application in advance.

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If Xiaomi’s GPS stopped working after falling or getting moisture, there’s an 80 percent chance of a problem with the antenna or soldering of the module, in which case only repairs at the service center will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about GPS on Xiaomi