The iPhone XS and later read the card while the screen is on; iPhone 7, 8 and X use the NFC reader in Control Center. On Android, NFC must be on and the phone unlocked. Phones without NFC scan the QR code.
Passly cards carry both an NFC chip and a QR code, so they work with almost every iPhone and Android phone. Phones with NFC read the card with a tap, while phones without NFC, or with NFC switched off, scan the QR code with the camera. Either way, the same profile opens in the phone's browser and the other person needs no app.
How does an iPhone read an NFC business card?
It depends on the model.
- iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and all later models read NFC tags in the background. The screen just needs to be on: hold the card near the top of the back, a notification appears, and tapping it opens the profile in Safari.
- iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus and X do not read in the background. On iOS 14 or later, add the NFC Tag Reader control to Control Center in Settings, open the reader from Control Center, then hold the card near the phone.
- iPhone 6s and older models cannot read NFC tags. On these phones, use the QR code on the card.
Every iPhone released since September 2018 is in the first group, so a recent iPhone most likely needs no settings at all.
On an iPhone, the NFC antenna sits at the top of the back, near the camera. Holding the card to the middle or bottom of the phone can delay the read. Background reading does not work while the camera or Apple Pay is open, or in airplane mode; simply close the app and try again.
How do Android phones read it?
Most Android phones sold today have NFC, but the setting needs to be on. NFC usually has a shortcut in the quick settings panel: swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the NFC icon. If there is no shortcut, look in Settings under a heading such as Connections, Connected devices or Connection preferences. Menu names vary by brand and Android version; on Samsung phones, for example, the option is usually called NFC and contactless payments, under Connections.
Android phones usually read NFC tags only when the screen is on and unlocked, so unlock the phone first. On most models the antenna is in the middle of the back, on some near the camera at the top. Once the card is read, the profile normally opens straight in the browser. Leaving NFC on does not noticeably drain the battery, and people who pay contactless usually keep it on anyway.
Does my phone support NFC?
NFC is not always clearly listed in the specs, but it is easy to check.
- On Android, type NFC into the search box in Settings. If a result appears, your phone has NFC.
- If you see an NFC shortcut in quick settings, your phone supports it.
- If you can pay contactless with your phone, it has NFC hardware.
- On an iPhone, check the model under Settings, General, About. If it is an XS or newer, no extra setting is needed.
- If you are still unsure, search for your phone model plus the word NFC.
What if NFC is off or missing?
The simplest solution is the QR code. It is read with the phone's own camera app: point the camera at the code and tap the link that appears. The profile is exactly the same page that opens via NFC. This way, older phones without NFC and people who keep NFC switched off can still save you to their contacts with one tap.
In practice, there is nothing to ask when you show your card: if a tap does not work, the camera always does. Passly QR keychains work with the QR code anyway, so they do not depend on the phone's NFC setting. iPads cannot read NFC tags either, so anyone using a tablet scans the QR code.
Tips for a successful tap
- Hold the card to the antenna area: the top of the back on an iPhone, usually the middle of the back on Android.
- Touch the phone with the card or hold it very close for 1–2 seconds; a quick swipe can miss the read.
- Make sure the screen is on, and on Android unlock it as well.
- Thick cases, cases with metal parts or magnetic cases can weaken the read. If you have trouble, try without the case.
- Holding the card to the phone in a wallet case together with contactless bank cards can confuse the read; present the card on its own.
- When your card arrives, test NFC and the QR code once on your own phone to learn where the antenna is.
- If nothing happens, move the card slightly and try again, or simply scan the QR code.
Does the other person need an app?
No. When the card is read, the profile opens in the browser already installed on the phone; no sign-up, app or account is required. The person can save you to their contacts with one tap or forward your profile link via WhatsApp, SMS or email. You never need to know which phone someone uses: a smart business card reaches your profile by NFC or QR code either way.