Guide · Android 13 to 16 (Pixel & stock Android)

Mi Estela on Android & Pixel: background location

Since Android 11, the prompt inside the app no longer offers "Allow all the time"—you have to set it manually in Settings. Mi Estela takes you to that screen, but the tap is yours.

Android 13 to 16 (Pixel & stock Android)Verified on October 14, 2026

What happens if you don't touch a thing

Without "Allow all the time," Android stops sharing your position the moment you close the app. With battery set to "Optimized," Android may delay Mi Estela's background activity. And with Battery Saver on, Google warns that location services stop when the screen is off.

Step by step

Taps, in order

Location: "Allow all the time" & "Use precise location"Settings › Location › App location permissions › Mi EstelaSelect "Allow all the time" and turn on "Use precise location." You can also get there by long-pressing the app icon › App info › Permissions › Location.
Battery: "Unrestricted"Settings › Apps › Mi Estela › BatteryChoose "Unrestricted" (instead of "Optimized" or "Restricted"). Inside the app, the "Unrestricted battery" button opens this dialog directly on Android.
Don't let permissions get pausedSettings › Apps › Mi EstelaTurn off "Pause app activity if unused" (the wording varies by version) so Android doesn't revoke the permission if you go days without opening the app.
Battery SaverSettings › Battery › Battery SaverIf you turn it on, Google explains that location services stop when the screen is off and apps won't run in the background. If you need to save battery, it's normal for your people to see you with a delay.
NotificationsSettings › Notifications › Mi EstelaAllow them: this is how arrival alerts, SOS, and call ringtones reach you. On Android 14 or later, Mi Estela also asks permission for full-screen calls.

Heads up:

If you only grant approximate location in the foreground, background location will also be approximate.
Adaptive Battery usually works fine alongside Mi Estela; if you notice delays, you can turn it off in Settings › Battery.

Check that it works

Close Mi Estela completely, leave your phone with the screen off for ten minutes, and ask someone in your circle to check your card on the map: it should say "just now," not "10 minutes ago." If it doesn't, go back to the battery step—that's the one that fails most often.

Sources

Menu names change with every system update. When we couldn't confirm the exact name in English, we've marked it as approximate and linked the source.

We answer your questions

Frequently asked questions

The app takes me to Settings but I don't see "Allow all the time"

On some phones the option is inside "Location" on the app's info page, and you need to scroll down. If your phone is Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, or OPPO, check their specific guide—they have their own screens.

Why can't Mi Estela grant this on its own?

Because Google doesn't allow it since Android 11: background location permission can only be set on the system Settings screen. It's the same for every app.

Other brands

iOS 18 and iOS 26

iPhone

On iPhone everything lives in Settings and there are no manufacturer surprises. You just need to give Mi Estela the "Always" permission with precise location and leave background app refresh turned on.

See the steps →

One UI 6, 7 & 8

Samsung (One UI)

Samsung puts apps to sleep if you haven't opened them in a few days—and a sleeping app can't share anything. A couple of taps in Battery settings and Mi Estela stays awake.

See the steps →

HyperOS 2 & MIUI 14

Xiaomi, Redmi & POCO

HyperOS and MIUI are among the most aggressive systems when it comes to killing background apps. Three quick tweaks (autostart, unrestricted battery, and the lock in Recents) and Mi Estela stays alive.

See the steps →

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