Payment function on Xiaomi: what is the correct name and how to configure it

Contactless payments via a smartphone have long become the standard — just attach the phone to the terminal and the purchase is paid. Owners of Xiaomi devices often face confusion: what is the name of this feature? NFC, quiz MI Pay, and some people use Google Pay. All of these terms are actually related, but they mean different things.

In this article, we will understand what the official name of the payment function phone on Xiaomi, what is the difference? MI Pay and Google Pay, and how to set up contactless payments on your device, and you’ll also learn which models support this technology, how to add a bank card, and what to do if the payment doesn’t work.

Spoiler: on smartphones Xiaomi for payment technology is used NFC, a) the main payment application is called MI Pay (in China) or Google Pay (in global versions!

1.What is the official name of the payment feature on Xiaomi?

Let’s start with the main thing: the technology itself, which allows you to pay for purchases by phone, is called NFC (Near Field Communication is a short-range wireless standard that is used not only for payments but also for data transfer between devices. NFC — It’s just hardware, and you need special software to work with payments.

On Xiaomi smartphones, there are two main options:

• 📱 MI Pay is Xiaomi’s signature contactless payment app, and it runs mostly on Chinese firmware (MIUI China and supports local bank cards (UnionPay) in global versions MIUI He's often gone.
• 💳 Google Pay (now Google Wallet) is a versatile Android solution that works on most Xiaomi smartphones with a mobile phone. NFC. Supports Visa, Mastercard, Mir and others.
• 🏦 Banking applications – some banks (Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB) offer their solutions for contactless payments through the Internet NFC. For example, "SberPay" or "Tinkoff Pay".

So if you are asked, “What is the name of the Xiaomi phone payment feature?”, the correct answer depends on the firmware:

• In Chinese. MIUI — MI Pay.
• Globally MIUI — Google Pay (or a banking application).

2. Which Xiaomi smartphones support phone payment?

Not all Xiaomi devices are equipped with a module NFC, And without it, contactless payments are impossible:

🔹 Flagship models (series Xiaomi) 12/13/14, Mi 10/11, Mix is almost always available NFC. The same goes for the Redmi Note lineups. 11/12 Pro and POCO F4/F5.

🔹 Budget smartphones (such as Redmi) 10A, POCO M4) often deprived NFC Check the module's specifications before buying.

🔹 Chinese versions (China) ROM) may have NFC, Without Google Pay support, only MI Pay for local cards.

🔹 Global versions (Global) ROM) Google Pay is usually supported if you have it. NFC.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) A3) NFC Google Pay is available but does not work with Google Pay due to manufacturer restrictions.

3.How to set up a phone payment on Xiaomi via Google Pay?

If you have a global version MIUI s NFC, The easiest way to use Google Pay (now Google Wallet) is to use Google Pay:

📌 Step 1. Turn it on. NFC

Go to Settings. → Connections and sharing → NFC and activate the switch. Also enable contactless payments (if any).

📌 Step 2: Install Google Wallet

Download the app from Play Market. If it's already installed, upgrade to the latest version.

📌 Step 3. Add the map.

1. Open Google Wallet.
2. Click "Add Card" → "Credit or Debit Card".
3. Scan the map with the camera or enter the data manually.
4. Confirm the addition via SMS or banking application.

📌 Step 4: Set up security

To pay, the phone must be unlocked. PIN-code, pattern lock or fingerprint.

💡

If Google Pay doesn't see your card, try adding it through a banking app (like Sberbank Online or Tinkoff). NFC directly.

4. MI Pay: What it is and how to use it?

MI Pay is a branded payment service from Xiaomi, available mainly on Chinese versions of firmware (MIUI It operates on the same principle as Google Pay, but only supports local bank cards (e.g. UnionPay).

🔹 Features MI Pay:

• 🏦 It works only with Chinese banks (it is useless for Russia and Europe).
• 🔒 Requires a link to a Chinese Mi Account.
• 📱 Supports transportation (subway, bus) in China.
• 🚫 On global firmware (MIUI Global) usually not available.

📌 How to turn it on MI Pay (if available)?

1. Open the app "MI Pay" (blue wallet icon).
2. Sign in through Mi Account.
3. Add a bank card (UnionPay).
4. Turn it on. NFC in settings (Settings) → NFC).

⚠️ If you bought Xiaomi in China and re-fished it MIUI Global, MI Pay may disappear. In this case, use Google Pay or banking apps.

5. Alternatives: Banking applications and other services

In addition to Google Pay and Google Pay MI Pay on Xiaomi can be paid through:

💳 Banking applications with NFC:

• 🏛️ SberPay (Sberbank) – supports payment by phone through NFC Google Pay without Google Pay.
• 💰 Tinkoff Pay – allows you to link the Tinkoff card to contactless payments.
• 🏦 VTB Pay, Alpha-Click and others – many banks add support NFC-payment.

📱 Other payment services:

• 🍎 Apple Pay – No, it’s just for iPhone.
• 🤖 Samsung Pay – only works on Samsung smartphones.
• 🌍 Garmin Pay, Fitbit Pay – for smartwatches, but not for Xiaomi.

📌 How to Pay Through Savings?

1. Install the Sberbank Online application.
2. Go to the "SberPay" section.
3. Add a map and follow the instructions.
4. Turn on NFC in your phone settings.
5. To pay, unlock your phone and bring it to the terminal.

6.Why doesn't phone payment work on Xiaomi?

If contactless payments don’t pass, check the following points:

🔧 General concerns:

• 📵 NFC switched off – check the settings (Settings) → NFC).
• 🔋 Battery discharged - on some models NFC shut off.
• 🔒 Phone is locked – to pay through Google Pay you need to unlock the screen.
• 📱 Incompatible firmware on Chinese versions MIUI Google Pay may not work.

🛠️ Bank card problems:

• 💳 The card does not support contactless payments (check with the bank).
• 🔄 The card is not added to Google Pay or the banking app.
• 🚫 The bank blocks payments through NFC (Sometimes a confirmation is required SMS).

🔄 Decisions:

• Reboot the phone.
• Update Google Pay and firmware MIUI.
• Check if your terminal supports contactless payments (it should have a sign on it) 📶 or PayPass).
• If you use root or custom firmware, NFC may work unstablely.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO X3 NFC) post-refresh MIUI Google Pay stops working, and then you can reset or flash it.

💡

If the payment does not pass, first check whether it works. NFC If so, there's a problem with the payment service settings. If not, there's a problem with the payment service settings. NFC.

7.Security of contactless payments on Xiaomi

Many users are worried: “Can you steal money from your phone through the phone?” NFC?". The technology is actually quite secure:

🔐 How payments are protected?

• 🔒 Tokenization – a one-time token is transferred instead of a card number.
• 📱 Locking the screen – you need to unlock the phone to pay.
• 👆 Limit without PIN — After several payments, you need to enter PIN-map-code.
• 🛡️ Encryption – data is transmitted in encrypted form.

⚠️ What might be unsafe?

• 📵 Lost phone – if the screen is not locked, an attacker can pay for a small purchase (up to the limit without a lock). PIN).
• 🔄 Installation of hacked versions MI Pay or Google Pay – the risk of data leakage.
• 📡 Connecting to strangers NFC-terminals – data can be read in theory (but unlikely due to encryption).

📌 Security advice:

• Always lock the screen after use.
• Do not store large amounts on a card tied to NFC.
• Enable payment notifications in the banking application.
• Do not install payment applications from unverified sources.

💡

If you are afraid of fraudsters, set up a limit on contactless payments in the banking application (for example, no more than 1000). ₽ without PIN).

FAQ: Frequent questions about paying by phone on Xiaomi