How to activate NFC on iPhone . You have an iPhone , the well-known smartphone from Apple, and you have learned to master many of its functions. However, there is one that simply escapes you, but that could actually be useful in some situations: it is the NFC , that chip that you have heard so much about in the field of electronic payments but that you seem to understand can also be used for perform other operations. Well, if that is the case and you want to know more about iPhone support for NFC technology , then I would say no need to worry as you have come to the right place!
In fact, in today’s tutorial I will explain how to activate NFC on iPhone . In case you were wondering, I will analyze this chip in detail, illustrating what activities it can be useful for and indicating the procedure to activate it on your smartphone.
I will also not fail to provide you with all the case details on how you can actually use it, once enabled on your iPhone. In summary, I am going to analyze the subject in 360 degrees.
How to activate NFC on iPhone step by step
Before going into the details of the procedure on how to enable NFC on iPhone , I think you may be interested in learning more about this technology.
Well, NFC stands for Near Field Communication , which we can translate as “close range communication”.
It is a standard that provides short-distance data exchange , generally a maximum of 4 centimeters , between one device and another. All this without using cables and safely .
Don’t be fooled, we are not talking about a technology that is used in the same way as Bluetooth . They are two different things.
In fact, with “data exchange”, in this case we usually refer to information related to electronic payments . This is also why communication is limited to a very close distance, so as not to allow other people to misuse your NFC chip.
In other words, the main use made of NFC is related to payments through POS (that payment device that is usually found in commercial activities).
NFC can also be used to locate nearby objects, using special stickers or labels in which the NFC chip is present, or to activate automations configured on the phone (via the iOS Commands application).
NFC can also be used to exchange files , such as photos, videos and documents, but this is generally not its ideal use, as the maximum connection speed reaches 424 kbits per second (Bluetooth is better from this point of view). With that said, let’s move on.
NFC-compatible iPhone models
The NFC standard is physically implemented through a chip inside the body of the mobile phone . However, not all Apple models are compatible with NFC and therefore it is good to see the models in which this technology is available and how.
In fact, you should know that Apple has implemented the NFC chip in all iPhone models with Face ID and in all those with Touch ID (excluding iPhone 5s ). In a few words, we can say that this technology is compatible from iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and later , but some distinctions must be made.
Going into more detail, all the iPhone models mentioned above can use NFC as a payment system (with Apple Pay ), while only iPhone 7 and later are able to read and write via NFC and then use NFC tags to activate automations. or perform other operations.
iPhone XS /XR and later also have background NFC tags , which means you can read NFC tags without using third-party apps, just by holding your mobile phone close to a tag.
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How to activate NFC on iPhone
One of the most common doubts about the use of NFC on the iPhone is related to its activation. In fact, at the system level, there is no option called “NFC”, as is the case in the Android world .
This is due to the simple fact that the iPhone’s NFC chip is activated only when it is to be used . Simply put, it “turns off” on its own when you stop mining it.
The only thing you need to do, in case you want to use NFC for payments, is to establish at least one valid credit, debit or prepaid card and in the iOS Wallet , thus adding it to the Apple Pay payment system.
Once informed about the cards compatible with the service, open the Wallet application , the wallet icon that you should find on the home screen of your mobile phone, and touch the + icon .
At this point, enter the Apple ID Password > Next > Frame the card you want to add with the camera (the numbers are “pulled” from the device automatically).
In case it is not detected, you can think of Enter your card details and type them manually.
Then tap Confirm, enter the CVV (the 3-digit security code, usually found on the back of the card), and tap Confirm again .
Wait, therefore, for the system to check card compatibility (you will be warned if it is not compatible) and click I accept , reading the terms and conditions related to the Apple Pay service.
Perfect, now the system will detect the card and will propose a method to verify that you are the owner .
Verification generally occurs by choosing whether to receive a unique code via SMS or Email Message .
Once you’ve selected the method, tap Confirm , type in the confirmation code you received, and tap Confirm again.
In some cases, the bank sends confirmation messages to notify you of the successful association with Apple Pay.
For example, in my case, Unicredit wrote to me: “Your card is now paired with Apple Pay. Pay where the contactless symbol or Apple Pay logo is present .
Perfect, now everything is configured as it should be to be able to use NFC. In case you are wondering, the procedure is valid for all “iPhone by” models, so it is also useful to activate NFC on iPhone 11 > activate NFC on iPhone XR .
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How to use NFC
Once you’ve done the initial setup and verified that NFC turns itself off, let’s see how to actually use this solution for both payments and NFC tag usage.
Keep in mind that merchants that allow you to use Apple Pay as a payment system often display either the contactless payment symbol or the Apple Pay symbol directly .
apple pay
The easiest way to use NFC is to go through Apple Pay, using the card connected to this system.
If you have an iPhone with Face ID , you have to “turn off the screen and use 2 times the physical button on the side of the mobile phone.
At this point, to authorize the payment, simply look at the iPhone and make it recognize your face .
If you have a device with Touch ID , you only need to “turn off” the screen (by pressing the power button once) and use the physical home button 2 times .
This way you will see the role you have previously set up and just use your Fingerprint to enable this feature.
After authenticating with Face ID or Touch ID, you must bring the iPhone closer to the player , holding the top of the mobile phone a few centimeters from the contactless reader . If everything has been done correctly, you should see the writing appear on the final screen .
Perfect, now you have successfully learned how to use Apple Pay, using your iPhone to pay via NFC technology.
It was not that difficult!
NFC tag
As mentioned above, NFC is a technology that is also used for data transfer in general . However, unlike Bluetooth, it is not usually used for the exchange between one smartphone and another, but between an NFC Tag and the iPhone.
In case you didn’t know, an NFC tag is a kind of customizable and usually circular “electronic tag” that can be placed in various contexts to ensure that people can access certain information simply by approaching the iPhone .
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An NFC tag should not be powered , as it is the “passive” part of the system. Below are some concrete examples of how this function is exploited.
- Business : In a store or shopping center, you may come across a circular device with the inscription NFC, placed in some “strategic” point. By bringing the iPhone closer to it, interesting information about a certain product can appear on the mobile phone screen
- Museums and resorts : One of the main uses of NFC tags is related to art and places of interest. For example, in some museums you can bring your iPhone closer to get more details about a historical artifact.
- Business Letters – If you have particularly “tech” contacts, you may have seen an NFC tag inside your office. Well, typically, that tag is used to send you a kind of virtual “business card,” called a vCard.
- Automatic controls – Another often unknown possibility offered by NFC is to program an NFC tag to perform actions automatically. For example, you might consider placing an NFC tag on your desk that activates the iPhone’s silent mode. In the latter case, the limit is the imagination, since NFC tags can be associated with applications such as Apple Commands (formerly Workflow).
If you have an iPhone XS / XR or higher , all you need to do to read an NFC tag is to bring your mobile phone close to the circular tag, remembering that normally the allowed distance reaches 4 centimeters .
Clearly, the iPhone must not be locked .
As for older iPhones, from iPhone 7 onwards (iPhone SE and iPhone 6 are limited to Apple Pay), you may need to use a third-party app .
For example, one of the most popular is NFC Reader & Scanner. These apps are usually very easy to use: just launch them and press the button to start the “scan” .
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