Why GLONASS is important for Xiaomi owners and how to activate it correctly
The Russian GLONASS satellite system on Xiaomi smartphones often remains unclaimed - users either do not know about its existence, or believe that it is turned on "by default" along with GPS. In practice, the correct setting of GLONASS can improve geolocation accuracy by 1.5-2 times, especially in urban areas or outside megacities where the signal of American GPS satellites is weakened.
In this article, we will analyze not only the basic way to include GLONASS through the menu. MIUI, But also hidden settings for advanced users, as well as diagnosing problems when the smartphone “cannot see” Russian satellites. POCO, Where the interface may differ from the flagship lines Xiaomi 13/14.
⚠️ Important: Starting with MIUI 14 geolocation algorithms have changed — some “old” ways to activate GLONASS (for example, through an engineering menu) may not work correctly.
What is GLONASS and how it differs from GPS
GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is the Russian equivalent of the US GPS, European Galileo and Chinese BeiDou. Unlike GPS, which uses 24 main satellites, GLONASS operates 27-30 satellites, which should theoretically give a more stable signal in the northern latitudes (including Russia).
In practice, for the Xiaomi user, this means:
- 📍 Quick determination of coordinates in “deaf” zones (forests, mountains, underground parking lots).
- 🚗 Smooth operation of navigators (Yandex.Maps, 2GIS) when driving at high speed.
- 🔄 Signal backup: if GPS «GLONASS can catch the geolocation.
But there are nuances: on Xiaomi smartphones with Qualcomm chips (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+), GLONASS is often turned off by default due to energy saving. whereas on devices with MediaTek processors (POCO M series), the system can work in the background, but with reduced accuracy.
📊 Which Navigator do you use more often?
Yandex.Maps.
Google Maps
2GIS
Other
Not using.
The basic way to include GLONASS on Xiaomi
The easiest method is activation through standard MIUI settings. It is suitable for 90% of models, including Redmi 10/11/12, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13T and later.
- Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Geodata.
- Activate the GeoData slider (if it is turned off).
- Tap on the item Geodata Mode (or Accuracy of geodata on older versions of MIUI).
- Select the option “High accuracy” (or GPS + GLONASS + BeiDou, if you have one).
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global) the GLONASS may not be explicitly available, in which case the system automatically connects all available satellite groups when selecting High Precision».
Advanced settings: engineering menu and GPSTest
If the basic method failed (for example, the navigator still floats), it is worth checking the GLONASS operation through the engineering menu or specialized applications.
Method 1: Engineering menu (for experienced users):
- Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
- In the menu that opens, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
- Scroll down to the GPS block and press the Start GPS Test.
- After 2-3 minutes, check if satellites with the prefix RXX (for example, R03, R15) appear in the list.
Method 2: GPSTest application (recommended for beginners):
- 📱 Install GPSTest from Google Play.
- 📡 Launch the application and wait until the smartphone “catch” satellites.
- 🔍 In the list look for satellites with the flag of Russia (🇷🇺) or GLONASS.
- 📊 If they are not, go to the “Problem Solving” section».
What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
On some firmware (especially Chinese) the combination ##4636## is blocked. Alternatively, use the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek chips) or Table: Compatibility of Xiaomi models with GLONASS Not all Xiaomi smartphones work equally well with GLONASS. Below are data on popular models (based on tests) 2023–2026 Y.: Chipset model Support GLONASS Notes Xiaomi 13/13 Pro Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Yes (full) Automatic switching between GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou Redmi Note 12 Pro+ MediaTek Dimensity 1080 Yes (partial) Requires manual activation via engineering menu POCO X5 Pro Snapdragon 778G Yes MIUI 14 It only works in the “High Accuracy” mode of Redmi. 10A MediaTek Helio G25 No, it only supports. GPS and BeiDou Xiaomi 12T MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Ultra Yes (optional) GLONASS is disabled by default to save battery ⚠️ Note: On budget models (e.g. Redmi) A2 or POCO C50) GLONASS support can be announced in the specifications, but in practice only work with the GLONASS. GPS + BeiDou, it's about the limitations of the chipset. Solving problems: why GLONASS does not work If after all the manipulations the smartphone does not catch the GLONASS satellites, check the following points: 1. 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (especially relevant to Redmi Note 11 and older). 🛠️ If custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS) is used, check if it supports Russian satellites. 2. 📶 Cover interference: Metal or magnetic accessories can block the signal. 🔋 Energy saving: in the mode "Ultra-Economics" geolocation is turned off for all satellite systems. 3. 🚫 Antivirus and VPN: Some applications (such as Kaspersky or NordVPN) block access to the Internet. GPS-module. 🗑️ Geodata cache: clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → Maps/Navigator → Warehouse. 💡If the smartphone stopped “seeing” satellites after the update MIUI, Try resetting your network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network resets. It's not going to delete personal data, but it's going to bring geolocation back to factory settings. How to check that GLONASS really works. 3 reliable methods: Method 1: Yandex.Maps Open Yandex.Maps and tap the geolocation icon (📍). If the coordinates were determined <5 Seconds, GLONASS is working. For more information, click on ⚙️ → About the programme → Diagnostics GPS. Method 2: Annex GPS Status & Toolbox This app shows the real number of connected satellites by system: 🟢 GPS — squatter. 🔵 GLONASS — Russian. 🟡 BeiDou is Chinese. If you have blue dots on the list that say, GLONASS — everything is right. Method 3: Test in the open area Go outside (preferably away from high-rises) and compare: 📱 GLONASS: accuracy of determination - 3-5 meters. 📱 Only GPS: accuracy - 10-15 meters. 💡If after all the checks GLONASS does not work, and the smartphone supports it according to the specification, the problem may be in the hardware damage to the antenna. FAQ: Frequent questions about GLONASS on Xiaomi 🔹 Do I need to turn on GLONASS if I only use Google Maps? Yes, even Google Maps uses all available satellite systems to improve accuracy. In Russia, GLONASS often gives a more stable signal than Google Maps. GPS, especially in the northern regions. 🔹 Why does GLONASS power up the battery run down faster? Multi-satellite geolocation really increases power consumption by 5-10%. To save charge: Turn off geodata when you don't need it. Use Battery Savings mode in settings MIUI (but accuracy will fall). 🔹 Can I turn on GLONASS on Xiaomi without root rights? Yes, all the ways described in the article (via settings) MIUI, Engineering menus or applications like GPSTest work without root. Root can only be used for deep modification of system files, which is not recommended. 🔹 Does Xiaomi GLONASS support Chinese firmware? on most Chinese firmware (China) ROM) GLONASS is supported, but can be disabled by default due to local regulations. To activate: Install Google Play Services (if none). Use the method with the engineering menu (see above). ⚠️ Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 for China) may require Global firmware ROM. 🔹 Why GPSTest can see GLONASS satellites, but the navigator does not use them? This is a typical MIUI problem where the system "sees" satellites but does not transmit data to applications. Solutions: Reboot your smartphone. Clear the Yandex.Maps/Google Maps cache. Check if MIUI Optimization is blocked.