How to set up Google Pay for Xiaomi Mi8: From NFC to First Payment

Why Google Pay on Xiaomi Mi8 requires a special approach

The Xiaomi Mi8 (codenamed dipper), released in 2018, is still popular with users due to its balanced features and support for modern features. However, with the configuration of contactless payments via Google Pay, owners of this model often have difficulties, the fact that the Mi8 came with different versions of firmware (global, Chinese, European), and also had hardware limitations in some markets.

The main problem lies in the regional locks of NFC: in the Chinese versions of the device, the contactless chip was initially disabled for payment systems. In addition, after the MIUI 12+ updates and the change in Google’s policy on certifying devices, many users are faced with errors such as “The device is not certified” or “NFC does not support payments.” In this article, we will analyze the unique configuration algorithm for Google Pay for Mi8, taking into account all the nuances of the firmware and region, which works even on informal MIUI builds.

Before you start, make sure your Xiaomi Mi8 meets two key requirements:

• 📱 Android version: 9.0 Pie or 10 (renewal MIUI 12-14 - On Android. 8.1 Google Pay is not supported.
• 📶 Firmware region: Global, EEA Or the Russian version. Chinese firmware (CN) They require additional manipulations.

Step 1: Checking NFC hardware support and regional constraints

The first thing to do is make sure your Mi8 is physically capable of handling contactless payments.Although all versions of the smartphone are equipped with an NFC chip (NXP PN80T), its functionality varies by firmware and region.

To check for support:

1. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → NFC.
2. If there is no NFC, your firmware is Chinese (CN), and the chip is disabled at the software level.
3. If NFC is available, but when you try to add a card to Google Pay, there is an error – the problem is the certification of the device.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Chinese firmware (MIUI CN), unlocker NFC This process erases all data and can lead to the blocking of the Mi Account account if you do not do the right thing (en.miui.com/unlock).

Step 2: Update Google Services and Install the Correct Version of Google Pay

Even if NFC on your Mi8 works, legacy versions of Google Play Services or the Google Pay app itself can block card additions, which is because Google regularly updates payment security requirements and older versions of apps don't pass certification.

Follow the following steps:

Update Google Play Services to the latest version|Remove the old version of Google Pay (if installed)|Download APK Google Pay from the official website (not from third-party sources)|Clear cache and data of the Google Play Services application"-->

To update services:

1. Open Google Play Store → Profile → Settings → Auto-Update Apps and select Through Any Network.
2. Find Google Play Services and click Update.
3. If there are no updates, download the latest version of APK from the APKMirror website (select the option for arm64-v8a).

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If Google Pay still doesn’t work after the update, try resetting your network settings: go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network resets. This often solves the problem of certifying the device.

Step 3: Set up NFC and add the first card to Google Pay

Now that all services are updated, you can start setting up contactless payments. On the Xiaomi Mi8, the algorithm is slightly different from other devices because of the peculiarities of implementing NFC in MIUI.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on NFC: Go to Settings → Connect and Sharing → NFC and activate the switch. Also turn on the HCE Wallet option (map emulation).
2. Start Google Pay: Open the app and click Start. If you see an error "Device not certified," move on to the next step.
3. Add the card: Click Add the card → Credit or debit card. Take a picture of the card or enter the data manually.
4. Confirm via SMS: The bank will send the confirmation code - enter it into the application.

If the error "Can't add the card. Try again later" occurs at the step of adding the card, it may mean:

• 🔄 Bank does not support Google Pay (check the list on the bank's website).
• 📵 No Internet connection (Google Pay requires a stable connection for verification).
• 🛡️ The device has not passed certification (the solution is to reset Google Pay or change the region of the Google account).

Step 4: Solving the “Device Not Certified” Error on Xiaomi Mi8

This is the most common problem among Mi8 owners, and the error “Device not certified. Google Pay cannot be used for payments” is caused by Google not recognizing your smartphone as safe for payment processing, and the reasons range from outdated firmware to root rights or custom recovery.

Methods of solution (try in order):

Reset your Google Pay settings (Settings) → Annexes → Google Pay → Warehouse → Clear the data)|Update security certificates (Settings) → System system → Updating the system → Settings (⚙) → Updating of security certificates)|Remove root rights (if Magisk or SuperSU are installed)|Change your Google account region to a supported one (e.g., the United States or the United Kingdom)|Refuse the device to the official Global ROM-->

If none of these methods worked, the last option is to change the region of the device through ADB.

1. Connect the Mi8 to your computer and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional → For Developers → USB Debugging).
2. Open the command line and execute: adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1
3. Install Activity Launcher from Google Play, search Google Pay and run the hidden activity com.google.android.apps.walletnfcrel.WalletNfcRelActivity.
4. In the menu that opens, select Change Region and specify the country where Google Pay is officially supported (e.g., the United States).

⚠️ Note: Change of region through ADB This may cause some Google services to work in an unstable way, including the Play Store, and after the operation, it is recommended to restart the device and check the health of all applications. If you have problems accessing the store, return the region back or reset your Google account settings.

Step 5: Optimizing Google Pay for Quick Payments

After successfully configuring Google Pay on the Xiaomi Mi8, it remains to configure the system so that payments go as quickly and smoothly as possible.

• 🔋 Turn off power saving for Google Pay: Go to Settings → Annexes → Google Pay → Battery → No restrictions, it will prevent delays in activation. NFC.
• 🔒 Set up quick unlock: Use fingerprint or face recognition (if available) to avoid entering PIN-code before each payment.
• 📶 Enable priority for mobile data: In settings SIM-Always use the mobile network for Google Pay so that payments can pass even with weak Wi-Fi.

It’s also helpful to add a Google Pay shortcut to the home screen or notification bar for quick access:

1. Click the free space on the main screen and select Widgets.
2. Find the Google Pay widget and drag it to the screen.
3. Select a 2×2 size to display your balance and recent transactions.

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For maximum payment reliability, disable the MIUI Optimization feature for Google Pay, which can force the application to close in the background, leading to payment errors.

Step 6: Resolve Common Problems and Errors

Even after setting up Google Pay correctly on the Xiaomi Mi8, there may be crashes.

If the terminal does not recognize your Mi8 when you pay:

• Make sure the screen is unlocked (on a locked device, the NFC may not work).
• Bring the phone to the terminal with the back (the NFC antenna is located at the top of the case).
• Try rebooting your phone – sometimes it resets temporary NFC errors.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Google Pay on Xiaomi Mi8