Many users of Xiaomi’s flagship Mi 9 smartphone face an unexpected problem: the contactless payment function suddenly stops working. It would seem that the NFC module is working, the cards are tied, but nothing happens when you bring to the terminal. This is annoying, especially in the queue at the store when you need to pay quickly. However, in most cases, the problem lies not in the hardware breakdown, but in the software settings or security conflict.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that the shell MIUI It has its own features of working with background processes and access rights, and often the system simply “sleeps” Google services to save battery life, which leads to a failure when trying to pay. In other cases, root rights or unlocked bootloaders are the cause, making the device less secure from the point of view of banking applications. NFC-module.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all the possible reasons why Google Pay (or its replacement Google Wallet) is refusing to work on the Xiaomi Mi 9.We’ll look at the security settings, check the status of the device, and suggest specific steps to correct errors.If you still can’t pay with your phone, follow our instructions to return usability.
Check the basic settings of NFC and Google Pay
The first thing to do when you have a payment problem is to make sure that the basic features are activated correctly. Sometimes, after a system update or accidental reset, the short-range module simply shuts down. On the Xiaomi Mi 9, the management of this option is in the top notification curtain or in the settings menu. Make sure the NFC switch is blue.
Next, check if the default payment app is the right one. Android can have multiple apps that support contactless data transfer, and the system needs to know which one to run when you reach the terminal. If the wrong app is selected or if you always ask, the payment may not be instantaneous, and it's also important to check if your card is added to the Google Wallet app and if it's Active.
Note the position of the smartphone when paying. The NFC module in the Xiaomi Mi 9 is located at the top of the rear panel. If you bring the middle or bottom of the device to the terminal, the reader will not occur. In addition, thick cases or metal plates for magnetic holders in the car can shield the signal, preventing communication with the terminal.
- 📱 Make sure that the settings are in place → Connection and sharing → NFC switched.
- 💳 Check in the Google Wallet app that the card is not blocked by the bank and has not expired.
- 📡 Remove the cover if it is too thick or contains metallic elements that interfere with the signal.
⚠️ Attention: If, after activation, NFC In the notification curtain, the icon does not light up or immediately disappears, this may indicate a conflict with other applications or a system failure of the communication module.
Problems with access rights and unlocked bootloader
One of the most common reasons why Google Pay doesn’t work on the Xiaomi Mi 9 is root rights or unlocked bootloader. Google’s banking apps and services use the Google Play Integrity (formerly SafetyNet) security protocol, which checks the integrity of the operating system. If the bootloader is unlocked, the system marks the device as potential and access to payment is blocked.
Xiaomi users often unlock the bootloader to install global firmware or gain advanced rights, forgetting about the security implications. Even if you did not install suspicious applications, the fact of unlocking is visible to Google services, in which case standard customization methods will not help until the device is restored to factory status or special methods of bypassing are applied.
Security status can be checked using special utilities, such as AIDA64 or YASNAC. If the test shows that the device has failed a security check, the Google Pay application will refuse to work. In some cases, re-locking the bootloader helps, but this requires caution, as it can lead to data loss or “bricking” the phone if you do not do it correctly.
What is an unlocked bootloader?
If you don't plan on returning factory restrictions, there are software ways to hide the fact of unlocking, such as using Magisk with concealment modules. However, this is an "arms race": Google is constantly updating detection methods, and the methods that work today may cease to work after another security update.
Power saving settings MIUI
The MIUI shell is known for its aggressive energy saving policy, which often kills the background processes needed to run NFC and Google Pay. If the system decides that the application has not been used for a long time, it can stop its service, and when you try to pay the phone simply does not react. This is especially true for the Xiaomi Mi 9, which is no longer a newest model and can run different versions of MIUI.
To avoid this, you need to manually configure exceptions for Google services, you need to prevent the system from restricting background activity of important components, without which the phone can “fall asleep” in your pocket, losing communication with the card tokenization servers, which leads to a payment error.
It's set up through the battery menu and the apps, and it's important to do things for multiple system services, not just the Google Pay app itself. Often, users set up one app, forgetting that a whole set of services are responsible for the payment process.
☑️ Power Saving Settings for Google Pay
It’s also worth checking if Super-Energy Saving or similar features are turned on, which drastically restrict smartphone functionality, and in such modes, the NFC module is often forced to shut down to save every percentage of charge.
Android Version Conflicts and Security Updates
Xiaomi Mi 9 is a device released in 2019 and it has received updates to Android 11 with the shell MIUI 12.5. At the time of writing, support for newer versions of Android for this model is officially completed. The lack of fresh security patches can cause new versions of bank applications or Google Wallet to stop working correctly on an outdated version of the operating system.
Google periodically updates the software requirements for its payment services. If your smartphone has not received security updates for a long time (even if the Android version does not change), Google servers may consider it vulnerable. Check for updates in the Settings menu → About phone → System Update.
In addition, the problem may lie in the cache of the Google Wallet application itself or Google Play services. Accumulated cache errors can cause card tokenization to malfunction. Clearing data and cache often helps to refresh the connection to the server.
| Component | Action. | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Google Wallet | Clearing the cache | Delete temporary error files |
| Google Play Services | Clearing the data | Resetting synchronization settings |
| Android system | Verification of updates | Installation of security patches |
| NFC-service | Restart of service | Initialization of the module again |
⚠️ Note: Clearing the data of the Google Wallet app will remove the attached cards from the app’s memory. you will have to add them again by scanning the map or manually entering the data.
Regional restrictions and account settings
Sometimes the reason for Google Pay not working on Xiaomi Mi 9 is because of a mismatch between the region of your Google account and the region you are in. If your Google account is registered in one country and you are trying to pay in another, the security system may block the transaction, and some bank cards may not be supported in certain regions or require additional verification.
It is important to check your region settings in the Google Pay app itself. If you have recently traveled or changed your residence, it is possible that the app is still working with profiles of another country, and some banks require confirmation of the transaction via SMS or the bank application when you first pay at a new place or from a new device.
Another aspect is the app’s version: In some countries (e.g. Russia), Google Pay has been replaced by Google Wallet, and contactless payment functionality for local bank cards may be limited by sanctions or internal payment solutions, in which case official Google Pay will no longer work with certain bank cards regardless of the phone model.
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If you have changed your area of residence, try to delete and re-add the map to Google Wallet by providing your current address, which often updates your security profile.
Also check if your Google account has a Family Sharing restriction or parental controls that may prevent payments, which can be activated by accident or by a family group administrator.
Alternative solutions and workarounds
If standard methods have not worked and Google Pay on Xiaomi Mi 9 is still not working, it is worth considering alternative payment methods. First, many banks release their own applications with contactless payment feature (for example, Mir Pay for Mir cards or analogues for other payment systems). These applications often use their tokenization mechanisms and can work where Google Wallet fails.
Second, you can try installing an earlier, stable version of the Google Pay app if the problem occurs after the update. APK-files are only from trusted sources so as not to introduce a virus. QR-Payment codes remain a reliable backup option.
For advanced users who have unlocked the bootloader, there is a method of installing Magisk modules that hide root rights from banks' applications, but it requires technical knowledge and carries risks. If nothing helps, maybe the problem is hardware-related, the problem itself failed. NFC-module or plume connecting it to the motherboard.
- 🔄 Try using an alternative payment app offered by your bank.
- 📲 Check the work. NFC with other cards to eliminate the problem of a particular card.
- 🛠 In extreme cases, consider resetting to factory settings (Hard Reset) after creating a full backup.
⚠️ Before performing a full reset, be sure to save all important data, photos and contacts, as they will be irretrievably deleted.
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If software methods and settings do not help, there is a high probability of hardware malfunction. NFC-antenna or system file-level conflict requiring device flashing.