Many owners of popular fitness trackers often wonder about the functionality of wireless communication in their device. NFC (Near Field Communication) module is a technology that allows you to exchange data over a short distance. In the sixth generation of trackers from Xiaomi, this chip is not present in all versions, which creates confusion among users. Before trying to set up a payment, you need to make sure that the appropriate equipment is in your gadget.
The functionality of this technology in the Mi Band 6 is limited compared to smartphones or smartwatches. You can’t just tie a bank card and pay for purchases in stores around the world, as do the owners of Apple Watch or Huawei Watch. However, for residents of certain regions, particularly China and Russia (in limited format), useful use cases are available. Xiaomi Mi Band 6 with support for Near Field Communication allows you to turn the wrist into a digital pass or a travel card.
In this guide, we will discuss how to check for a module, configure transport cards and use a bracelet to access control systems. It is important to understand the technical limitations so as not to be disappointed in the lack of expected features. We will look at the nuances of working with the Mi Fitness and Zepp Life application, and answer frequent questions about compatibility with payment systems.
Verification of availability NFC-module in your version
The first step before any setup is to verify the hardware of the device. The global version of the tracker, which is sold massively in Europe and the CIS, is often not equipped with an NFC chip. Visually distinguishing the version with and without a module is almost impossible, since the cases are identical. The only reliable way is to look at the back of the capsule or check the completeness.
On the back of the capsule, next to the charging contacts, the NFC version should have a special marking, usually an "NFC" or a corresponding logo. If you purchased the device with or without a box, it is worthwhile to carefully inspect the engraved metal part. The absence of a label in 99% of cases means that the module is physically absent.
Also, you should consider that the software may show a feature, but when you try to activate it, you get an error, which happens when the firmware from the NFC version is installed on a device without a chip. So when you buy a pay bracelet, look for a special version of Global NFC that has been officially shipped to some regions, and it's very difficult to find one in regular electronics stores.
📊 Does your Mi Band 6 have an inscription? NFC rearward?
Yes, the module version.
No, the usual version.
I don't know.
I'm planning to buy.
Configuring transport and pass maps
The main application of the technology in this device is the emulation of access and transport maps. For Chinese people, the functionality is as wide as possible: you can link subway maps and buses in dozens of cities. For users from other countries, the possibilities are narrowed, but adding access cards to the office or gym room remains relevant. The configuration process is exclusively through the official application.
To add a card, you need to open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life) and go to the device profile. In the feature menu, find the item associated with the cards or access. The system will suggest choosing a type of card or creating a new one. It is important that the frequency of your physical card coincides with the frequency of the bracelet, which is 13.56 MHz.
Once the data is read, the map will be stored in the tracker's memory. Now, to pass through the turnstile, you just need to hold your wrist to the reader. Some encryption cards may not be copied, in which case the system will suggest creating an empty card, which you then need to activate through the administrator terminal of your organization.
⚠️ Note: Not all access cards are copied the first time. If the bracelet vibrates but the access does not open, try attaching it to the reader by the other side or removing the case if it interferes with contact.
Payment options via Mi Band 6
The issue of payment through Xiaomi fitness tracker is a concern for most users. Unfortunately, direct support for Google Pay, Apple Pay or Samsung Pay in the Mi Band 6 is absent, due to the architecture of the tracker operating system and security restrictions that require a certified Secure Element integrated with banking systems.
However, in China, Alipay is a service that allows users to link their account and pay for purchases at stores that support this method. QR-In other regions, this feature may not work properly or require a Chinese phone number to register.
There are third-party solutions and modified firmware that try to circumvent the restrictions, but they are not recommended; installing unofficial software can lead to the blocking of the Mi Account account or turning the device into a brick.
Why can’t you just copy your Visa/Mastercard details?
Payment card data is protected by complex encryption protocols. The bracelet does not have the necessary security certificates to emulate payment cards of international systems, unlike specialized smartwatches. Mi Fitness and Zepp Life application Management of the settings of the wireless module is carried out through mobile applications. Xiaomi gradually transfers users from Zepp Life to the new Mi Fitness application. The interfaces are different, but the logic of working with cards is similar. For proper operation, you need to provide the application with all the requested permissions, especially access to geolocation and Bluetooth. In the Mi Fitness application, the section with cards is located in the device menu. Here you display and add new cards to them, you can add new status between them. The app also allows you to update the lists of cities and transport systems, which is important for the relevance of maps. Sometimes there is a situation when the application does not see the bracelet or the functions of the gray. In this case, it helps to clean the app cache and reconnect the device. Make sure that the version of the bracelet firmware is relevant. The update often contains corrections of communication module errors. The function of Mi Fitness Zepp Life Support Cards Yes (limited) Active Alipay Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Access Maps No Supported Yes Depends on the card Frequent problems and methods of their solution, despite the fact that users often encounter with the critical level of the card, one of the card is often due to the problem after the addition of the card is due to the problem or the time it is simply due to the addition of the problem. In most cases, re-addition helps. Another problem is frequency incompatibility. As mentioned earlier, NFC operates at 13.56 MHz. If your access card is running at 125 kHz (often used in older intercom systems), the bracelet will not physically be able to read it. You can check the type of card using a smartphone with NFC and a special application for reading tags. There are also cases where the bracelet with the module is not defined as an NFC device. This is typical for global versions that have software added support, but a physical chip can be disabled at the regional level using the device on the server, however, you can help with the configuration of this application. ⚠️ Note: When you change region in the Mi Fitness app, all accumulated training data may be lost if it is not synced with the cloud of the previous region. Comparison with competitors and alternatives If contactless payment functionality is critical to you anywhere in the world, it's worth considering alternatives.Wear-based smartwatches OS Google’s TicWatch and older Fossil models support Google Pay natively. Huawei and Honor devices have their own Huawei Pay system, which works in many countries but requires a smartphone of the same brand. Apple Watch provides the best integration with Apple Pay, but their cost is significantly higher and autonomy is lower. Xiaomi Mi Band 6 wins at the expense of price and up to 14 days of running time, but loses in the versatility of payment features. The choice depends on whether you prefer autonomy and fitness tracking or a full-fledged payment tool on your wrist. The table below compares the capabilities of different devices in the context of contactless technologies. Device Payment in stores Transport cards Autonomy Xiaomi Mi Band 6 NFC Alipay (China) China, Russia (partially) Until 14 Apple Watch Pay (Globally) Supported 1-2 Huawei Watch GT Huawei Pay is supported up to 10 Garmin Venu Garmin Pay depends on the bank 5 days 💡Mi Band 6 NFC — It's a great solution for office passes and transportation in supported cities, but it's not a replacement for a banking shopping app (FAQ) Can we determine NFC Module in the regular Mi Band 6 No, it's impossible. It's soldered into a board in the factory, and replacing the case or the firmware won't add a physical chip to the device. Buying a version without NFC It means that this feature is not available forever. NFC Direct emulation of the Troika or Podrovnik cards for payment of the fare through the bracelet is not officially supported in global versions. UID cards, but for payment through the turnstile, this usually does not work. NFC If you don't have a card on my wristband, if you don't have a caption, try adding a card in the Mi Fitness app. If you don't have a Maps section on the menu, or if you try to scan the bracelet, it doesn't react with vibration, you probably don't have a module. You can also use apps to diagnose Android devices that sometimes see nearby devices. NFC-tags, but it's less reliable. Does the battery go down faster when it's on? NFC? Module NFC Mi Band 6 is passive. It doesn't scan space all the time, it only activates when you're in front of a reader or when you're in a device, so having it or using it has little or no effect on the battery life of the device. Can you open an intercom through the bracelet? Yes, if the intercom uses Mifare Classic cards (13.56 MHz) and doesn't have complex dynamic protection. You can copy the intercom key to the bracelet through the app, and it will open the door like a regular card-key.