Can I reuse a card from another company?
Only if it is not locked. Most are, so a blank card is the safer choice.
Help Center
Choose NFC cards that work
Buy blank, writable NFC cards that store a web link, such as NTAG213, NTAG215 or NTAG216, and avoid cards that are locked, metal or made for another service.
Zapped works with almost any writable NFC card, sticker, keychain or wristband. What matters is the chip inside and whether it is still blank and unlocked.
Use this guide when
You are buying NFC cards, or a card you have will not write.
Before you start
- Check the chip type in the seller's description before you buy.
Steps
- Look for a chip named NTAG213, NTAG215 or NTAG216. All three store a web link, and your card link fits on even the smallest.
- Buy cards that are blank and unlocked, sometimes sold as writable or programmable.
- Pick the form that suits you: a card, a sticker, a keychain, a wristband or a stand. In Zapped you choose the matching kind when you add it.
- When the cards arrive, write and test one before you hand out the rest.
Zapped does not recommend specific sellers. Any writable card with one of these chips works.
Cards that will not work
Cards from other digital business card companies usually store their own link and are often locked, so Zapped cannot write to them.
Some chips are a type phones cannot write, such as cards made for building access or payment. Zapped says Phones cannot write this card.
A card that was locked before, by a seller or a previous owner, can never be written again.
Metal cards and stickers on metal
Metal blocks the NFC signal. Metal cards need a special layer behind the chip, often called a ferrite layer, to work. Stickers placed on metal, such as a laptop or a fridge, need an anti metal sticker.
Which chip to pick
NTAG213 is the most common and the cheapest, and it is all a Zapped card link needs. NTAG215 and NTAG216 have more room, which only matters if you want to store other things on the card.
Good ways to use this
- Order a few extra cards, so you have a spare if one goes missing.
- Keep spare cards blank until you need them.
- Test each card on both an Android phone and an iPhone before an event.
Common questions
Do iPhones read these cards?
Yes. iPhone XS and newer read them in the background, without an app.
How much does the chip store?
Enough for your card link. Zapped writes a short link, not your contact details.
If something looks wrong
- If Zapped says the card is locked or cannot be written, use a different card.
- If a card writes but taps do nothing, try it away from metal and without a thick phone case.
- Fix NFC card setup problems explains every message the setup page can show.
Was this guide helpful?
Still have questions? Contact support and we'll help you out.