How to use NFC in Xiaomi smartphone: from payments to smart home

NFC (Near Field Communication) technology has long ceased to be exotic — it is now integrated into most Xiaomi smartphones, ranging from budget Redmi to flagships of the Mi or POCO series. But many users still do not use its full potential, limiting themselves to contactless payments through Google Pay or Mi Pay. Meanwhile, NFC in Xiaomi smartphones is capable of much more: from automating home tasks with smart tags to fast file transfer between devices.

In this article, we will not only look at how to enable NFC on Xiaomi, but also how to customize it for different scenarios, from paying for purchases to managing a smart home. We will focus on the nuances of working with various models (including devices without official NFC support in some regions), and also look at alternative ways to activate the feature if standard methods did not work. If you have not used NFC before or consider it useless, after reading you will find at least 3-4 practical applications of this technology in everyday life.

Checking NFC Support in Your Xiaomi Model

Before you try to turn on NFC, make sure your Xiaomi smartphone supports this technology at all. Not all models are equipped with a chip - especially for budget devices or older lines.

• 🔍 Official website: Find your model on the website mi.com and see the specifications in the section "Wireless networks". NFC usually indicated by a separate line.
• 📱 Smartphone Settings: Go to Settings → Connections and sharing → NFC. If there is no point, there is no chip.
• 🛠️ Specialized applications: Install NFC Tools from Google Play. When you first run the app will determine the presence of the chip.

Important: Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro for the Indian market) have NFC hardware support, but the feature is disabled at the firmware level for specific regions, in which case changing the region in the MIUI settings or installing custom firmware can help.

⚠️ Note: If your model does not officially support NFC, But you found information about its presence in other regions — don't rush to buy tags. Most likely, the function is blocked at the firmware level, and its activation will require unlocking the bootloader and installing unofficial software, which makes it impossible to guarantee.

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

The NFC activation process on most Xiaomi smartphones is the same, but there are nuances depending on the version of MIUI. Consider the universal way for the latest versions (MIUI 13/14/15):

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Connections and Sharing (or Wireless Networks in older versions).
3. Slip on NFC.
4. Activate the slider Use NFC.
5. (Optional) Enable Android Beam (for file transfer) or Default Payments (for contactless transactions).

If the NFC item is not on the menu, try:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: Sometimes the function appears after the firmware update.
• 🌍 Change region: Go to Settings → Additionally. → Region and choose India or Europe (EEA).
• 📱 Use search: At the top of the settings enter "NFC" — The system can show the hidden point.

The smartphone is charged at more than 20%

Updated MIUI firmware to the latest version

All security updates installed

Checked for chips. NFC through NFC Tools-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F3) after-in NFC You may need to reboot the device to make the function work properly. If the smartphone does not respond to the tags after activation, restart it.

Configure contactless payments via NFC

The main application of NFC is contactless payments, and Xiaomi smartphones support several services:

• 💳 Google Pay (formerly Google Wallet) is a universal option for most bank cards.
• 🏦 Mi Pay is a Xiaomi-branded service that operates with a limited list of banks (mostly Chinese).
• 🍎 Samsung Pay – Yes, it can be installed on Xiaomi, but requires a root or patch through Magisk.

Consider setting up Google Pay as the most common option:

1. Download Google Pay from Google Play Market.
2. Open the application and add a bank card (Visa, Mastercard, World are supported).
3. Confirm the card via SMS or bank application.
4. In the NFC settings (Settings → Connections → NFC), select Google Pay as the default payment app.

For successful payment:

• 📵 Do not lock the screen while bringing the phone to the terminal.
• 🔋 Battery charge must be above 5% (some terminals fail when low charge is required).
• 📶 The Internet is not required for the payment itself, but is needed for the initial linking of the card.

Google Pay|Mi Pay|Samsung Pay|Apple Pay (via emulation)|Other |Not used-->

Critical information: If the terminal issues an error "Unsupported Device" after linking the card, check if the smartphone has root installed or the bootloader is unlocked. Banks block payments on modified devices for security reasons.

Use of the NFC-tags

One of the most useful uses of NFC is to automate routine activities with tags, for example, you can:

• 🔕 Turn off the sound in the office by bringing the phone to the tag on the table.
• 🚗 Turn on the navigator and start music when entering the car.
• 🏠 Activate Home Mode (Wi-Fi, screen brightness) when returning home.

To work with labels will need:

1. NFC-tags (you can buy on AliExpress or in electronics stores, are worth it) ~50-200 rub).
2. Recording app: NFC Tools, Trigger or Automate.

Example of setting the label for the "Home" mode:

1. Open NFC Tools and select Write.
2. Add actions: Enable Wi-Fi Set screen brightness at 70% Disable mobile data Launch the application "Yandex Music"

Hold the phone to the record label.

Place a mark at the front door.

Transfer of files and contacts via NFC

Few people know, but NFC can be used to quickly transfer files between two smartphones (including between Xiaomi and devices of other brands).

How to transfer the file:

1. Turn on NFC on both devices.
2. Open the file (photo, document) or contact you want to transfer.
3. Combine the back panels of smartphones (NFC-chips are usually located at the top of the).
4. Wait for the sound signal or vibration – the transmission will start automatically.

You'll need to set up:

1. Mi Home (for Xiaomi devices) or Home Assistant (for advanced scenarios)
2. NFC-markings recorded through NFC Tools with Smart Home Teams.

Example of automation for the robot vacuum cleaner Mi Robot Vacuum:

1. In Mi Home, create the script for NFC Cleanup:




Condition: "NFC-label (ID: XXXXXX)"




Action: "Start cleaning (standard mode)"




2. In NFC Tools, mark the command to run this scenario.




3. Place a mark at the exit door.

⚠️ Attention: For work NFC With a smart home, both devices (smartphone and managed gadget) must be on the same local Wi-Fi network. If you use cloud management through Xiaomi servers, there may be a delay to the end of the day. 2-3 seconds.

Solving NFC Problems on Xiaomi

If NFC is not working or is not working properly, check the following points:

If the problem is not solved:

• 🔄 Reset network settings: Settings → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings.
• 📱 Check the integrity of the chip: physical damage to the case can disrupt the work NFC.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware: sometimes bugs NFC Corrected in new versions MIUI.

💡

If the NFC has not worked after all the manipulations, check if the smartphone has Magisk modules that change system files (for example, Universal SafetyNet Fix), which can conflict with the work of contactless payments.

FAQ: Frequent questions about NFC on Xiaomi