Contactless payment on Xiaomi Redmi: full instructions from A to Z

Contactless payments via a smartphone are no longer a curiosity — today it is a standard of convenience that saves time at the checkout and eliminates the need to carry a bunch of cards. Xiaomi Redmi owners can take advantage of this feature thanks to the built-in NFC chip, but not all models support the technology, and the setup process often raises questions. In this article, we will discuss how to check the compatibility of your Redmi, activate NFC, link bank cards via Google Pay or Mi Pay, and also solve typical problems such as payment errors or lack of terminal response.

Xiaomi’s feature is that even the low-end Redmi series models (starting with the Redmi Note 8 Pro and later) are equipped with an NFC module, but its operation depends on the region of the firmware and the version of MIUI. For example, in some countries, Google Pay is disabled by default, and in China, Mi Pay is used instead with reference to local banks. We will consider both options, as well as alternative methods like virtual cards SberPay or Tinkoff Pay.

Important: If your Redmi is released before 2019 (like the Redmi Note 7 or Redmi 7), it most likely does not have an NFC hardware module – you can check this in the device specifications or through the settings menu (more about this in the first section).

1. Check NFC support on your Xiaomi Redmi

Before you set up a payment, make sure your Redmi model is equipped with an NFC chip. Even if the specifications on the manufacturer’s website indicate the presence of a module, sometimes it can be disabled at the software level (especially in gray devices imported from China).

Methods of verification:

• 🔍 Through Settings: Go to Settings → Connections and sharing → NFC. If there is no module, there is no physical module.
• 📱 Using the application: install from Google Play utility NFC Tools – it will show if the chip is found.
• 🛒 Checkout test: bring the phone off to the terminal – if there is a module, the terminal can emit an audible signal (but the payment will not pass).

If NFC is not in the settings, but it is specified in the model specifications, try updating the firmware to the latest version of MIUI (instruction in section 5). In rare cases, the module is activated after resetting to factory settings.

2. Activation of NFC and selection of payment service

After confirming support for NFC, turn on the module in the settings:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → NFC.
2. Move the slider to the on position.
3. In the Default Payments section, select your preferred service: Google Pay, Mi Pay or other (if installed).

Comparison of services for Xiaomi Redmi:

For most users outside of China, Google Pay is optimal. If you are in Russia, check the support for the MIR card - since 2023, many terminals have stopped accepting it through Google Pay, but work directly through Sberbank Online.

💡

If Google Pay does not support a World Map in your region, try linking it through a bank application (for example, Sberbank Online) – some terminals read virtual cards directly.

3. Google Pay setup on Xiaomi Redmi

Instructions for map binding:

1. Download Google Pay from the Play Market (unless set by default).
2. Open the app and click Add the card.
3. Scan the map with the camera or enter the data manually.
4. Confirm the binding via SMS or push notification from the bank.
5. Install Google Pay as the default payment app in the NFC settings.

Requirements for successful configuration:

• 📲 Smartphone with MIUI Android 8.0 based+ and Google services.
• 💳 Card with support for contactless payments (the front side should have a sign) ✓ wave).
• 🔒 Unlocked screen (payment does not work if the phone is locked).

Make sure NFC is enabled |Unlock smartphone screen |Prepare the top of the phone to the terminal |Prepare for vibration and sound signal |Do not remove the phone until the tick appears on the screen-->

Important: Xiaomi Redmi with Global Firmware (EEA) may not have the default payment option in the NFC settings. In this case, simply open Google Pay before paying – the service is activated automatically when you bring it to the terminal.

4. Alternative methods: Mi Pay and banking applications

If Google Pay is not available (for example, on Chinese firmware), use Mi Pay:

1. Install Mi Pay from the App Store (Chinese Mi Account required).
2. Link a UnionPay card or a supported local bank.
3. In NFC settings, select Mi Pay as the default app.

For Russia, banking applications are relevant:

• 🏦 Sberbank Online: supports virtual cards for payment through NFC (Google Pay does not work with the world).
• 💳 Tinkoff: allows you to link the card to Google Pay and get cashback for contactless payments.
• 🌐 Yandex Pay: works as an intermediary for cards Mastercard/Visa, It requires separate authorization.

5. Solving common problems

If contactless payment does not work, check:

If after the MIUI update, the NFC item in the settings disappeared, try:

1. Reset network settings: Settings → System → Settings Reset → Reset settings Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth.
2. Install manual firmware via MIUI bootloader (instructions on the 4PDA forum).

💡

If NFC never appeared after resetting, check if it is disabled at the hardware level (for example, due to antenna damage after the phone falls).

6.Security of contactless payments

Myths and reality:

• 🔐 "You can steal money by simply bringing your phone to the terminal, which is a lie. Payment requires unlocking the screen, and for amounts over the limit, a fingerprint confirmation or a fingerprint confirmation. PIN-code.
• 📵 "NFC It consumes a lot of batteries, wrong. It only activates when it's brought to the terminal.
• 🛡️ "Viruses can intercept card data, unlikely, and the card data is stored in a secure element, not in the phone's memory.

Safety recommendations:

• 🔒 Set the screen lock (PIN, graphical).
• 📱 Turn it off. NFC, When not used (in settings or through the notification panel).
• 🛑 Remove the attached cards if you lose your phone (you can do it remotely via Google Find My Device).

⚠️ Warning: Never link cards from suspicious sites or “virtual” cards from non-bank services to Google Pay or Mi Pay. Fraudsters can create a duplicate card and write off funds.

7. Optimization of battery consumption when using NFC

Although NFC does not drain the battery by itself, the module's constant activity in the background can affect autonomy.

• 🔄 Turn it on. NFC Just before payment (through the Quick Settings Panel).
• 📴 Turn off the automatic start of Google Pay in the app settings.
• 🔋 Check out what other apps are using. NFC (e.g. transport cards or tags).

On Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 12+ you can configure energy saving for NFC:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
2. Find Google Pay or Mi Pay in the list and select Limit Background Activity mode.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contactless payment on Xiaomi Redmi

If your Xiaomi Redmi model doesn’t support NFC, but you want to pay with your phone, consider alternatives:

• 📱 QR-Codes: Sberbank Online, Tinkoff, Yandex Pay.
• 💳 Banking tags: some banks issue stickers with NFC, phone-hacking.
• 🔄 Exchange phone: models Redmi Note 10 and newer support NFC even in the budgetary segment.