NFC Smart cards cannot be read when the phone is in airplane mode, the flashlight is on, apple pay is in use, the screen is locked or the camera is open. The device has to have NFC and it has to be turned on.
Apple phones that are compatible with our Smart cards:
All phones since 2017 including:
Iphone 8 Series - NFC is located on the Top Edge
Iphone X Series - NFC is located on the Top Edge (Iphone X not yet supported with background scanning)
Iphone 11 Series - NFC is located on the Top Edge
Iphone 12 Series - NFC is Located on the Top Edge
Iphone SE (2020)- NFC is Located on the Top Edge
Iphone 13 Series - NFC is Located on the Top Edge
Iphone 14 Series - The NFC (Near Field Communication) function on an Apple iPhone 14 is located on the back, specifically at the top edge near the rear camera.
Iphone 15 Series - The NFC (Near Field Communication) function on an Apple iPhone 15 is located on the back, specifically at the top edge near the rear camera.
Iphone 16 Series - The NFC (Near Field Communication) function on an Apple iPhone 16 is located on the back, specifically at the top edge near the rear camera.
Iphone 17 Series - The NFC (Near Field Communication) function on an Apple iPhone 17 is located on the back, specifically at the top edge near the rear camera.
When reading or scanning your NFC smart card, the card needs to be positioned in landscape format, press the back of the card onto the top edge of the iPhone, hold for 2-3 seconds. If it does not work, remove the card away from the phone (30 cm) and then try again.
If you are having a problem, please check that the latest IOS is installed , please see IOS compatibility below:
iOS Background NFC Tag Reading is a feature in iOS that allows the phone to read NFC tags and react appropriately without having an app open in the foreground or the user having to take an explicit choice to read an NFC tag. Background NFC Tag Reading is only supported on the iPhone XS and newer.
iOS 11 - allows iPhones 7, 8 and X to read NFC tags but it needs an app. – there is no native support for reading NFC tags on ios 11, just yet. For older phones whom don't have a built in reader, you can download an app called GoToTags.
iOS 12 - the NFC reader is built in, there is no need to download an app. In some cases, and depending on the phone, you may need to open the tag reader from the control Centre and turn on NFC (Although it is usually on) Please see below.
iOS 13 - the NFC reader is built in, there is no need to download an app. In some cases, and depending on the phone, you may need to open the tag reader from the control Centre and turn on NFC (Although it is usually on) Please see below.
iOS 14 - the NFC reader is built in, there is no need to download an app. In some cases, and depending on the phone, you may need to open the tag reader from the control Centre and turn on NFC (Although it is usually on) Please see below.
iOS 15 - the NFC reader is built in, there is no need to download an app. In some cases, and depending on the phone, you may need to open the tag reader from the control Centre and turn on NFC (Although it is usually on) Please see below.
iOS 16 - the NFC reader is built in, there is no need to download an app. In some cases, and depending on the phone, you may need to open the tag reader from the control Centre and turn on NFC (Although it is usually on) Please see below.
iOS 17 - the NFC reader is built in, there is no need to download an app. In some cases, and depending on the phone, you may need to open the tag reader from the control Centre and turn on NFC (Although it is usually on) Please see below.
iOS 18 - the NFC reader is built in, there is no need to download an app. In some cases, and depending on the phone, you may need to open the tag reader from the control Centre and turn on NFC (Although it is usually on) Please see below.
Open the tag reader from the control Centre
the “NFC Tag Reader” function is available by default to all users who have at least an iPhone 8 upward. So if you own an iPhone 8 or newer, you no longer need a third-party app to read NFC tags. You can turn this feature on by tapping the NFC button in the control center and hold your iPhone near an NFC tag to trigger an action.
If the NFC button is not visible on your screen, you may need to add it to the Control Center.
Proceed as follows:
First open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Then select the option “Control Center”.
Scroll down and tap the green plus button to the left of “NFC Tag Reader”.
