GLONASS on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: how to turn on and configure for accurate navigation

Why is GLONASS important for your Redmi Note 8 Pro?

Modern smartphones, including the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, support several satellite navigation systems: American GPS, Russian GLONASS, European Galileo and Chinese BeiDou. However, by default, many devices are only active GPS, which can reduce the accuracy of location - especially in urban canyons or northern latitudes.

Activation of GLONASS on your Redmi Note 8 Pro allows you to:

• 📍 Increase geolocation accuracy by 30-50% in low satellite visibility (e.g., in the forest or between high-rises)
• 🚗 Accelerate the cold start of navigation in applications such as Yandex.Navigator or Google Maps
• 🌍 Improve signal stability in northern regions of Russia, where GPS coverage is traditionally weaker
• ⚡ Reduce energy consumption by faster satellite search

In this article, you will find unique settings for MIUI 12-14 that are not described in the standard documentation of Xiaomi, as well as ways to check the operation of GLONASS without additional applications.

Checking the current settings of GLONASS

Before you turn on GLONASS, make sure the feature is not activated by default. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the path to settings depends on the MIUI version:

⚠️ Warning: The firmware below MIUI 12.0.3 may not have a navigation menu, which will require an update via Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI.

To check the current parameters:

1. Open Settings → Memory and SIM- Maps → Location
2. Slip on Accuracy Mode (or Accuracy of Location in New Versions)
3. If GLONASS is not on the list, you should manually turn it on.

The screen should show a table with supported systems, and if you only see GPS and BeiDou, then GLONASS is disabled at the firmware level.

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To quickly check the operation of satellites, use the GPSTest app (free on Google Play), which shows the number of satellites found in each system in real time.

Step-by-step: how to turn on GLONASS

On Redmi Note 8 Pro, GLONASS activation is done through hidden developer settings.

Step 1: Enable the Developer Mode

Go to Settings → About phone and 7 times tap on the line version of MIUI. After the notification “You became a developer” return to the main menu settings.

Step 2. Open your location settings

Now, a new section, Advanced Settings → For developers, will appear in Settings. Find Satellite Selection (or GPS- Systems in MIUI 13+).

Step 3: Select the systems you want

In the menu that opens, tick:

• 🛰️ GPS (required)
• 🇷🇺 GLONASS (primary objective)
• 🇪🇺 Galileo (optional, for Europe)
• 🇨🇳 BeiDou (optional, for Asia)

Step 4: Save and restart

Click OK and restart the device. Once enabled, check the navigation in Google Maps or Yandex.Maps — location should be faster.

Comparison of accuracy: GPS vs GLONASS vs Galileo

To understand how GLONASS improves navigation, compare the technical characteristics of the systems:

As you can see from the table, GLONASS is not the most accurate system, but provides the best coverage in Russia and CIS countries thanks to the optimized orbit of satellites. The combination of GPS + GLONASS gives the best results for the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

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For maximum accuracy in urban conditions, it is recommended to activate simultaneously GPS, GLONASS and Galileo.

Problems with GLONASS and their solutions

Even after the inclusion of GLONASS users Redmi Note 8 Pro may face problems.

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone is discharged faster after activating GLONASS, check the background activity of your apps via Settings → Battery → Battery Use. Some programs (such as fitness trackers) may overuse the GPS module.

Problem 1: GLONASS is not defined

• 🔄 Reboot the device and check in the open (indoor signal is weaker)
• 📱 Update your firmware to the latest version MIUI via Settings → About Phone
• 🛠️ Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings

Problem 2: Fast battery discharge

• 🔋 Turn off background location for unnecessary applications in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Location
• ⚡ Enable Power Saving Mode in Settings → Battery
• 📴 Use air mode for 10-15 minutes, then turn off - this will reset the cache of the module GPS

Problem 3: Unstable signal

• 📡 Install the GPS Status & Toolbox app and calibrate the compass
• 🛰️ Check if the case is blocking the GPS antenna (located at the top of the housing)
• 🔧 Reset Location Settings: Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting Location Settings

Optimizing navigation for specific applications

Different mapping services work differently with GLONASS, and here are the recommendations for popular apps on the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

Yandex.Navigator / Yandex.Maps

• 🗺️ Enable the option "Use all satellite systems" in the application settings
• 📍 Activate "Precise Mode" in Android Location Settings
• 🔄 Update maps of Russia through the app menu

Google Maps

• 🌐 Enable "High Accuracy" in Settings → Location → Mode
• 📦 Clear the app cache in Settings → Apps → Google Maps → Memory
• 📡 Use offline maps to save traffic and battery

2GIS

• 🏙️ In the application settings, select "Battery Saving Mode: Off"
• 🔍 Activate the "Use GLONASS" option in the advanced settings
• 📲 Allow the application to auto-run in Settings → Battery → Auto-Run

To test accuracy, we recommend using the GPS Test Plus app, which shows the number of satellites of each system and the signal level separately.

Hidden MIUI features to improve GPS

MIUI has hidden parameters that can further optimize the operation of GLONASS.

Acceleration of satellite search

Enter the following command in the engineering menu (code ##4636##)

set gps cold start 1

This will reset the GPS cache and speed up the first location determination after the reboot.

2. Forced use of A-GPS

Assisted GPS (A-GPS) uses mobile network data to speed up search, turn it on via:

set agps 1

In the engineering menu (Settings → For developers → Engineering menu).

3. Energy optimization

To reduce battery consumption without losing accuracy, set a location update interval of 5000 ms:

set location update 5000

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect instructions in the engineering menu may disrupt the GPS module. Only make changes if you are sure of their purpose.

FAQ: Frequent questions about GLONASS on Redmi Note 8 Pro