How to pay for purchases with Xiaomi Mi 10: full instructions on NFC and mobile wallets

Xiaomi Mi 10 supports contactless payments via NFC, but many users face difficulties in the first setup. Unlike the iPhone, where Apple Pay works out of the box, on Android devices you need to choose the right service (Google Pay, Mi Pay or a banking application), configure security and make sure that the terminal accepts mobile payments. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to pay with the Mi 10 phone – from basic card binding to solving typical errors like “HFC does not work” or “The terminal does not see the phone”.

Important: Xiaomi Mi 10 is equipped with an NFC chip with HCE (Host Card Emulation), which allows you to emulate a bank card without a physical chip, which means that you can pay even where the terminals do not support Google Pay directly, as long as you turn on the card emulation mode in the NFC settings.

1. Compatibility check and telephone preparation

Before setting up payments, make sure your Xiaomi Mi 10 meets three key requirements:

• 📱 Version. MIUI: at least 12.0 (older firmware may not have drivers) NFC). You can check the version in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
• 🔄 Firmware region: NFC Google Pay only works globally (MIUI Global or European (MIUI EU) In Chinese (China) ROM) These functions are blocked.
• 🛡️ Rootless: If the phone is rooted or unlocked, Google Pay and banking apps will refuse to work for security reasons.

If your Mi 10 is bought in China, you may need to change the firmware region before setting up your payments. This is an official procedure, but it will reset all the data on your phone. FAQ end-of-article.

2. NFC setup on Xiaomi Mi 10

The NFC chip in the Mi 10 is disabled by default to save battery power.

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → NFC.
2. Transfer the NFC slider to the "On" position.
3. Click on Advanced Settings and select Card Emulation Mode (important for terminals that don’t support Google Pay).
4. Turn on the default payment option so that the phone automatically opens Google Pay when it reaches the terminal.

Note: If the menu does not include Card Emulation, upgrade to the latest version of the firmware. On some versions of MIUI, this option is hidden and only appears after you connect the first card to Google Pay.

Is NFC enabled in the settings?

Is the card emulation mode selected?

Is the "Payments by default" activated?

Is the phone screen unlocked (some terminals require)-->

3. Connect the card to Google Pay

Google Pay is the most versatile way to pay with Xiaomi Mi 10 phone, as it works with most banks in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries.

1. Download Google Pay from the Play Market.
2. Open the app and click Add Card → Credit or debit card.
3. Scan the card with the camera or enter the data manually (number, expiration date, CVC).
4. Confirm the addition via SMS from the bank (the code will come to the number associated with the card).
5. Come up with it. PIN-payment code (required for amounts over 1000–3000) ₽ depending on the bank).

Important: Xiaomi Mi 10 does not support adding Mir cards to Google Pay due to payment system restrictions. For Mir cards, use a banking app (e.g. SberBank Online) or Mi Pay (if available in your area).

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If Google Pay doesn’t see your card, try adding it through a banking app, for example, SberBank Online has the option “Add to Google Pay” right in the card menu.

4. Alternative methods: Mi Pay and banking applications

If Google Pay is not suitable (for example, due to a World map or regional restrictions), consider two other options:

Mi Pay (for China and some Asian countries only)

• 🌏 It only works on MIUI China and requires a Chinese account Xiaomi.
• 💳 Supports UnionPay (Chinese payment system).
• 🔒 You need to link the Chinese phone number to set up.

Mi Pay is not officially available in Russia and Europe, but it can be activated via workarounds (for example, changing the region of the account), however, this violates the terms of use of the service and can lead to blocking.

Banking applications (SberBank Online, Tinkoff, VTB, etc.)

Many banks offer their own contactless payment solutions:

• 🏦 Sberbank Online: supports the card "World" and Visa/Mastercard via SberPay.
• 💰 Tinkoff: built-in “Pay by phone” option in mobile bank.
• 📱 VTB, Alfa-Bank, Raiffeisen: similar functions in their applications.

To pay through the banking application:

1. Open your bank's application.
2. Find the contactless payments or pay by phone section.
3. Follow the instructions for linking the card to the NFC.

5. How to pay by phone: step-by-step instructions

When the card is added, the payment takes only a few seconds:

1. Unlock the screen of Xiaomi Mi 10 (PIN-code, print or face ID).
2. Bring the phone to the terminal at a distance of 2-5 cm (no need to touch!).
3. Wait for the sound signal or vibration – the payment has passed.
4. If the amount exceeds the limit (usually 1000-3000) ₽), enter PIN-terminal-code.

Important nuances:

• 🔋 Make sure the battery is at least 10% charged when the charge is low. NFC may be off.
• 📶 In subways or underground parking lots, it is sometimes required to turn on Mode in an active aircraft. NFC (to avoid interference with the network).
• 🛒 At some terminals (for example, in the "Pyaterochka" or "Magnet") you need to choose the payment method: Contactless → Phone.

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If the terminal doesn’t see the phone, try bringing it to another part of the case – the NFC antenna in the Xiaomi Mi 10 is located at the top of the back panel.

Typical errors and their solution

Even after setting up correctly, Xiaomi Mi 10 users sometimes face problems.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI Contactless payments have stopped working, check if the card emulation settings in the menu have reset NFC. This parameter is often reset with large updates.

7.Security of contactless payments

Paying with a phone is safer than a physical card, thanks to several layers of protection:

• 🔐 Tokenization: Google Pay and banking apps don’t transfer the real card number – a virtual token is used instead.
• 📱 Biometrics: A fingerprint or face unlock is required to confirm payment.
• 🛡️ Dynamic CVV: A unique security code is generated for each transaction.

However, there are risks:

• 🕵️‍♂️ Phone loss: If the phone is stolen, an attacker can make payments up to 1,000–3,000 ₽ without PIN-Code (limit depends on the bank).
• 📡 Data interception: In theory, it is possible to use outdated terminals (but in practice it is extremely unlikely due to encryption).

How to defend yourself:

1. Set up the lock. SIM-map PIN-code (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Lockdown SIM-map).
2. Enable Find your device in your Google account (Settings → Google → Security → Find your device).
3. Set a limit on contactless payments without PIN-mobile-bank.

⚠️ Warning: Never store map photos or data screenshots in a phone gallery.

8. Comparison of Payment Methods by Phone

Which method to choose depends on your maps and region.

For most users, Xiaomi Mi 10 In Russia, the best option is a combination of Google Pay (for the first time). Visa/Mastercard) and banking applications (for cards "World»).

FAQ: Frequent questions