Why GPS is not working well for Xiaomi: reasons and solutions

If your Xiaomi smartphone is not catching GPS well, it detects location with a large error, “looking for satellites” for a long time or refuses to work in navigation applications, the problem can be in software failures and hardware malfunctions, especially often faced by owners of budget models (Redmi Note 10, Poco X3) or devices after the MIUI update.

In this article, we will discuss 7 main reasons why GPS on Xiaomi may not work correctly, as well as give step-by-step instructions for diagnosing and troubleshooting. From simple settings to deep hardware testing, you will learn what to do if navigation is “glitched” in Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator or 2GIS.

Now, if you have a problem after a phone falls or you get moisture, you're probably going to have a GPS antenna or a motherboard, and you can't do without a service center, and you can try the solutions in this article.

1. Incorrect location settings

Most often, Xiaomi's GPS doesn't work well because of incorrect geolocation settings in the system, such as if power saving mode is on or support services (such as A-GPS) are turned off, and you can check and fix this in a few steps.

Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Location and make sure that:

• 📍 Accuracy mode is set to High (not Charge Savings or Device Only»).
• 🛰️ Scanning option is always available (for the A-GPS).
• 🔄 Permissions for geodata issued by Google Maps, Yandex.Maps and other navigation applications.

Also check if Google's accelerated coordinates services are disabled.

1. Go to Settings → Google → Settings for Google → Location.
2. Activate Location Accuracy and Location History (if necessary).

If the GPS still doesn’t work well after these manipulations, move on to the next point.

2. Software failures and MIUI errors

MIUI updates don’t always go smoothly: they sometimes break the GPS module, and this is especially true for MIUI 12.5-14 devices, where users have complained massively about geolocation problems after updates.

• 🔄 Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting the network settings, which will remove the stored access points and connection parameters that may conflict with the network. GPS.
• 📱 Clear the cache for Google Play Services and Google Maps in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 🛠️ Retracement to the previous version MIUI (If the problem has occurred after the update. To do this, download the firmware from Xiaomifirmwareupdater.com and run through Fastboot.

If the crashes started after installing custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), check if it supports the firmware. GPS-Some builds may not include drivers for the geolocation module.

3. Problems with GPS antenna or module

If the software methods did not help, it may be the hardware part. GPS-The module in Xiaomi smartphones is usually located at the top of the body (near the main camera) and can fail for several reasons:

• 💥 Physical injury after falling or impact.
• 🌧️ Corrosion of contacts due to moisture (even if the phone hasn't sunk, high humidity can oxidize the board).
• 📶 Poor antenna contact with motherboard (frequent issue after disassembling phone).

Check the hardware serviceability of GPS can be using the engineering menu:

1. Enter the code in the phone app: ##4636##.
2. Go to the Testing (or Testing) tab.
3. Select the GPS Test and see how many satellites the device sees, and if there are fewer than 5 satellites, even in open areas, the antenna is a problem.

💡

If the phone falls, make sure the top cover of the case is moving away, and sometimes the GPS antenna is attached to it, and when the device is deformed, contact is lost.

If the test shows zero satellites or a No Fix error, it's almost guaranteed to be a hardware malfunction, and then only repairs to the service center will help.

4. Conflict with other wireless modules

GPS may not work well because of interference from other radios, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile networks, for example, if a phone is simultaneously trying to connect to weak Wi-Fi and catch satellites, it can lead to geolocation freezes.

To test this hypothesis:

1. Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in the notification panel.
2. Put the phone in mode only LTE (turn off 5G, If any: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred type of network.
3. Run the navigation app and check the accuracy of the coordinates.

If the other GPS modules are better off, try using the navigation in aeronautical mode with GPS only on, which is a last resort, but it helps in 10-15% of cases.

5. Problems with firmware or drivers

Sometimes GPS stops working after incorrect driver updates or custom core installation, especially for devices with an unlocked bootloader.

• 📵 GPS It determines location only over networks (not satellites).
• 🔄 Coordinates are updated or “jumped” every 5-10 seconds.
• 🚫 Apps like this GPS Status show no mistake GPS signal.

Decisions:

1. Fastboot GPS module via Fastboot using the command: fastboot flash gps /path/to/file/gps.img Firmware file can be found on the XDA Developers forums or 4PDA for your model.
2. Return the stock core if you have installed a custom core (for example, FrancoKernel).
3. Reset your phone to factory settings (if the problem has occurred after the MIUI update).

Make sure the bootloader is unlocked | Download the stock firmware for your model |Swipe the GPS module through Fastboot | Check the work in GPS Test

-->

If you're not sure what you're doing, you should see a specialist. The wrong firmware can turn your phone into a brick.

External factors: weather, interference, terrain

Even the serviceable. GPS-The module may not work well because of the outside environment, and that's what's preventing you from accurately determining the coordinates:

• 🌳 Dense building or forest: satellite signal is shielded by buildings and tree crowns.
• 🌧️ Bad weather: rain, snow or cloudy conditions can weaken the signal.
• 📡 Electromagnetic interference from power lines, radio towers or military facilities.
• 🚗 Thinning or metallized film on the glass of the car.

To improve reception:

• 📱 Hold the phone horizontally (antenna) GPS usually located along the upper edge).
• 🚶 Go to an open space (parking, field) and wait for a cold start (the first coordinate determination can take up to 5 minutes).
• 🔋 Use an external antenna. GPS (plug-in USB-C Bluetooth, if you are driving frequently in poor signal conditions.

💡

If GPS is not working well in just one place (like a city center), the problem is likely external, not the phone.

7. When to contact the service center

If you’ve tried all the methods in this article, but the GPS on Xiaomi is still:

• 📵 No satellites are caught even in open areas.
• 🔥 The upper part of the body overheats when trying to determine the coordinates.
• 💥 Stopped working after falling, getting moisture or repairs.

- so the problem is hardware, and without professional diagnosis can not do.

Cost of repair GPS-The module in Xiaomi depends on the model:

• Redmi Note / Poco: from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles (replacement of antenna or soldering contacts).
• Xiaomi 11/12/13 series: from 3,500 to 6000 rubles (may require replacement of the entire module).
• Flagships (Mi Mix, Black Shark): up to 8 000 rubles (due to the complexity of disassembly).

💡

Before visiting the service, make a backup of the data – sometimes a complete phone reset is required for repairs.

Don’t try to disassemble your phone yourself if you don’t have experience: the GPS antenna is often attached to the case and connected to the board with thin plumes that are easily damaged.

FAQ: Frequent questions about GPS on Xiaomi