How to set up NFC for payment with a SberBank card on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: the full guide

Contactless payments via NFC on Xiaomi smartphones have become an integral part of everyday life, but owners of the Redmi Note 8 Pro often face questions: why the feature does not work out of the box, how to tie a SberBank card and what settings must be checked before the first payment. Unlike flagship models, where NFC is activated automatically, budget devices (especially releases for different regions) may require additional configuration.

This article will not just list the steps of setting up, but will examine the hidden nuances that the manufacturer does not know, from checking the hardware support of NFC to bypassing the restrictions of MIUI for Russian users. You will learn why Google Pay may not see your Sberbank card, how to turn on HCE Wallet in the developer and what to do if the terminal does not read the payment, and also the table of compatibility of MIUI versions and how to fix the error “Device is not certified”.

Checking NFC hardware support on Redmi Note 8 Pro

Before you set up your payments, make sure your Redmi Note 8 Pro is physically equipped with an NFC module, because not all versions of this smartphone support the technology – it depends on the region of sale:

• 🌍 Global version (Global) — NFC It is present in 90% of devices, but can be disabled by software.
• 🇨🇳 Chinese version (China) — NFC not available in most copies (except for special shipments for export).
• 🇷🇺 Russian version (Russia) — NFC It is available but requires manual activation through Settings. → Connections.

To check for the module:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Full spec.
2. Scroll to Wireless Networks – if there is an NFC, it will be listed.
3. Alternatively, download the NFC Tools app from Google Play and it will show the status of the module.

⚠️ Note: If in the specifications NFC It's not available, but you bought the phone as a "global version," and you may have been sold the Chinese version, so you can't set up contactless payments, you'll need a replacement motherboard.

Preparation of the smartphone: update MIUI and security settings

Even if NFC is available, you need to update your firmware to the current version to work with payments. Redmi Note 8 Pro based on MIUI 12.5 and newer supports Google Pay and SberBank Online without additional manipulation, but older versions (for example, MIUI 11) can block the function.

If your version is outdated:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Download the latest firmware (minimum MIUI 12.5).
3. After the update, reset the network settings: Settings → Connections → Network reset.

Important: On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with an unlocked bootloader, NFC payments may not work due to a security breach.

adb shell getprop ro.boot.verifiedbootstate

If the answer is orange, the bootloader is unlocked and you will need to block it back for payments (this will lead to a data reset!).

💡

Before updating MIUI, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup. This will save your NFC settings and associated cards.

Setting up Google Pay for SberBank cards

Google Pay is the main way to link Sberbank cards to NFC on Xiaomi, but many users are faced with the error “The device is not certified for contactless payments” because of the lack of certification of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on some versions of the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

To circumvent the limitation:

Update MIUI to 12.5+

Install Google Pay from the official store

Enable NFC in settings (Quick Settings → NFC)

Add Google Pay to the list of allowed autoruns (Settings → Apps → Autorun)

-->

1. Download Google Pay from the Play Market (don’t use APK from third-party sources!).
2. Open the app and select “Add Card” → “Credit or debit card”.
3. Enter the data of the SberBank card (number, expiration date, CVC).
4. Confirm the binding via SMS or push notification from the bank.
5. If a certification error occurs, go to Settings → Apps → App Management → Google Pay → Permissions and enable all permissions, including NFC and Phone.

For Mir cards, Google Pay does not work – use SberBank Online (instructions in the next section).

⚠️ Note: If payments fail after the card is tied, check if Magisk or other system modifications are installed on the phone.

Alternative: SberBank Online to Pay via NFC

If Google Pay does not support your card (for example, Mir or SberBank corporate cards), use the official SberBank Online application. NFC-Module, but requires additional settings:

• 📱 Install the latest version of SberBank Online from AppGallery or Play Market.
• 🔒 Turn it on. NFC In the settings of the smartphone (Quick settings) → NFC).
• 💳 Add the map to the app (section "Maps» → «Add» → «Pay by phone»).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone after tethering – this syncs the data with the module NFC.

Features of working with Sberbank Online:

If, after linking the card, the terminal does not read the payment:

1. Make sure the phone screen is on (the NFC screen may not work on the off screen).
2. Check that the SberBank Online application is not killed by the battery optimizer: Settings → Battery → Selection of applications → SberBank Online → No restrictions.
3. Try touching the terminal with the back of the phone (the NFC antenna is located next to the camera).

Solving Common NFC Problems on Redmi Note 8 Pro

Even after setting up correctly, Redmi Note 8 Pro users are faced with errors, and here are the most common ones and solutions:

1. NFC is not included in the settings

If the NFC switch to Settings → Connections are inactive:

• Check if a custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS) is installed.
• Update MIUI Recovery to the latest version via Settings → System Update.
• Reset network settings: Settings → Connections → Network reset.

2.The terminal doesn't see the phone

Causes and solutions:

• 🔋 Low battery charge (less than 5%) — NFC shut down.
• 📶 Metal cover - shields the signal. Remove the cover before payment.
• 🔄 Application conflict – remove duplicate wallets (such as Samsung Pay if installed).

3. The “Device is not certified” error in Google Pay

This error occurs due to the lack of GMS certificate on the Chinese versions of the Redmi Note 8 Pro or after resetting to factory settings.

1. Install Google Play Services manually (download APK with APKMirror).
2. Enable HCE Wallet in Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 Times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → HCE Wallet → Enable
3. Reset Google Pay to factory settings: Settings → Apps → Google Pay → Storage → Clear data.

💡

If none of these methods worked, ask Sberbank to manually link the card to the device, calling the phone's IMEI (you can find it by command *#06#).

Security: How to Protect NFC-payment

Contactless payments are convenient but vulnerable to data scanning by attackers. There are several ways to increase protection on the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• 🔐 Turn it off. NFC By default, turn on only before payment.
• 🛡️ Use the lock screen with PIN Fingerprint or fingerprint (without them payments up to 1000) ₽ pass without confirmation!).
• 📵 Set limits in the bank application (for example, you can set a maximum of 500 in Sberbank Online). ₽ flat-pay PIN).
• 🔍 Check the terminals for overhead readers (skimmers).

How to check if your card details are being read:

1. Install the NFC Tools app from the Play Market.
2. Run the scan in Read mode.
3. If the app shows card details (number, expiration date) your phone is vulnerable, so you can turn off NFC or use virtual cards on SberBank Online.

⚠️ Warning: Never store pictures of cards in a phone gallery. Attackers can access them through vulnerabilities in the phone. MIUI (For example, versions up to 12.5.3 had a hole in the MediaProvider module).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions