In short
On iPhone, NFC is always on: the screen just needs to be awake. On Android, you turn on NFC in Settings, under Connections or Connected devices, or in one tap from the quick settings panel.
Turn on NFC on iPhone
On iPhone, there is nothing to turn on: since the iPhone XS, released in 2018, the NFC chip is always on and automatically reads NFC cards and tags. There is no NFC switch in the iPhone settings at all.
To read an NFC business card, the screen just needs to be on and unlocked. Hold the card near the top of the phone, on the back, close to the camera: a notification appears at the top of the screen. Tap it to open the content in the browser.
On older models (iPhone 7, 8 and X), reading goes through the “NFC Tag Reader” shortcut in Control Centre, which you can add from Settings, then Control Centre. If your iPhone does not react, the QR code printed on the card is the simplest solution.
Turn on NFC on Android
On Android, NFC is switched on and off just like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The steps are almost the same on every brand:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Tap the connections section: Connections, Connected devices or Connection and sharing, depending on the brand.
- Turn on the NFC switch (sometimes called “NFC and contactless payments”).
Even faster: swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open quick settings, then tap the NFC icon (often an N). If it is not there, tap the edit pencil to add it to your shortcuts.
Where to find the NFC setting by brand
- Samsung Galaxy: Settings, then Connections, then NFC and contactless payments.
- Google Pixel: Settings, then Connected devices, then Connection preferences, then NFC.
- Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco: Settings, then Connection and sharing (or More connectivity options), then NFC.
- Huawei and Honor: Settings, then More connections, then NFC.
- Oppo, OnePlus and Realme: Settings, then Connection and sharing, then NFC.
Labels change slightly from one Android version to another. If in doubt, simply type “NFC” in the Settings search bar: the setting appears as the first result.
Should you turn NFC off?
In most cases, there is no need. NFC uses very little power: it only really works when a chip is a few centimetres from the phone. Leaving it on makes practically no difference to battery life.
As for security, the very short range of NFC limits the risks: an exchange can only happen when you deliberately bring your phone close, and a contactless payment also requires unlocking the device. You can still turn NFC off if you never pay with your phone and never read NFC cards: the steps are the same as for turning it on.
NFC is on, but the card is not read
When reading fails, the cause is almost always simple:
- Wrong spot: the phone’s NFC antenna is at the top of the back on iPhone, and often in the middle of the back on Android. Slowly move the card until you feel the vibration.
- Locked screen: most phones do not read NFC cards when the screen is off or locked.
- Thick or metal case: a very thick case, a card holder or a magnetic plate can block reading. Remove it while you try.
- Distance: NFC works at 1 to 4 centimetres. Almost rest the card on the phone.
If nothing works, scan the card’s QR code with the camera: you reach the same page, with no settings at all.
Reading an SVCard NFC business card
An SVCard NFC business card is read without any app, on iPhone and Android alike. The other person brings their phone close to the card, your profile opens in their browser, and they save your contact details in one tap. You can update your information at any time from your account: the card always shows the latest version, with no reprinting.
