Thinking about purchasing an NFC tag? Or maybe you’ve already got a few and want to know how to program them with your iPhone? This guide will tell you everything you need to know about programming NFC tags with your iPhone, including what you can use them for and how to get started.
Let’s get into it.
What is NFC?
NFC, or Near Field Communication, is a technology that allows two devices to communicate with each other when they are close together. NFC tags are small stickers that contain an NFC chip that can be programmed with information like website URLs, contact information, or commands that an NFC-enabled device can execute.
Most modern smartphones, including the iPhone 6 and newer, have NFC chips built-in and can read and write data to NFC tags. You will need an NFC-enabled device and an NFC programming app to program an NFC tag with your iPhone.
Steps To Program NFC Tags
You can use NFC tags with your iPhone in several different ways. For example, you could program an NFC tag to launch a specific website or app when tapped, share your contact information with someone else, or even control smart home devices.
If you’re ready to start, read on for everything you need to know about programming NFC tags with your iPhone.
What You Will Need?
To program an NFC tag with your iPhone, you will need the following items:
- An NFC-enabled device (iPhone 6 or newer)
- An NFC programming app
- An NFC tag
If you don’t have an NFC-enabled device, you can purchase an NFC tag from several different online retailers like Zapped. Once you have all of the necessary items, you are ready to start programming your NFC tags.
The steps include:
- Download and install an NFC programming app on your iPhone. There are several different apps available, but we recommend using NFC Tools.
- Open the app and tap on the “Add A Record” tab.
- Select the type of data you want to write to the NFC tag. For example, if you want to launch a specific website when the tag is tapped, select the “URL” option.
- Enter the data that you want to write to the NFC tag. For example, if you’re writing a URL, enter the website address you want to launch.
- Tap on the “Write” button.
- Place your iPhone top center near the NFC tag. The app will write the data to the tag.
- That’s it! You have now programmed your NFC tag with your iPhone.
- Test and scan NFC tags by tapping them with your NFC-enabled device. If everything is working correctly, the data you wrote to the tag should be executed. For example, tapping on the NFC tag should launch the website in your browser if you wrote a URL.
Common Uses for NFC Tags
Now that you know how to program NFC tags with your iPhone, you might be wondering what you can use them for. Here are some common uses for NFC tags:
- Launch A Specific Website: You can program an NFC tag to launch a specific app like Apple Pay or website when tapped. This can be useful if you want quick access to a particular service or product.
- Share Contact Information: You can program an NFC tag with your contact information and share it with others by tapping their NFC-enabled devices to the tag. This is a quick and easy way to exchange information with someone else.
- Share Virtual Business Card: You can also program an NFC tag with your virtual business card. The tag will share your contact information with the other person’s device when tapped.
- Control Smart Home Devices: You can use NFC tags to control smart home devices like Philips Hue light bulbs. For example, when tapped, you could program an NFC tag to turn on a specific light.
FAQs
1. What If My Phone Does Not Pick Up The Chip?
If your phone does not seem to be reading the chip, there are a few things you can do:
- Check if your phone has NFC. Not all phones have this feature.
- If your phone does have NFC, try restarting it. This often solves the problem.
- Bring the NFC tag closer to your phone. Sometimes it needs to be close for the phone to read.
- Try different NFC tags with iPhone. It is possible that the one you are using is not working correctly.
- Remove the case from your phone. The metal, in some cases, can block the NFC signal.
2. What Are The Best Apps For Programming NFC Tags?
There are several great apps that you can use to program NFC tags. Some of our favorites include:
- NFC Tools: This great all-in-one app allows you to read, write, and program NFC tags.
- NFC Task Launcher: This app is designed specifically to automate your device’s actions based on NFC tags.
- NFC Smart Tags: This app is designed for writing NDEF messages to blank NFC tags.
3. What To Do If I Get Error While Using the “Write” NFC Tags Option?
If you’re having trouble getting the “approach NFC chip” dialogue to appear when you hit “Write,” try closing the app and then altogether quitting it in the multitasker.
If you see a red exclamation point when you approach the chip, try tapping “Write” again. You’d get this error if NFC Tools app lost connection with the chip before it was successfully programmed.
If that doesn’t work, ensure that you’re only programming one item onto the NFC chip and that you’re using the “Custom URL/URI” option.
Get Pre-Programmed NFC Tags From Zapped
If you’ve ever wanted to share your contact information with someone without having to type it out or exchange business cards, NFC tags are a great solution. And now, with Zapped’s new pre-programmed NFC tags, it’s easier to get started.
They can be embedded in all sorts of things, from key chains and phone cases to business cards and promotional materials.
When an NFC-enabled device, like a smartphone, comes into contact with an NFC tag, it can trigger all sorts of actions. For example, you can program an NFC tag to open a website, send a text message, or even make a phone call.
Zapped’s pre-programmed NFC tags come with all the necessary information already encoded, so all you have to do is pair them with your smartphone and start sharing. Each tag comes with a unique vCard URL that you can use to share your digital card with anyone.
So why wait? Get started today and make exchanging contact information easier than ever before. Order your NFC tags from Zapped now.
