Mi Pay on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: the essence of the service and relevance in 2026

Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus smartphone often wonder about the functionality of the built-in payment system, especially given the popularity of contactless payments in the modern world. Mi Pay is a service developed by Xiaomi for fast and secure payment using a smartphone equipped with an NFC module. However, for users from Russia and several other countries, the situation with this application has changed dramatically in recent years.

The technology is tokenize the data of the bank card: the real card number is not transmitted to the terminal, but a special digital code is used, which provides a high level of transaction protection. However, owners of the popular Redmi 5 Plus model need to clearly understand the current status of the service, as global changes in payment systems have affected the Xiaomi ecosystem.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what Mi Pay is, why it stopped working in the territory of the Russian Federation and what alternative payment methods exist for your device. NFC-The module and possible, albeit limited, scenarios for using a smartphone for payments in 2026.

Technical Basis: What is Mi Pay and How Does It Work?

Mi Pay is an analogue of Apple Pay and Google Pay, but designed specifically for the shell MIUI. The service allows you to link bank cards to your Mi Account and use your smartphone as a means of payment. Technically, the process is as follows: when you press the payment button, the application generates a one-time token that is transmitted through the NFC module to the terminal of the acquiring bank.

To work on the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, not only does the installed NFC module need to be installed, but also HCE (Host Card Emulation) technology, which allows you to emulate a bank card in a software way, without using a secure element in the chipset. The Redmi 5 Plus smartphone, released on the basis of the Snapdragon 625 processor, fully supports these standards.

⚠️ Note: Mi Pay is directly dependent on payment system servers (Visa, Mastercard, MIR) and issuing banks. If the bank has disabled tokenization support for a particular service, the application ceases to function, even if the phone is serviceable.

Data security comes with several layers of protection, first, biometric identification (fingerprint) or input is required to authorize payment. PIN-Second, tokenization hides the real card data. Third, Xiaomi uses its own secure servers to encrypt the information transmitted.

Redmi 5 Plus Hardware Compatibility with NFC

The Redmi 5 Plus, codenamed vince, was one of the first low-end models to have a full-fledged NFC module, made possible by integrating the NXP chip into the device’s design, a chip that is a must for any contactless payments, including Mi Pay.

However, having an NFC module does not guarantee all features. It is important to distinguish between smartphone versions, since Xiaomi often releases different modifications for different markets. The Global version and the China version (CN) may have differences in software that affect the operation of payment services.

• 📱 Module NFC: At Redmi. 5 Plus, the chip is used NXP, standard-bearing ISO 14443A/B and ISO 15693.
• 🔐 Antenna: Antenna NFC built into the back cover of the smartphone, so the use of metal covers can block the signal.
• ⚙️ Software support: Android 7.1 Nougat and Android 8.1 Oreo updates fully support the protocol HCE.

Users often confuse NFC with other data technologies, and it is important to understand that payment does not require the Internet at the time of the transaction, since the token is generated locally, but for the primary binding of a card in the Mi Pay or Google Pay application, a network connection is required.

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To check the performance NFC-In the Redmi 5 Plus, you can hold the travel card to the back cover, and if the phone vibrates or sounds, the module is in good working order.

Why Mi Pay has stopped working in Russia

The situation with payment services on Xiaomi smartphones in Russia changed in 2022, until that moment Mi Pay was actively developed and supported by most major banks, but the imposition of international sanctions and the subsequent decision of Visa and Mastercard to restrict work with Russian banks led to the suspension of the service.

Xiaomi, as an international corporation, has been forced to stop servicing the payment system for Russian users, which means that the Mi Pay app no longer receives updates to the lists of supported banks and cannot generate tokens for cards of Russian issuers.

Not only Mi Pay, but Google Pay, has been affected. The only official solution left on the market is Mir Pay, which runs on Android, but it requires certain security certificates that are not available on all devices.

Alternatives to Pay with Redmi 5 Plus in 2026

Despite the inability of Mi Pay, owners of Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus are not completely left without contactless payment, the main and most stable solution was the system Mir Pay, a national payment system that allows you to pay for purchases with Mir cards issued by Russian banks.

To install Mir Pay on Redmi 5 Plus, you need to use the RuStore app store or the official NSPK website. The application uses the same NFC module as Mi Pay, so technical compatibility with your device is guaranteed. The process of linking the card is similar to the configuration of any other payment service.

• 📲 Mir Pay: Official Map App "The World" runs on Android 7.1+.
• 💳 SberPey: a service from Sberbank, allowing you to pay for purchases through NFC bankcard.
• 📱 Bank Apps: Some banks are implementing their own payment solutions QR-code (SBP), which is also available on Redmi 5 Plus.

It's important to understand that Mi Pay in its original form (as a global Xiaomi service) is no longer relevant. APK-Mi Pay files from unverified sources can cause malware to infect your device.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to install modified versions of Mi Pay from Chinese forums. They may contain malicious code, and work with Russian cards will still not be due to locks at the server level.

Instructions for Mir Pay setup on Redmi 5 Plus

Since Mi Pay is not available, consider the process of setting up its main competitor, Mir Pay.This guide will help you turn your Redmi 5 Plus into a means of payment.

First, make sure the device is enabled with the NFC module. To do this, lower the notification curtain and click on the NFC icon, or go to settings along the Settings path → Connection and Sharing → NFC. Make sure the switch is activated.

Follow the step-by-step algorithm:

1. Open your browser and go to the official website mir-pay.ru or open the store RuStore.
2. Download and install the Mir Pay app.
3. Launch the application and accept the user agreement.
4. Click the Add Card button and follow the instructions on the screen (you can scan the card with the camera).
5. Think of Mir Pay PIN for quick access to the app.
6. Once the card is successfully linked, it will appear on the list, and now, when the phone is unlocked and the screen is brought to the terminal, payment will be automatically paid.

In some cases, the bank may request additional confirmation via SMS or the bank’s app, which is standard security procedure, and after the first successful payment, the smartphone will remember the device and request confirmation less often.

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Mir Pay completely replaces the Mi Pay functionality for Russian users using the same service. NFC-Module in Redmi 5 Plus.

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