How to connect NFC on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: full instructions with photos and tips

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, but many owners still do not know how to use the built-in smartphone. NFC-Even though it was released in 2019, it's still functional, from contactless payments to fast file transfers. NFC This device has nuances associated with the version MIUI and regional restrictions.

In this article, you’ll find not only basic instructions for enabling NFC, but also a breakdown of hidden features that Xiaomi doesn’t advertise, from setting up Mi Pay to using your smartphone as a key for smart locks. We’ve also analyzed frequent bugs (such as why the module doesn’t detect tags) and gathered up-to-date data on card compatibility in 2026. If you want to squeeze the Redmi Note 8 Pro to the maximum, read on.

Verification of availability NFC-The module in your Redmi Note 8 Pro

Before you try to turn on NFC, make sure your device is equipped with it at all. The fact is that the Redmi Note 8 Pro came in several versions, and some regional versions (for example, for India) could come without the module.

• 🔍 Visual inspection: there should be a logo on the back cover next to the camera NFC (If it's not, it's probably not a module.
• 📱 Through Settings: Go to Settings → Connections and sharing → NFC. If there is no point, there is no module.
• 🛠️ Using the Engineering Menu: Enter ##4636## in the phone dialer, select Phone Information and find the line NFC. If it's not, there's no module.

Important: Some sellers deliberately hide the lack of NFC in specs, so check the module immediately after purchase - under consumer law, you can return the phone within 14 days if its actual configuration does not match the stated.

If there is a module but it doesn't work, the reason may lie in the firmware. For example, in MIUI versions below 12.0.3, NFC often turned off at the kernel level. Update the system through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Step-by-step: how to turn on NFC on the Redmi Note 8 Pro

The NFC activation process takes less than a minute, but requires precise follow-up. Here is a universal algorithm for all versions of MIUI (11 to 14):

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Connections and Sharing (some firmwares call Wireless Networks).
3. Slip on NFC (usually between Bluetooth and Modem Modem).
4. Activate the NFC slider at the top of the screen.
5. For contactless payments, turn on an additional switch HCE-Currency (needed to work with bank cards).

Once the NFC is enabled, the module icon will appear in the notification panel (in the top curtain), if it is not, restart your phone, and make sure you have either Mi Pay (for payments) or Google Pay (if you use Google services).

⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 8 Pro with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) NFC This is due to the lack of proprietary drivers from Xiaomi. MIUI.

Configure contactless payments via Mi Pay and Google Pay

The main application of NFC is payments. The Redmi Note 8 Pro supports two main services: Mi Pay (from Xiaomi) and Google Pay.

Mi Pay: How to tie a card and pay

Mi Pay only works with cards of Chinese banks (UnionPay) and some Russian banks (Sberbank, Tinkoff).

1. Download Mi Pay from the Mi App Store (no one is available on Google Play).
2. Open the application and log in through your Mi Account.
3. Click Add the card and scan it or enter the data manually.
4. Confirm the link via SMS from the bank.

Google Pay: A universal solution

Google Pay supports most international cards (Visa, Mastercard).

1. Install Google Pay from the Play Market.
2. Open the application and add the card through Pay → Add the payment method.
3. Confirm the transaction through the bank (usually a push notification or SMS will arrive).
4. In the settings NFC turn on HCE-currencies (see previous section).

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If the terminal gives you a card not supported error when you pay, try restarting your phone and re-touching the reader, sometimes turning off and re-energizing NFC helps.

Using NFC for data transfer (Android Beam)

In addition to payments, NFC on the Redmi Note 8 Pro can be used to quickly transfer files, contacts or links between devices, a feature called Android Beam (although in newer versions of Android it is integrated into standard exchange).

1. Enable NFC on both devices (sender and receiver).
2. Open the file you want to transfer (photo, contact, link).
3. Bring the phones back to each other (distance not more than 2 cm).
4. On the screen will appear a notification Touch to transmit - confirm the action.

The NFC transmission speed is low (about 400 Kb/s), so it is better to use Mi Share or Bluetooth for large files, but NFC does not require an Internet connection and works even on an airplane.

Problem Solving: NFC is not working or detecting devices

If NFC is on but not working, the reasons can be both software and hardware, and here are the most common scenarios and solutions.

• 🔄 Firmware failure: reset network settings through Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Network reset. It won't delete your data, but it will reset all wireless modules.
• 📲 Application conflict: some banking applications (for example, Sberbank Online) are blocked NFC Close them through Task Manager before using payments.
• 🔋 Energy saving: in aggressive energy saving mode (Settings) → Battery → Energy saving regime) NFC Add Mi Pay or Google Pay to the exclusion list.
• 🛠️ Antenna damage: If the phone falls or disassembles, the antenna NFC (It could have come off, and in that case, only repairs at the service center would help.

Diagnostics through the engineering menu:

1. Enter the code ##4636##.
2. Select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the NFC block.
4. If NFC Service: Disabled status is a firmware problem, if Hardware: Not present, the module is physically absent.

⚠️ Note: if you have installed unofficial firmware (for example, through TWRP), NFC It could be turned off at the core level. MIUI Mi Flash Tool with Clean All option.

Hidden NFC features on Redmi Note 8 Pro: what else can the module

Few people know, but the NFC on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is not just for payments, but here are 5 non-obvious scenarios:

• 🔑 Smart locks and intercoms: Smartphones can be programmed as a key for Mi Home Door Lock or other devices NFC-To do this, download the app of the lock manufacturer and follow the binding instructions.
• 🎫 Electronic tickets: in the metro of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities you can tie Troika or Strelka to the NFC. Use the official applications of transport operators.
• 📱 Automation of tasks: with the help of the Tasker or Automate application, you can configure triggers for NFC-For example, touching a label on a desktop will include silent mode.
• 🎮 Gaming controllers: some gamepads (e.g, 8BitDo) Support the connection through NFC fast-sync.
• 📦 Product identification: in stores with NFC-tags (e.g, IKEA) You can quickly get information about the product by touching the phone.

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The NFC on the Redmi Note 8 Pro supports Mifare Classic card emulation (used in most pass and transport cards), which allows you to replace physical cards with virtual ones, but requires special applications like the Mifare Classic Tool.

How to protect NFC from fraud

Contactless technology is convenient, but not without risks. Here are the key precautions for the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• 🔒 Turn it off. NFC after use: in crowded places (metro, queues) scammers can read your card data from a distance of up to 10 cm.
• 🛡️ Use shielding cases: cases with metallized mesh (for example, from Spigen) are blocked NFC-The signal when the phone is in your pocket.
• 📱 Configure payment confirmation: in Mi Pay and Google Pay, enable a request PIN-Fingerprint or code for each transaction.
• 🔍 Check your payment history: check your mobile bank charges regularly. If you have suspicious transactions, block your card immediately.

Redmi Note 8 Pro has hardware protection from the NFC-Relay attacks (when a fraudster relays your card signal to another terminal), however, it only works with the original firmware. MIUI, Risk of data theft increases.

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To check if someone is reading your card, turn on the "Notify New Devices" option in the NFC settings. The phone will vibrate every time you scan the tag.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent NFC Questions on Redmi Note 8 Pro