How to Use NFC Features on Your iPhone

For those of us who love NFC, this guide will open your eyes by showing you how to use NFC Features on Your iPhone. What is NFC to start with? It means Near Field Communication (NFC).

It lets your iPhone share data with other devices in super easy and meaningful ways. Whether it’s tapping your phone at a payment terminal, opening an App Clip to rent a scooter, or triggering automation at home, NFC on iPhone opens up a whole world of possibilities. This tech is built into many modern devices including your iPhone and lets you interact with them by holding them close to each other.

If you’ve ever used Apple Pay to make a contactless payment you’ve already used NFC. But beyond quick transactions, NFC unlocks even more features you may not have tried. From turning on lights at home with a tap to setting reminders with custom NFC tags, it makes daily life easier.

Here’s everything you need to know about using NFC features on your iPhone. Even if you have an iPhone 15 or an older model like the iPhone 8 you’ll learn how to turn on NFC, interact with NFC tags, use App Clips, and set automations to make life easier.

How to Use NFC Features on Your iPhone

How to Use NFC Features on Your iPhone
Credit: adimorahblog.com

NFC is already on your iPhone but how you access it depends on your model. Below is a breakdown of how different iPhones work with NFC and how to get started.

What is NFC and How Does It Work?

NFC, or Near Field Communication, lets your iPhone communicate with other NFC enabled devices or tags when they’re in close proximity. This tech is used for Apple Pay to process payments securely but it goes way beyond that. NFC lets you interact with smart home devices, access business services with App Clips and automate with NFC tags.

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The magic of NFC is in its simplicity. Unlike Bluetooth you don’t need to pair devices manually. Instead you hold your iPhone near an NFC enabled tag or device and it connects instantly. In most newer iPhone models NFC works automatically so you just wake your screen and bring your phone near the tag to read or interact with it.

How to Turn on NFC on Different iPhone Models

Not all iPhones have NFC the same way. Depending on your model, you may need to turn on NFC manually through the Control Center or it will be on automatically.

  • Background Tag Reading (iPhone XR and later)
    If you have a newer model like the iPhone 13, 14 or 15, your NFC reader is always on as long as your screen is on. Just wake your iPhone, hold it near the NFC tag or device and it will scan automatically.
  • Manual Activation (iPhone X, 8, 7)
    Older iPhones require manual activation through the NFC Tag Reader icon. Here’s how:

    1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone 7, 8) or down from the top-right corner (iPhone X) to open the Control Center.
    2. Tap the NFC Tag Reader icon to turn it on.
    3. If you can’t find the NFC Tag Reader in Control Center, go to Settings > Control Center, and tap the Plus (+) icon next to NFC Tag Reader to add it.
  • iPhone 6 and earlier
    These older devices support some NFC but you need third-party apps to read tags so it’s not as straightforward.

How to Use NFC for Payments and Beyond

One of the most popular use of NFC is Apple Pay, which allows you to make secure payments at stores by holding your iPhone near a card reader. But NFC is useful for more than just payments.

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  • Public Transport
    Many cities allow you to tap your iPhone on public transport systems for quick access. No more physical tickets or cards.
  • App Clips
    NFC tags with the App Clip logo trigger lightweight app experiences without you having to install the full app. For example, you can use an App Clip to rent scooters, order food or buy movie tickets on the go. Just hold your iPhone near the NFC enabled tag, tap the notification that appears and interact with the service instantly.

Using NFC Tags to Trigger Automations

NFC tags are cheap stickers or cards that can trigger actions on your iPhone. With Apple’s Shortcuts app, you can program NFC tags to do lots of things. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Automation tab at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Tap the Plus (+) icon to create a new automation.
  4. Select Create Personal Automation and choose NFC as the trigger.
  5. Tap Scan, and hold your iPhone near the NFC tag to register it.
  6. After scanning the tag, assign any action you’d like—turn off lights, send a message, set a timer etc.

Put these tags around your home or workspace and automate tasks with ease. For example, near your bed to turn on Do Not Disturb or next to your coffee machine to start your morning playlist.

Which iPhones Have NFC, and What’s the Difference?

Here’s a list of iPhones that have NFC and how they work:

  • Background Tag Reading (No setup required)
    • iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12
    • iPhone 11, XS, XR, SE (2nd & 3rd gen)
  • Manual NFC Tag Reader (Requires setup)
    • iPhone X
    • iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
    • iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
  • Limited NFC
    • iPhone 6 models: Requires 3rd party apps to read NFC.
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If your iPhone isn’t reading NFC tags, try:

  1. Turn on the screen: NFC requires the screen to be on.
  2. Get closer to the tag: NFC requires proximity—hold your phone directly over the tag.
  3. Restart your iPhone: A simple reboot can fix temporary software issues.
  4. Update iOS: Make sure your iPhone is on the latest iOS, as updates often improve NFC performance.

Security and Privacy with NFC

NFC is generally secure but follow these to protect your privacy:

  • Use Apple Pay: Apple Pay encrypts the payment data.
  • Turn off NFC when not in use: Although Background Tag Reading is convenient, you can turn off NFC in Settings > Control Center if you’re concerned about privacy.
  • Check app permissions: If using 3rd party apps for NFC, make sure they have the right permissions and come from trusted sources.

Conclusion

NFC on iPhone is more than just payments, it’s automation, convenience and quick access to services. Whether you’re scanning NFC tags to start your favourite playlist, using App Clips to rent a bike or making seamless payments with Apple Pay, NFC makes life easier.

You already have the future of contactless in your pocket. iPhone 15 to iPhone 7. All of them have NFC.

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