How to turn on GLONASS on Xiaomi smartphone: full instructions with nuances

Why GLONASS is important for navigation accuracy on Xiaomi

GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) – Russian alternative to the American GPS, which significantly improves geolocation accuracy, especially in urban areas or in Russia. POCO) Support simultaneous work with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, but by default some systems can be turned off to save battery power.

The inclusion of GLONASS on Xiaomi is relevant if you notice that maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator, 2GIS) determine your location with an error of 10–50 meters or long “catch” satellites.

• 🚗 Drivers using real-time navigation;
• 🏃‍♂️ Athletes tracking jogging routes;
• 📦 Couriers and logistics services;
• 🌳 Tourists in poor communication (forests, mountains).

It is important to understand that GLONASS does not replace GPS, And it's a complement. And the systems work together, and it allows the smartphone to see more satellites, which reduces the time it takes to determine the coordinates and improves the accuracy to 2 to 5 meters. MIUI What to do if the settings are not saved.

Checking the support of GLONASS with your Xiaomi model

Not all Xiaomi smartphones support GLONASS at the hardware level. A1 or POCO C50 They can only work with GPS To avoid unnecessary setup, first check the specifications of your device.

This can be done in two ways:

1. Xiaomi official website: Find your model in the specifications section (look for the Positioning or Navigation block).
2. GPSTest app (free on Google Play): Launch it and see which satellite systems appear on the list (should be GLONASS among others).

If the specification or test doesn't mention GLONASS, it means your device doesn't support it physically, and then you can improve accuracy by:

• 📶 Firmware updates (sometimes new satellite support is added);
• 🔄 Use of external GPS-module (e.g. via Bluetooth);
• 📱 Switch to a full-featured model (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro)+).

Step-by-step: how to turn on GLONASS on Xiaomi

The activation process depends on the version MIUI. Below is a general algorithm for MIUI 12–14 (current for most devices from 2020–2026).If you have an older version, use the instructions for the new version. MIUI 11 and below.

🔹 Charge your phone at least 30 times%

🔹 Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile internet

🔹 Close all navigation applications

🔹 Check system updates (Settings) → The phone. → Update MIUI)

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Steps to include:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Connections and Sharing (or Network and Internet in older versions).
3. Select Location (or Geodata).
4. Activate the location accuracy switch (if it is turned off).
5. Slip on Location Mode (or Location Method).
6. Choose from all sources or High accuracy (this will include) GPS + GLONASS + Wi-Fi/network).
7. Go back and open Additional Settings (or Satellite Settings).
8. Make sure that the active systems are listed GLONASS (checkmark).

Important: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global) the item "Additional settings" may not be available, in which case GLONASS is activated automatically when selecting "High accuracy" mode".

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If after turning on the accuracy has not improved, try to turn off and turn on the location mode again - this will reset the cache of satellites.

Checking the work of GLONASS: tests and applications

Turn on the settings is not enough – you need to make sure that the smartphone really “catch” the GLONASS satellites.

How to check:

1. Install one of the applications (we recommend GPSTest).
2. Go out into the open space (balcony, street) - satellites are not caught in the room!
3. Run the test and wait until the app finds at least 5-8 satellites.
4. If you have satellites with the prefix R (for example, the R prefix, R01, R12) — GLONASS.

Critical nuance: if after 10 minutes of search GLONASS satellites do not appear, then they are either disabled at the firmware level, or the antenna of the device is damaged.

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Normal operation of GLONASS is the fixation of 3-5 satellites of the system (out of 24 available) with a signal level above 30 dB.

Solving problems: GLONASS is not turned on or does not work

If the GLONASS satellites are not determined after the configuration, the reasons may be as follows:

• 📱 Older versions: in older versions MIUI GLONASS support may be disabled for some regions.
• 🛠️ Antenna damage: Physical breakdown after falling or getting moisture.
• 🔧 Conflict with energy-saving regimes: MIUI Can disable satellites to save charge.
• 📡 Interference from covers or films: metallized accessories block the signal.

What to do:

⚠️ Note: if you use custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), GLONASS support may be disabled in the kernel. MIUI or patch for navigation.

1. Update firmware:

Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update MIUI In some cases (like major Android updates), satellite support is restored.

2. Reset your location settings:

Open the Settings. → Annexes → App management, find Google Play Services, click Storage → Clear the cache. Then restart the phone.

3. Turn off the energy saving for GPS:

Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Select mode and set Performance. Also add navigation apps to the exception list:

Settings → Battery → Applications → [select app] → Without restrictions

Check the antenna:

If the satellites are not caught at all (even if they are not caught at all). GPS), It's possible the antenna is damaged:

• Call Xiaomi Service Center and see if your model has any navigation problems.
• Try using your phone without a case – sometimes metal inserts shield the signal.

Features of customization on older versions MIUI (11 and below)

On the firmware MIUI 11 and older, the location settings interface is different. There's no separate GLONASS switch, and the system turns on all available satellites automatically when you select high-precision mode:

Instructions for MIUI 9-11:

1. Open the Settings. → Additionally. → Confidentiality → Location.
2. Activate location accuracy.
3. Select Mode. → From all sources.
4. For forced inclusion of GLONASS use the application AGPS Patch (root rights required).

These versions also have a problem with satellite getting stuck, and they solve it like this:

• Install GPSTest and manually update data AGPS (Menu → Manage A-GPS State → Reset).
• Turn off and turn on Flight Mode for 30 seconds.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 9 and below some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 4X or Redmi Note 5) may not support GLONASS at the hardware level, even if it is specified in the specification.

Comparison of accuracy: GPS vs GLONASS vs Galileo on Xiaomi

To understand how GLONASS improves navigation, we tested several Xiaomi smartphones in urban environments (Moscow, center).

Conclusions:

• 📍 GLONASS works better in high latitudes (Russia, Canada), while Galileo works more accurately in Europe.
• 🏙️ In urbanized canyons (between buildings), the sharing of systems reduces the time spent searching for satellites by 30-50%.
• 🚗 All systems are optimal for navigation in the car, but it consumes more charge.

Recommendation: If you use navigation frequently, turn on Developer Mode and activate the option GPS-Logging (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI [tap 7 times] → For developers → Turn on GPS-This will help track the stability of the signal.

FAQ: Frequent questions about GLONASS on Xiaomi