How to set up NFC on Xiaomi Redmi 10S: from activation to contactless payments

Why you need NFC in Redmi 10S and what it can do

The Xiaomi Redmi 10S’s NFC (Near Field Communication) technology offers a lot of possibilities that many users don’t even know about, and it allows you to not only pay with your smartphone instead of your bank card, but also share files with other devices, read tags to automate tasks, and use your phone as a travel ticket or smart lock key.

Unlike flagship models, where NFC often works out of the box with minimal settings, the budget Redmi 10S can have nuances. For example, not all firmware versions support Google Pay due to manufacturer restrictions, and working with transport cards will require additional region adjustment. In this article, we will analyze all the steps from checking the availability of the module to the subtleties of configuring contactless payments and data transfer.

Check if you have NFC in your Redmi 10S

Before you set it up, make sure your smartphone is indeed equipped with an NFC module. In Redmi 10S (model number M2101K7AG), it is present in all versions, but in some regions (for example, India or Latin America) it can be software disabled.

• 📱 Through Settings: Go to Settings → Connection and sharing → NFC. If there is no point, the module is either missing or hidden by the firmware.
• 🔍 Through test codes: type in the phone application ##4636##, select Phone Information and check for a line NFC list of supported functions.

If NFC is not on the menu, but you are sure that the model supports the technology, try upgrading to the latest version of MIUI (current at the time of writing - MIUI 14 for Android 11). In rare cases, resetting to factory settings helps, but this is an extreme measure.

NFC Activation: Step-by-step instructions

To enable NFC on Redmi 10S, do the following:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Connect and Sharing (in some versions of MIUI, Wireless Networks may be called Wireless Networks).
3. Slip on NFC.
4. Activate the NFC slider at the top of the screen. Confirm permissions if the system requests.

After turning on, the sign “On” will appear next to the slider, and in the status bar (top panel) – the NFC icon (stylized letter N). If the icon does not appear, restart the device.

⚠️ Note: Some of the firmware for Redmi 10S (especially the global versions) NFC If you don't find it on the menu, try changing the region to Russia or Europe, which sometimes solves the problem.

Contactless Payments: Google Pay vs Mi Pay

The main application of NFC is payment for purchases. There are two services available on the Redmi 10S: Google Pay and Mi Pay, and let's take a look at both.

Google Pay

To work with Google Pay:

1. Download the app from Google Play Market.
2. Open it and add a bank card (Mastercard, Visa, Mir are supported).
3. Confirm the card via SMS or bank application.
4. In NFC settings (Settings → Connection → NFC → Contactless payments), select Google Pay as the default app.

Mi Pay

Mi Pay is a Xiaomi-branded service operating in Russia with restrictions.

• 💳 Open the Mi Pay application (pre-installed in the MIUI).
• 📱 Link your partner bank card (list of supported banks available on Xiaomi website).
• 🔒 Confirm the binding through SMS push-notification.
• 📲 In the settings NFC Choose Mi Pay as your primary payment service.

Important: Mi Pay in Russia supports a limited list of banks (for example, Tinkoff, Alfa-Bank), whereas Google Pay works with almost everyone.

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If the terminal doesn’t read the card when paying, try bringing the phone to it with the other side – the NFC antenna in Redmi 10S is located at the top of the back panel.

Using NFC for data transfer (Android Beam)

In addition to payments, NFC allows you to quickly exchange files between devices.

1. Turn on NFC on both smartphones.
2. Open the file (photo, contact, link) you want to send.
3. Bring the devices back panels to each other (distance not more than 5 cm).
4. Wait for the sound signal or vibration – the transmission will start automatically.

The feature only works between Android devices (on iPhone, NFC transmission is not possible). The transfer speed is low (up to 400 Kb/s), so it is better to use Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth for large files.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 12 and above, Android Beam can be disabled by default. To activate it, go to Settings → Additionally. → Data transmission NFC and enable the Android Beam option.

NFC setup for transport cards (Troika, Arrow)

Redmi 10S can link transport cards (for example, Troika or Arrow) to pay for the fare by phone.

• 📲 Install the official transport application of your region (for example, Metro Moscow or Transport SPb).
• 💳 In the app, find the section Link the card or NFC-map.
• 📱 Hold the physical card to the back of the phone (where the antenna is located) NFC) and wait for the reading.
• 🔒 Confirm the binding through SMS email.

Once you've tied it, you can use it instead of a card -- just unlock the screen and bring it to the turnstile. Make sure that the NFC settings select the transport app as a priority for contactless operations.

Solving Common Problems with NFC

If the NFC on the Redmi 10S is not working or is not working properly, check the following points:

If the problem persists, try resetting the network settings: Settings → System → Settings Reset → Network Reset. This won’t delete your data, but will return the network settings to factory settings.

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Before resetting your network settings, save your Wi-Fi passwords – they will be deleted!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions