With the release of Xiaomi’s fourth-generation fitness trackers, users have a long-awaited contactless payment feature. The NFC-based modification turns a simple pedometer into a full-fledged payment tool, allowing them to leave their wallet at home. However, the activation process often raises questions among device owners, as it varies significantly for the global and Chinese versions of the wristband.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to make your gadget friends with payment systems. You will learn about the nuances of working with the Mi Fit application (now Zepp Life) and understand why some cards work immediately, while others require complex manipulations.
The global version of the Mi Band 4 NFC only supports transport cards of certain regions of China and does not work with bank cards of Russia or Europe to pay for goods, a key restriction that is often forgotten when buying.
Differences in bracelet versions and compatibility
Before you try to add a map, you need to make sure you have a model in your hand. Visually, they are identical, but the software and embedded chips work differently. The global version, sold officially in many countries, has a stripped-down NFC functionality focused on local Chinese services.
The Chinese version, often labeled as CN, has more features, allowing you to emulate access cards and, under certain conditions, bank cards. To check the version, go to the Mi Fit app, select your tracker and see the device information.
Pay attention to the following signs:
- 🇨🇳 The presence of Chinese characters in the menu of the bracelet itself indicates that CN-version.
- 🌍 Lack of UnionPay card support on the list of available options often speaks to global firmware.
- 📱 In the Mi Fit app, the account region must match the device region for full functionality.
If you plan to use the bracelet for payment in Russia or CIS countries, standard methods through the official applications of banks will not be able to do this on any version without additional tricks.
Preparation for setting up and installing applications
To successfully activate the contactless module, you will need a smartphone with a serviceable NFC module. Without it, initial card binding will not be possible. Also, make sure that the phone has the latest version of the operating system installed to properly operate security protocols.
The main management tool is the Mi Fit app, now renamed Zepp Life, which in some cases may require the installation of modified versions of the software or the use of the Mi Bandage app for flashing.
It is important to follow the sequence of steps when installing software. If you use iOS, the process may differ from Android due to the limitations of the Apple operating system to work with the software. NFC-third-party.
⚠️ Note: When installing modified versions of applications from third-party sources, you are acting at your own risk.
Before starting the procedure, make sure your bracelet is updated to the latest available firmware version. Older versions of the software may not contain the necessary security certificates to work with new types of cards.
Instructions for adding a transport card
The easiest and most officially supported way to use NFC on Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is to add a transport card, which works consistently, but as mentioned earlier, mainly for maps of cities in China, but the principle of adding is the same for all types of cards.
To start, open the Mi Fit app and go to your device profile. Find Profile → Mi Band 4 NFC → Card. Here you will be asked to select the region and type of card. The system will automatically try to read the data from the card embedded in the phone, if such a feature is supported, or prompt to release a virtual card.
The process is as follows:
- Press the "Add card" button in the bracelet menu.
- Select the type of card (e.g. Shanghai Transit Card).
- Replenish the card balance through a tied payment system (Alipay or WeChat Pay).
- Wait for the data to be recorded on the tracker chip.
Once you've recorded it successfully, the card will appear on the active list, and you can switch between them directly from the bracelet screen, selecting the Card item from the device menu, and you can simply hold your wrist to the terminal to pay.
What to do if the card is not recorded?
If the recording process is interrupted or an error is given, try restarting your phone, clearing the Mi Fit app cache, and repeating the procedure. Also make sure that the card does not have a password set or it is known to you, as some secure access cards are not copied. The Chinese version of the bracelets often uses them to open doors in the office or the entrance, and the Access Card emulation feature allows you to copy the key at a frequency of 13.56 MHz, which eliminates the need to carry plastic passes. To copy the map in the menu NFC Select the Add Access Card option. Bring the plastic card to the back of the phone (if it supports reading) or use a special reader. UID other necessary data. Consider the technical limitations: 🔑 Only unencrypted cards or cards with a known encryption key are copied. 🚫 Dynamic code cards (bank cards with) CVV, Modern car keys cannot be copied. 📡 The range of the bracelet can be shorter than the original key because of the size of the antenna, and if your access card is encrypted, you can't add it with standard Mi Fit tools. In such cases, enthusiasts use third-party programs to decode keys and manually record memory sectors, but this requires a deep knowledge of the field. RFID-Many users are looking for a way to pay with a bracelet in stores using cards of Russian banks such as Sberbank, Tinkoff or Yandex. Unfortunately, official support for Mi Pay or Google Pay at the firmware level of Mi Band 4 is not available for the Russian Federation region. However, there is a workaround associated with emulating a card, and you can try to add a card as a transport card or an access card if the bank allows it, but more often than not, bank cards have protection to prevent simple copying. Use of stickers NFC You order a sticker from a bank, you tie it to your account, and then you try to copy it to your bracelet as an access card, using services like Curve or virtual cards that are sometimes easier to emulate. Expectation of official updates, although the probability of their release for the old model decreases every year. 📊 What payment method do you prefer?NFC-It is important to understand that any methods of "flying" payment through third-party applications are temporary. Banks are constantly updating security protocols, and the ways that work today may not work tomorrow. ⚠️ Note: If you try to copy a bank card to a bracelet, you may violate the terms of service of the bank, and be prepared for the fact that the bank may block the card if suspicious activity is detected. During the setup process, users often encounter connection errors or inability to find the device, problems can be caused by software failures and hardware incompatibility. Below is a table to help determine the potential of your device. Type of device Mi Pay Support Access Cards (13.56 MHz) Mi Band transport cards 4 Global No Restricted China (Shanghai, Beijing) Mi Band 4 NFC (CN) No (for Russia) Yes China (many cities) Mi Band 5/6/7 Depending on region Yes Extended list If the bracelet stopped seeing the cards, try to perform a full reset of the device through the More menu → Factory Reset. Then re-pair it to your phone. Also helps to clean up the Mi Fit app data in your Android settings. A common problem is a battery drain while you write the key. If the process is interrupted in the middle, the card may not be written correctly. In this case, remove it from the list and start the procedure again, pre-charge the tracker to the 100%. 💡Success of the setup NFC Mi Band 4 on 90% depends on the firmware version (CN vs. Global) and the type of card you copy. Don't expect the global version to be a miracle in terms of payment in Russia. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can I Switch Global Version to Chinese for Work? NFC? It's theoretically possible, but it's extremely risky, because flashing requires disassembling the bracelet, using a programmer and special utilities, and it's very likely to completely disable the device ("brick"), and then it's impossible or economically inefficient to restore it. Why doesn't the bracelet copy the intercom key? Chances are your key is 125 kHz, and the module is 125 kHz. NFC In Mi Band 4, it only works at 13.56 MHz, and it can be secured with encryption that the bracelet can't get around without third-party software. Will the payment work if the phone is dead? Yes, this is one of the advantages of the technology. NFC. The chip in the bracelet gets power from the terminal reader at the time of transfer, so you don't need to charge the phone to conduct one transaction if the card is already recorded on the device. How to remove the card from the bracelet? Go to the Mi Fit (Zepp Life) application, select your tracker, go to the NFC or card settings. There will be a list of added cards with the ability to delete them (Delete/Unbind). On the bracelet itself, you can also delete profiles through the Card ->Manage menu.