NFC on Xiaomi: How to enable, configure and use in 2026

NFC (Near Field Communication) is no longer exotic — it’s now embedded in most Xiaomi smartphones, from budget Redmis to flagship Mis and POCOs. It can pay for purchases contactlessly, instantly share files, manage smart devices, and even automate routine tasks with tags. However, many users still do not know how to fully use NFC on Xiaomi without third-party applications — and in vain.

In this article, you will find not just the instructions “where to click”, but practical use cases: from setting up Google Pay and Mi Pay to creating automatic triggers with the help of the user. NFC-We'll take a look at the nuances of how the technology works on different models (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13, let's explain why NFC It may not work, and we will show you how to get around the restrictions. MIUI. If you still think that NFC You only need to pay for it – you miss 80% of its opportunities.

What is NFC and why is it needed for Xiaomi?

NFC (from English Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless communication protocol (up to 10 cm), which operates at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. In Xiaomi smartphones, it is implemented through a chip that can work in three modes:

• 📱 Active – the smartphone itself generates a radio signal (for example, when paying or transferring files).
• 🔄 Passive – the device only responds to the request (as when reading the label).
• 🔗 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) — Data exchange between two active devices (e.g. Android Beam).

In practice, NFC on Xiaomi allows you to:

• 💳 Pay for purchases through Google Pay, Mi Pay or banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.).
• 📲 Instantly transfer contacts, links or files to another smartphone (even without the internet!).
• 🏠 Manage smart devices: open doors, turn on the lights, run scripts in Mi Home.
• 🔧 Automate actions by means of NFC-tags (for example, turn on Wi-Fi when touching a tag on your desktop).
• 🎫 Reading e-tickets, passes or loyalty cards.

It's important to understand that NFC is not a replacement for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, it's a different task: it consumes minimal power (unlike Bluetooth), works almost instantly (without password and pairing), and is secure for payments thanks to encryption. However, the range is limited - it's both a plus (protection against accidental positives) and a minus (you need to bring the smartphone close to the reader).

What Xiaomi models support NFC?

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with NFC-chips, especially budget models. Below is a table with the current 2026 A year in series where the technology is officially supported (checked for the first time) MIUI 14/15):

⚠️ Note: In some regions (for example, India or China), the same model can be produced in two versions - with the same model. NFC To check for the chip:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Full spec.
2. Scroll to the Wireless Networks block – if there is an NFC, it will be specified by a separate line.
3. Or enter the NFC request in the settings search.

If you're in your model NFC It is not available, but it is very necessary – consider the option with the external NFC-Adapter (connected through the USB-C). However, these devices often require root rights and do not support payments.

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Before buying a Xiaomi smartphone, check the presence of NFC on the official website in the "Technical Specifications" section - sometimes sellers are silent about the absence of a chip in the "global" version.

How to turn on NFC on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

NFC activation on Xiaomi smartphones takes less than a minute, but the path to settings may vary depending on the version of MIUI.

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to Connect and Sharing (or Wireless Networks in older versions of MIUI).
3. Slip on NFC.
4. Activate the slider Use NFC.
5. (Optionally, turn on Android Beam (for file transfer) or HCE-wallet (for payments).

If there is no NFC option on the menu, your model does not support the technology (see table above).

Settings → Additional → NFC and payments

After inclusion NFC In the status bar (top panel) will appear icon 📶 If you don't have one, try it:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 📱 Update MIUI up to the latest version (the old firmware had bugs with the display of the icons).
• 🛠️ Reset network settings (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth).

Whether included NFC customized?|Does the icon appear in the status bar?|Smartphone responds to touch NFC-marker?|Payment apps (Google Pay) see the device?-->

Contactless payments (Google Pay, Mi Pay, SberPay)

The main application of NFC is mobile payments, and at Xiaomi, they work through:

• 💳 Google Pay (supports Mastercard, Visa, Mir).
• 💳 Mi Pay (Chinese equivalent, works with UnionPay).
• 💳 Banking applications (Sberbank Online, Tinkoff, Alpha-Click, etc.).

To set up payment via Google Pay:

1. Install the Google Pay app from the Play Market.
2. Open it and add a bank card (you will need confirmation via SMS or push notification from the bank).
3. In the NFC settings (Settings → Connection and Sharing → NFC) enable:

To pay, bring the top of the smartphone to the terminal (you do not need to unlock the screen!).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) Google Pay may not work due to restrictions MIUI for the Russian region:

• Use a banking application (for example, Sberbank Online has built-in support). NFC-payment).
• Or install Mi Pay (requires a UnionPay card, suitable for travel to China).

If the terminal does not read the payment:

• 📵 Make sure that NFC switched on and unlocked (some terminals require input) PIN-code).
• 🔋 Check if the battery is under 5% – some banks block payments when the charge is low.
• 🛡️ Turn it off. VPN Proxies or Proxies – They Can Prevent Verification of Payment.

Transfer of data via NFC (Android Beam and alternatives)

With NFC, you can instantly transfer files, contacts, or links to another smartphone, without internet or password. In older versions of Android, this was called Android Beam, but in newer firmware, the feature is integrated into the standard sharing mechanism.

To transmit data:

1. Turn on NFC on both smartphones.
2. Open the file (photo, contact, page in the browser) that you want to send.
3. Bring the devices back to each other (distance < 5 cm).
4. On the screen will appear a notification Touch for transmission - confirm the action.

If the transmission does not begin:

• 📱 Make sure that both smartphones are not only on NFC, Android Beam (in the settings) NFC).
• 🔄 Try restarting devices – sometimes cache resetting helps NFC (Settings → Annexes → Show it all. → NFC → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 🛠️ If you MIUI 14+, Check if the function is disabled in Settings → Special facilities → Quick setups.

⚠️ Attention: Transmission speed through NFC Very low (up to 424 kbps) – for large files (video, archives) it is better to use Mi Share or Bluetooth 5.0. NFC comfortable:

• 📇 Contacts (business cards).
• 🔗 Links to websites or applications.
• 📍 Coordinates (for example, to share location quickly).
• 🎫 Tickets or coupons (such as discount cards).

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NFC is convenient for transferring small data (up to 1 MB) without connecting to the network. For everything else, use Mi Share or Bluetooth.

Use of the NFC-tagging

One of the most underrated functions NFC — It's a tagging job. NFC These are small chips that can be programmed to perform actions when you touch a smartphone:

• 🚗 Attach the phone to the tag in the car – Bluetooth automatically turns on, Google Maps will start and the playlist will open.
• 🏠 Touching the tag at the door - will turn off Wi-Fi, turn on mobile data and send SMS "I'm out of my family».
• 💼 Label on the desktop - will put the phone in silent mode and open a corporate chat.

To work with labels will need:

1. Buy NFC-tags (e.g., labels, NTAG213 or NTAG215 They're on AliExpress. ~50₽ 10 grand).
2. Install a programming application: NFC Tools (simple, for beginners), Trigger (for complex automations), Automate (advanced scripts).

Write an action on the tag (for example, turn on Wi-Fi or open a site).

Example of setting up a tag to start the navigator:

1. Open NFC Tools and select Write → Add entry → Link.
2. Enter the URL: https://www.google.com/maps.
3. Bring the tag to the back cover of the smartphone – the data will be recorded.
4. Now, when you touch the tag, Google Maps will open.

If payments do not pass - try to remove the case or bring the smartphone from a different angle.