How to Turn On NFC on Android and iPhone

You bought an NFC card, or watched a customer hold a phone to one and nothing happened? Most of the time the feature is off, or the phone is being held in the wrong spot. Learning how to turn on NFC takes about a minute, and this guide covers Android and iPhone.

If you use a digital business card with tap-to-open, your customers need to know how to read it. Share these steps with them, or put them on your page next to the card.

How to tell whether your phone supports NFC

The technology is called near-field communication; our guide on what is NFC explains it, as does Wikipedia. To check your own phone, try one of these:

1. Open Settings and type NFC into the search box; if a result appears, your phone supports it.
2. Search your exact model name plus NFC on the manufacturer's site.
3. Look in the connection menu, usually Connections or Connection and sharing.
4. Some older budget phones do not have it at all.

Turn on NFC on Android

The path varies by brand and version, but the idea is the same: open Settings, find NFC and switch it on.

Menu names change with system updates, so use the search box if you cannot find the path. Many phones also have an NFC tile in the quick settings panel.

Turn on NFC on iPhone

An iPhone has no separate NFC switch. Recent models, iPhone XS and later, read NFC tags in the background: wake the screen, hold the phone near the tag and a notification with the link appears.

On iPhone 7, 8 and X you open the NFC tag reader from Control Center, adding it from Settings > Control Center if it is missing. Options vary by iOS version, so keep your system updated.

Where the NFC antenna sits

The reading zone is small and is not on the screen. It is usually in the upper part of the phone's back, near the camera, and on some Android phones around the middle of the back. On iPhone it is near the top edge.

• Bring the back of the phone to the card, not the screen.
• Hold steady for a second or two.
• Move slightly if nothing happens, until the antennas line up.
• The usual range is only a few centimetres.

Troubleshooting when it will not read

If NFC is on and the card still does not work, go through this list:

• Make sure the screen is on and the phone is unlocked.
• Remove a thick case, or one with metal or cards inside.
• Try a different part of the back and several positions.
• Toggle NFC off and on, then restart the phone.
• Turn on the read option on Android if it is separate.
• Check the phone has internet access, because the link opens a web page.
• Try another card to rule out a faulty chip.

For what the chip holds and how cards differ, see the NFC business card guide. If privacy worries you, read is NFC safe. Remember that every Wslat card points to a short link you can redirect whenever you like.

If your customer's phone has no NFC

Not every phone supports NFC, which is why many people print a QR code beside the card. The QR code works with any phone camera. Putting both on the card covers everyone.

Remember the card is only the way into a digital business card that you can edit at any time, so put your effort into the page itself.

FAQ

Does NFC drain the battery?

Very little, since it only works when the phone is close to a tag or reader. You can switch it off if you never use it.

Does NFC work with the screen locked?

It depends on the phone. The safest approach is to wake the screen and unlock before tapping.

Why can't I find NFC in my settings?

Your phone may not support it, or it may be named differently. Search for NFC in Settings or check the model's specifications.

Do I need an app to read an NFC card?

On recent phones you usually do not; the phone opens the link directly. Some older models need a built-in reader or an app.