It looks like NFC Xiaomi phone: the location of the chip, photos and features of models

If you’ve ever tried to pay for a Xiaomi smartphone through a terminal or brought your phone to smart labels, you’ve already used the technology. NFC (But what does this module look like inside the device? Where do you look for it when you're disassembling it or when you're diagnosing it? In this article, we're going to go into detail about the look and feel of the device. NFC-chip in Xiaomi smartphones, its typical location and visual differences in different series - from budget Redmi to flagship Mi and other products. POCO.

It is important to understand that NFC Xiaomi is not just an invisible feature, it's a physical module that you see when you disassemble a phone, and its appearance and placement depend on the model, the year of release, and even the region of the firmware. NFC It's not there, but it's in the global versions, so we're going to show you real photos of the chips, explain how to identify them, and warn you against the typical errors that you can make with the module.

What is it? NFC-Module in a smartphone and how it works

NFC (Near Field Communication is a short-range wireless technology (up to 10 cm) that allows data to be exchanged between devices, and in Xiaomi smartphones, it is implemented via a separate chip connected to the motherboard:

• 💳 Contactless payments (Google Pay, Mi Pay, bank cards in the phone).
• 🔑 Emulation of cards (travel passes, door keys).
• 📱 Transfer data between devices (Android Beam, fast pair with other gadgets).
• 🏠 Smart home management (tag reading, automation setup).

Unlike Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, NFC It doesn't require pairing and works almost instantly. In Xiaomi, the chip is usually integrated with an antenna, which is a thin metal track on the board or a separate flexible plume:

• 📶 Built-in battery (in older models, for example, Mi 5).
• 🔧 Demolished on a separate module (modern Redmi Note 12, POCO F5).
• 🖥️ Located on the motherboard (flagships like Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

Technically. NFC-Xiaomi chip is a chip the size of a grain of rice (usually a chip). 3×3 mm 4×4 mm) marked by the manufacturer (e.g, NXP, Broadcom or Qualcomm, pictured below, is a typical view of the module under a microscope:

Wherever NFC Xiaomi phones: location by model

Location. NFC-The module depends on the series and generation of the smartphone. In the budget Redmi chip is often placed on a separate train next to the battery, whereas in flagships it is soldered into the motherboard:

In most cases, NFC-Xiaomi chips can be found by removing the back cover and battery, and they look like a small black or gold chip marked with thin wires attached to the antenna, and in flagships like the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the module can be hidden under a metal screen, making it difficult to access.

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If you are taking down the phone to check NFC, First, turn off the battery! module contacts are sensitive to static electricity.

It looks like NFC-module in the disassembled phone: photo and description

Visually. NFC-Xiaomi chip can be confused with other chips, but it has characteristic features:

1. Marking: usually contains letters NFC, PN (chip-wise NXP) or SN (For example, for Broadcom, PN547 or SN100U.
2. Connectors: 4-6 contacts for connecting antenna (thin gold or copper tracks).
3. Location: Always close to the antenna (metal loop or flexible plume).

Below are real photos. NFC-Modules from popular Xiaomi models (clickable in enlarged form):

In budget models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) NFC It's often not physically present, and instead of a chip, it can be empty space or lintels, and it's cost-optimizing:

• 🔍 Through Settings. → Connections → NFC (If there is no module, there is no module).
• 📦 By marking on the box (icon) NFC or the words "NFC-supported").
• 🛠️ Disassembling the phone (but it's risky without experience!).

How to check the performance NFC Xiaomi

Before you disassemble the phone, make sure the module is not working. Here are quick diagnostics:

1. Inclusion NFC: Go to Settings. → Connections and sharing → NFC And you activate the slider, and if you don't have an option, the module is not there, or it's disabled at the firmware level.
2. Payment test: Add a bank card to Google Pay or Mi Pay and try to pay for the purchase. If the terminal does not respond, there is a problem in the chip or antenna.
3. Reading tags: Bring the phone to NFC-A label (e.g. in a store or on a smart device) indicates a malfunction.
4. Diagnostics via code: Enter in the phone application ##4636##, select "Phone Information" and check status NFC. If the field is empty, the module is not detected.

If NFC It does not work, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔌 The antenna disconnected (a common problem after falls).
• 🔥 The chip has burned out (for example, after the circuit board is closed).
• 📱 Software failure (solved by resetting settings or flashing).
• 🛂 Regional restrictions (in some models) NFC offline for certain countries).

Check the settings. NFC|Test your payment through Google Pay|Bring it to NFC-mark|Enter the diagnostic code ##4636##-->

Typical malfunctions NFC Xiaomi and their signs

NFC-Xiaomi modules rarely fail on their own, but there are typical breakdown scenarios:

Critical feature: In Xiaomi models with a metal body (for example, Mi 11 Ultra) antenna NFC It's often integrated into the back cover, and if you replace the cover with a non-original module, it may stop working!

The most vulnerable models according to the statistics of service centers:

• 📱 Redmi Note 10 Pro – weak antenna contacts.
• 📱 POCO X3 Pro – the chip overheats when used intensively.
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 9 – antenna glued to the battery, breaks when replacing the battery.

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If NFC It stopped working after the phone fell, and in 90% of cases the problem was in the antenna cliff, not in the chip itself.

Can I replace or repair myself? NFC Xiaomi

Theoretically replace NFC-Xiaomi module can be used independently, but it depends on the model:

• ✅ Simple: Redmi Note 8/9/10 — chip on a separate plume, it is enough to disconnect the old and connect the new.
• ⚠️ Medium difficulty: POCO F3/POCO X4 — Requires ration, but the chip is available.
• ❌ Hard/Impossible: Xiaomi 12/13 Series – the module is soldered into the motherboard, replacement requires professional equipment.

For repairs you will need:

• 🔧 Set of screwdrivers (cross, flat, torks).
• 🔥 Salting station (for models with soldered chip).
• 🧲 Screen suction cup.
• 📦 New NFC-module (cost - from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the model).

Step-by-step instructions for Redmi Note 11 (with a separate plume):

1. Turn off the phone and remove the back cover (use a mediator).
2. Disconnect the battery (required!).
3. Find a yellow or black plume marked with NFC.
4. Carefully disconnect it from the motherboard.
5. Connect a new plume and assemble the phone.

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Before buying a new one NFC-check its compatibility by the model number on the board (for example, "PN80T" For the Redmi Note 11).

⚠️ Note: In models with integrated antenna (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11) replacement NFC It often requires the entire back cover to be replaced, and it's expensive and risky, so you should go to the service.

How to protect NFC-module in Xiaomi from breakdowns

To avoid problems with NFC, follow simple rules:

• 🛡️ Use a cover – it protects the antenna from mechanical damage.
• 🔋 Do not drop your phone – blows often cause antenna contacts to break.
• 💧 Avoid moisture – oxidation of contacts can disrupt work NFC.
• 🔄 Do not disassemble the phone unnecessarily - each disassembly increases the risk of damage to plumes.

If you use contactless payments frequently:

• 💳 Do not put your phone too close to the terminal – the optimal distance is 2-3 cm.
• 📵 Don't keep it near NFC-chip magnets or other sources of interference.
• 🔄 Regularly check the operation of the module through Settings → NFC.

⚠️ Note: In some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F2 Pro) NFC If you stop paying, take off your case and try again.

FAQ: Frequent questions about NFC in Xiaomi phones