The modern smartphone has long since ceased to be just a means for calls and instant messengers, becoming a universal digital wallet and a tool for fast data transfer. For owners of budget but reliable devices such as the Xiaomi Redmi 8, the issue of contactless payment and file sharing remains relevant despite the age of the model. The inclusion of short-term contactless technology is the first step to convenient use of a smartphone in everyday life, allowing you to forget about physical cards in crowded wallets.
However, users often find that the feature does not work immediately after purchase or suddenly stops responding, this may be due to software failures, features of the MIUI shell or incorrect security settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate the module, configure it to work with banking applications, and what to do if the phone stops seeing payment terminals or other devices.
It is worth noting that NFC-The module in Redmi 8 is located at the top of the back cover, and for proper operation it is necessary to bring this section to the reader. Careless attitude to the positioning of the device can create a false impression of a malfunction, when in fact the problem lies in the physics of the signal reading process.
Where is the NFC switch in MIUI?
The MIUI shell interface on Redmi 8 can be different from pure Android, which is sometimes confusing for beginners. The standard way to activate wireless interfaces is in the top curtain of notifications, but sometimes the desired icon is hidden in the extended menu. To find it, you need to swipe top-down twice, opening the full list of quick settings, and look for the icon with the letters NFC.
If you don't have an icon in the curtain, you go to the basic settings, and you go to the Connection and Sharing or Connections section, where all the wireless interfaces are usually grouped, and this is where the main switch is, which is responsible for activating the communication chip, and when it's turned on, the phone will start scanning the surrounding space for tags.
⚠️ Note: If you do not find the switch in the specified places, it is possible that your version of the firmware uses alternative navigation «NFC» — The system will open the menu itself.
In the background, with no active operations, the module is in sleep mode and has little to no effect on the Redmi 8’s autonomy. However, unless you plan to use payment or file transfer anytime soon, it’s wiser to keep the feature off.
📊 Where do you use most of the time? NFC smartphone?
Payment in stores
Transmission of photo
Label reading
I'm not using this function.
Set up Android Beam for file transfer
Android Beam technology allows you to transfer files between devices simply by putting them back together. To work this feature on Redmi 8, you need not only to turn on the main module, but also activate the corresponding item in the settings menu, usually located immediately below the main switch or in the additional “Additional” menu.
The way you do this is you pick a file (photo, contact, link) in the app, hold the back of the phone close and wait for the characteristic sound or vibration. The screen of the receiving device must be unlocked, and the transmission interface must be active on both gadgets. The transfer speed is limited by the Bluetooth protocol, but the connection is instantaneous.
It is worth considering that transferring large amounts of data, such as high-resolution video files, can take considerable time. In such cases, the system itself will suggest completing the transfer over Wi-Fi Direct, which will greatly speed up the process. If the transfer is interrupted, check whether one of the devices is in a power saving mode, which may limit the background activity of the modules.
Why doesn't the transfer start right away?
Sometimes it takes a few seconds for the system to shake hands between devices. Don't disconnect phones too quickly, wait for vibrations or audible signal to confirm the start of data transfer. Using Google Pay and other payment systems The main reason why users are looking for a way to turn on NFC on Xiaomi Redmi 8 is the ability to pay for purchases with a phone. This requires installing the Google Pay app (or its current analogue Google Wallet) and tying a bank card. The binding process is standard: card scanning with a camera or manual data entry, confirmation via SMS from a bank. However, the main reason why users are looking for a way to turn on the devices with the installed payment applications can be blocked or the payment applications installed by Xiaomi. Google’s security system detects the presence of uncertified software and blocks access to payment functions, in which case the standard switching on won’t help, you will need to more deeply configure the system or refuse modifications. Setting Requirement for Pay Status on Redmi 8 Version Android 5.0 and higher Supported Availability NFC Be sure to have (in the global version) Root rights Absent Block Pay bootloader Block Unblocked Block Block Payment For successful payment in the store make sure that the phone screen is on (unblocking is not required, but desirable for speed) and the default payment method is selected. Hold the top of the back cover to the terminal, and if the terminal makes a sound and a tick appears on the screen, the transaction is successful. PIN-card code to confirm payment amount. The situation when the phone has stopped responding to tags or terminals can be caused by various factors. Often the problem lies in a thick protective case, especially if it contains metal elements or magnetic fasteners. The metal shields the signal, making reading the tags impossible, so it is recommended to remove the case for testing.Another common cause is a software failure of the Android Beam service or system process. NFC. In this case, a simple restart of the device helps, and if the restart did not help, you can try resetting the network settings, which will return Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other settings. NFC to factory values, eliminating possible configuration conflicts. ⚠️ Warning: Network Settings Reset Will Remove Saved Wi-Fi Passwords and Associated Bluetooth Devices. Make sure you remember the passwords from important networks before performing this procedure. It's also worth checking if the flight mode is turned on. In this mode, all wireless interfaces are forcibly turned off, and even if the NFC switch is green, the module will not physically emit a signal. Switch the flight mode and back to update the state of all radio interfaces. Check the module through the engineering menu. For a deeper diagnosis, you can use the engineering menu available on Xiaomi devices. Entering special code in the Phone application allows you to go into hardware testing mode. This is useful to see whether the system itself sees at the hardware level, even if the chip part is not working. ##6484## In the menu that opens CIT (Customer Interface Test: Find the item associated with the NFC (It's often called Connectivity, or it's in the Connectivity section. When you run a test, you get the status of the module. If the test shows Pass, it means the hardware is good, and you need to look for the problem in the software. If Fail, you're likely to have a hardware breakdown. It is safe to use the engineering menu if you simply run tests and do not change the hidden calibration parameters, but do not change the values in fields that you do not know the purpose of, as this can lead to unstable operation of the radio module as a whole. After checking, just exit the menu by closing the app. Frequent errors and ways to fix them One of the most common mistakes is the message «NFC-The card is found if there is no card near the. This may be because the phone is trying to count. RFID-A tag on a pass or in a case lying next to the device, remove foreign objects and reset the phone to reset the scanner state. If the payment app gives an error “Device is not certified,” even if there are no root rights, try clearing the cache and data of the Google Play Services app. Sometimes, accumulated temporary files cause a version conflict, and the data cleanup forces the system to re-check the device’s security certificates. 💡Main point: Most of the problems with NFC Redmi 8 is solved by rebooting, removing the case or re-binding the card in the bank application. If after the update MIUI The feature stopped working, try to remove the Security app updates or reset to factory settings (pre-backup), which will return the system to a state guaranteed to be compatible with the current firmware version. Why doesn't Redmi 8 see your card when you're putting it on? It's likely that the chip on the card is not in the center or is offset relative to the antenna of your phone. Try to slowly navigate the card down the back of your phone to find the reading point. It can also be damaged or protected from reading. NFC, If it's not in the Chinese version? NFC It is not possible to use a device that does not have a physical antenna and chip on the board. Redmi 8 versions for the Chinese market often lack this module for cheapening, and installing global firmware will not add missing iron. Does a discharged battery affect work? NFC? Yes, at a critically low charge (less than that). 5-10%) The system can force the power-intensive modules to shut down or limit their radiation power to maintain the charge required for emergency calls.