NFC in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: a complete guide to functions and configuration

Have you ever wondered why your Xiaomi Redmi features a mysterious name? NFC-Or maybe you've heard that you can use it to pay with your phone instead of a card, but you're afraid it's not safe? This technology has long ceased to be exotic – today it is built into even the budget models of Redmi, but many users still do not use its full potential.

In this article, we will understand what is NFC Android in the context of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: from basic principles to hidden features that you may not know about.You will learn how to set up contactless payments via Google Pay or Mi Pay, how to use the chip to automate tasks using the help of the user. NFC-And the tags, and why sometimes the technology might not work (spoiler: it's not always the chip itself) and the most popular question is, can we add some more? NFC Redmi if it's not out of the box? (and why is it almost always a bad idea).

What is NFC and how it works in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones

NFC (Near Field Communication is a technology for wireless data transmission over short distances (usually up to 10 cm). Unlike Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, it does not require device pairing and works almost instantly - just simply hold the smartphone to another device. NFC-The Xiaomi Redmi chip. NFC integrated into the motherboard and connected to an antenna, which is usually located at the top of the housing (near the speaker).

The technology operates at 13.56 MHz and supports three main modes:

• 📱 Card emulation – the smartphone behaves like a contactless bank card (used for payments).
• 🔄 Reading/Writing – Interaction with NFC-tags or other devices (e.g., reading information from stickers).
• 🤝 Peer-to-Peer – data exchange between two smartphones (for example, transfer of contacts or photos).

It is important to understand that NFC It's not a replacement for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, it's a different specialty, and if you want Bluetooth to be used for large files or streaming audio, you can use it for a very different purpose. NFC It's optimized for fast, low-power operations, like paying with your phone in less than a second, and the battery barely goes down.

What Xiaomi Redmi models support NFC: full-length

Not all Redmi smartphones are equipped with NFC-And it's a chip, especially a budget model, and in 2026, Xiaomi is adding support. NFC Even in the middle class, but in the Redmi lineup, the chip is still an optional feature. NFC (starting in 2020):

Please note that even within the same series, support NFC This can vary by region, for example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro. 4G The global market has a chip, and the Indian version doesn't. NFC in your model:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Full specs.
2. Scroll to the Wireless Networks section – there should be a paragraph NFC.
3. Or enter the NFC request in the settings search.

💡

If the characteristics of your Redmi NFC It's not specified, but you see the item in the settings -- it's not a bug. 9T) They have a chip, but it's disabled at the software level and it doesn't work.

What do you need? NFC Xiaomi Redmi: 7 real applications

Many people mistakenly think that NFC It's only for contactless payments, and there's actually a lot more applications, from automation of household tasks to unlocking doors.

1. Contactless payments (Google Pay, Mi Pay, SberPay)

The most popular use NFC — Paying for purchases by phone instead of a bank card:

• 💳 Add a card to Google Pay, Mi Pay or your bank’s application (Sberbank Online, Tinkoff, etc.).
• 🔒 Set up a screen lock (PIN, faceprint ID — Without this, payments will not work!).
• 🛒 Bring the unlocked smartphone to the terminal (no need to open the application – it is enough to unlock).

2. data transfer between devices (Android Beam)

Although Android Beam officially removed from new versions of Android, Xiaomi Redmi with the MIUI You can transfer files through NFC + Wi-Fi Direct. That's what it's all about:

1. Turn on NFC and Wi-Fi on both devices.
2. Select a file (photo, contact, link) → Share. → NFC.
3. Bring the phones to each other (screens must be unlocked).

Automation with NFC-marker

With special stickers (NFC-You can program your phone to do things as you approach it:

• 🚗 Put the phone to the tag in the car → Bluetooth will automatically turn on, Google Maps will start and the playlist will open.
• 🏠 Touch the mark at the door → Wi-Fi will be turned off, the "Do not disturb" mode will be turned on".
• 🛏️ A mark on the bedside table → Turns off the alarm and turns on the night mode.

You will need to use the Trigger or Automate app (available on Google Play).

4. Unlocking doors and intercoms

Many modern intercoms and electronic locks support NFC-You can use a smartphone instead of a key fob:

• 🔑 Some LCDs provide virtual keys through applications (e.g., MDG Intercom).
• 🏢 Systems are often used in offices. HID or MIFARE, compatible NFC.

5. Connecting to smart devices

NFC Simplifies the pairing with smart technology:

• 🎧 Xiaomi AirDots or Redmi Buds headphones can be connected with a touch.
• 💡 Yeelight or Philips Hue lamps are added to the smart home system via a new app NFC.

6. Identification and access control

In some companies NFC-Smartphones are used as pass cards, and in fitness clubs as membership cards, for example, in the FitService app you can link a virtual club card to your phone.

7. Games and interactive chips

Yes, NFC It is used even in entertainment:

• 🎮 Amiibo toys (for Nintendo Switch) are read through NFC-smartphone.
• 🃏 Collector's cards (e.g, Pokémon TCG) You can scan for bonuses in mobile games.

💡

NFC Xiaomi Redmi consumes minimal energy – even when used actively (for example, for payments), the effect on battery life is almost imperceptible.

How to turn on and set up NFC Xiaomi Redmi: step-by-step instructions

If your Redmi supports you NFC, You can turn it on in a few seconds. Here's a general guide to how to do this. MIUI 12–14:

Open Settings|Go to Connections and Sharing → NFC|Activate the switch NFC|If necessary, enable Android Beam (for data transfer)-->

Once the chip is activated, you can start configuring specific functions. Let's look at the most popular ones.

Configuring contactless payments

For payment by phone instead of card:

1. Install the Google Pay app (or Mi Pay if preinstalled).
2. Add a bank card: Open the application → Add a map → scan or enter data manually.
3. Confirm the card via SMS or push notification from the bank.
4. In the settings NFC Select the default payment → Google Pay (or other service).

⚠️ Note: some banks (e.g. VTB or Alfa-Bank) require additional activation of contactless payments through their mobile application. without this, payment by phone will not work, even if the card is added to Google Pay.

Data transmission (Android Beam)

Although Android Beam is officially removed, Xiaomi Redmi can transfer files through the NFC + Wi-Fi Direct:

1. Turn on NFC and Wi-Fi on both devices.
2. Open the file (photo, contact, link) → Press Share.
3. Choose. NFC (or Wi-Fi Direct if NFC not displayed).
4. Bring the phones to each other (screens must be unlocked).

Use of the NFC-marker

To automate tasks with the help of tags:

1. Buy NFC- tags (e.g. NTAG213 or NTAG215 on AliExpress).
2. Install the Trigger or NFC Tools app.
3. Program the tag: select an action (e.g., enable Wi-Fi) → tag.
4. Attach the label to a convenient place (for example, on the refrigerator or in the car).

Why? NFC Xiaomi Redmi may not work: 5 reasons and solutions

If NFC It is turned on but not functioning (payments are not triggered, labels are not read), the problem may lie in one of the following factors:

⚠️ Warning: If you have recently dropped your phone or changed your battery, check your integrity. NFC-It's a thin metalized track that can get damaged if it's not repaired properly, and then the chip will be detected by the system, but it won't actually work.

Another common reason is a conflict with Root rights or custom firmware, if you've been installing unofficial software (like LineageOS), NFC It may not work because there are no drivers:

• Install the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.
• Or find a custom core with support NFC (For example, for the Redmi Note 10 Pro's fine. NFC-fix.zip drgrau).

Can I add NFC to Xiaomi Redmi if I don’t?

This is a question often asked by owners of budget models like Redmi. 9A or Redmi 12C, where the chip is not provided. NFC You can, but in practice, it's almost always impractical:

• 🔧 Complexity of installation: NFC-The chip is soldered to the motherboard, and the antenna is integrated into the body:
• 💰 Cost: The chip itself (for example, NXP PN547) worth ~500-1000 rubles, but taking into account the work of the master and the risks, the amount will grow to 3-5 thousand rubles. NFC.
• ⚠️ Risks:

Alternative solutions:

• 💳 Use a bank card with NFC — It's cheaper and more reliable.
• 📱 Buy the outside. NFC-adapter (e.g. Sonoff) NFC), But it's only going to work for reading tags, not for payments.
• 🔄 If you only need Android Beam, use Wi-Fi Direct or Nearby Share (built into newer versions of Android).

💡

add NFC In Redmi, without factory support, it makes sense only for experimentation.

Security NFC: Myths and Real Threats

Many users are concerned that NFC You can hack or accidentally write off your phone, and you can figure out where the truth is, where the myths are.

Myth 1: “You can accidentally pay by just passing the terminal”

❌ You have to make a payment:

• Unlock your phone (PIN, fingerprint or Face ID).
• Bring it to the terminal at a distance of less than 4 cm.
• Confirm payment (some banks require additional confirmation in the appendix).

Accidental payment is impossible – the terminal will not charge money from the locked phone.

Myth 2: “NFC can be hacked from a distance”

⚠️ Partly true, but the risk is minimal, theoretically with the help of special equipment (e.g., ad hoc equipment, Proxmark3) We can intercept data. NFC at a distance of up to 10 cm, however:

• You need to be near you at the time of payment.
• Modern bank cards and Google Pay use dynamic tokens (one-time codes) that are useless for scammers.
• Hacking requires expensive equipment and skills – it’s not a mass threat.

Myth 3: "NFC-Labels may contain viruses"

❌ Not true. NFC-Tags store only a small amount of data (up to 8 KB) and can not run executable code. The maximum that a label can do is open a link or run an application, but:

• Android always asks for confirmation before performing an action.
• Viruses cannot self-install themselves through NFC.

Real Threats and How to Protect Yourself

At least. NFC It is safe in itself, there are a few nuances:

• 🔗 Phishing via tags: Fraudsters can place a tag with a harmful link in a public place (such as a bus stop).When touched, the phone will prompt you to open a site that can simulate a bank page.
• 💳 Card cloning: If you use your phone as a pass (like in the office), you can theoretically copy the tag data.
• 📱 Loss of phone: If the phone is stolen, an attacker can try to pay for the purchases, but without unlocking the screen, it will not work.

🛡️ How to protect yourself:

• Don't touch the suspicious ones. NFC-marker.
• Use the complex PIN or biometrics.
• In Google Pay settings, enable the option to Require Confirmation for each transaction.
• If you lose your phone, lock it right away through Find My Device and remove your bank cards from Google Pay.

FAQ: Frequent questions about NFC on Xiaomi Redmi