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

Contactless payments via a smartphone have long been the standard — just attach Xiaomi to the terminal and the purchase is paid. But before the first use, you need to set up the system correctly, choose a payment service and link the card. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to connect payment by phone on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices, including models with and without NFC.

It’s important to understand that not all Xiaomi smartphones support contactless payments. For example, budget models of the Redmi A series or older devices (released before 2019) often lack the NFC module. We will tell you how to check the compatibility of your device, what services are available in Russia and other countries, and how to circumvent restrictions if payment by phone does not work.

Checking NFC support on Xiaomi

Before you set up a payment, make sure your smartphone is equipped with an NFC module. Even if the specs on the manufacturer’s website indicate the presence of a chip, sometimes it is turned off at the software level (especially in models for some regions).

You can check for NFC in several ways:

• 📱 Through Settings: Open Settings → Connections and sharing → NFC. If there is no point, the module is not or it is disabled.
• 🔍 Model: Type your smartphone name on the GSMArena website and check the specifications in the Comms section. → NFC.
• 🛠️ Using the Engineering Menu: Enter the code ##4636## in the phone application, go to Phone Information and find the line NFC.

If NFC is available but the option is hidden in the settings, try upgrading to the latest version of MIUI or installing custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) where the module can be activated.

What contactless payment services are available on Xiaomi

Depending on the region and smartphone model, you can use one of the following services:

In Russia, the most universal option is Google Pay (now Google Wallet), which supports cards of most banks, including Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB and Alfa-Bank. Mi Pay officially does not work in Russia, but it can be activated via a VPN (we will discuss this below).

⚠️ Note: If you use a Xiaomi smartphone with custom firmware (like LineageOS), Google Pay may block the addition of maps due to non-compliance with SafetyNet.

Setting up Google Pay (Google Wallet) on Xiaomi

The process of connecting Google Pay on Xiaomi smartphones is standard, but there are nuances associated with the MIUI firmware.

Make sure that NFC is enabled in the settings

Update Google Play to the latest version

Connect to stable Wi-Fi or mobile internet

Have a physical bank card with you to link-->

1. Install the Google Wallet app: Download it from Google Play. If the app doesn't show up in the store, check the region of your Google account (should match the region of your credit card).
2. Add a card: Open Google Wallet, click Add Card → Payment Card. Scan the card or enter data manually. The bank can send an SMS or push notification to confirm.

Once added, the card can be used to pay in stores that accept contactless payments (PayPass or PayWave icon).

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

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If the terminal is not reading the card, try to disable the case - some models block the NFC signal.

Mi Pay activation on Xiaomi (for supported regions)

Mi Pay is Xiaomi’s own payment service, but it officially only works in China, India and some Asian countries, and in Russia it can be launched using workarounds, but you will need a Chinese bank card (for example, UnionPay) to pay.

If you want to try it, follow the instructions:

1. Install Mi Pay: Download APK-file from the official Xiaomi website (for example, with APKCombo) or through GetApps (Xiaomi app store).
2. Set up region: In your smartphone settings, change region to India or China (Settings → Additional → Region).
3. Add a card: Open Mi Pay, log in to your Mi Account and follow the instructions. Confirmation may require an SMS or a call from your bank.

⚠️ Note: When you change region to China, some Google services (such as YouTube or Gmail) may not work well.

Payment through banking applications (SberPay, Tinkoff, VTB)

If Google Pay is not suitable for some reason (for example, the bank does not support the service), you can use official applications of banks.

• 💳 SberPay (Sberbank): works through the Sberbank Online application. You need to add a card in the Payments section → Contactless payments.
• 💰 Tinkoff Pay: in the Tinkoff app go to Maps → Map settings → Add to contactless payments.
• 🏦 VTB Pay: in the application VTB Online select Cards → Contactless payments → Add a map.

The advantage of this method is that you do not need to configure Google Pay or Mi Pay, but there are also disadvantages:

• Each application takes up a place in memory.
• When paying, you need to open a specific banking application (unlike Google Pay, where cards are available from a single interface).
• Not all terminals correctly read virtual cards from banking applications.

To pay for the purchase through the banking application:

1. Open the bank app.
2. Choose a card to pay for.
3. Bring your smartphone to the terminal (usually you need to unlock the screen beforehand).

Solving Contactless Payment Problems on Xiaomi

If the phone doesn't work, there can be a variety of reasons, from hardware limitations to setting errors, and let's look at some of the most common problems and how to fix them.

If none of these methods helped, check:

• 🔄 Firmware Updates: Go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system and install the latest patches.
• 📶 Internet Stability: Adding a card to Google Pay requires a network connection.
• 🔧 Security settings: Some antiviruses (e.g. Avast) block the operation NFC.

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If the payment is not working after all the manipulations, check if the NFC module is locked at the hardware level. For example, in some POCO models for the Russian market, the chip is disabled by the manufacturer.

Security of contactless payments on Xiaomi

Paying by phone is convenient, but raises security questions, and consider the main risks and ways to protect:

• 🔒 Card data leak: Google Pay and banking apps store cards encrypted, and the real card number is not transferred to the terminal, instead using a virtual token.
• 📱 Phone theft: without unlocking the screen (PIN, Faceprint, Face. ID) However, attackers can reset the phone to factory settings, so it is recommended to use Google's Find My Device.
• 💻 Phishing apps: Do not install payment services from unverified sources. download only from Google Play or official bank stores.

To improve safety:

1. Enable two-factor authentication for your Google account and banking apps.
2. Set up a remote lock on your phone through Find My Device.
3. Check your transaction history regularly in the banking application.

⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer a smartphone to another person, be sure to remove all cards from Google Pay and banking apps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about paying by phone on Xiaomi