Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the system imposes the use of Google Pay or other payment tools instead of the usual SberPay. This is due to the aggressive policy of optimizing the MIUI shell and HyperOS, which seeks to standardize the user experience. However, knowing the hidden settings and the correct sequence of actions, you can force the device to launch a banking application when you bring the card to the terminal.
The main difficulty is that the standard Android settings menu doesn’t always offer a direct choice of “default payment app” for third-party services. Unlike Samsung Pay, which is deeply integrated into the system, SberPay on Xiaomi devices requires a manual configuration of NFC services. Without the right setup, the phone can simply vibrate or open the browser instead of the payment terminal.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the steps of setting up, from basic system settings to specific solutions for new versions of Android, learn how to disable interfering services, configure widgets for quick access, and what to do if the system automatically resets your preferences after a reboot.
Basic configuration of NFC and payment services
The first step is to check the activation of the short-range contactless module. Without NFC working, any manipulation of the applications will be useless. On Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones, this module is controlled through the top notification curtain or through the system menu. Make sure that the slider is active and lit in blue.
Then you go to the deep settings menu, and the path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the partition that connects and communicates, and there's a key switch that tells you which application will be given priority when the terminal reads the map.
- 📱 Open Settings and go to Connection and Sharing.
- 💳 Find a point. NFC Make sure the switch is activated.
- ⚙️ Click on Contactless Payment (or “Security Element»).
- 🏆 In the “Payment by Default” list, select SberPay or SberBank Online.
If you don't see SberBank in the list of contactless payment applications available, it may mean that the system has not yet recognized it as a payment instrument, in which case you should try to launch the bank application once, log in to it and add the card to the SberPay section, only after this procedure will the system suggest choosing it as the main service.
⚠️ Note: Some global versions of the firmware MIUI The contactless payment option can be hidden or replaced with Google Pay.If you can't change this option, it's possible that your version of Android is blocking third-party payment systems at a security level.
Once the main application is selected, the system can request permission confirmation, be sure to agree to requests for NFC use and display over other windows. Without these permissions, SberPay will not be able to correctly transfer tokenized card data to the merchant terminal.
Managing Default Apps in Android
Android has a hierarchical program management structure, and even if you chose SberPay in NFC settings, general application settings can intercept this process, especially for HyperOS-enabled devices, where resource allocation algorithms are more rigid than in older versions of MIUI.
To force priority, you have to go to the application management menu, and here we're going to look not just for SberBank, but for its ability to open by doing something, but we need to make sure that it doesn't redirect a payment request to Google Wallet or another service.
Follow the following steps to reset priorities:
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 📂 Click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select the Default Apps.
- 🏦 Find the section related to the payment or NFC, and select SberPay.
It is important to understand the difference between “start by link” and “pay by link” NFC». SberPay can be installed as the default application for link opening sberpay://, But it doesn't guarantee that it works at the cash register, and it's critical to find the point that's associated with contactless transactions, and if there's no point on the list, then the system module is fully in charge. NFC, The settings we discussed in the previous section.
Sometimes it helps to force the default settings for Google Pay to be cleared. If you've used it before, it's "remembered" as your preferred service. Go to Google Pay settings, find "Open by default" and click "Delete Settings." Then, when you try to pay, the system will ask you which app to use, and you can choose SberBank forever.
Configure widgets and quick access
The fastest way to pay for Xiaomi is not to search for an app in the menu, but to use a widget on the desktop or in the notification curtain. The SberPay app (or SberBank Online) provides special widgets that emulate the action of the card. When you click on such a widget, the phone forcibly triggers the card emulation mode, ignoring other settings.
To add a widget to your desktop, press the blank space on the screen and select the widget menu. Find SberBank in the list. You will be offered various options: a balance widget, a course widget or a card widget. To pay, select a widget with your card image. Drag it to the main screen.
☑️ Checking the widget settings
However, just having a widget doesn't always solve the "default app" problem.The widget is a shortcut to launch, not a system priority setting. NFC. However, using a widget often bypasses bugs. MIUI, When the phone can't see the terminal, you tap the widget. NFC-module and forcibly launches the necessary service.
You also need to configure the widget access from the lock screen, which allows you to pay for purchases without unlocking the smartphone completely, which greatly speeds up the process at the checkout. To do this, go to the widget settings (usually a long press on the widget itself → settings) and activate the corresponding switch.
Solving problems with MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells are known for their aggressive battery saving, which often leads to the “killing” of the background processes of payment applications. If SberPay does not start when you bring the phone to the terminal, most likely, the system closed its process to save resources.
Add the bank app to the exclusion list. Go to the battery settings, find SberBank, and select No Limits. This will prevent the system from unloading the app from RAM. It is also recommended to enable auto-start for this application so that it is always ready to work immediately after the phone is turned on.
| Setup parameter | Where to find out. | Recommended value | Impact on work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Security → Permits | Included. | The application starts immediately after the phone is turned on |
| Activity monitoring | Settings → Battery | No restrictions. | The system does not close the application in the background |
| Displaying on top of others | Settings → Applications | Permitted. | Allows the payment window to appear on top of other screens |
| Access to NFC | Settings → Confidentiality | Permitted. | Basic requirement for operation of the communication module |
Another feature of HyperOS is the separation of access rights. Newer versions of Android (13 and 14) may request NFC rights separately. Check under Privacy → Privacy Protection to see if access to NFC is blocked for banking applications. If access is restricted, payment simply won't pass, even if all other settings are correct.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install third-party memory accelerators or cleaners. These often conflict with Xiaomi system services and can force the SberPay process to close at the most inopportune moment, interrupting the transaction.
Using Google Wallet as an Alternative
In some cases, especially on global firmware versions, direct SberPay configuration as the default application may not work, and experts recommend using Google Wallet (formerly Google Pay) as a “shell” that will contain a SberPay card, which bypasses many of the system’s limitations.
The essence of the method is that you add a Sber card directly to Google Wallet. In this case, the default application is formally Google service, but in fact the payment goes through the Sber card. This is the most stable option for Xiaomi, since Google Wallet has deep system rights and does not “fly out” under the pressure of the battery optimizer.
How to add a Sber map to Google Wallet?
To implement this method, you will need:
- 📲 Installed Google Wallet app (if removed, download it) APK-file).
- 💳 Valid Sberbank card (virtual or plastic).
- 🔐 Confirmed profile in Google services.
Once you add a card to Google Wallet, it will become the main payment tool, and in the NFC settings, Google Pay/Wallet will be listed as the main application, which is the standard behavior for Android and guarantees maximum compatibility with terminals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is SberPay no longer the default app after the phone is rebooted?
Can SberPay be the main one if you have Google Pay installed?
What if the terminal doesn’t see the phone, even though SberPay is set up?
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If neither of these methods works, try removing updates to the Google Play Services app or, conversely, updating them to the latest version.The conflict of Google component versions is often the hidden cause of NFC issues on Xiaomi.
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The most stable solution for Xiaomi is to use Google Wallet with the added Sber card, as it is a native payment method for Android, which does not require “crutches” and bypass the system limitations of MIUI.
Setting up payment services on Xiaomi requires care, but the result is worth it. Following these instructions, you can pay for purchases with a single touch using the usual SberPay, regardless of the vagaries of the operating system.