How to use NFC in Xiaomi phone for in-store payment: full instruction 2026

Contactless payments via a smartphone have long ceased to be a curiosity, but many Xiaomi owners still do not use this feature - either for fear of new technologies or for not knowing how to set up everything. NFC Not only is it more convenient than digging through your wallet to find a card, but it is also safer: the card data is not transferred to the store, and each transaction is confirmed by a fingerprint or a fingerprint. PIN-code.

In this article, we will understand how it works. NFC-Module in Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi models and POCO), What bank cards are supported, how to tie them to your phone, and what to do if you don't make a payment, and then we'll reveal little-known chips, like how to pay without the Internet, or why sometimes the terminal asks you to enter a PIN from the card, when you didn't have to.

Spoiler: If your Xiaomi is released after 2018, chances are it already supports contactless payments.

What Xiaomi smartphones support NFC for payment

Not all Xiaomi models are equipped with NFC-chips, especially for the budget lines of Redmi and POCO. To be sure, check your model in the official list or check the specifications on the manufacturer's website:

If your model is not in the table, check for NFC as follows:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → NFC.
2. If you do not have a paragraph, use the AIDA64 application (Network → NFC section).
3. In extreme cases, look at the box or in the documentation – there should be an NFC logo (wavy line with a dot).

Important: Even if NFC is available, payment may require a firmware upgrade to MIUI 12 or higher – in older versions, the module only worked for file transfers.

How to set up NFC on Xiaomi for payment: step-by-step instructions

You can link your card to your phone before you pay, and you can do this through Google Pay (for international cards) or Mi Pay (for Chinese banks, for example, UnionPay), and we'll look at both.

Method 1: Google Pay (Visa, Mastercard, Mir)

This is a universal method for most users, with cards from Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB and other Russian banks supported (unless they are sanctioned).

Download the Google Pay app from Google Play

Make sure that your phone has a fingerprint added or PIN-code

Connect to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network)

Prepare a physical card or data from it (number, expiration date, CVC)-->

1. Open Google Pay and click Add Card.
2. Select a Credit or Debit Card and scan it with your camera (or enter the details manually).
3. Confirm the binding via SMS from the bank (the code will come to the number to which the card is attached).
4. Come up with it. PIN-Payment code (you need it if your fingerprint doesn’t work).

After that, the card will appear in the app, to pay in the store:

1. Unlock your phone (print, PIN, or pattern lock).
2. Bring the top of the smartphone to the terminal at a distance of 2-5 cm.
3. Wait for the vibration and the sound signal – the payment has passed.

Method 2: Mi Pay (for UnionPay and Chinese banks)

This service only works with Chinese banks, but it can be useful if you are often in China or use UnionPay cards.

1. Download Mi Pay from the App Store (for Chinese firmware it is preinstalled).
2. Sign up with your phone number (you will need a Chinese number or a Xiaomi account with a linked mail).
3. Add the card manually – the data is verified longer than Google Pay (up to 24 hours).

Pay via Mi Pay is the same as Google Pay, but the interface is in Chinese. For convenience, turn on the translator in your phone settings.

Google Pay|Mi Pay|Samsung Pay|Apple Pay|Nothing else |Not using-->

Where to pay via NFC on Xiaomi

Contactless payments are accepted by almost all modern terminals, but there are nuances.

• 🛒 Supermarkets: Five, Magnet, Auchan, Crossroads, Ribbon.
• ☕ Cafes and Restaurants: McDonald's, KFC, Starbucks, local establishments with Sberbank or Tinkoff terminals.
• 🚇 Transport: metro in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan (via Troika or Strelka), buses with contactless validators.
• 💊 Pharmacies: 36.6, Rigla, Pharmacy from Sberbank.
• 🎬 Cinemas and entertainment: Cinema Park, Formula Cinema, bowling clubs.

Here's where the problems might be:

• 🚖 Taxis: Not all drivers upgrade terminals (especially in the regions).
• 🏦 ATMs: for cash withdrawals NFC Not suitable – you need a physical chip card.
• 🛂 Overseas: Some countries (e.g. the U.S.) require a chip card, even if the terminal supports contactless payment.

How do you know if the terminal is accepting NFC? Look for one of these logos on it.

• 📶 Waveline (universal sign of contactless payment).
• 💳 PayPass (Mastercard) or PayWave (Visa).
• 🍎 Apple Pay or Apple Pay 🤖 Google Pay – If it works, it will work).

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If the terminal is not responding to the phone, try to bring it to another part of the case – sometimes the NFC antenna is shifted to the lower edge.

Why? NFC-Payment does not pass: 7 reasons and solutions

Even if it's set up right, sometimes you can't make a payment the first time, and we've collected some common mistakes and ways to fix them.

The most common mistake is the forgotten limit on contactless payments, which banks set for security: for example, Sberbank allows only up to 1,000 payments without a PIN code. ₽ If the amount is more, the terminal will require you to enter a code from the card.

Another trap is offline payments, where if your phone doesn't have internet, Google Pay might not work (depends on the bank).

1. Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile network.
2. Or use Mi Pay – it caches card data and sometimes works without the internet.

Security NFC-Payments: Myths and Reality

Many people are afraid to pay with their phones, because they fear that fraudsters will withdraw money "over the air."

Myth 1: “You can write off money by simply bringing your phone to someone else’s terminal.”

Reality: You need to unlock your phone (fingerprint) to pay, PIN Or a pattern lock. NFC-The exception is Express Transit in the subway, but there is a fixed amount (for example, 40). ₽ fare).

Myth 2: “NFC transfers card details to the store.”

Reality: The phone sends a one-time token (a virtual card number) to the terminal, not real details, and even if it intercepts the signal, it is impossible to use it.

Myth 3: “If the phone is stolen, the scammers will pay for everything.”

Reality: Payment requires unlocking the device, and if the phone is turned off or reset, the associated cards will automatically be removed from Google Pay/Mi Pay.

To keep you safe,

• 🔒 Set up the lock. SIM-map PIN-code (in the phone settings).
• 📱 Enable deletion of data after 10 failed unlock attempts (Settings) → Passwords and security).
• 🛡️ Set a limit on contactless payments in a mobile bank (e.g., 3,000). ₽ day-to-day).

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NFC-Payments are safer than physical cards: data is not transferred directly, and each transaction is confirmed by biometrics.

Hidden NFC chips in Xiaomi: not just pay

NFC-Xiaomi’s smartphone module can do more than just pay in stores. Here are some useful life hacks:

• 🔑 Open doors: many intercoms support contactless keys, just write the tag to the phone through the app NFC Tools.
• 📱 Transfer files: Enable Android Beam in the settings NFC Tap your phones to each other to send photos or contacts.
• 🎫 Store tickets: in the applications of cinemas or airlines you can save tickets from the NFC-fast-scan.
• 🔋 Automate tasks: With Tasker or Automate, set up triggers NFC-For example, touching a tag on a bedside table will turn off Wi-Fi and turn on silent mode.

For experiments with NFC-You'll need blank cards (sold on AliExpress) or stickers (you can stick on a case) that cost a penny, and you'll get a lot of opportunities.

For example, you can program a label to:

• 🚗 Starting the navigator when touching the holder in the car.
• 🎵 Turning on your favorite playlist when the phone touches the tag on your desktop.
• 📞 Quick home call (good for elderly relatives).

Where to buy NFC-marker?

• 🛒 AliExpress: Search on Demand "NFC tags".
• 🏬 M-video or Connected: sometimes sold in the departments of accessories.
• 🌐 Ozon/Wildberries: seek "NFC-sticker "NFC-map".

FAQ: Frequent questions about NFC in Xiaomi