How to enable NFC on Xiaomi for payment: full instructions with pictures and tips

Why Xiaomi’s NFC doesn’t work out of the box and what to do about it

You just bought a new Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO F5, brought your phone to the terminal in the store — and the payment didn’t pass? Don’t be surprised: despite the fact that the NFC chip is built into 90% of modern Xiaomi models, it is by default disabled due to the features of the MIUI firmware. The manufacturer saves battery power and users are lost in the settings.

In this article, we will discuss not only how to enable NFC on Xiaomi for payments, but also:

• 🔍 Why the module may not be detected even after activation (spoiler: fault of regional firmware).
• 💳 How to Link a Bank Card via Mi Pay, Google Pay or SberPay – Comparing Fees and Limits.
• ⚡ Hidden chips NFC, About which the instructions are silent: from transferring files to managing a smart home.

Important: If you have a model older than 2019 (like the Redmi Note 7 or Mi 9 SE), first check for NFC support - some budget versions were released without a chip. For owners of POCO X3 NFC or Redmi 10C, the instruction is 100% relevant.

Step 1: Check for NFC in your Xiaomi model

Before you set up a payment, make sure your smartphone physically supports NFC. Even if the site specifies a module, in some regional versions it can be disabled at iron level.

To check for a chip without disassembling the phone:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Full specs.
2. Scroll to the Wireless Networks section.
3. Look for the NFC string. If it's not there, your model doesn't support the technology.

Step 2: Enable NFC in MIUI settings

If there's a chip, but the payment doesn't work, it's probably just off. In MIUI 14, the way to set up has changed, so follow the current instructions:

Detailed instructions:

1. Go to Settings (cog icon on the main screen).
2. Select Connections and Sharing (in older versions of MIUI – Additional).
3. Slip on NFC. If there is no item, use the search by settings (lamp at the top).
4. Activate the NFC slider (should turn blue).
5. Enable contactless payments (important for terminals).

Attention! On some models (POCO X3 NFC, Redmi Note 10 Pro) after the NFC is turned on, a notification appears to update Mi Pay. Don't ignore it - without an app update, payments will not work.

⚠️ Note: If after activation NFC phone starts to warm up or discharge quickly – check if the function is not enabled NFC (It's only used for file transfers, and it's constantly scanning the surrounding space, which eats up the charge.

Step 3: Configure contactless payments via Mi Pay or Google Pay

Now that NFC is on, you have to link your bank card.

• 💰 Mi Pay – a proprietary solution from Xiaomi (works with Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB).
• 📱 Google Pay is a universal service (supported by most Russian banks).

Important: since 2023, Mi Pay in Russia has been operating with restrictions - some banks (for example, Alfa-Bank) have stopped supporting the service.

Option 1: Setup Mi Pay

1. Open the Mi Pay app (if not, download it from Google Play).
2. When you first start, accept the terms of use and allow access to NFC.
3. Tap Add the card and scan it or enter the data manually.
4. Confirm the link via SMS from the bank.
5. Install Mi Pay as the default app in NFC settings.

Option 2: Set up Google Pay

1. Install Google Pay from the app store.
2. Launch the application and select Payment → Add payment method.
3. Scan your card or enter your data. You may need to call the bank to verify it.
4. In the NFC settings (Settings → Connections → NFC), select Google Pay as the primary application.

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If your bank card is not tied to Mi Pay, try adding it via SberPay or Tinkoff Pay, which is often more stable with Russian banks.

Step 4: Checking the work NFC-checkout

You've turned on the NFC, tied the card, but the checkout terminal is not responding?

• 📵 Wrong position of the phone - chip NFC It's at the top of the back (near the camera) and you bring it to the terminal with that side.
• 🔋 Energy saving - in the mode of ultra-saving NFC shutdown.
• 🛠 The old firmware -- on MIUI 12 and below may be payment bugs.

How to check the efficiency:

1. Bring the phone to the terminal at a distance of 1-3 cm.
2. Wait for vibration or sound signal.
3. If the terminal requests PIN-code - enter it (for amounts over 1000) ₽).
4. On the screen of the phone should appear a tick and the inscription Payment has passed.

⚠️ Note: Some terminals (such as subways or gas stations) require an unlocked screen for payment. If you have a graphical lock set up, unlock your phone before you take it to the reader.

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If you don't pay, try restarting your phone and turning on the NFC again, and 30 percent of the time, the problem is solved by a simple restart of the module.

Step 5: Solving NFC Problems on Xiaomi

Even after the right setup NFC It can malfunction.-5 mistakes and their solutions:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting your NFC settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find NFC in the list of system applications.
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot the phone.

Step 6: Additional NFC chips on Xiaomi (except for payments)

Xiaomi’s NFC on smartphones is not only capable of accepting payments, but here are 5 non-obvious ways to use the module:

• 🔑 Open doors and gates — many intercoms support contactless tags.
• 📱 Transfer files between phones – turn on Android Beam in the settings NFC and touch the back of another smartphone.
• 🎮 Connect gamepads and accessories – some joysticks (for example, Xiaomi Game Controller) are connected by NFC.
• 🏠 Managing a Smart Home – Labels NFC You can program to turn on the lights, start a robot vacuum cleaner or activate scripts in Mi Home.
• 🚗 Launch a car – some models (e.g. Xiaomi) SU7) Supports contactless access to NFC.

To work with tags, download the NFC Tools app from Google Play.

• Read and write data on labels.
• Create automatic tasks (for example, turn on Wi-Fi when touching a label on your desktop).
• Emulate access cards (unless prohibited by law).

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If you use tags often NFC, Buy the tag stickers (stands) ~100 ₽ They can be placed on a desk, in a car or on keys to run scripts quickly.

FAQ: Frequent questions about NFC on Xiaomi