How to disable NFC in Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s current smartphones are equipped with a variety of wireless technologies that make everyday life easier but sometimes cause unnecessary problems. One of these features is NFC (Near Field Communication), which allows you to exchange data and pay for purchases with touch. However, there are situations when the user needs to quickly deactivate this module, for example, to save battery power or prevent accidental connection to terminals.

Many owners of Redmi and Poco devices wonder where exactly the switch in the MIUI or HyperOS interface is hiding. The process of turning off may seem obscure due to the peculiarities of menu localization or hidden security settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to turn off the short-range module on various models of smartphones of the Chinese manufacturer.

Disabling the function does not require root rights or third-party software installation, just know the right path in the system menu or use standard quick access tools. Below are proven methods that will help you manage the operation of the antenna in any environment.

Why you may need to disable the NFC module

The main reason users choose to turn off NFC is to extend the battery life of the device. Although the modern module consumes minimal power in sleep mode, its constant search for tags or terminals can affect the overall battery life, especially on older smartphone models.

Another important reason is data security: If you're in a crowded place or using public transport, there's a theoretical possibility that you might try to unauthorised read data from your card or phone, and by disabling the feature, you're guaranteed to protect your financial instruments from skimmers.

⚠️ Warning: If you use your smartphone to pay in transport or stores, shut down completely NFC It will make it impossible to conduct transactions until the time of re-activation.

There are also cases when the module starts to work incorrectly, causing failures in other wireless interfaces, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. In this situation, temporarily shutting down and then turning on the function helps to restart drivers and eliminate software glitch.

Quick shutdown via control panel

The easiest and fastest way to deactivate a wireless module is to use a notification curtain, which is universal for all current versions of MIUI and HyperOS shells, regardless of your device model.

To start, unlock your smartphone screen and swipe from top to bottom to open the control center. Depending on the interface settings, you may need to swipe a second time or pull the curtain to the end to see the full set of icons.

Find an icon with the NFC logo among the shortcuts. It usually looks like the letter "N." If you don't see it on the first screen, scroll through the icon list to the left or click on the edit button (often looks like a pencil or three dots) to add a widget to the main panel.

• 🔘 Click on the icon once to change its state: the active color icon will change to gray, which means off.
• 🔘 Make sure there is no “On” sign next to the icon, the status should change to “Disabled".
• 🔘 Close the curtain with the swipe from the bottom up, the changes apply instantly.

This method is ideal for situations where you need to quickly stop the phone from reading tags, but it does not give access to advanced settings, such as choosing the default payment application.

Setting up through the system menu of the smartphone

If the icon is missing or you need more detailed options, use the main settings menu.The path to the desired section may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same for the Xiaomi ecosystem.

Go to the main menu and select Settings. In the options list that opens, look for Connection and Sharing (some versions may simply call it Connection or Additional Features), and that’s where all the wireless interface settings are concentrated.

Inside the menu, find the NFC bar, and the switch to the right of the name is to be put inactive, and immediately after that, the system will stop scanning the surrounding space for chips.

The default payment app is often available in the same menu, and even if the module is turned off, you can check which program is prioritized, which is useful if you plan to use different banking services.

In-flight function management

Aviation Mode is designed to quickly lock all radio modules on a phone, but on Xiaomi smartphones, NFC behavior when activated may be different from that of cellular or Wi-Fi.

When you turn on the flight mode through the notification curtain, the phone forcibly shuts down the cellular network, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The NFC module in most cases also deactivates automatically, but not always.

If you need to guarantee to turn off all emitters, it is better to activate the flight mode and then manually check the status of NFC. Sometimes the system allows you to leave the NFC on even in flight mode so that the user can, for example, read the boarding pass or tag on the plane (if allowed).

• ✈️ Enable flight mode through a curtain or menu.
• ✈️ Check the badge. NFC: If it is still active, turn it off separately.
• ✈️ When flight mode is off NFC can automatically turn on again if such setting is provided in the system.

Using this mode is useful when you need to quickly all connections, but for constant work without NFC, it is better to use standard settings.

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If you fly frequently, add the Flight Mode widget to your desktop for instant access, but always check the NFC status manually before takeoff.

Advanced settings and selection of security element

For advanced users who want to have full control of the module, there are hidden or additional options available, they are in the same menu where the main control is performed, and you can select the security element that will be used for transactions.

Settings menu. NFC There's a lot of "Security Element" -- the default is the value. HCE Wallet or embedded chip SIM-This may be required to change when installing virtual cards from certain banks or transport systems.

If you're faced with a phone that doesn't see a tag or a payment terminal, try changing the reading position. You have the option to choose the antenna area: center of the device or top of the device, and this is true for models with different antenna layouts.

⚠️ Note: Do not change the security settings to"SIM-"Card" unless you use a special card SIM-support-card NFC (SWP-SIM). Otherwise, the payment services will stop working.

And you can also see here a list of applications that have access to the function, which allows you to control which programs can use the module to transmit data, which is an important aspect of digital hygiene.

Impact of NFC on Autonomy and Performance

The effect of NFC on battery life remains a controversial issue: technically, in standby mode, the module consumes negligible amounts of power, waking up only for a fraction of a second to check for labels, but in practice it all depends on optimizing the system.

On devices with poor background optimization, constant questioning of the antenna can lead to micro-discharges that, in the sum of a day, give a tangible result, especially on smartphones with an already worn-out battery.

If you notice that the phone is warming in the camera or upper end (where the antenna is often located), try turning off the module. This will help diagnose whether it is a source of heating. Often users forget that active search for tags can cause local heating of the case.

• 🔋 Standby consumption is minimal (less than 1% per day).
• 🔋 When used actively (payment, file transfer) energy consumption increases.
• 🔋 Continuous search for labels in a “noisy” environment can drain the battery faster than usual.

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Disabling NFC gives a noticeable increase in autonomy only in combination with the disconnection of other modules (GPS, Bluetooth), alone the effect will be minimal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)