How to set up a phone payment on Xiaomi Redmi: NFC, Mi Pay and alternatives

Paying with a phone instead of a bank card or cash has become commonplace for most users. Xiaomi Redmi smartphones support contactless payments through the built-in NFC chip, but not all models are equipped with it out of the box. Moreover, the choice of payment service depends on the region, the bank and even the firmware version of the MIUI.

In this guide, we will discuss how to check for the presence of NFC On your Redmi, set up the official Mi Pay app (where it is available), connect Google Pay or Samsung Pay (on some models), and solve typical problems such as card anchor errors or the lack of terminal response to the phone. Separately, consider the list of banks supporting contactless payments through Xiaomi in 2026, and alternative payment methods if you want to pay for the payment of the money. NFC not available on the device.

What Redmi models support NFC and contactless payments

Not all Redmi smartphones are equipped with NFC chips, depending on the model, the region of sale and even a specific modification (for example, for China or the global market).

If your model is not in the table, check for NFC yourself:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → NFC.
2. If there is no item, use the search by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen) and enter “NFC”.
3. On some firmware, the chip can be turned off by default - turn on the slider.

⚠️ Note: Redmi with Chinese firmware (China) ROMGoogle Pay often fails due to limitations of Google Mobile Services.GMSIn this case, you will need to flash to the global version. MIUI.

Set up Mi Pay on Xiaomi Redmi (official way)

Mi Pay is a Xiaomi-branded payment service that operates in a limited number of countries (China, India, Hong Kong, etc.) and is officially unavailable in Russia and Europe, but some users manage to activate it by circumventing regional restrictions (for example, changing the region in the Mi Account).

If your Redmi supports Mi Pay, follow the instructions:

1. Download the Mi Pay app from GetApps (the official Xiaomi store) or APKMirror (if you don’t have it in the Play Market in your region).
2. Open the application and log in through your Mi Account.
3. Click “Add card” and scan it or enter the data manually.
4. Confirm the binding via SMS or push notification from the bank.
5. Activate the contactless payments option in the application settings.

After setting up for payment:

1. Unlock your phone (PIN, fingerprint or Face ID).
2. Bring the top of the smartphone to the terminal (where the NFC chip is located).
3. Wait for a sound signal or vibration – the payment will be automatic.

Check the balance of the card

Enable NFC in the settings

Unlock the phone screen

Bring the phone to the terminal at a distance of 2-4 cm

Wait for confirmation of payment-->

⚠️ Warning: If Mi Pay is linked to a “Service is not available in your region” error, try changing the region in your Mi Account to China or India, but this may cause problems with other Xiaomi services (e.g. cloud storage).

How to Pay with Google Pay for Xiaomi Redmi

Google Pay (now Google Wallet) is a universal contactless payment solution running most Redmis with NFC and Google services, with the main condition being global MIUI firmware (not China ROM).

Instructions for setting:

1. Make sure that your phone has Google Play Services installed (check Settings → Apps → App Management).
2. Download Google Wallet from the Play Market.
3. Open the application and click “Add card” → “Payment card”.
4. Scan the card or enter the data manually (number, expiration date, CVC).
5. Confirm the binding via SMS or a banking application (for example, SberBank Online).

For payment:

• 🔓 Unlock your phone (required!).
• 📱 Hold the back of the smartphone to the terminal (the NFC chip is usually located at the top).
• 🔄 Wait for the tick to appear on the screen or the beep.

If the terminal is not responding:

• Check if NFC is enabled in the settings.
• Make sure the card is added as “Contactless” (not just for online payments).
• Restart your phone – sometimes resetting your NFC settings helps.

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If the terminal gives an error "Card is not supported", try adding it to Google Pay as a virtual card through a banking application (for example, in Tinkoff or Alfa Bank this is done in 2 clicks).

Alternative ways to pay with a phone without NFC

If your Redmi doesn’t support NFC, there are a few ways to make contactless payments:

1. QR-codes through banking applications

Many banks (for example, SberBank, Tinkoff, VTB) allow you to pay for purchases through scanning QR- code at the checkout.

1. Open the bank app.
2. Select the option “Pay by QR” or “Transfer by QR”.
3. Point the camera at the code generated by the terminal.
4. Confirm payment.

2. Virtual cards in messengers

Some services (such as Apple Pay for iPhone or Samsung Pay) support adding virtual cards that can be linked to a Google account or banking app.

• 💳 SberPay (for Sberbank cards).
• 💳 Tinkoff Pay (virtual cards in the Tinkoff Bank app).
• 💳 Mir Pay (for "World" cards)

3. Wearable devices with NFC

If the phone doesn’t support contactless payments, you can use the Xiaomi Mi Band or the Redmi Watch with NFC:

• 📱 Link the card to the device via Mi Fit or Zepp Life.
• 🔄 Payment is made when the watch/bracelet is brought to the terminal.

Solving Contactless Payment Problems

Even if it's set up correctly, sometimes payments don't go through, so let's look at the typical mistakes and how to fix them.

1.The terminal doesn't see the phone

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔋 NFC is disabled - check settings (Settings → Connections → NFC).
• 📱 Phone locked - unlock the screen before paying.
• 🔄 Chip failure – restart the device or reset the settings NFC.
• 🏦 The terminal does not support contactless payments - try another terminal.

2. Map binding error in Google Pay

If the bank does not support Google Pay or there is an error:

• 📋 Check that the card is not blocked and has not expired.
• 🔄 Try adding a card through a banking app (for example, Alfa Bank has the option "Add to Google Pay").
• 📞 Contact the bank and see if it supports card tokenization for Google Pay.

3 Mi Pay is not working after the MIUI update

After major MIUI updates (e.g., 13 to 14 version), Mi Pay may cease to function.

• 🔄 Reinstall the Mi Pay app.
• 📱 Reset NFC (Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting wireless network settings).
• 🔧 If the problem persists, roll back to the previous version MIUI (power users only!).

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If neither method works, check to see if your Google or Mi Account account is blocked for suspicious activity, which can occur when you change region frequently or use a VPN.

Banks Supporting Contactless Payments Through Xiaomi in 2026

Not all banks allow cards to be linked to Google Pay or Mi Pay, and here are the largest banks that officially support contactless payments via Xiaomi smartphones:

If your bank is not on the list:

• 📞 Clarify support for contactless payments in support.
• 💳 Try to get a virtual card (many banks give it out for free).
• 🔄 Use alternative services like Samsung Pay (if available on your Redmi).

Security of contactless payments on Xiaomi

Payment by phone is considered safer than traditional cards, due to several layers of protection:

• 🔒 Tokenization: Instead of a card number, a unique token is transferred, which is useless for fraudsters.
• 👆 Biometrics: fingerprint or face confirmation.
• 🔄 Disposable codes: A new cryptographic key is generated for each transaction.
• 📱 Loss lock: You can remotely disable payments via Find My Device (for Google Pay) or Mi Account (for Mi Pay).

To minimize the risks:

• 🔐 Do not store PIN- codes and passwords from bank cards in phone notes.
• 📵 Disable NFC when you are not using payments (saving battery power and reducing the risk of accidental transactions).
• 🔄 Regularly check the payment history in the banking application.

⚠️ Warning: If you lose a phone with your cards tied, immediately lock them through a bank app or a support call. Even with an unlocked screen, a scammer won't be able to pay for a purchase without your biometrics, but it's better to be safe.

FAQ: Frequent questions about paying with Xiaomi Redmi phone